Manoa

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Especially since he usually has a [censored]-eating grin on his face as he runs it past me.

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I see he's caught you in his web of poo humor...

Darn, I'm posting after TA! Well, I guess I'll give this a try anyway!



Character Name

The Baffling Crazy Old Cat Lady



(Short) Description of the character concept

An crazy old neighborhood cat lady who received super powers from a magical stray kitten (Claws/SR Scrapper). A screenie of her bio can be found here.



(Short) Description of the character's look

Old lady with white button-up shirt, lavender "cardigan" (open uniform jacket), purple-on-lavender plaid skirt, lavender knee-highs, white sneakers...and of course, a little brown shoulder kitten. The best screenie I have of her ATM can be found here.

*groan*

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I really dislike the turn this thread has taken.

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*sigh* I know...

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Eating poop™ can make you sick. Film at 11.

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Eating FAKE poop™ can make you sick, Film at 11!

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You just can't win.

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You should not be eating fake Poop™ anyway, fake Poop™ is usually manufactured in China and may contain trace amounts of lead as well as other chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer.

Only consume authentic licensed Poop™.

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You're having way too much fun with this...

Poo themed candy? Ew! No wonder there's a samonella problem!

I think that's the oldest 2-year-old I've ever set eyes on...

Sacramento is such a classy place to live...

/sarcasm

Frickin' embarrassing!

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Lance Armstrong's $10,000 bike stolen in Sacramento; three teammates lose theirs
Sacbee.com
By Ed Fletcher
Published Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009

How's this for boosting Sacramento's world image?

Sacramento police are looking for leads in a high-profile caper: The case of Lance Armstrong's missing $10,000-plus time trial bike.

Early this morning, officials from Armstrong's Team Astana and Armstrong himself reported on their twitter.com feeds that the one-of-a-kind black and gold bike that he used Saturday in the Sacramento prologue and three other teammates' bikes were stolen from a team truck.

"Bad way to start the morning ... Bikes stolen from the truck last night," reads the Team Astana feed.

As the police began their investigation, the race rolled on. It started at noon in Davis, and was to end 108 miles later in Santa Rosa. The race has most of the greatest riders in the world, but Armstrong, a seven time Tour de France winner just returning from competitive cycling, is the rock star.

The bikes were stolen from an unmarked moving truck parked in the alley behind the Residence Inn at 1501 L St. between 10 p.m. Saturday and 6:45 a.m. Sunday when the theft was discovered, said officer Konrad Von Schoech, a spokesman for the Sacramento Police Department.

No other vehicles break-ins were reported, said Von Schoech.

The case has been assigned to a detective and officers are in the process of collecting and reviewing surveillance footage from the Residence Inn and nearby businesses.

Von Schoech said it's possible the thief or thieves were not targeting Armstrong.

"We don't have any information that would indicate they specially went after his bike," he said.

Armstrong, who could not be reached prior to the race, posted a picture of the bike on his twitter feed writing: "There is only one like it in the world therefore hard to pawn it off."

The police were contacting local pawn shops just in case.

Von Schoech said it was "very unfortunate" to have something like this happen while the world is watching.

"This is not just a property crime ... these bikes are in the thousands and thousands of dollars," said Von Schoech. "This is definitely different: this is a high-profile victim, during a high-profile event, and a high value object."

*gasp* *wheeze*

Meg, my guts hurt from laughing too much! I see that you irked her so much that she didn't even include your Utili-Kilt when you were snapped into RL form.

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Manoa quoted:

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He went on to dismiss fears of a possible backlash from fans. "If people are going to have problems with it, that's their issue", Rucka said. "That's certainly not mine."

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Yeah, right. They know their fans. They're going to get rich off these 12 issues.

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Yep...it's pretty evident why DC chose Batwoman instead of say, a male character.

In other news...

Took 'em long enough!

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Lesbian Batwoman is DC Comics' first gay superhero
DC Comics have unveiled their first openly gay superhero - a sapphic socialite called Batwoman.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Caroline Hedley in Los Angeles
Last Updated: 7:43AM GMT 11 Feb 2009

The flame-haired lesbian crime-fighter is taking over from Bruce Wayne, who suffered an untimely demise in a recent issue of Detective Comics' longest-running series.

