Well the new year here in Melbourne certainly went off with a bang, with thunder and lightning all through the evening and past midnight. A very impressive show.

I’ll just skip back though, as I had some time off work this year, which was quite pleasant. Although I did have to answer a few phone calls and emails during the three days, it wasn’t as bad as I had initially thought, and nothing that couldn’t be solved!

The main reason I was taking time off was that a friend of Jes’ was getting married on 27th December and although it was an evening wedding, I didn’t like to rush getting ready (or recovering!)

It was a beautiful civil ceremony at The Deck at the Prince Hotel in St Kilda. A fairly casual affair, but everyone made an effort, ourselves included. Jes had been asked to take the photos and he obligingly accepted, but then asked me to help out. I was only too happy to help, but mostly just took some casual and back-up shots on my Olympus OM-1N with Ilford HP5 Plus. Most of them were bit hit and miss (as film can be with larger groups – someone always blinks!), but I did manage to get a few keepers.

The next day I spent developing the rolls of film from that wedding, as well as some other outings from previous days. The temperature was warming up though, so after the tap water was too warm, I gave up on that and just tried to keep myself cool in my rapidly heating house!

New Year’s eve dawned hot and sweaty, but a fairly nice day besides. Jes’ friend, Jes and I were going out to shoot the family fireworks at Docklands that evening, hopefully before the storm came in. We had a few cool beers and something to eat then our friend arrived (with two young kids in tow) and we headed down to Docklands while a shelf cloud came in and the wind picked up.

The cool change came through on the way down there, but the storm arrived about an earlier than originally predicted – before the family fireworks. After dithering around a bit about whether I should get my camera out and try and shoot or protect the camera and just watch them, I did get the camera out as soon as they started and shot off about fifty frames or so. Of these, only ten or less are keepers, but it was still worth it. Unfortunately none of us managed to get shots of the frequent lightning down there.

None of our cameras are any the worse for wear with the water, and we spent midnight watching the fireworks from Jes’ balcony. We could see 120 Collins and the reflections of Docklands, all without getting wet (well, any wetter!)

Since the new year, I haven’t been doing too much. I made the snap decision yesterday of getting to buy some things for my approaching trip to Laos and Bangkok. I booked my tickets just before Christmas, seeing a good price. I’m flying out in March for nearly three weeks. Next I’ll start to book flights for Laos from Bangkok, and the accommodation in Bangkok, so I’m not stuck when I arrive!

I picked up a money belt, day pack and sleeping bag, all in a decent sale. The day pack and sleeping bag are both from Pinnacle Outdoors, where I bought my larger bagpack in March last year. The service has been fantastic both times, and this time the prices couldn’t be beaten either! I’ll be heading out again in my lunch break this week to see about a mosquito net and whatever else I have forgotten! I’m hoping to get most of it in the sales, being a tight-arse. There are some good bargains to be had, and thankfully I didn’t hit too many crowds.

Last night I had tickets to see Biffy Clyro at the Hi-Fi Bar, but coincidentally after walking past the venue and not seeing the show listed, I looked it up on the Hi-Fi Bar website and saw that it’s been postponed. Despite being frustrated about it being postponed, I’m frustrated that I didn’t find out until yesterday! I’ve written an email to the Hi-Fi Bar asking why they didn’t at least have a notice up on their door yesterday – if I hadn’t been able to check the website then I would have been standing there at 8pm waiting. Hopefully I can get the refund, but I’m still quite disappointed – I’ve been looking forward to it for months!

After abruptly cancelling an appearance in October, actress Tori Spelling is slated to be back at HSN selling her fashion jewelry line Jan. 11.

Spelling, always a favorite subject of gossip in the tabloids, was no where to be seen earlier this year when she had several shows scheduled on HSN. During that period, the tabloids were having a field day talking about how skinny Spelling was, and the buzz was that she had been hospitalized.

Spelling, who has the reality show “Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood” on Oxygen, has been back on the gossip pages in recent weeks with news that she had mended fences with her mother, Candy Spelling, after a long feud.

Anyway, Spelling is very charming and fun to watch, so we’re glad she is due back on HSN. We can’t be snarky about her. We like her.

Welcome back to The Rival Rundown! If you’ve always wanted to give props to your school on CC, now’s your chance! Shoot us an email explaining what’s awesome and unique about your school (or what stinks about Rival U) at rivalrundown [at] collegecandy.com!

