What's new from your local view

by **Caer Ibormeith** on Mon Sep 28, 2009 8:11 am

ukus wrote:Yes I'm not sure I'd fancy it .... but hey don't knock it till you try it I suppose

I wonder what the state of Texas sandwich is?

BBQ beef brisket on Texas toast with slaw and homemade pickles on the side, of course. Yumm.

by **JuanaLaLoca** on Mon Sep 28, 2009 8:18 am

I can't find any information on state sandwiches for other states (except that apparently Ohio has one).

But wait!!! Massachusetts isn't done yet! There's more that they're voting on:

The sandwich is one of three sugary foods that the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight will consider for official state status Thursday. Other bills would make Necco wafers the official state candy and Charleston Chews the official state candy bar.

The parade of wacky bills doesn't stop there, though. Lawmakers will hear proposals to designate the elephant as the official state mammal, the 2005 Red Sox-themed Jimmy Fallon movie “Fever Pitch” as the official state movie, and "6" as the official state number.

Well, the Necco wafer definitely deserves the honor. But just how many wild elephants are there in MA? And what is the meaning of 6?

We like our state stuff, apparently:

Massachusetts already has five official state foods, among the most in the country: the baked navy bean, corn muffin, chocolate chip cookie, Boston cream pie, and Boston cream doughnut.

There is an educational aspect, as I mentioned before, so it's not all just wackiness:

Many of the bills are filed by school groups, who get an inside look at how laws are made through the process, said Lainey Titus, chief of staff for Representative Steven Walsh of Lynn, co-chairman of the committee. A handful of bills eventually make it through the House and Senate and are signed by the governor.

“It can be a great educational tool," said Representative Antonio Cabral of New Bedford, a former co-chair of the committee.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaki ... t_flu.html

by **SilverMiniCooperS** on Mon Sep 28, 2009 9:08 am

I find it comforting to know there is at least one state that is doing so well they can waste so much time and efforts on such trivial matters!!!

by **ukus** on Mon Sep 28, 2009 7:52 pm

JuanaLaLoca wrote:Well, I tried the Fluffernutter, and have to admit that I liked it! The sweet marshmallow complemented the peanut butter very well. It was really difficult to spread, though.

What sort of bread did you use Juana ?

Caer Ibormeith wrote:
ukus wrote:Yes I'm not sure I'd fancy it .... but hey don't knock it till you try it I suppose

I wonder what the state of Texas sandwich is?

BBQ beef brisket on Texas toast with slaw and homemade pickles on the side, of course. Yumm.

I somehow knew it wouldn't be a wussie sarny :smt001

by **wakeyboy** on Tue Sep 29, 2009 4:02 am

A man from Cleckheaton was gored by an elephant while on holiday in Kenya...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/8279861.stm

by **JuanaLaLoca** on Tue Sep 29, 2009 7:25 am

ukus wrote:
JuanaLaLoca wrote:Well, I tried the Fluffernutter, and have to admit that I liked it! The sweet marshmallow complemented the peanut butter very well. It was really difficult to spread, though.

What sort of bread did you use Juana ?

Country Kitchen whole grain white.

by **SilverMiniCooperS** on Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:15 am

wakeyboy wrote:A man from Cleckheaton was gored by an elephant while on holiday in Kenya...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/8279861.stm

He's one lucky fellow. What on earth was the guide thinking telling them to go look at the animal?

by **waterbeetle** on Tue Sep 29, 2009 11:44 am

wakeyboy wrote:A man from Cleckheaton was gored by an elephant while on holiday in Kenya...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/8279861.stm

What an ugly scar. I'll bet that is the last time he'll go & see elephants with peanuts in his pockets :smt012

by **mr dragon** on Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:24 pm

I bet his mates are now calling him Mowgli...