For over 60 years, Wayne has fronted the iconic Batman publication. His apparent passing has paved the way for Batwoman - who is described as a "lesbian socialite by night and a crime-fighter by later in the night" - to take over the reigns for at least 12 issues in a run that begins this June.

Writer Greg Rucka told the Comic Book Resources website that the introduction of a lesbian character into the DC roster was "long overdue". "We have been waiting to unlock her," he said. "Yes, she's a lesbian. She's also a redhead. It is an element of her character. It is not her character".

He went on to dismiss fears of a possible backlash from fans. "If people are going to have problems with it, that's their issue", Rucka said. "That's certainly not mine."

Batwoman - whose alter-ego is Katherine "Kate" Kane - was introduced into the DC character stable in 1956 as a love interest for the Dark Knight. Her appearance helped stifle persisting rumours about Batman's own sexuality.

She was first 'outed' by her creators in 2006 as a former lover of Gotham City police detective Renee Montoya. She has made cameo appearances in the comic series, but her elevation to alpha superhero has been celebrated by gay rights groups.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation praised DC for their efforts to diversify their characters.

Writers have refused to confirm whether Batman may be reincarnated in a future issue, saying simply that he is "elsewhere".

*peeks inside the Artz forum*

/unlurk

Lovely work LJ! I love how you were able capture Sassy's real life essence in this piece.

/lurk

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Sad but needs to be put up.

Young hero died protecting sister from molester

A seven-year-old boy who died defending his older sister from a potential rapist has been honoured posthumously. Zhenya Tabakov's mother received the order of courage medal on behalf of her son.

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That's.... somehow both numbingly tragic and yet very uplifting. That somebody so young could find the strength and courage to take up arms against an attacker many times his size out of love for his sister. I think it goes to show how important character and belief are in a person growing up today. I know that everybody wants to believe that they would do the same thing in such a circumstance, I know I would. But until it happens, you never know how you'll react, or if you can summon up your faith and courage to do what you think needs to be done. I'm glad this boy was able to do that, and I wish that it didn't have to cost him his life.

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I'd respond with something of my own, but I doubt anyone could say it any better than Meg just did.

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Same here...well put Meg.

Crazy [censored]!

Courtesy of Rabbi Simca...

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Construction signs warn of zombies: Hackers change public safety message
Austin News - KXAN.com
By: Shannon Wolfson
Last Edited: Thursday, 29 Jan 2009, 5:12 PM CST
Created On: Wednesday, 28 Jan 2009, 8:29 PM CST

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin drivers making their morning commute were in for a surprise when two road signs on a busy stretch of road were taken over by hackers. The signs near the intersection of Lamar and Martin Luther King boulevards usually warn drivers about upcoming construction, but Monday morning they warned of "zombies ahead."

"I thought it was pretty funny," said University of Texas sophomore Jane Shin, who saw the signs while driving down Lamar Bouelvard with friends Sunday night. "We wondered who did it."

The City of Austin does not own the signs, but they are responsible for the message. The contractor on the construction project owns the signs. A city spokesperson said the hacked messages were only up for a few hours, until the construction project manager saw them during his morning commute and immediately ordered them to be changed back.

"Even though this may seem amusing to a lot of people, this is really serious, and it is a crime," said Austin Public Works spokesperson Sara Hartley. "And you can be indicted for it, and we want to make sure our traffic on the roadways stays safe."

Hartley said though it was a locked sign, the padlock for it was cut. Signs such as these have a computer inside that is password-protected.

"And so they had to break in and hack into the computer to do it, so they were pretty determined," said Hartley.

This crime is a class C misdemeanor in Texas, and Hartley said it endangers the public.

"The big problem is public safety," said Hartley. "Those signs are out there to help our traffic on the roadway to stay safe and to know what's coming up."

