Number 95, like many of the hoaxes that will appear on this list, happened on April Fool’s Day.

On April 1, 1997, syndicated comic strip writers conspired to confuse readers by swapping characters. From the Baby Blues Scrapbook:

A couple of years ago, Rick and Jerry had the idea to have the cartoonists in the papers switch with other cartoonists and draw each others strips. Rick sent out letters to find out if any of the cartoonists would be interested. He was surprised at how many thought it would be fun to do!

In order to be as efficient as possible and to save precious time, Rick decided to computerize the responses with some new software he found. Naturally, with such high-tech help, the entire process of matching cartoonists up with one of their top ten choices ended up taking roughly five times longer than it would have if we’d used a handful of index cards and a bulletin board. The matching-up process also would have taken much less time if we had simply let everyone draw their first choice of strips. And, in retrospect, it might have been funnier to open the paper on April 1st and see forty-six different versions of Dilbert.

Anyway, after a few weeks of agony (mostly for Rick since all of this was on his computer), the mishaps were complete and we sent out the assignments with careful instructions for the cartoonists to follow, and much of the next few weeks were taken up with fielding phone calls re-explaining the whole thing to cartoonists who don’t read careful instructions.

After a ton of telephone interviews, (thanks to all the cartoonists who took time out of their schedules to help field some of these), the Switcheroonie went off without a hitcheroonie. The results were funny, readers got an unexpected treat, and the comics got a little publicity for a change. All in all, not a bad outcome.

After many hours of organizing and numerous reminder phone calls, the great 1997 Switcheroonie was printed in newspapers all across the United States on 1997 April Fool’s Day. The responses were varied. Most people thought it was a great gag to do on 1997 April Fool’s Day. No syndicates were harmed by this stunt.

Here are some examples. Enjoy and Happy Friday!

See a list of hoaxes counted down so far after the jump.

100.  Bridezilla Freaks Out About Her Hairdo
99. The Joe Schmo Show
98. The Crying Indian
97. Ivar’s Underwater Billboards
96. Well to Hell
95. Great Comics Switcheroonie

There is no way I could review every book I read on this blog – given that spend nearly three hours on the train to uni several days a week, I do a lot of reading! However, do hope to occasionally provide my thoughts on books that really provoke a reaction in me. I have absolutely no credentials as a book reader other than being a voracious reader, and these are simply my reflections on what I read.

I have never been drawn to the classics of contemporary Australian literature. I didn’t get past Page 3 of Tim Winton’s ‘Cloudstreet’ and had not picked up a single Colleen McCullough or, until now, Bryce Coutenay. But an interview with the latter reminded me that I had always intended to read his book ‘April Fool’s Day’, so off I trotted to the uni library to borrow a copy.

It is not a spoiler to say that April Fool’s Day recounts the life of Courtney’s son Damon, from a diagnosis of haemophilia in childhood to his death from AIDS at age 24, acquired from blood products given to save his life. Courtenay wrote this book in the immediate aftermath of his son’s death, and unfortunately this is very apparent. Whilst he states that Damon wanted his to write a book about love, and the portrayal of the dedication of Damon’s partner Celeste is very touching, ultimately the emotion I detected most powerfully in this book was anger.

What I found most powerful about this book was its portrayal of society’s reaction to HIV/AIDS patients. I am too young to have lived through the “Grim Reaper” period of HIV/AIDS awareness, and although I have read and seen documentaries about this shameful period, its true toxicity is driven home by seeing it through the eyes of a patient and his family. From nurses refusing to care for Damon to family members refusing to forgive their dying sons, some sections of this book will turn your stomach.

Sadly, however, Courtenay undermines much of what could have been achieved for the gay community by his book with his anger at the anonymous blood donor from whom his son contracted HIV. Although he repeatedly describes the compassion of many in the gay community who supported their family and implores society not to see HIV/AIDS as a justifiable punishment for the “sin” of homosexuality, Courtenay at time fails to separate gay blood donors from health bureaucrats when assigning blame for his son’s illness. In a similar vein, I wish Courtenay had provided more objective information, or direction to resources, on the occurrence of medically acquired HIV/AIDS in Australia – sadly, it is a story now not being told as the vast majority of patients have died.

From a personal point of view, I was thrilled to see Courtenay give kudos of Dr Roger Cole, Damon’s palliative care specialist for much of his illness. Dr Cole is an amazing human being who dared for my grandfather until his death – if you know little of him try to get your hands on his book ‘Mission of Love‘ which, although containing a bit of hippy-dippy theology, beautifully documents his care of the dying.

When I was 22 years old I heard something that really resonated with who I am today.  “It’s tradition…And you don’t monkey with tradition!”  I won’t cite this reference because if you’re a fan of the popular late ’90s TV series you’re already laughing.  If it doesn’t click, that’s probably for the best.  But still, this is true.  You don’t monkey with tradition.