You know what I would have done. I would have gotten underneath the elephant and tickled it's belly with a feather- turns them into pussycats and lil' putty in your hand. Seriously ;-)

by **JuanaLaLoca** on Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:25 pm

waterbeetle wrote:
wakeyboy wrote:A man from Cleckheaton was gored by an elephant while on holiday in Kenya...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/8279861.stm

What an ugly scar. I'll bet that is the last time he'll go & see elephants with peanuts in his pockets

Oh, dear. I went for a walk today, and collected some acorns, which I put in my skirt pockets. I'm sure glad I didn't run into any elephants! (since elephants have been proposed as our state mammal, they must be around here, somewhere!)

by **ukus** on Tue Sep 29, 2009 2:33 pm

You'll need to carry a "feather" an Elephant gun or a mouse with you Juana .... actually all three of those could see off any number of assailants.

by **wakeyboy** on Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:34 pm

Carrying acorns is not a good idea. Not when eddie and the squirrel army still haven't been accounted for.

by **Druid 2156** on Wed Sep 30, 2009 6:56 pm

Where did he disappear to anyway?

by **kitchenwitch** on Thu Oct 01, 2009 6:02 am

Maybe the squirrels turned on him and are holding him hostage.

by **mr dragon** on Thu Oct 01, 2009 6:26 am

He was actually on here the other day sometime in the afternoon. But he didn't post. Maybe the squirrels had a gun to his head.....

by **Caer Ibormeith** on Thu Oct 01, 2009 9:08 am

We're keeping a lookout for him here since there's been a bumper crop of acorns. Eddie's army may be stockpiling grub for the winter. We're ready. :smt066

by **wakeyboy** on Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:29 am

A married couple from Wakefield are compensated for their wedding photos.

Marc and Sylvia Day, of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, were awarded £950 at Pontefract County Court after suing Gareth Bowers for beach of contract.

Mrs Day said: "I just broke down in tears when I saw them."

Wakefield-based Mr Bowers, of Fresh Images, declined to comment when the BBC contacted him.

The couple had paid him £1,450 for the photo and video package for their wedding on 24 August last year.

But they said they were left distraught after they were shown the 404 pictures.

Mrs Day said: "We had to pick 40 for a story book and we could only pick 22 that were reasonable.

"They were over-exposed, under-exposed, things in people's faces, leaves across their faces.

"I just kept looking at them and I thought I can't believe this has happened."

Mr Bowers had also misspelled the couple's names on the thank-you cards he produced, printing: "Thank you Slyvia and Mark."

The couple said the wedding video, which was filmed by the same firm, was shaky and unedited.

It included footage of the operator dropping the camera during the church ceremony, accompanied with a recording of him swearing.

Mrs Day said: "It's shaking so much you go dizzy."

She added: "We had a horse and carriage and on the video the bridesmaids were getting in something but we couldn't tell what they were getting in.

"Even me coming out of the door, there's a mark on the wall and it's pink and the pink has reflected on to my dress so it looks like I've got a bright pink dress on."

A judge also ordered Mr Bowers to pay £100 expenses and £270 in court fees at a hearing on 28 September.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west ... 292568.stm

by **JuanaLaLoca** on Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:14 am

Perfect material for People's Court!!!

by **mr dragon** on Tue Oct 06, 2009 12:20 pm

I saw the pictures he took on the news earlier. They are fucking awful. They damn well should sue the guy- he charged them £1,500 which is a professional fee for a wedding- so you expect professional results. There were probably just amateur photographers, as guests, there who took much better pictures than he did. Complete cowboy.

by **wakeyboy** on Tue Oct 06, 2009 12:49 pm

mr dragon wrote:I saw the pictures he took on the news earlier. They are fucking awful. They damn well should sue the guy- he charged them £1,500 which is a professional fee for a wedding- so you expect professional results. There were probably just amateur photographers, as guests, there who took much better pictures than he did. Complete cowboy.

The video was awful as well. It must be gutting when you see the results because you cant go back to your wedding day. Those moments are lost.

by **ukus** on Thu Oct 08, 2009 6:51 am

Awwww that is a shame. Wakey is right despite the compensation you can't recreate the day. Good job the guests took piccies.

by **waterbeetle** on Fri Oct 09, 2009 7:19 am

NEVER hire a friends friend or let a well meaning family member do your pics. It just sets you up for failure. too bad cuz that day is lost :smt022

by **bll** on Fri Oct 09, 2009 9:49 am

John and I married on a shoestring and my SIL offered to take the photos as a wedding present; they were by far better than the photos taken for my first wedding by a professional. She really thought about what she was doing, and it shows.

by **mr dragon** on Fri Oct 09, 2009 12:42 pm

I've been asked several times to do weddings for family or people I know. Other than a couple of times (my cousin because he just wouldn't stop hassling me about it and a friend who wanted me to do it reportage style and unconventional- which is more fun to do), I've always turned them down. Firstly because I fucking hate shooting weddings, and the other reason is because I'm not generally keen on doing business with family or friends. I've never had a problem with it when I have, but I'm always wary of that when money's involved. It's business and it's someone you have a strong emotional connection with- not always a good combination.