KXAN Austin News cameras caught many drivers slowing down to read the signs as they approached. Some read, "Zombies ahead! Run for your lives!"

Hartley said the city will discuss more secure safety measures with the manufacturer of the signs.

Speculation among the tech-savvy on the Internet is that the signs were inspired by the video game Call of Duty 5, World at War, which is the top game in the country right now and features "nazi zombies," or an upcoming movie about zombies called "Dead Snow" (an official selection at Sundance '09). There are also several online sites that teach people how to break into these construction signs.

Do you believe in zombies? Do you have a zombie escape plan? Let us know what you think about zombies by participating in our message board .

Man, I forgot how totally awesome this thread was...

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Hey folks,

Check out the latest installment of the Hero vs. Villain Videos.

Hero & Villain Video #3!

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They keep getting better and better! My guts hurt so much from laughing from this last one!

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Every good thing must come to an end... it's inevitable. Why television writers don't seem to plan for that is beyond me.

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Because in the world of American television, ratings and revenue will more often than not trump good story telling.

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I heard about Ricardo Montalban on my way home from work last night and literally had a hand over the mouth "oh no" moment. I know he's Khan to many here but he will always be Mr. Roake to me.

Move over, Saint Peter. When I get to heaven, I want Ricardo Montalban to welcome me to Fantasy Island.

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I read your post to Somber and and at the St. Peter part, he just nodded his head approvingly and said, "Yes....yes..."

Goodbye Khan

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Ricardo Montalban dies at 88
Associated Press
By Bob Thomas, Associated Press Writer
January 14, 2008

LOS ANGELES – Ricardo Montalban, the Mexican-born actor who became a star in splashy MGM musicals and later as the wish-fulfilling Mr. Roarke in TV's "Fantasy Island," died Wednesday morning at his home, a city councilman said. He was 88.

Montalban's death was announced at a city council meeting by president Eric Garcetti, who represents the district where the actor lived. Garcetti did not give a cause of death.

"What you saw on the screen and on television and on talk shows, this very courtly, modest, dignified individual, that's exactly who he was," said Montalban's longtime friend and publicist David Brokaw.

Montalban had been a star in Mexican movies when MGM brought him to Hollywood in 1946. He was cast in the leading role opposite Esther Williams in "Fiesta," and starred again with the swimming beauty in "On an Island with You" and "Neptune's Daughter."

But Montalban was best known as the faintly mysterious, white-suited Mr. Roarke, who presided over a tropical island resort where visitors were able to fulfill their lifelong dreams — usually at the unexpected expense of a difficult life lesson. Following a floatplane landing and lei ceremony, he greeted each guest with the line: "I am Mr. Roarke, your host. Welcome to Fantasy Island."

The show ran from 1978 to 1984.

More recently, he appeared as villains in two hits of the 1980s: "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan" and the farcical "The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad."

Between movie and TV roles, Montalban was active in the theater. He starred on Broadway in the 1957 musical "Jamaica" opposite Lena Horne, picking up a Tony nomination for best actor in a musical.

He toured in Shaw's "Don Juan in Hell," playing Don Juan, a performance critic John Simon later recalled as "irresistible." In 1965 he appeared on tour in the Yul Brynner role in "The King and I."

"The Ricardo Montalban Theatre in my Council District — where the next generations of performers participate in plays, musicals, and concerts — stands as a fitting tribute to this consummate performer," Garcetti said later in a written statement.

"Fantasy Island" received high ratings for most of its run on ABC, and still appears in reruns. Mr. Roarke and his sidekick, Tattoo, played by the 3-foot, 11-inch Herve Villechaize, reached the state of TV icons. Villechaize died in 1993.

In a 1978 interview, Montalban analyzed the series's success:

"What is appealing is the idea of attaining the unattainable and learning from it. Once you obtain a fantasy, it becomes a reality, and that reality is not as exciting as your fantasy. Through the fantasies you learn to appreciate your own realities."

As for Mr. Roarke: "Was he a magician? A hypnotist? Did he use hallucinogenic drugs? I finally came across a character that works for me. He has the essence of mystery, but I need a point of view so that my performance is consistent. I now play him 95 percent believable and 5 percent mystery. He doesn't have to behave mysteriously; only what he does is mysterious."