Even the smallest traditions I try to keep up today.  Greeting trick ‘r treaters.  One minute of silence.   And even sharing Valentines.  It’s tradition…and you don’t monkey with tradition! Holidays give you a reason to get off your keyster and keep something older than yourself or your family alive for another year.  These traditions are not only respected but are a terrific way to keep yourself happy.  Celebrating tradition can be life altering!  Think of a young nervous couple beneath the mistletoe.  It’s tradition…and you don’t monkey with tradition!

Another reason is that life is hard.  In the new technological world of deadlines and ungodly expectations we all could use something to celebrate from time to time.  Something older and bigger than ourselves.  Everyone should be celebrating the reasons we celebrate.  Even if that means grabbing a friend and some horror movies and curling up with some candy for a good scare on Halloween.

If you can’t think of one good reason to celebrate a holiday, you’re just not trying. If you sit in a cubicle, work a desk, work a computer, work a camera, work a hot dog stand, or any other type of work…then right there my friend, is reason to celebrate! It’s reason enough to pick up and holler WOOHOO to whatever holiday it is.  Life may not be as short as the quotes say, but it’s definitely not long enough to ignore a good rumpus.

So the next time a chance for you to celebrate rolls in, or a timely tradition marches on, grab a drink, make a toast and be with those you hold dear.  We need to celebrate the fact that there is a holiday happening, and it wants you to celebrate it!  When life asks you to dance, you don’t say no.

“Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!”  Amanda Bradley

Following the awesome screening of MY BLOODY VALENTINE at the Cinefamily last Thursday were two other “holiday” theme slashers from the 80’s, APRIL FOOL’S DAY and DON’T OPEN ‘TILL CHRISTMAS. After the break, we all headed back in for more carnage.

SPOILER AHEAD

The APRIL FOOL’S DAY (1986) print was beautiful and I had not seen it in a really long time, and when I did it was on VHS. I didn’t appreciate it very much the first time, but watching it now gave me a newfound respect. Most slasher films were so similar to each other, it’s cool how this movie seems like a typical one and then pulls the rug right out from under you.

It’s about a group of spoiled rich college kids who retreat to a beautiful lakeside home for the April Fool’s day weekend, to get high and laid. One by one, they start turning up dead and soon it’s down to only a few survivors to stop the killer or die trying.

The plot, tone and look are exactly like a FRIDAY THE 13th movie. It’s even produced by FRANK MANCUSO JR. who’s responsible for the whole FRIDAY franchise and it’s released by FRIDAY distributor, PARAMOUNT. It also features AMY (FRIDAY THE 13th PART 2) STEEL, once again in the survivor girl role.

But the beauty of APRIL FOOL’S DAY is that just when you think this is nothing more than a carbon copy slasher, it reminds you what holiday we’re celebrating and that is what makes it unique and clever. It follows the formula to a tee and then takes all the piss out of it by turning everything into an elaborate prank. Nobody was killed, everyone’s fine, April Fool’s!

For some slasher purists, this doesn’t sit well. The first three quarters of the film aren’t funny enough to make it a parody, they say. But I don’t think APRIL FOOL’S DAY is a parody as much as a very smart and fresh riff on the whole genre, while staying true to the nature of the holiday it’s featuring. There is even another fake out that happens after the reveal, where the audience actually expects there to be a “real” kill and once again, April Fool! I like the way it commits to the concept and maintains its integrity to the very end.

The cast is very good and anything with DEBORAH FOREMAN (VALLEY GIRL) and THOMAS F. WILSON (Biff from the BACK TO THE FUTURE trilogy) is always a treat. The film was directed by FRED WALTON who also made the late 70’s babysitter stalker flick, WHEN A STRANGER CALLS. If you’re a slasherphile like me, APRIL FOOL’S DAY is definitely a significant entry in the genre and a seminal part of the second wave.

The crowd thinned out a bit after the second feature, but I had never seen the next one before and decided to stick around and give it a shot. I’m very glad I did, because DON’T OPEN ‘TILL CHRISTMAS (1984) is fucking incredible!

Check out this trailer…

…twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring… they were all dead! – tagline for DON’T OPEN ‘TILL CHRISTMAS

Did you ever want to see a Christmas theme slasher movie about a masked killer who only murders people dressed up like Santa Claus? Well if this particular niche appeals to you, then you simply must see DON’T OPEN ‘TILL CHRISTMAS.

Someone in London is murdering all the street-corner Santas, in a city that seems to be almost over populated with them. The killer really hates anyone in a St. Nick costume and uses a variety of different methods to dispatch them, which include: stabbing, a spear through the head, strangled with a cord and dropped on a coal grill where the Santa bursts into flames (my favorite!), shot in the face at point blank range, meat cleaver in the head, castrated while urinating in a public bathroom, eye poked out with a spiked glove, etc.

