Crunchy Mustard

WOW.

So, last night (or yesterday at noon for the hardcore fans), Battlestar Galactica premiered its fourth and final season.

I just finished watching the season premiere. If I were to sum it up, it would something like OMFG! (oh my fracking gods).

This has to be up there among the best ways to open a season. My heart was beating so hard, so fast, that I could actually hear it over the sound of the show.

Twists and turns, you’ll find yourself yelling OMG! and WTF! every couple of centons - unit of time used to indicate one colonial “second” on the original Battlestar Galactica series (1979).

Very, very , very badass.

In this photo we see the fantastic Russian President Vladimir Putin as he fishes in the Yenisei River in Siberia. Mr. Poopin was touring the area with Prince Albert II of Monaco.

More you say? OK!

Want to learn the work out YOU NEED for Vladimir’s hot bod? Pick up your local copy of Komsomolskaya Pravda.

Meanwhile, (in news that actually matters) I was able to get my hands on a copy of Blowing Up Russia: The Secret Plot to Bring Back KGB Terror (sadly only signed by one of the authors). My parents were fortunate enough to attend an interview with Mr. Yuri Felshtinsky. The coauthor, Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned with a hideously lethal dose of polonium-210 by the resurging “KGB” (aka the FSB) of Russian.

Understanding the total devolution Russian is undergoing is mind-numbingly hideous. They’re stepping right back into their Soviet past, and this book does an excellent job of pointing out every Russian misstep the world is missing.

From the editorial note at Amazon:

Blowing Up Russia contains the allegations of ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko against his former spymasters in Moscow which led to his being murdered in London in November 2006. In the book he and historian Yuri Felshtinsky detail how since 1999 the Russian secret service has been hatching a plot to return to the terror that was the hallmark of the KGB. Vividly written and based on Litvinenko’s 20 years of insider knowledge of Russian spy campaigns, Blowing Up Russia describes how the successor of the KGB fabricated terrorist attacks and launched a war. Writing about Litvinenko, the surviving co-author recounts how the banning of the book in Russia led to three earlier deaths.

A bit more about Litvienko and Putin:

This book is not about the murder of Alexander Litvinenko. But it is the book that got him murdered. If you imagine Russia as a nation on the mend from its communist sickness, think again. The former KGB and FSB operative (Litvienko) and his academic friend (Felshtinsky) published their book in Russia and it enraged Don Vito Putin. […] As Litvenko lay dying he wrote the following to Putin:

“You may succeed in silencing me but that silence comes at a price. You have shown yourself to be as barbaric and ruthless as your most hostile critics have claimed.

“You have shown yourself to have no respect for life, liberty or any civilized value.”

And more:

BOOM! - In late 2003 nearly 4,500 copies of this book were seized and confiscated by the Russian Secret Service (FSB) as they tried to make their way from Latvia printing presses into Moscow. And no wonder. This book focuses on how elements of the old Soviet regime sought to steer Russia away from the liberal reforms since the fall of the old USSR. The multiple apartment bombings which ripped across the country in 1999, killing hundreds, were more than suspicious. The ‘terrorists’ were condemned and the tragedies quickly used as an excuse to drag Russia into a second wretched war with Chechnya which continues to this day. The book’s spotlight on the attempted bombing in Ryazan leaves little doubt as to who the enemy really was.

Still not convinced Russia is evil? I leave you to the 2.6 million hits at Google and La Russophobe.

In case you’re not a regular of the celebrity blogosphere: Lindsay Lohan’s “sober” butt has been busted again.

Lohan was busted for driving under the influence again this morning in Santa Monica. The police department says that she was involved in some sort of car chase with a Cadillac Escalade, while she was driving a Denali. She was first busted for driving with a suspended license. THEN she failed the booze test AND THEN (TMZ reports) cocaine was found in the pockets of her pants. Her blood alcohol level was apparently between .12 and .13, WAY WAY over the .08 legal limit.

Her bail was set at $25,000 and she was quickly released.

ALSO: Apparently the alcohol detector she was wearing was a fake (or so TMZ says.) The anklet had nothing to do with her arrest.

To top it all off, her court date for this DUI was set for this morning while the DUI she was busted for around Memorial Day is this afternoon. OH NO! Her attorney said this:

“Addiction is a terrible and vicious disease. Since Lindsay transitioned to outpatient care, she has been monitored on a SCRAM bracelet and tested daily in order to support her sobriety. Throughout this period, I have received timely and accurate reports from the testing companies. Unfortunately, late yesterday I was informed that Lindsay had relapsed. The bracelet has now been removed. She is safe, out of custody and presently receiving medical care.”

Just don’t get in the car next time Lindsay… that’s just plain stupidity.

Main Source: DListed

Via Filipino Martin Aquino’s blog:

A Philippine girl has allegedly committed suicide over a fake version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. According to blogger Martin Aquino who heard the story via a Philippine radio news report, the mother and daughter had downloaded what they believed was a legitimate copy of the latest and final Harry Potter novel.

Sadly for the girl, the book was a fake, and detailed a gruesome end to Harry Potter and each of his friends.

The girl’s mother stated that her daughter was extremely upset over this fact and locked herself in her room. When the mother finally came up to get her daughter for dinner, she found that the young girl had hanged herself in her closet with rolled bedsheets and a nightgown.

Apparently, this girl was a Harry Potter fanatic: her room was filled with figurines, models, posters, toys, dolls, and the six other books.

