The Search For Arnie Begins?

After the success of the reality TV talent show "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria", the BBC and ITV have both announced programs to find new stars for West End musicals.

The BBC's "Any Dream Will Do" seeks to find a new Joseph for "Joseph And His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat", while ITV search for Sandy and Danny for a new London stage production of Grease.

What next? Well maybe five will come up with something like: How Do You Solve A Problem Like Terminator (The Musical)

www.stupid.com

Google has announced it top internet searches of 2006 (here) and I reckon it shows a fair amount of stupidity...

In the top 10 are:

• Bebo (www.bebo.com)
• MySpace (www.myspace.com)
• Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.com)
• Metacafe (www.metacafe.com)
• Mininova (www.mininova.com)

It reminds me of a scene from the Simpsons when Homer picks up the phone and says

"Operator, give me the number for 911"

I just wander how these people ever found Google in the first place.

World's Tallest Man Rescues Dolphins

Here's a good story...

Hai Hai and Le Le were in a bad way after swallowing bits of plastic they had bitten off the side of their pool in Royal Jidi Ocean World aquarium in Fushun city, China.

Vets decided the only way to remove them was by hand, but noone could reach far enough into their stomachs, so they called in local celebrity, Bao Xishun, famous for being the world's tallest living man 2.36-meter (seven-foot-nine-inch).

His metre long arms were able to reach into the dolphin's stomachs and retrieve the plastic and save the dolphins - what a hero.

"Dolphins usually put on a show for us visitors so when I was told they were ill, I felt I should give them a hand - literally. I never thought my long arm could be used this way,"

S.P.O.T.Y.

Last night was the BBC Sport's Personality Of The Year and in my opinion it was one of the best shows for a long time - probably because it was so hard to predict the winner. I think Zara Philips was one of 4 or 5 people who would have made worthy winners and it was good that some of the lesser known achievers were put in the spotlight due to the lack of contenders from the more popular sports.

I did think 100m world record holder, Asafa Powell, is up there with Roger Federer and Tiger Woods for best overseas performer of the year.

I rated the contenders in three catagories.
Achievement (/5): what did they achieve in their sport this year.
Personality (/2): how well known are they to the general British public.
Profile of the Sport (/3): How highly is the sport regarded in the country.

What do you think?

Pos "Athlete"       Ach   Pers   Prof   Total
1.  Zara Philips    4.5   2      1.25   7.75
=   Joe Calzaghe    4.5   1.25   2      7.75
3.  Ricky Hatton    4     1      2      7
4.  Nicole Cook     5     0.5    1      6.5
=   Andrew Murray   2     2      2.5    6.5
=   Monty Panasar   1.5   2      3      6.5
7.  Phil Taylor     4     1      1      6
=   David Walliams  4     2      0      6
=   Beth Tweddle    4     1      1      6
10. Darren Clarke   2     1.5    2      5.5
11. Jenson Button   1.5   1.25   2.5    5.25

Insightful Eyewitness

A Tornado has caused exrensive damage to a row of houses in North London today.
ITN reported covered the incident by interviewing an eyewitness.
He insightfully said "it went a bit dark" and showing his vast knowlegde of tornados by describing it as "like some sort of cyclone".

He saw the devistation through his sky-light going on to say "I heard what seemed like large, clay dominoes falling" - that'd be the roof tiles then!

Got Your Number

Got the new Bedford Phone Book yesterday and guess what - I'm in it! Ha ha ha! I probably shouldn't be as excited about it as I am but there I am, next to 6 other Sheffields, yipee!

Oxford Street

At the weekend Zoë went to London to buy a bridesmaid or something… anyway I met her for lunch in Oxford Street and as I was walking down to House Of Fraser (apparently where you buy Bridesmaids) the following happened:-
- I was almost converted 3 times by street preachers
-- my favourite quote was “If you take the ‘S’ and ‘N’ away from SIN you get ‘I’ which proves we are all sinful”
-- one guy next to me shouted “F-ing shut up… I’m on the phone” as if that was a good enough reason for the preacher to put down his microphone so this guy’s mate would not hear of his imminent judgement.
- Someone dressed as a bear (but could have been a hedgehog/mole etc) roared in my face
- I was in several tourists’ photos trying to capture the 3 ballet dancers on stilts holding onto John Lewis’ window for dear life.
- Was almost trampled by a marching band of Santas.
- The bagpipe band made up entirely of Indians were momentarily drowned out by an electric guitarist sound checking
- I just managed to escape the perfume man in House of Fraser who tried to spray me with after shave

Victory In Australia

England win the toss...