Happy New Year to all my readers. Whoever you are. No seriously I want to thank both of you. Now that’s out of the way. Almost 2007. For those of you who like a drink, there was a study published in The British Medical Journal, stating that there is no evidence that there is an effective hangover cure. They came to the conclusion the only thing that works is abstinence and moderation, and failing that, time is a cure. Did it need scientists to tell us that? What will the new year bring I wonder, apart from the four seasons, birthdays, work, the sun rising and falling, and the polar ice caps melting faster than an M&M in a frat boys hand, watching Anjolina Jolie in Tomb Raider. So new years is upon us. Just after we recovered from Boxing Day(26th Dec in Britain). 16 people were injured and 29 people arrested in a bar room brawl in Cornwall. The yobs even drove cars at the police. Some people obviously take boxing day a bit too literally. Talking of swerving into police cars, Mike Tyson was pulled over for nearly hitting one, police say they found cocaine on him. Police have given him his own cell for his own protection. Apparently the women he courts practice safe sex. They use mace.
Saddam Hussein has been hanged. I don’t agree with death penalty for anyone, but it drew my attention to a quote by Dr William Palmer, a British serial killer. Due to be hanged at the gallows his last words were, “Are you sure this thing is safe”.
There was a recent earthquake in Scotland, quite a rare occurrence, though we did just have a tornado in London, so these things do happen. It’s not just rising house prices now, it’s rising houses. I was quite amused by a quote by Elaine Murray, Labour politician in Scotland, who said she thought someone upstairs had fallen out of bed. I don’t know who she has living upstairs, an elephant perhaps? A poll of 175 UK politicians for Sky movies has found Casablanca is their favourite movie. With, Star Wars, Some Like it Hot, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Shawshank Redemption, Citizen Kane, Reservoir Dogs, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Goodfellas, and lastly, Life of Brian, making up the top 10. Interesting choice from supposed pillars of the community. I would have thought Liar, Liar would have been in there.
Good news, the fourth Indiana Jones is going into production next year with Spielberg, and Lucas having finally agreed a script, and Harrison Ford on board. With Lucas saying it is the best one yet. Well I’ll hold judgement. It will be hard to recreate such a great franchise after such a long time. Harrison Ford having aged aswell. The last Star Wars films Lucas did, didn’t blow me away.
People who live in a city have longer thicker nose hairs than people who live in the countryside. This is odd. On average right handed people live 9 years longer than left handed people. Well I guess it is stressful for those left handed people living in the city, who have to use right handed nose clippers. Polar bears on the other hand, are nearly all left handed and can smell a human from 20 miles away. Presumably not if they have long, thick nose hairs though.
A recent report has looked into the amount of licensed dangerous animals kept in Britain's homes. Just some of the animals kept are, 12 lions, 14 tigers, 50 leopards, 500 monkeys, 250 poisonous snakes, and 50 crocodiles. Some cats are bred with domestic cats to create designer pets. Ok so it’s slightly better than keeping a goldfish, but you would have to have a lot of private land to keep these animals occupied. Seems strange to think of these animals in Britain. Snakes slithering into the houses of parliament, Hyenas and Jackals in Fleet Street, the home of the press, beetles crawling into recording studios in liverpool, oh wait, thats kind of how it is already.
There have been some incredible advances in science just recently. Alba Lucia who lost her hands in an explosion, had some new ones attached from a donor who was brain dead. And she will get feeling in her hands within a few months, this is one of only a few cases in the world.
Also a working jet pack like the one Sean Connery uses in the film Goldeneye has been invented by a Swiss Airline captain, Yves Rossy, and used. He has used it at 187mph over the Alps. He does have a backup parachute. Described as like being a real life Buzz Light Year in The Times. Must be one of the coolest gadgets in the world to own. It would be good for dropping in on friends, passing traffic, not having to use the lift, swanning about like superman, and flying women to the moon.
US Food Regulator FDA has stated that cloned cattle, pigs, and goats produce food, “as safe as the food we eat every day”. This isn't so new though, McDonalds have been doing double cheeseburgers for a long time. Not sure I’d be too keen on sampling cloned food, might end up with 3 eyes or another arm. I prefer fresh produce to Frankenstein food. I’m sure it will taste just like chicken, because everything does. If all food was the same, people are hardly likely to take it back saying it tasted the same.
New years resolutions anyone? I have a suggestion for the ladies. More housework. Yes I did just say that. But I’m going from a study in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, a study actually funded by Cancer Research UK. The study suggests women who exercise by doing the housework can reduce their risk of breast cancer. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3578405.stm.
So that wraps up what’s been on my radar just recently. Enjoy the interviews, there are plenty more to come. Have a great new year.