In 1970, Montalban organized fellow Latino actors into an organization called Nosotros ("We"), and he became the first president. Their aim: to improve the image of Spanish-speaking Americans on the screen; to assure that Latin-American actors were not discriminated against; to stimulate Latino actors to study their profession.

Montalban commented in a 1970 interview:

"The Spanish-speaking American boy sees Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid wipe out a regiment of Bolivian soldiers. He sees `The Wild Bunch' annihilate the Mexican army. It's only natural for him to say, `Gee, I wish I were an Anglo.'"

Montalban was no stranger to prejudice. He was born Nov. 25, 1920, in Mexico City, the son of parents who had emigrated from Spain. The boy was brought up to speak the Castilian Spanish of his forebears. To Mexican ears that sounded strange and effeminate, and young Ricardo was jeered by his schoolmates.

His mother also dressed him with old-country formality, and he wore lace collars and short pants "long after my legs had grown long and hairy," he wrote in his 1980 autobiography, "Reflections: A Life in Two Worlds."

"It is not easy to grow up in a country that has different customs from your own family's."

While driving through Texas with his brother, Montalban recalled seeing a sign on a diner: "No Dogs or Mexicans Allowed." In Los Angeles, where he attended Fairfax High School, he and a friend were refused entrance to a dance hall because they were Mexicans.

Rather than seek a career in Hollywood, Montalban played summer stock in New York. He returned to Mexico City and played leading roles in movies from 1941 to 1945. That led to an MGM contract.

Besides the Williams spectacles, the handsome actor appeared in "Sombrero" (opposite Pier Angeli), "Two Weeks With Love" (Jane Powell) and "Latin Lovers" (Lana Turner).

He also appeared in dramatic roles in such films as "Border Incident," "Battleground," "Mystery Street" and "Right Cross."

"Movies were never kind to me; I had to fight for every inch of film," he reflected in 1970. "Usually my best scenes would end up on the cutting-room floor."

Montalban had better luck after leaving MGM in 1953, though he was usually cast in ethnic roles. He appeared as a Japanese kabuki actor in "Sayonara" and an Indian in "Cheyenne Autumn." His other films included: "Madame X," "The Singing Nun," "Sweet Charity," "Escape from the Planet of the Apes" and "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes."

Montalban was sometimes said to be the source of Billy Crystal's "you look MAHvelous" character on "Saturday Night Live," though the inspiration was really Argentinian-born actor Fernando Lamas.

In 1944, Montalban married Georgiana Young, actress and model and younger sister of actress Loretta Young. Both Roman Catholics, they remained one of Hollywood's most devoted couples. She died in 2007. They had four children: Laura, Mark, Anita and Victor.

Montalban suffered a spinal injury in a horse fall while making a 1951 Clark Gable Western, "Across the Wide Missouri," and thereafter walked with a limp he managed to mask during his performances.

In 1993, Montalban lost the feeling in his leg, and exhaustive tests showed that he had suffered a small hemorrhage in his neck, similar to the injury decades earlier. He underwent 9 1/2 hours of spinal surgery at UCLA Medical Center.

Despite the constant pain, the actor was able to take a role in an Aaron Spelling TV series, "Heaven Help Us." Twice a month in 1994, he flew to San Antonio for two or three days of filming as an angel who watched over a young couple.

In an interview at the time, Montalban remarked: "I've never given up hope. But I have to be realistic. I gave my tennis rackets to my son, figuring I'll never play again. But my doctor said, `Don't say that. Strange things happen. You never know.'"

___

AP entertainment writer Sandy Cohen contributed to this story.

It's been my experience that DC doesn't kill off characters *nearly* as often as Marvel does. Seriously, how many times are they going kill (and subsequently rez) Jean Grey before they just let that poor girl rest in peace??