There are also two amazing scenes I must describe to you. The first one involves the killer chasing a hot blonde topless woman, that’s wearing a Santa cloak over her, into an alley. He then feels her naked breasts up with the edge of his straight razor!

The second one features the killer employing an elaborate method to murder a detective getting too close, by attaching jumper cables to his car doors. When he opens the door he is horribly electrocuted.

This movie is cheesy, ridiculous, fun, sleazy, violent and incredibly entertaining! And best of all, it takes place in England during the holidays.

DON’T OPEN ‘TILL CHRISTMAS was produced by trashy slasher king DICK RANDALL, who gave us the sublime PIECES (1982) and the awesome SLAUGHTER HIGH (1986). It was directed by and stars EDMUND PURDOM, who played the psychotic dean in PIECES. Netflix it for the holidays, you won’t be disappointed.

That was quite an evening of holiday slasher fun at the Cinefamily! This Thursday is gonna be a slasherpalooza featuring HATCHET (with director ADAM GREEN in person), SHAKMA (about a killer baboon picking off med students. Amazing!) and a Bigfoot slasher called NIGHT OF THE DEMON (referred to as ball-ripping good!). See ya there!

I was lucky enough to pick up April Fool’s Day (1986) in a “2 DVD Set” (the cover lies, it’s actually one double-sided disc) with My Bloody Valentine (1981) for five dollars at a Wal-Mart in Williamsburg, Virginia. It was a great deal. I hadn’t seen either of those movies since I was a kid, and April Fool’s Day hadn’t been the easiest to get a hold of until I found this disc. Apparently, it’s actually the only format in which April Fool’s Day is available right now (obviously you can still get it on eBay or Amazon from second-hand sellers) but I am not complaining due to the insanely low cost, and what I consider to be a pretty good transfer.

The movie stars Deborah Foreman, who I love: she also stars in Valley Girl, which is one of my favorite movies with one of the best movie soundtracks, and 1988’s Waxwork, which isn’t terrible. Looking at her IMDB page though, it looks like she also had a small role in Real Genius, which is another of my favorites. I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled for her next time I watch it. Also, there is apparently a remake in the works, and I was prepared to get all pissy about how Valley Girl wouldn’t be Valley Girl in the 2000s, until I learned that it is going to be an 80s musical. It now has my blessings/total encouragement, obviously.

Deborah Foreman thinks Nicholas Cage is "like, trippendicular, y'know?"

More importantly, it looks like she was in a movie called Lunatics: A Love Story (1991), co-starring…Ted Raimi and Bruce Campbell? Here is the plot summary:

A delusional and paranoid poet hallucinates and almost becomes a serial killer, but saves a beautiful girl from street-gang members and becomes a hero. Written by frankfob2@yahoo.com. (thanks, frankfob2!)

How have I not seen or heard of this movie? That is a bigger mystery than the mystery of who the killer is in this film.

The premise of the film is that Muffy Sinclair is a really rich girl who goes to Vassar, and who just inherited her family’s summer house, which is on an island only accessible by ferry.  The first scene we see is Muffy (Deborah Foreman) organizing her basement before her friends arrive, which is the first hint that she is up to something. She even assures her maid that the party she is throwing for her friends this weekend is going to be “bloody unforgettable.”

While poking around the basement, she finds a jack-in-the-box that she received on her birthday as a child, and has a birthday flashback to her youth. For some reason, only adults were invited to her party even though she was a kid. When she received the jack-in-the-box, which looked totally innocuous and had a cute duck on the side, she spun the handle and out popped this horrifying monster that growled at her:

Evil monster that scared little Muffy.

To add insult to injury, all of the adults at the party laugh at her when she gets scared. This rivals Damien’s birthday in The Omen for Worst Birthday Ever. It actually might beat it, because Muffy wasn’t the Antichrist and so you can’t make any excuses about how she “deserved” it or liked it.

So you know right away that Muffy is going to be at least a little fucked up because she was traumatized as a child and had terrible parents who liked to scare her and invite their friends over to watch their kid get scared.

Then we meet all of her college friends who are coming on the ferry to Muffy’s house. They are (prepare for screencap overload):

Biff from Back to the Future

This bitchy girl.

Hal, who is Southern and wants to bone Muffy (he's in it for the money).

A nice girl, and her boyfriend, Fake Keven Bacon

Fake Rob Lowe in St. Elmo's Fire and a nerdy girl

Also, the Constable, Muffy’s boring distant cousin Skip, the ferryman, and the ferryman’s assistant Buck are on board as well.

The prank, which leads to...

Fake Rob Lowe has a video camera and is telling all of the boys that their flies are down as a joke, but then Biff and boring cousin Skip do a serious prank in which it looks like Skip gets stabbed in the stomach with a knife accidentally. It is pulled off way too realistically (and in a half a second) to have been done without a special effects crew or at least some kind of professional makeup artist, but I guess these kids are mostly rich so they can afford to plan things like that.