This week we deviate from our typical Rival Rundown in two ways. First, we’ll be covering a (women’s!) basketball rivalry, as the athletic calendar moves into a new season. Second, this rivalry–between the University of Connecticut and the University of Tennessee–has been canceled! Though lauded by Sports Illustrated as one of the most intense rivalries in any sport this decade, in 2007, officials at Tennessee mysteriously elected not to renew their contract to schedule any further seasonal games against UConn.  What makes this rivalry, apart from its shocking termination, unique? Read on to find out!

Quick Facts

UConn: Public land-grant research institution in Storrs, CT with 17,000 undergraduates. Founded in 1881.
Tennessee: Public research institution in Knoxville, TN with 21,000 undergraduates. Founded in 1794.

1. Women’s Basketball Record

UConn: 13-9
Tennessee: 9-13

Three credits to: UConn

2. Coaching Caché

UConn: In Geno Auriemma’s 24-year tenure as head coach of the Lady Huskies, he has transformed the team, which formerly had but one winning season, to 6-time national champions with three perfect seasons and 32 Big East conference titles.
Tennessee: Pat Summitt has been honored for many achievements in her 30-year career, most notably as the all-time winningest basketball coach–of either men or women–in NCAA history.

Three credits to: Tennessee. All-time winningest > three perfect seasons.

3. Fun Facts

UConn: In 2004, UConn became the first and only college to win NCAA titles in both men’s and women’s basketball in the same year.
Tennessee: Nicknamed the Volunteers (or Vols for short), the UT mascot references the state namesake and its historical tradition for residents’ volunteering for service in major American wars.

Three credits to:  UConn. Can your school top that?

4. Ass-Kicking Alumni

UConn: Meg Ryan (attended), Moby (attended),  Rebecca Lobo
Tennessee: Al Gore, Peyton Manning,  Pat Summitt

Three credits to:   Tennessee. Can’t argue with this one!

5. Acceptance Rate Agony

UConn: 54.5%
Tennessee: 64.8%

Three credits to:  UConn

And the diploma goes to: UConn squeaks by to win this rundown. Stay tuned through this season to see if these heated rivals will face one another in March Madness!

The past few years have not been good to television. I think it’s a combination of the bad economy (good shows are expensive to produce) and that people are just getting more vapid (oh look, the Kardashians are on!). I don’t know how I missed this news, but last month Eastwick was cancelled. It was quickly becoming my favorite new show of the season. I thought Flash Forward would take that spot, but we ended up missing so many episodes. V is ok, but just ok. Eastwick was actually really good, so of course, it’s cancelled.

TV is changing, and I don’t like it. Real shows are going away in favor of reality. Now, I don’t dislike all reality shows. I love cooking shows. Anyone who knows me knows that I adore Top Chef. Heck, as much as I make fun of Tyra Banks I’ll still watch America’s Next Top Model as a guilty pleasure show. However, I realize it’s bad tv and take it for what it is.

What bothers me is that good shows, with good acting and good stories, tend to be cancelled because no one watches them. If no one watches a reality show, networks still give it a shot because it’s cheap to make. Remember Once and Again? Of course you don’t. No one watched it. It aired on ABC for three seasons and ended in 2002. It was well written and had amazing actors (with Evan Rachel Wood when she was just a wee girl, not yet tainted by Marilyn Manson…he’s talented but eww).

I still have is Lost, Glee (which is pretty predictable, but I do like the singing), Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Fringe, Family Guy, and Cleveland. These are the shows I watch, but Lost is the only show I actually want to read message boards about the next day. Watercooler shows are becoming things of the past. It’s very sad.

Thank Jeebus for Netflix!

Should this really be shocking? I don’t think so really seeing that Oprah Winfrey is her idol and we all know what Oprah did about a month ago.

Tyra Banks, that one chick who used to be a supermodel, then turned into some host of a reality show about aspiring models, has decided to cancel her two-time Emmy award winning (I know right!?) talk show, The Tyra Banks Show, or simply, Tyra.

After 4 full seasons on the air, Banks has decided that time will run out when the show ends its current 5th season in Spring 2010. The reason?

“My next huge steps will allow me to reach more women and young girls to help us all feel as fierce as we truly are.”

Okay, so that really wasn’t a reason. Lol. But according to Banks, the reason why she wants to take her show off the air (besides follwing in the footsteps of Oprah) is because she wants to focus on building Bankable Studios, the model’s production company. With the company, she promises to provide films geared at insipiring women, old and young.

Hmm, kind of like Oprah did with Precious?

Original.

Oh and check out this hilarious article featuring some of Tyra’s more “interesting” moments.

dOOr cLoSed.