So far, there hasn’t been much backing up this story except one other forum post I found via Google.

I believe it! After hearing about how wild people go with ruining the final book and whatnot, I feel like some people would wrap their entire lives around it.

Please note: this article talks about satellite radio. Not amateur radio (which is often referred to as “ham radio.”) I just like the spunk of the phrase.

Leave it to the Catholic Church and Cardinal Egan (the archbishop of New York) to place their blessings upon a corporate merger and join the group of companies and organizations looking to get more information to the people, cheaper.

This latest endorsement is simply one of a long history of merchandising deals and corporate sponsorships from the Catholic Church. However, the organization has yet to endorse anything like the pending proceedings between Sirius Satellite Radio and rival XM radio.

The blessing came through an editorial in Friday’s New York Post by His Eminence. According to the Cardinal, such a merger would stand as a symbol of the Catholic Church’s mission to spread messages to the faithful. “The Catholic Channel and Sirius Satellite Radio present a unique opportunity for the church to speak with people — Catholic and non-Catholic alike,” wrote Egan.

XM and Sirius were certainly overcome by such Godly praise. “We are extremely pleased to receive support from such a highly regarded and influential spiritual leader,” said Gary Parsons, Chairman of XM, and Mel Karmazin, CEO of Sirius, in a joint statement.

However, a union by two large companies does not happen right away. To ensure that no sort of monopoly can be created, the companies must receive permission from the F.C.C. (a US government regulator) and positive comments from many different organizations. So far, the merger has received 20 of these comments from the N.A.A.C.P. and League of United Latin American Citizens, American Trucking Associations, National Council of Women’s Organizations, and the League of Rural Voters.

Right now, the two companies are expecting to move forward together by the end of 2007.

Original Source: Portfolio.com

Snap, Crackle, Done! The Kellog company, which made the cereals you loved as a kid (or your children currently eat now), has officially stated that they would phase out advertising its products to children under age 12 unless the foods meet specific nutrition guidelines for calories, sugar, fat, and sodium. Kellog also stated that they would discontinue the use of licensed characters or branded toys to promote their foods unless they passed those certain guidelines as well.

Has hell frozen over? Will Toucan Sam be NO MORE?!

Sadly, this is true. These voluntary changes to be made by Kellog will wipe out Rice Krispies (I KNOW! Right?! Apparently, too much sodium), Cocoa Krispies, Apple Jacks, Honey Smacks, and finally… Froot Loops. Strangely enough, the two cereals that actually make the cut are Frosted Flakes and Rice Krispies with Real Strawberries. However, the aforementioned cereals in fact DO have a chance if they undergo reformulation that does not affect the taste.

If the product cannot be reformulated, it will either be marketed towards the 12 and over crowd, or will simply not be advertised at all.

This move is voluntary, and you may wonder why Kellog would make a move like this. Apparently, the threats of a lawsuit by two advocacy groups for children against Viacom prompted Kellog to reevaluate their situation. Kellog will now include a small “nutrition at a glance” section at the top of each box highlighting the amount of calories, sugar, and more.

Hmph. I prefer my sugar-coated, alien-colored, milk-melting Froot Loops thank-you-very-much!

Source: NYTimes Thursday Edition.

Dubai has decided that they’re going to recreate the world - or a world map made up of “small” islands off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. Sand has been dredged from the sea’s bottom to create these islands. “The World” archipelago is the brainchild of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai - I wish I could just pick up my things and create my own billion dollar archipelago.

Each island ranges from 23,000 m² to 84,000 m² (250,000–900,000 square feet or 5.7–21 acres) in size, with 50–100 m of water between each island. The development will cover an area of 9 km in length and 6 km in width, surrounded by an oval breakwater. The only means of transport between the islands will be by boat and helicopter. Prices for the islands will range from $15 million (USD) to $45 million (USD). The average price for an island will be around $25 million (USD). Dredging started in 2004 and in March of 2007 The World is around 90% complete.

So far the first celebrity to jump on the project has been Tommy Lee who plans to make a home for his ex-wife Pamela Anderson and sons there.

Dubai has naturally become a hotspot for the rich and famous (including David and Victoria Becham!) The city boasts amusements like an indoor ski resort and a sailboat hotel half under-water. Niceee.

In case you were unaware… Crunchy Mustard is home to a few fishermen. “Oh?” you say in disbelief? Say no more!

From the Star-Ledger:

TOP CATCHES
Capt. Art Hilliard ran his first trip of the season with the Eagle, and tried clamming down the beach on Saturday. The Moye Equipment Co. party had a good pick of stripers, including a couple of keepers plus a 16-inch flounder on a bass rig. When that slowed, Hilliard tried a few spots on Flynn’s Knoll, where more shorts and another keeper were hooked. Ryan Ciocca of Philadelphia took the pool with a 31-inch striper.

Just to clarify, I caught the flounder. THAT’S RIGHT! ON A BASS RIG! Holy smokes. Christian caught a keeper, while Ryan clearly won the prize. This is what he had to say:

Ryan (12:20:48 AM): I am the best fisherman in all of the world
Lara (12:21:31 AM): yup
Lara (12:22:08 AM): you caught the biggest one all day
Lara (12:22:17 AM): out of all the boats that reported
Ryan (12:23:35 AM): ergo, why i am the master fisherman
Lara (12:23:40 AM): right

Ahoy Matey!