...a non-prank.

Unfortunately, Buck dives in the water to save Skip, and gets his face smashed by the ferry. Not good.

They finally get to Muffy’s house, and Muffy plays some funny tricks on them (champagne glasses with holes in them, etc.) Someone is also planting fucked up things in the guests’ rooms, like a recording of a baby crying in the room of one of the girls who had gotten an abortion.

People start to die in interesting ways and it would ruin the movie if I went into too much detail, because it really is a pretty good slasher. Muffy starts to look obviously deranged and we begin to suspect that she is actually Muffy’s insane twin sister Buffy.

"This is not the Muffy we know and love. She would NEVER do her hair like that."

Stop reading here if you don’t want to know the end to the movie.

I like this movie a lot, but I really didn’t like the twist in the end, both because you could see it from a mile away, and because it just didn’t really make much sense.

It turns out…it was all a prank! Well, it was a “dress rehearsal” for Muffy’s plan for the house…she is going to turn it into a murder mystery themed bed and breakfast! Except those guests will know it is fake, so this really wasn’t anything like a dress rehearsal. Also, who did Buck’s makeup when he staged his ferry-related injury? It happened in less than an instant, and I don’t know anyone who can apply makeup that good, that fast, while in the water. I know it is a campy slasher/mystery and I shouldn’t care, but it was actually a really good movie up until the end, and then it sort of ruined it with an improbable twist ending a la Haute Tension.

I think the movie would have been great if Muffy’s evil sister Buffy actually existed and offed everyone.

Plausibility of twist ending: 3/10

Movie up until that point, as far as 80s slashers go: 7/10

Awesomeness of purchasing this and MBV on dvd for 5 dollars: 8/10

Anne rating: 6/10

So I broke tradition this year and watched two movies, which are not horror movies during October, d’oh! “What are these movies?” you ask. Well believe it or not, I broke tradition for 17 Again (ugh!) and Whip It (which I enjoyed). Anyway, I’m back to all horror, all the time now until Halloween rolls around. Here are the films I’ve watched since my last post.

September 27, 2009

Torn Curtain (1966) Written by Brian Moore, directed by Alfred Hitchcock  2.5/5

Torn Curtain isn’t Hitchcock’s most thrilling film, though it does have an interesting plot, and it offers good performances by both Paul Newman and Julie Andrews. Like a lot of spy thrillers of it’s time it deals with Cold War politics/problems making the plot fairly predictable. It’s definitely not a must see film, but it’s not terrible either.

September 30, 2009

April Fool’s Day (1986) Directed by Fred Walton 3/5

If you’re looking for cheesy teen fare with a twist this film is great! I’ve been drawn to the cover of this film for years, but I’ve never actually checked it out. The minute the film starts rolling you know you’re in for campy fun, especially since the biggest names in the film are Deborah Foreman (Valley Girl) and Thomas F. Wilson (Back to the Future/Freaks and Geeks). Part comedy, part slasher film, part Scooby Do mystery this film is sure to entertain.

October 5, 2009

Omega Man (1971) Directed by Boris Sagal, written by John W. and Joyce H. Corrington, based on Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend 3/5

I am a big fan of Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend and I have yet to see a film adaptation of the story that I like. For some reason every time someone attempts to make this into a film they have to mess with an essential part of the story or add contemporary issues, when the story is timeless as it is. This film is completely dated and though Charlton Heston plays a pretty good Robert Neville, too many things have been added to ruin the story, like “The Family” and their weird religious fervor. However, if I take it as just a film which has nothing to do with Matheson’s story then it’s ok. Nothing spectacular, but it’s entertaining nonetheless, offering a strong performance by Heston like most of his other movies from this period, so despite the fact that it’s dated I’ll give it 3 stars.

October 6, 2009

Don’t Look Now (1973) Directed by Nicolas Roeg, based on a story by Daphne Du Maurier 4/5

Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie star in this bizarre psychic thriller. After they lose their daughter Laura and John Baxter make a trip to Venice where John is working on restoring an old church. There Laura meets a couple of old women, one of whom claims to be psychic. Desperate to know how her daughter is doing, Laura asks the woman to perform a séance only to find out her husband is in mortal danger if he stays in Venice. Thinking she’s hysterical, John ignores her warnings, but when Laura goes back to London to visit their injured son who’s away at boarding school John begins to see strange things himself which make the viewer question his sanity. The whole thing is capped off with a strange and unpredictable ending which leaves a bevy of unanswered questions. Roeg uses cinematography to create some of the most interesting and surreal scenes in dark and engrossing film.