by **Mr Retro** on Sat Nov 14, 2009 10:21 pm

Some hikers recently found the skeletal remains of 4 members of a German family of tourists who disappeared 13 years ago here in Death Valley. Apparently they went off the beaten path in their vehicle & weren't prepared for the searing summertime heat and paid the ultimate price. Now their loved ones back in Germany can have some closure.

http://news.aol.com/article/death-valle ... f%2F766810

by **wakeyboy** on Sun Nov 15, 2009 2:36 am

Mr Retro wrote:Some hikers recently found the skeletal remains of 4 members of a German family of tourists who disappeared 13 years ago here in Death Valley. Apparently they went off the beaten path in their vehicle & weren't prepared for the searing summertime heat and paid the ultimate price. Now their loved ones back in Germany can have some closure.

http://news.aol.com/article/death-valle ... f%2F766810

Thats very sad and a bit creepy too. I wonder if there was foul play as their passports and documents are missing. Or maybe things were lost under the sand, blown away or dispersed by animals.

by **SilverMiniCooperS** on Sun Nov 15, 2009 10:15 am

Probably the latter Wakey. Death Valley isn't as place one would find too many criminals. People have disppeared there never to be found.

My mind is blank right now, but who was the very rich, well-known guy who flew over the dessert some years ago. The plane is thought to have crashed and they still haven't found him or his plane.

by **Mr Retro** on Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:06 pm

SilverMiniCooperS wrote:Probably the latter Wakey. Death Valley isn't as place one would find too many criminals. People have disppeared there never to be found.

My mind is blank right now, but who was the very rich, well-known guy who flew over the dessert some years ago. The plane is thought to have crashed and they still haven't found him or his plane.

You are probably thinking of Steve Fossett whom they did eventually find his remains.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Fossett

Wakey, like Mini said, it was more than likely they all died in the desert heat. Being tourists, they just weren't aware on how dangerous it is to be stranded in a remote area of the desert and it's over 120ºF. Remember, the article said that the tires were shredded on their vehicle. I bet the father wandered off looking for help. May they all rest in peace.

by **ukus** on Sun Nov 15, 2009 2:22 pm

The desert can indeed be a dangerous place. Very sad .... may they sleep peacefully.

by **mr dragon** on Sun Nov 15, 2009 3:11 pm

I think Tom's very likely to be right. I went through Death Valley years ago with my Dad. I remember two very specific things. One is that it's incredibly striking and beautiful scenically in it is own unique way. The other is that it's not a place you mess around in, particularly if you're going to go off the beaten track. We went there over the winter/spring period when it's not so 'hot'. A while after I saw a doc on the place, where a guy fried an egg on his car bonnet during the very hot season. It can be that scorching hot there.

by **wakeyboy** on Wed Dec 09, 2009 4:01 pm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west ... 403614.stm

A nurse from Glasgow who was jailed for murdering 4 elderly women and the attempted murder of another at Leeds General Infirmary, is challenging his conviction.

I saw a documentary about this man. Narcissistic doesnt even cover it. A nasty piece of work.

by **mr dragon** on Wed Dec 09, 2009 5:16 pm

I remember that story very well. I thought he was a seriously fucked up man as well. I wonder why he's being allowed to have a go at an appeal when he was given four life sentences, and a minimum of thirty years before even the prospect of a review of his sentence?

by **JuanaLaLoca** on Thu Dec 17, 2009 10:22 am

Legendary New Hampshire weatherman Al Kaprielian has been laid off.

Those in the Boston area may be familiar with Al Kaprielian, who has been a TV weatherman in the NH area for over 25 years. This guy is hilarious - so nerdy and strange and eccentric. Sometimes you can barely understand him. His trademark is to start off with a high-pitched nasally "Good EEEEEEEvening!" The news that he has been laid off as of the end of the year came out yesterday, and all the radio stations were talking about it this morning; I think a lot of them have online petitions to save Al. I saw him (on MyTV) yesterday evening, and he was just as cheery and hyper as ever - no hint of the bad news. New England weather just won't be the same without him.