-Damien

Tyra Banks has now announced that The Tyra Show will end after its current season due in Spring 2010. Tyra says she wants to focus on her production company and bringing positive images of women to the big screen. Dont worry America’s Next Top Model is still running lol. Check out the report below:

“This will be the last season of The Tyra Show,” Banks tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I’ve been loving having fun, coming into your living rooms, bedrooms, hair salons for the past 5 years.”

Wrapping at the end of its fifth season in the spring of 2010, it will be lights out for the show that brought viewers memorable weave-exposing, cellulite-revealing and tear-jerking moments.

Banks will focus on the launch of Bankable Studios, a N.Y.-based film production company currently reviewing possible projects. Sticking to her mission, Banks aims to bring “positive images of women to the big screen,” says an industry insider.

“My next huge steps will allow me to reach more women and young girls to help us all feel as fierce as we truly are,” Banks says.

Adds the insider: “Tyra is sad because she’ll be missing so much of the daily connection to her viewers, but excited at the same time to be taking on a new challenge.”

With encouragement from filmmaker Tyler Perry and longtime mentor Oprah Winfrey, Banks is “redefining beauty for women in film,” adds the source. “With Oprah’s big announcement this year, I think that gave Tyra the confidence to get out there and follow her longtime dream of film producing.”

But fashion fiends worry not. America’s Next Top Model is slated to return for its 15th season in February along with Banks’s ABC show True Beauty.

“There’s a lot cooking right now and a lot of fire burning in my heart,” Banks writes in an open letter on her Web site. “And I salute you my amazing family of viewers; without you there never would have been a Tyra Show. I really love you all.” [SOURCE]

One funny thing is with Oprah announcing the cancelation of her show the Emmy award-winning Tyra show was set to be the next runner-up hoping to fill the shoes set, but now its cancelled it seems both women are moving on to bigger and better thing. Wonder who will be next?

So the March 13th, 2010 party at AK’s may not happen after all? No poker, JJ Wings, Beer, and cigar smokes?? All because of a drug test? What you mean you not taking an Olympic style drug test Pacquiao? You would pass up a $45 million payday because of a fear of needles? You lying to us right? You must be trying to hype it up just a little more. I don’t understand! Maybe I am greedy. Maybe I am just thinking of my on selfish plans, shame on me! But I was looking forward to the possibly one of the biggest fights that’s not a heavyweight since Sugar Ray vs. Marvelous!! Now my big night looks to be ruined!

I don’t know about you all, but I would do a whole lot of things that I don’t like for $45 million. And taking a drug test is one of them. It looks to me like somebody didn’t want to fight after all. Either Mayweather for making such a demanding request, or Pacquiao for not wanting to be exposed. Something ain’t right, and now it looks like my March Madness Night may be ruined!!! Thanks needles!

Happy Hour Fail
Due to physical violence
Shit face Mondays have been cancelled

Submitted by: dunno source via Fail Uploader

Yes i know..another Tiger post.

But i like the picture and its my blog so unfortunately you’re stuck with me.

Its the January cover of Golf Digest featuring 10 tips Obama can learn from Tiger.

The cover was already in print before the scandal.

Golf Digest has since suspended Tiger’s monthly instructional articles and released the following statement:

“We respect Tiger’s decision to take a break from professional golf and focus on his family,” a Golf Digest publicist said. “Tiger’s bylined instruction articles will not be published in Golf Digest during his time away from the game.” [Los Angeles Times]

Hands up if you’d rather read Tiger’s articles before or after you knew he was chipping in those birdies (and by birdies i mean those 14 women Tiger boned..just incase you’re a little sleepy).

Apparently, my partner, Aira isn’t feeling well… I mean who would after reading way too much mangas and quizilla stories without stopping to eat (only when it’s breakfast or dinner). She fails. T_T So she didn’t get to officially approving the stories that are supposed to come out today and I wouldn’t want to publish it with only 1 approval. Please be patient once again. I’ll get her to be in ship shape again!!!

I wonder if she has a stomach ache, diarrhea or something. Hahaha.

We are discontinuing catalog updates, we’re very sorry . From now, TRBT will provide you with quality news, fun stuff, test server news, and a lot more. Thank you!

- Founder

We decided to cancel today’s taping of Moore Up North due to weather conditions.  This week, we had guests that were supposed to commute from the Valley.  In the interests of everyone’s safety, we will reschedule early next week.  Please check back for details right here at www.shannynmoore.com

Our next scheduled taping is Thursday, January 7 at 5pm at Bernie’s Bungalow Lounge.

Thanks for your continued interest and support!

The Moore Up North Team!

“It’s On With Alexa Chung” will not be returning after the 2nd season finale on December 17th.