October 11, 2009

Dead Alive/Braindead (1992) Directed by Peter Jackson, written by Stephen Sinclair 2/5

So I finally watched this Peter Jackson bloodfest and I must say I was disappointed. I didn’t really know what to expect going in except for gore and lots of it. It vaguely reminded me of Sam Raimi’s work, except it paled in comparison. Like Raimi, Jackson tries to be funny, quirky and gross; except it wasn’t really that funny, it ran a little long and though the bizarre plot had potential, it quickly became something contrived. It was like watching The Man with the Screaming Brain all over again (Aaaaaaaah!). Don’t get me wrong, I love a good B-movie, but there are good B-movies and then there are B-movies that look like something a group of nerdy high school kids on acid would make in their backyard with a camcorder and incredible amounts of fake blood and unfortunately for Mr. Jackson I would probably like the film the kids on acid made more than this one. I’m giving this one 2/5 stars simply because I saw potential in it.

October 13, 2009

Zombieland (2009) Directed by Ruben Fleischer, written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick 4/5

This film is exactly what I was expecting – a little comedy, a little romance and a lot of action. Woody Harrelson is great as Tallahassee, a Twinkie hunting, gun loving zombie killer who teams up with the sweet, geeky Columbus, played by Jesse Eisenberg (a.k.a. the cute guy from Adventureland) after they run into each other on the highway. While hunting for Twinkies (and zombies) in a supermarket these two come across Wichita and Little Rock, a pair of resourceful sisters played by Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin respectively. But the world has become an “every man/woman for him/herself” kind of place which makes for a bumpy and exciting ride.

Man With Unpronouncable Name Ponders Gene-Altering Aerosol Pranks

In the new Peter Jackson epic District 9, a field operative named Wilkus van der Merwe is assigned to relocate a bunch of unwanted alien settlers.  They’re called “Prawns”, which is much easier to pronounce than “Wilkus van der Merwe” (played by an equally unprouncable Sharlto Copley).  Who puts an “r” right before a “w”, huh?  Yeah, nobody.  Anyway, Milky von WeeWee–who works for a company called Multi-National United–accidentally gets sprayed with DNA-altering liquid that slowly changes him into one of the aliens, hand first.  Very Kafka.  Oh, that horror of otherness and alterity.    Milky can work the newfangled alien weapons, and all sorts of hijinks ensue, including encounters with the alien who created the device, Christopher Johnson.  Yeah, that’s right, Christopher Johnson.  Milky names him–maybe some downright name envy there–and eventually turns into an alien himself.

I think I liked this movie the first time I saw it, when it was called Alien Nation.  I liked it even better when it was a TV Show and the unwanted alien “Newcomers” (or “Slags”, in the derogatory vernacular of the show) were taken under the wing of George Thorogood, played by Gary Graham.  Okay, well, it really wasn’t Lonesome George.  But it looked a heck of a lot like him.  So much so that everytime I watched the TV show, I knew that his character, Detective Matt Sikes, would drink alone.  Yeah, with nobody else.  Well, maybe with his Dear Old Grandad.  Together, they would share one bourbon, one scotch, and one beer.  Then they would get haircuts, and perhaps a new job.  But I digress.

So, the crab hand dude from District 9 is kind of in a hard way.  Imagine the possibilities of such DNA-altering aerosols, though, if you will.  Squid Leg Spray is only just the start.  Practical DNA manipulation jokes would be at an all time high, and hospital emergency rooms would be packed with unsuspecting victims every April 1st.  There’d only be one way to prevent such abuse at the hands (claws?) of the crab-handed folk.  You’d have to show ‘em who’s boss.  Just leave out some Old Bay Seasoning and a Claw Cracker and they’ll leave you alone….

but that’s just disgusting… (via Amog)

*Thank God it’s not real 

So remember that fucking amazing tauntaun sleeping bag that thinkgeek put out on April Fools Day?

"We're still working with Lucas to get approval for a final design. Again, it's looking good, we just can't say too much right now since it's still in the works."

It should hopefully be on it’s way soon. Gendy Alimurung of LA Weekly recently interviewed one of the PR guys at ThinkGeek and more or less said that the final negotiations and design on in the works at the moment. According to Shane Peterman, the PR guy, tens of THOUSANDS tried ordering it when it was on the site. Do you realize how crazy that is? Instead of Lucas focusing on his soon to be shitty Star Wars live action TV show he should put more effort into awesome shit like this.

Next up? I think we need a Slave-1 recliner.

By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Writer

 The powerful attack that overwhelmed computers at U.S. and South Korean government agencies for days was even broader than initially realized, also targeting the White House, the Pentagon and the New York Stock Exchange.

 Other targets of the attack included the National Security Agency, Homeland Security Department, State Department, the Nasdaq stock market and The Washington Post, according to an early analysis of the malicious software used in the attacks. Many of the organizations appeared to successfully blunt the sustained computer assaults.

The Associated Press obtained the target list from security experts analyzing the attacks. It was not immediately clear who might be responsible or what their motives were. South Korean intelligence officials believe the attacks were carried out by North Korea or pro-Pyongyang forces. 