For those of you who have never experienced this unique phenomenon:

I have to include this one, although the video is totally messed up, but it is a wonderful tribute, absolutely hilarious, and you can glean enough from it to get a very good idea:

by **SilverMiniCooperS** on Thu Dec 17, 2009 11:24 am

That voice!!!!!! :smt008

.....would drive me nuts. I couldn't watch more than a few seconds of any of those videos.

by **JuanaLaLoca** on Thu Dec 17, 2009 11:46 am

SilverMiniCooperS wrote:That voice!!!!!! .....would drive me nuts. I couldn't watch more than a few seconds of any of those videos.

I know - he drives me crazy, but after seeing him for so long, I feel a kind of weird fondness for him.

by **mr dragon** on Thu Dec 17, 2009 12:12 pm

He sounds like someone's giving him a little squeeze of his nut sack on and off. Is one of Eddie's gophers down his kecks?

by **wakeyboy** on Thu Dec 17, 2009 1:00 pm

I think he sounds interesting. It sounds like he has trouble with his 'R's though.

by **Mr Retro** on Thu Dec 17, 2009 1:07 pm

Juana, your story about this weatherman reminded me of a quirky weatherman who was on local news in Los Angeles in the late 1970' through all the 1980's when I lived there. His name is George Fischbeck and he was quite a character with his signature bow tie. Unfortunately this video shows his more tame moments. I remember a visiting relative asking if that was the weather report or a comedy routine as he could get quite animated. This is from 1980. Watching this clip, I've realized just how far we've come with computer graphics and presentation points. These 1980 graphics seem so crude and rudimentary in comparison to today

by **mr dragon** on Thu Dec 17, 2009 2:21 pm

Here's some old BBC weather 'graphics' from the 70's and a couple of bloopers. I actually remember when they used to do the weather like this- that makes me a sad old git!

by **kitchenwitch** on Fri Dec 18, 2009 4:20 am

Everyone seems to have their classic weatherman. Ours was a gent named Sonny Elliot. He still is on the radio, but started out on TV over 50 years ago.

by **wakeyboy** on Fri Dec 18, 2009 5:09 am

My local weatherman is not so much a character in himself but the daily slanging match between him and Christa Ackroyd (the female presenter) is usually amusing.

Take a look...

But this is one of the BEST moments...

by **wakeyboy** on Fri Dec 18, 2009 10:35 am

wakeyboy wrote:A man and a woman steal a bus in Wakefield city centre. They hit several cars, crashed into a shop front and then made their way to the M1 motorway. On the M1 they bumped the central reservation several times and police had to use a stinger.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west ... 204546.stm

I hope the helicopter was getting all of this. I want to see it on TV!

There was a helicopter!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/8421478.stm

:smt003

by **Caer Ibormeith** on Fri Dec 18, 2009 11:49 am

He could've killed someone and all he had to say was "So what?"

by **SilverMiniCooperS** on Fri Dec 18, 2009 3:36 pm

For some reason unknown to me I cannot see the picture - or is it a video?

by **SilverMiniCooperS** on Fri Dec 18, 2009 3:39 pm

Never mind - I got it. Wow, it's a miracle he didn't kill anyone.

by **ukus** on Sun Dec 20, 2009 3:38 pm

The court also heard that when Oldroyd was taken off the bus by police, he said: "So what? I took a bus for a nice little ride."

What a numpty. I hope he ends up with empty pockets (paying a fine) for a l-o-n-g time so he 'get's it'

by **Druid 2156** on Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:31 am

good grief! If all he wanted was "a nice ride", he just needed to come to Minneapolis and I would have given him a nice ride! I hope they throw the book at him. To put so many people's lives in danger like that is irresponsible - that's why there are professionals like me who have been trained in the seriousness of driving a large vehicle!

by **Caer Ibormeith** on Wed Jan 06, 2010 9:30 am

Massachusetts State Senator Anthony Galluccio (D Cambridge) is now in jail having violated his parole on a drunk driving conviction. He was stopped again for a DUI, and is using what the press here is referring to as the "Toothpaste Defense." He claims that an ingredient in his toothpaste caused him to have a high blood alcohol level. :smt011

He must think people are pretty stupid.

Galluccio is now appealing his conviction. He's finally resigned from the state senate.

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/22 ... etail.html

by **kitchenwitch** on Wed Jan 06, 2010 9:48 am

That must be some special toothpaste.
Everyone knows it's mouthwash, not toothpaste, that you're supposed to blame for failing a breathalyzer test.

I hope they keep that idiot off the roads.

by **SilverMiniCooperS** on Wed Jan 06, 2010 11:40 am

Maybe it's one of those toothpastes that claim to contain mouthwash. :smt011