I’m kind of sad to see it go, it was the only show on MTV I could even stand watching anymore. What happened to all the music, MTV?

It has been announced that the MTV show It’s On With Alexa Chung has been canceled and not returning for a third season. I’ll admit that I watched this quite a lot when it first debuted in the summer and even when it came back the second time around. The show was basically a way to hear the daily gossip and interviews with celebrities. The finale of the show will air on December 17th.

Alexa is actually quite funny and I won’t be surprised if she doesn’t get another show soon. Too many shows are getting cancelled or not being picked up for another season. It was just also recently announced that Flight of The Conchords won’t be returning for a third season. That is a real disappointment because I loved that show. I’m hoping they replace these decent shows with actual good quality shows and not with more trashy reality shows.

I don’t wanna be that guy who says “I was into Flight of the Conchords before being into Flight of the Conchords was cool”, but I was totally into Flight of the Conchords before being into Flight of the Conchords was cool. 

But now sadly, that flight has come to an end, as well as any cred that may have been clinging ever so perilously to my bragging rights – which nobody ever gave a flip about anyway.

This show gained cult status pretty quickly (can it be cult if it’s still on the air??) and in the process formed two very distinct brands of fans – those who think Jermaine is the super-awesomest and those who had the wrong opinion about who is the super-awesomest.

Regardless, because they became so popular so quickly, it’s tough to pick a clip that is THE definitive fan favorite, so instead I’ll just post mine.  Enjoy.  We’ll miss you, boys. You were the most beautiful band in the room. 

The whole wide room.

DISCLAIMER:  I am not affiliated with  Kathy Griffin.  Also, she is not PROMISED to come but I am hoping she will join us on the Sex and the City tour bus when she comes to NYC.  Nothing is set in stone

Please join On Tour Locations (www.screentours.com) and me tomorrow for some D-LIST HISTORY! SPREAD THE WORD – even if you can’t go!!

COME HELP GET KATHY GRIFFIN BACK TO NEW YORK CITY

WHERE: THE PULITZER FOUNTAIN ACROSS FROM THE PLAZA HOTEL
(Take the N, R, W to the “Fifth Avenue-59th Street” Stop)

WHEN: 10:30AM

MORE INFO: We are in talks with comedienne Kathy Griffin and her people to bring her to NYC to come on the official Sex and the City Tour! There will be a donation in her name for the wonderful organization, Broadway Speaks OUT (www.broadwayspeaksout.com).

She has expressed interest, so to make it even better – we are putting together a video that her and her team will watch! SHE WILL NOT BE THERE TOMORROW, BUT SHE WILL BE WATCHING THE VIDEO WE WILL MAKE!!

You’ll be there for about a half hour starting around 10:30AM cheering, holding signs and maybe being interviewed! Bring any Kathy books, CD’s, DVD, or props. Come as you are, bring friends and be ready for a good time!

If you have anymore questions- please message me!

Neal
Fanpage: Neal B. in NYC
www.nealbinnyc.wordpress.com

…CBS canceled “As the World Turns” on Tuesday, putting the company that coined the phrase “soap operas” out of the business of making daytime dramas for the first time in 76 years.
“As the World Turns” has been on the air since 1956 and televised its 13,661st episode Tuesday. Its last episode will be next September, the network said.

It’s the second daytime drama CBS has canceled in a year, after “Guiding Light.” Both shows were produced by a subsidiary of Procter & Gamble, the company for which the term “soap operas” was created because it used the shows to hawk products like Ivory soap and Duz laundry detergent.

Daytime dramas have been fading as a genre for years with more women joining the work force and the increased number of channels offering alternatives like news, talk, reality and game shows… Read full article…

“Hereby cancelled, voided, avoided, nullified, set aside and is of no further force and effect”

This is the BBC’s quote of the day for Thursday 26th November, it’s the quote of a judge deciding in favour of a couple who were set to lose their house because of debt. He ruled against the banks and scrapped the $500,000 debt as the banks were apparently unfair in their administration of the debt. The couple in question must have felt such a relief! They “went to court expecting to be evicted after interest and penalties on their mortgage took their debts to $500,000 (about £300,000). But as the bank had rejected their every attempt to settle the debt, the judge branded the bank “repulsive” and wiped their slate clean”. Totally clean!

Not a perfect picture, but nonetheless a reminder that our debt against God has totally been ripped up to. He’s said to me :

“Sarah your debt is hereby cancelled, voided, avoided, nullified, set aside and is of no further force and effect”.

And this is true for all who trust in Jesus And my debt wasn’t unfair to begin with, I owed it but now I don’t – Jesus has paid the price!

woop!