The attack was remarkably successful in limiting public access to victim Web sites, but internal e-mail systems are typically unaffected in such attacks. Some government Web sites — such as the Treasury Department, Federal Trade Commission and Secret Service — were still reporting problems days after the attack started during the July 4 holiday. South Korean Internet sites began experiencing problems Tuesday. 

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, the nation’s principal spy agency, told a group of South Korean lawmakers Wednesday it believes that North Korea or North Korean sympathizers in the South were behind the attacks, according to an aide to one of the lawmakers briefed on the information. 

The aide spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the information. The National Intelligence Service — South Korea’s main spy agency — said it couldn’t immediately confirm the report, but it said it was cooperating with American authorities. 

The attacks will be difficult to trace, said Professor Peter Sommer, an expert on cyberterrorism at the London School of Economics. “Even if you are right about the fact of being attacked, initial diagnoses are often wrong,” he said Wednesday. 

Amy Kudwa, spokeswoman for the Homeland Security Department, said the agency’s U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team issued a notice to federal departments and other partner organizations about the problems and “advised them of steps to take to help mitigate against such attacks.”

New York Stock Exchange spokesman Ray Pellecchia could not confirm the attack, saying the company does not comment on security issues.

 Attacks on federal computer networks are common, ranging from nuisance hacking to more serious assaults, sometimes blamed on China. U.S. security officials also worry about cyber attacks from al-Qaida or other terrorists.

This time, two government officials acknowledged that the Treasury and Secret Service sites were brought down, and said the agencies were working with their Internet service provider to resolve the problem. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the matter.

 Ben Rushlo, director of Internet technologies at Keynote Systems, said problems with the Transportation Department site began Saturday and continued until Monday, while the FTC site was down Sunday and Monday.

 Keynote Systems is a mobile and Web site monitoring company based in San Mateo, Calif. The company publishes data detailing outages on Web sites, including 40 government sites it watches.

 According to Rushlo, the Transportation Web site was “100 percent down” for two days, so that no Internet users could get through to it. The FTC site, meanwhile, started to come back online late Sunday, but even on Tuesday Internet users still were unable to get to the site 70 percent of the time.

 Web sites of major South Korean government agencies, including the presidential Blue House and the Defense Ministry, and some banking sites were paralyzed Tuesday. An initial investigation found that many personal computers were infected with a virus ordering them to visit major official Web sites in South Korea and the U.S. at the same time, Korea Information Security Agency official Shin Hwa-su said.

 Associated Press writers Hyung-Jin Kim in Seoul, South Korea; Andrew Vanacore in New York; and Pan Pylas in London contributed to this report.

Hi All,

Rewind to April 1 and it was no fool’s day for me.  I will always think of April 1 or April Fool’s Day as most people refer to April 1 as the beginning to my Road 2 Recovery/Road 2 Worlds!  April 1, 2009 was my first day of Occupational Therapy at the Arrowhead Orthopaedics Hand Center under the care of Harold Neuendorff, OTR/L, CHT.  Today, July 1 is my 3 month Road 2 Recovery/Road 2 Worlds Anniversary!

I’ll never forget the battery of assessment exercises Harold put me through to establish my base line.  In a nutshell, I was weak and my range of motion was almost nil.   I’ll never forget my “strength,” Ha, more like no strength, when Harold asked me to squeeze the “grip-o-meter” as hard as possible. 

 As I complied and the needle barely moved, he asked politely, “Are you squeezing?” 

“Let’s try it again…take a deep breathe and then quickly squeeze,” he kindly directed.

Being the competitive athlete that I am, I envisioned being at the start of a Time Trial and preparing my final three breathes before I took off down the start ramp and then I squeezed with every bit of determination and strength I could give. 

“That’s better, you’re up to 5 pounds,” Harold said with an encouraging tone.

“Five pounds? Being this weak means there’s only one way to go – that’s up (strength),”  I thought to myself and was determined to show strength gain with every visit from that day forward.  I eventually attained a strenght of 60 pounds, a goal Harold and I set.

“Now let’s try the left hand,” said Harold.  Great I thought, this wrist isn’t injured and away I squeezed.

“Forty-eight pounds,” Harold said with a smile. 

Meanwhile, I’m thinking, that sounds weak for an uninjured hand.

Harold explained to me that my whole body is affected by the injury and surgery, but that as I recover, I will get my whole body strength back, not just my wrist.  That made perfect sense and I knew that, but since only my right wrist was injured, I forgot to consider the repercussions an injury and surgery have on the whole body.

As a Fitness Educator, I’m usually giving advice to students and fellow athletes about how to improve their performance, get in shape, change their lifestyle behavior, utilize sports psychology, how to afford injuries or what to do if injured.  However, when it came time for me to be the patient, I needed someone to help guide me down a road I’ve never personally crossed before – the broken bone road, followed by surgery and therapy – the Road 2 Recovery!

