July 30, 2012

RIP Tony Martin (wow he lived to age 98)

http://www.news.com.au/news/butterscotch-baritone-dead-at-98/story-fnejlvvj-1226439035652


'Butterscotch baritone' dead at 98


AP
July 31, 2012 4:08AM


Read more: http://www.news.com.au/news/butterscotch-baritone-dead-at-98/story-fnejlvvj-1226439035652#ixzz2297sY14L


TONY Martin, the romantic singer who appeared in movie musicals from the 1930s to the 1950s, has died, aged 98.

Martin also sustained a career in records, television and nightclubs from the Depression era into the 21st century.

He died of natural causes on Friday evening at his West Los Angeles home, his friend and accountant Beverly Scott said yesterday.

A peer of Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, Martin sang full voice in a warm baritone that carried special appeal for his female audience. Among his hit recordings were "I Get Ideas," ''To Each His Own," ''Begin the Beguine" and "There's No Tomorrow

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July 30, 2012

Another NFL suicide.. (Titans player)

A guy named Murdock.. he was only 25


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/nfl/07/30/oj-murdock-dead-suicide.ap/index.html

July 30, 2012

Is NBC covering the next Olympics too?

Here's hoping that someone tells them (or whoever is covering it) that people have access to the internet and don't need to watch all their schmaltzy commercials..or to wait to watch a re-run of events available online in real-time.

I'm old enough to remember the old-timey coverage where you would set your alarm clock to watch something that was on in the wee hours .(pre-vcr days), and how wonderful it was when the Olympics was on because then the stations actually had something on after the midnight sign offs.

If they want us to know all the back-stories of the athletes, why not a 2 or 3 night multi-hour special where all of them are profiled.

And then when the games begin, just set up cameras, and let us watch..

I don't need to know what Bob Costas had for lunch, or how much Dr Nancy liked the Shepherds' Pie..

A week before the events, just give us a leisurely tour of the events ahead, tell us about the athletes, and then just show the damned sports when they are happening..

And perhaps have someone film start-to finish footage of each event, and offer it as pay-per view later

July 30, 2012

11:36AM PST live-streaming swimming finals..link inside

They are coming up soon

http://tvpc.com/Channel.php?ChannelID=2620

July 30, 2012

Ann's dancing horse must not have made the cut

dressage is over and no mention of the horse....and today's cross country is well underway.. only one US rider ..and no Rafalca..

July 29, 2012

Wow.. single man sailing is INTENSE

I am LOVING BBC24's coverage..

Have watched archery, water-soccer (polo ), the womens cycle roadrace in the pouring rain, men's fencing, 2 men's scull, rifle shooting..and more

and NO COMMERCIALS..

July 29, 2012

Found an easy ..BBC live stream..no ads

http://tvpc.com/Channel.php?ChannelID=3

July 29, 2012

2012 London Olympics: Empty Seats on Day One Prompt Urgent Investigation

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/367905/20120729/london-olympics-2012-tickets-beach-volleyball-swimming.htm



2012 London Olympics: Empty Seats on Day One Prompt Urgent Investigation

Vacant seats visible even at venues of popular events such as swimming, gymnastics and beach volleyball

By Geetha Pillai: Subscribe to Geetha's RSS feed

July 29, 2012 6:54 AM GMT

Olympic organisers Locog have launched an urgent investigation into a large number of vacant seats at some of the Olympic venues on the first day of the London Games. Rows of vacant seats were visible at a number of venues including the Aquatics Centre, basketball arena and at Wimbledon for tennis. Seats were also seen vacant at gymnastics, handball, volleyball and badminton venues. Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt expressed his concern and said he was disappointed at the empty seats on a school holiday. "Locog are doing a full investigation into what happened," Hunt told broadcaster BBC One.

"It's a shame this happened, but we are going to do everything we can to make sure we fill up these stadia," Hunt added. Seats remain vacant at the venues at a time when members of the public are desperately trying to get tickets for the Games. People paid a sky high £2,012 for the opening ceremony on 27 July.

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"I thought the least I could do was go and see them (the gymansts) and I'm watching them on television and the place is half empty and that's a shame. I would have paid whatever it takes to see them," a gymnastics enthusiast told Reuters. The vacant seats were believed to belong to government bodies and the media. "We think it was accredited seats that belong to sponsors, but if they are not going to turn up, we want those tickets to be available for members of the public, because that creates the best atmosphere. So we are looking at this very urgently at the moment," said Hunt.

snip

"Where there are empty seats, we will look at who should have been sitting in the seats, and why they did not attend. Early indications are that the empty seats are in accredited seating areas, but this is day one, and our end of day review will provide a fuller picture," Locog said in a statement.

July 28, 2012

Olympic Opening Ceremony 2012: The 17 Worst Outfits of the Night

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1275750-olympic-opening-ceremony-2012-the-17-worst-outfits-of-the-night

cheecky article & slideshow..

Poor UK.. They went with Elvis




It was ironic that David Bowie's "Heroes" was playing as Team GB entered the Olympic Stadium wearing its gold-shouldered unis, because these awful uniforms made these wonderful athletes look something like Ziggy Stardust.

The women in front, on the other hand, looked like they’re going to a prom. In 1974.

Either that or they're the worst bridesmaid dresses ever.


http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1272327-olympic-medal-count-2012-updated-tracker-standings-and-list-of-winners

July 28, 2012

Mormons quit church in mass resignation ceremony

From last month, but I missed this story completely

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-06-30/news/sns-rt-us-usa-utah-mormonsbre86000n-20120630_1_mormon-culture-church-spokesman-president-brigham-young

Mormons quit church in mass resignation ceremony
June 30, 2012|Jennifer Dobner | Reuters



SALT LAKE CITY (Reuters) - A group of about 150 Mormons quit their church in a mass resignation ceremony in Salt Lake City on Saturday in a rare display of defiance ending decades of disagreement for some over issues ranging from polygamy to gay marriage. Participants from Utah, Arizona, Idaho and elsewhere gathered in a public park to sign a "Declaration of Independence from Mormonism." "This feels awesome," said Alison Lucas, from West Jordan, Utah, who took part in the rally amid soaring temperatures. "I don't know if I would have had the courage except in a group." The Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is known for its culture of obedience, and the mass ceremony was a seldom-seen act of collective revolt.

After gathering in the park, participants hiked a half-mile up nearby Ensign Peak, scaled in 1847 by church President Brigham Young to survey the spot where his Latter-day Saints would build a city.

At the top, those gathered gave three loud shouts of "Freedom," cheered, clapped and hugged.

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