ROCKY the PUGGLE

Wakefield, RI to Indianapolis, IN
December 12, 2009

UPDATE: Rocky’s foster mom has gotten a few inquiries for him in the short time he’s been with her and she’s really enjoying having him around so he’s going to stay with her and we’re going to try and place him locally.

Rocky’s parents were going to put him down last weekend because he is food aggressive. Through the magic of the internet, his plight ended up in my Inbox, and a rescue was found who was willing to take him in. He is in a temporary foster home now, but he needs to move all the way to Indianapolis on Saturday the 12th so he can hitch a ride the rest of the way to Minneapolis with another transport of mine on the 13th. It starts early and it runs late, and I apologize for that, but he’s got a LONG way to go on his first day!

Rocky

No Rocky Roads for this puggle – please help him get to his rescue!!

Please, please, please – I need crossposting help from EVERYONE!!

Transport Coordinator:
PLEASE CONTACT DIRECTLY IF YOU CAN HELP
Kelly Gibson
mdgrrrl@msn.com

Please provide the following:
Leg offered:
First & Last Name:
Location (city/state):
Please provide full address if volunteering for an overnight.
Email:
Is email available from home or only work?
Home phone:
Cell phone:
Vehicle make/model/color/etc:
Name of coordinators or groups for whom you’ve driven before. If none, please give vet name and contact number.
Recommended meeting place, if any:

Passenger details are at the bottom of the post.

SATURDAY, DEC 12

LEG 1: Wakefield, RI to New Haven, CT
86.3 miles; 1 hr 34 min
7:00 AM – 8:30 AM EST
***NEEDED***

LEG 2: New Haven, CT to Hackensack, NJ
79.5 miles; 1 hr 20 min
8:40 AM – 10:00 AM EST
***NEEDED***

LEG 3: Hackensack, NJ to Annandale, NJ
57 miles; 57 min
10:10 AM – 11:10 AM EST
***NEEDED***

LEG 4: Annandale, NJ to Allentown, PA
41.3 miles; 41 min
11:20 AM – 12:00 PM EST
Filled – thank you Cheryl!!

LEG 5: Allentown, PA to Harrisburg, PA
73.9 miles; 1 hr 8 min
12:10 PM – 1:20 PM EST
Filled – thank you Dan & Sue!!

LEG 6: Harrisburg, PA to Breezewood, PA
81.8 miles; 1 hr 18 min
1:30 PM – 2:50 PM EST
Filled – thank you Peggy!!

LEG 7: Breezewood, PA to New Stanton, PA
87.8 miles; 1 hr 20 min
3:00 PM – 4:20 PM EST
Filled – thank you Janet!!

LEG 8: New Stanton, PA to Wheeling, WV
71.2 miles; 1 hr 8 min
4:30 PM – 5:40 PM EST
Filled – thank you Rosanna!!

LEG 9: Wheeling, WV to Zanesville, OH
73 miles; 1 hr 12 min
5:50 PM – 7:00 PM EST
***NEEDED***

LEG 10: Zanesville, OH to Columbus, OH
61 miles; 1 hr
7:10 PM – 8:10 PM EST
***NEEDED***

LEG 11: Columbus, OH to Richmond, IN
96.3 miles; 1 hr 28 min
8:20 PM – 9:50 PM EST
***NEEDED***

LEG 12: Richmond, IN to Indianapolis, IN
67.2 miles; 1 hr 4 min
10:00 PM – 11:05 PM EST
Filled – thank you Nichole!!

OVERNIGHT IN / AROUND INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Filled – thank you Nichole!!

Rocky joins another transport on Sunday morning.

*************************************
PASSENGER DETAILS
NOTE: All dogs on the transport are UTD on shots and will be accompanied by a health certificate.
*************************************

RECEIVER:
Wags & Whiskers
Minneapolis, MN
www.wagsmn.com
Katie Archambault

SENDER:
Kelly Gibson
Puggles & Pitties
San Diego, CA

http://pugglesnpitties.petfinder.com

In temporary foster with:
Celeste Long
Wakefield, RI

PASSENGER:

ROCKY
Male puggle
Approx 2 yrs old
Will be UTD on shots before transport
Already neutered
FOOD AGGRESSIVE – do not allow him near ANY food or treats, whether intended for dogs or humans!!

Hey Guys!

I have some Christmas things for you!

NOTE: The following image is not directed at you! It is for me!

To bad for you guys, so sorry!

Also, I am trying to decorate my site and make it very Christmas like, so you may see a few changes soon!

Thanks!
~Brandon