Harold and his staff were the perfect fit for me!  They are as passionate about their jobs and helping people get back on their Road 2 Recovery as I am about educating and motivating students, athletes and really anyone who wants to listen about adopting a FITstyle way of life.   

Now, July 1 and three months since my first day of therapy and quoting Jack Nicholson from the Shining, “I’m BAAAACK!”

So, the moral of today’s Blog is you must accept the challenges that cross your path and send you down unexpected roads.  Stay positive and work hard and diligently to recover the best that you possibly can.  The past can not be altered, but your actions each new day helps determine your future.  Never take your health or fitness for granted for the unexpected is self explanatory.  Are you prepared?  How would you handle a major injury? 

One thing is for certain, when and if you ever have  an injury that requires you to seek medical advice, don’t hesitate – see a doctor.  If surgery is required, then don’t hesitate to enter therapy as quickly as possible and work hard during your visits and at home.   You will be travelling down your own “Road 2 Recovery.”  Enjoy the ride and most importantly, envision the end of the “Recovery Road” when you are turning onto your Road 2 ?  It’s up to you – it’s YOUR Road!

I am now onmy Roa d 2 Worlds (Duathlon World Championships, Concord, NC, Sept 26).  Twelve weeks from today, my husband, Tom Resh, who also qualified for Worlds, and I will be near the end of the Road 2 Worlds.  Now that my wrist is healed, my strength is back, I’m training and racing to prepare my body, mind and spirit to be ready for a once in a life time challenge – competing against the best in the World in my division for the title of World Duathlon Divisional Champion!

Like any other goal, you must “See it, Believe it, Achieve it!”  For years I have told my students and others, “Someone has to win….someone has to get the job…..someone has to get the part (in a play, band or whatever)….so why not YOU?”   There’s no real secret to being a winner, but you have to SEE yourself as a winner, you have to BELIEVE you can win and then you have to work to ACHIEVE!!!  

Winning is not just about sports, it’s about overcoming any challenge, barrier or even fears you have in your life.  I firmly believe everyone has the ability to “win” at something.  What do you realistically want to Achieve? 

“See it, Believe it, Achieve it!”  I”m cheering for you!! Patty

Here's my grip strength reading on my first day of Therapy on April 1. A mere weak 5 pounds. How humbling this was! I was squeezing as hard as possible and all I received for my 100% effort was a weak 5 pounds. Right then, I new I had a long hill to climb to recovery, but I was ready for the challenge. Plus, I'm considered a climber on the bike so I better be prepared to climb any hill - even therapy hill!

Look very closely at this reading. Closer! Do you see the number 60? If so, then you are reading the correct number. I FINALLY hit my Grip Strength Goal of 60!! When Harold gave me the good news, I responded with a huge smile and a high-five! I'm not going to rest with just 60. I'm going to continue working to improve my grip strength. But for now, I'm going to enjoy my 60 pounds of pure grip strength! Anyone want to arm wrestle or play tug-of-war?

Probabil stiati deja de tipul asta…dar daca nu…aici e:

E destul de amuzant si original in acelasi timp, desi vocea aia poate deveni enervanta cateodata. O sa mai gasiti pe youtube despre el, are si un channel destul de populat.

Perkataan „April Mop“ yang kita kenal sekaran ini, diserap dari bahasa Belanda.

Sedangkan dalam bahasa Inggris lebih dikenal dengan sebutan  „April Fool’s Day“.

Sedangkan di Perancis lebih dikenal dengan sebutan „Poisson d’Avril“ = Ikan April, oleh sebab itulah anak-anak sering saling
mengganggu dengan menggunting gambar ikan dan di tempelkan di punggung lawannya.

Kebalikannya di Spanyol mereka merayakan April Mop itu pada tanggal 28
Desember yang disebut „Dia de los Santos Inocentes“ = Hari anak tak bersalah, oleh sebab itulah juga ketika pemerintah Spanyol mengeluarkan undang-undang baru yang seyogiyanya pada tanggal 28. Desember 1978
diundur sehari agar tidak dijadikan bahan tertawaan ataupun dianggap sebagai lelucon.

April Mop itu adalah hari Dusta, dimana orang dihalalkan untuk berdusta ataupun menyebar luaskan kabar dusta (hoax) sekedar untuk lelucon. Maka
dari itu juga para agamaist di Eropa menilai asal muasal dari April Mop itu,
karena 1 April itu sebenarnya adalah hari lahir dan juga hari kematiannya dari Yudas sang penghianat Yesus. Yudas diidentiskan sebagai iblis sang raja bohong !

Tidak bisa dipastikan mana yang benar asal muasal dari April Mop itu, tetapi yang masuk diakal dan juga banyak diterima oleh kebanyakan orang asal muasal
dari April Mop itu, karena adanya perubahan penanggalan.