Ikea Builds Own Oval Office for Obama
Brandweek.com
Jan 12, 2009
-By Elaine Wong

Ikea's got Obama fever. Taking example from other large brands—including Ben & Jerry's and Hewlett-Packard—the Swedish home products retailer today kicked off an out-of-home ad campaign called "Embrace Change '09" that honors President-elect Barack Obama.

The effort centers on an Oval Office replica inside Union Station in Washington, D.C. Through Wednesday, those walking down Union Square's Main Hall can see the Oval Office furnished with Ikea furniture.

"Embrace Change '09" is meant to "celebrate the change" that is coming to the White House, while driving foot traffic to two nearby Ikea stores (in College Park, Md. and Woodbridge, Va.), said Ikea public relations manager Marty Marston.

The integrated campaign includes out-of-home billboards featuring the "Embrace Change ‘09" slogan on local buses and trains. Ikea is also holding a "mock motorcade," touring the D.C. area Jan. 15-16. Ikea will strap "furniture fit for a president" on top of vehicles to symbolize the incoming president and his family moving into their new home.

Other components include a site, www.embracechange09.com, where Ikea fans can design their own Oval Office using a drop-and-drag click tool, and a $1,500 gift card giveaway to visitors who log onto the site.

Ikea, which spent $82 million on U.S. advertising through Oct. 2008 (excluding online), per Nielsen Monitor-Plus, said the campaign's significance is on par, if not greater than promotions for new store openings.

"We have never had an opportunity to do anything surrounding the message of change from a national standpoint," Marston said, adding that Ikea seized a good branding opportunity. "[Obama's] notion of change and his commitment to fiscal responsibility match the Ikea philosophy of practical and affordable home furnishings for all."

Little Adolf Hitler is in the news again...

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Adolf Hitler, Sisters Taken from Parents' Home
NBC Philadelphia
By Vince Lattanzio
Updated 12:13 PM EST, Wed, Jan 14, 2009

Remember 3-year-old Adolf Hitler Campbell?

He’s the little boy whose name was the center of an international firestorm last December after a Greenwich, N.J., supermarket refused to write his name on a birthday cake. The store said it was inappropriate and refused to give an apology after the parents demanded one.

Adolf and his two sisters -- one-year-old JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell and 8-month-old Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell -- were removed from their parents’ home Tuesday night by the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services, Holland Township police chief David Van Gilson told LehighValleyLive.com.

It is unclear why the children were removed from their parent’s home. Gilson said his department did not receive any reports of abuse or negligence.

Heath and Deborah Campbell, the children's parents, were scheduled to appear for an undisclosed hearing Tuesday, but it was postponed, according to the website.

Due to confidentiality laws, Kate Bernyk with the N.J. Division of Youth and Family Services would not comment or even acknowledge any involvement with the Campbells when NBC10’s Doug Shimell contacted them.

DYFS isn’t talking much about the Campbell’s situation, but the kids being taken away has nothing to do with the names and birthday cake issue in December, according to Sgt. John Harris, Holland Twp. Police in Milford, N.J.

Calls to the children’s parents were met with a message that the line had been temporarily disconnected.

Oh, check it out! They come in thigh highs...and some of them have garters!

First up...

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Computer geeks learn to flirt
Reuters
Fri Jan 9, 1:24 pm ET

BERLIN (Reuters) – Even the most quirky of computer nerds can learn to flirt with finesse thanks to a new "flirting course" being offered to budding IT engineers at Potsdam University south of Berlin.

The 440 students enrolled in the master's degree course will learn how to write flirtatious text messages and emails, impress people at parties and cope with rejection.

Philip von Senftleben, an author and radio presenter who will teach the course, summed up his job as teaching how to "get someone else's heart beating fast while yours stays calm."

The course, which starts next Monday, is part of the social skills section of the IT course and is designed to ease entry into the world of work. Students also learn body language, public-speaking, stress management and presentation skills.

"We want to prepare our students with the social skills needed to succeed both in their private life and their work life," said Hans-Joachim Allgaier, a spokesman for the institute at Potsdam University where the course is being offered.

(Writing by Anna Brooke; Editing by Nick Vinocur)