Penanggalan Rumawi hanya terdiri dari sepuluh bulan, maka dari itu dahulu mereka merayakan hari Tahun Baru nya pada tanggal 1 April. Kata April diserap dari bahasa Belanda yang berasal bahasa Latin “aprire”
berarti “membuka”. Membuka Tahun Baru ! Maka dari itu juga rakyat Romawi kuno merayakan pesta ini seperti layaknya pesta Karnaval yang disebut Quirinalia pada tanggal 1 April.
 
Pada th 1564 Raja Perancis Karel IX mengadakan perubahan – reform
penanggalan, dari tanggal Rumawi menjadi tanggal Anno Domini seperti yang kita pakai sekarang ini. Oleh sebab itu mereka tidak merayakan tahun baru pada tanggal 1 April lagi, melainkan pada tanggal 1 Januari.
 
Pada saat tesebut belum ada TV/Radio maupun koran, sehingga penyebaran informasi pun sangat lambat sekali. Hal inilah yang menyebabkan banyak rakyatnya jadi telmi (telat mikir), sehingga mereka tetap merayakan hari tahun barunya pada tanggal 1 April. Mereka  yang telmi inilah yang akhirnya menjadi buah tertawaan para penduduk seluruh Perancis pada masa itu. Mulai dari situlah timbul istilah maupun kebiasaan April Mop yang selalu dilakukan
pada tanggal 1 April. Kata Mop itu sendiri diserap dari bahasa Belanda =dongeng !

Ini hanya salah satu versi dari sekian banyak versi-versi lainnya, walaupun demikian berdasarkan peninggalan sejarah telah terbuktikan bahwa April Mop
itu sudah dikenal jauh sebelumnya; di Perancis pada tahun 1508 dan diBelanda 1539.

April Mop bukan hanya disebar luaskan dan dibuat oleh perorangan saja bahkan kantor-kantor media eletronik maupun cetak; turut aktiv menciptakan Hoax –April Mop tersebut.

Di tahun 1957, TV BBC dalam programnya Panorama mentayakang berita, bahwa di Swis orang sudah bisa panen memetik mie Spageti dari pohon, sehingga
BBC kebanjiran pertanyaan bagaimana caranya agar bisa menanam pohon Spageti.

Di Australia siaran TV Seven Network memberitakan, bahwa para pemisra TV sekarang ini bukan hanya sekedar bisa melihat tayangan gambar bunga saja di
layar kacanya, melainkan juga sudah dapat mencium harumnya bunga
tersebut.Teknik canggih terbarunya ini disebut „Smell-o-Vision. Akibatnya jutaan
pemisra menempelkan hidungnya ke layar kaca mereka dengan harapan bisa mencium gambar bunga yang ditayangkan.“

Di Koran „Bergens Titende“- Norwegia diberitakan bahwa kantor bea cukaisetempat telah menyita barang selundupan; berupa jutaan liter minum keras (miras). Kalau ini dibuang begitu saja tentu sangat disayangkan, maka dari itu miras ini akan dibagikan kepada semua rakyatnya. Bagi mereka yang ingin
mendapatkan miras secara gratisan; silahkan bawa botol kosong ke kantor bea cukai. Akibatnya ribuan orang ngantri di depan kantor bea cukai setempat dengan botol kosong.

Di Jerman kantor Telkom setempat peernah dibuat pusing, karena diberitakan bahwa terorist telah mampu memasukan bom peledak secara digital. Virus bom
peledak itu masuk ke dalam pesawat telpon, setelah anda menelpon keluar
kota. Berdasarkan ultimatum dari sang terorist, pada pkl 18.00 sore
waktu setempat bom akan meledak. Cara satu-satunya untuk memunahkan atau
melumpuhkan ledakan bom tersebut ialah dengan memasukan telpon anda ke dalam ember penuh dengan air. Akibatnya ribuan telpon setempat menjadi rusak,
karena terendam air dalam ember

Thirteen months after his audacious escape from detention in Singapore, Mas Selamat Kastari has been caught in Malaysia.

Singapore’s most wanted terrorist was captured on April 1 while hiding in Johor, regional intelligence sources told The Straits Times.

It is believed that he was nabbed in the outskirts of Johor Baru and is now being held by the Malaysian authorities for interrogation.

It is not known how he slipped out of Singapore or when he entered Malaysia.

Although he was arrested six weeks ago, the Malaysian authorities have not yet announced the capture.

A senior Malaysian government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the arrest and said that Mas Selamat was being held under the country’s Internal Security Act.

He declined to say when the terrorist would be handed over to the Singapore authorities.

It is believed that the fugitive had stayed in Johor all this time and had not travelled further north. He is also believed to be detained in Johor.

Sources told The Straits Times that the 48-year-old was tracked down based on intelligence provided by Singapore’s Internal Security Department (ISD), and a joint operation by Malaysia and Singapore’s security agencies eventually led to his arrest.

The capture of Mas Selamat brings to an end one of the largest manhunts ever undertaken by Singapore and its neighbours for a terrorist on the run.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_373899.html