New Look!

Right I have decided to use the changing season to give SB a fresh new look. One of the ways I hope to achieve this is by going.....

HD!

Now as most of us don't have HD screens, you won't notice much of a change apart from it looking different!

Now with a fresh look comes fresh content, and I have decided to include current events in my posts (that aren't specifically linked with media or philosophy)!

As well as this, you may have noticed a new recruit has joined SB. After the rather untimely, and unfortunate death of Barry, there has been a void here at SB and hopefully the SGT. Squirrel will sort thing out!

:-)))

Liberal Misinformation

Now as there seems to be be some sort of scheduling problem with my 'Greatest Man Alive' post (and it seems to have disappeared into thin air) I'll repost that later.

But as I have a spare few minutes before I conform to the educational systems demands, I feel a need to vent my frustration at the new 'Anti-terrorism adverts' that have been thrown all over the UK.

-This is an older one, but the message is still the same. Silly Liberals creating unnecessary panic to people who will actually believe that a terrorist lives next door to them.

The newer adverts talk about home-made bombs etc. and how "A bin full of rubbish wont make a bomb because a neighbour reported it.

In the kind of society we live in, it is inevitable that someone will report something suspicious. I guarantee that some über liberal neighbour will report the fact that Gary at number 42 has been in his house for four days which 'is suspicious'. Or that a quarraling neighbour will use this as a means to get back at the other one for a minor offence.

Or Council Estate Scum!!!

Now instead of scaring the dim-wits into thinking everyone is a terrorist, those in charge should really pull their fingers out of each others arses and think of better methods to counter terrorism.

I don't have any solutions, but a dodo could think of more effective ways of dealing with terrorists.

That'll be £2.000 for a pint of Bulmers please....

Firstly I apologise for my epic lack of content as of late, but coursework has got the better of me...

Now as many of you are probably aware, The Uk's top medical advisor has revealed plans to introduce a minimum alcohol price, in an effort to curb binge drinking and the misuse of alcohol.

Sir Liam Donaldson's ridiculous plan is to ensure that no drinks can be sold for less than 50p per unit, which in context would mean that it would be at least a fiver for my favourite brand of cider. This enrages me greatly...

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "We have not ruled out taking action on very cheap alcohol - it's clearly linked to people drinking more and the subsequent harm to their health." She said more work needed to be done to make sure action was "appropriate, fair and effective" but decisions would take the "wider economic impact during this difficult time" into account.

I said "Shut up you fat cats and allow me to drink Bulmers this summer for it's usual appropriate price (about £2.50 per bottle)"

No matter how expensive you make alcohol, it will not deter any little chavs from mugging a poor old woman to fund their wkd addiction, whilst getting their deranged Uncle Bob to go and buy them a pack of 20 fags for an evening of anti-social bliss!

For once Gordon Brown may actually do the right thing and veteo this idea; just goes to show you that wonders never fail to happen.

Thanks to Barry for supervising SB whilst I was away!

:-)

Save the Cheerleader, Save the World...

Firstly I must apologise for my epic lateness of this post, but other commitments have meant that I've been delayed.

Now prepare to be converted...

NBC's 'Heroes', which is currently in it's fourth season, is a drama set around the lives of an array of inter-linking characters who discover they have supernatural abilities. Now before you cast this off as yet another spin-off, the interesting factor that makes Heroes stand out is that it doesn't just focus on the good guys.

Season One consisted of 23 episodes and consisted of Volume One in the Heroes saga (more commonly known as 'Genesis'). The volume begins as a seemingly ordinary group of people gradually become aware that they have special abilities. Events illustrate their reactions to these powers, and how the discovery affects their personal and professional lives. At the same time, several ordinary individuals are investigating the origins and extent of these abilities (most notably Mohinder Suresh, who later injects himself with a serum which gives him special abilities.

Suresh, a geneticist, continues his late father's research into the biological source of the change, while Noah Bennett represents a secret organization known only as 'The Company'. While coping with these new abilities, each of the characters is drawn, willingly or unwillingly, into the Company's conspiracy to control super powered people and into a race to stop an explosion from destroying New York City.

In Season One we are introduced to a hero named Peter Petrelli, who has the ability to absorb the ability of another hero within a short proximity of him.

- This is Peter Petrelli


- This is pretty much what his power is -a sponge absorbs lol :-)




Season One had the tag line, "Save the Cheerleader, Save the World", this was all
centred around the gorgeous Claire Bennett (pictured to the left), who has the ability to heal after an injury (this ability is also known as rapid-cellular fusion).

With Claire thought to be the only one who could stop the impending peril of New York City, many of the heroes tried to save her. These included ex-cop Matt Parkman (who can read people's minds) and Hiro Nakamora (Space-time manipulation [allowing teleportation and time manipulation]).

After the success of Season One, NBC commissioned another Season of Heroes. Season Two featured 11 out of a planned 24 episodes which aired on Mondays at 9:00 pm in the United States beginning on September 24, 2007. Only 11 out of the planned 24 episodes were made because of American Writer's strikes. Season two consisted of the second volume in the series, titled "Generations". Season two ended with its finale on December 3, 2007. Volume two begins four months after the events of Kirby Plaza. The main plot arc of "Generations" deals with the Company and its research on the 'Shanti Virus'.

This research is explored through the Company's founders, whose identities are revealed, as well as through the effects of various strains of the virus. The "heroes" ultimately come together in an attempt to stop the release of a deadly strain of the virus and avert a global pandemic.

Season 2 was originally going to consist of three volumes; however, because of the aforementioned strikes, the season was redesigned to only encompass one volume called "Generations". Originally Volume 3 was going to be called "Exodus", and Volume 4 was going to be called "Villains". As a result of the strike, Volume 3 was changed to "Villains" and moved into season three. The "Exodus" story arc, which was originally designed to be a story arc reflecting the effects of the release of strain 138 of the Shanti virus, was canceled. Scenes from the volume two finale 'Powerless' were re shot to reflect the cancellation of the "Exodus" volume, and to tie-up all the loose plot story lines of "Generations."

Season Three opened with two one-hour episodes, airing on Monday, September 22, 2008 in the United States. The premiere of the third volume, "Villains", was preceded by a one-hour broadcast of the red carpet premiere, with clips from the past seasons and previews of the upcoming season, along with interviews with the series cast and crew.

Volume Three began with the assassination attempt on Nathan Petrelli and the consequences it has in the future. In addition, several villains escape from the confines of Level 5, and the Company attempts to recapture them. Arthur Petrelli heals from systemic nerve damage with the help of Adam Monroe's healing abilities and eventually gains a few of the villains, while later luring in Suresh, Nathan, Tracy Strauss , Elle Bishop (who is also quite gorgeous, and Sylar.

Their objective is to create a formula to give people abilities but after many failures they soon realize they need to find the catalyst. Claire and elementary-challenged Hiro go back in time with Hiro being given the catalyst by his mother. This is short-lived when Arthur intervenes and grabs the catalyst. Afterwards, Peter and 'The Haitian' face off Arthur at Pinehearst where they fight for control of the formula. In the end, Arthur is shot dead by Peter's bullet through Sylar's telekinesis ability, saying he is the killer not Peter. Peter injects himself with the formula in order to save Nathan, who was on his fathers side. Ando is given the ability to charge other peoples abilities (which helped him grab Hiro from the past with the help of Daphne's super-speed ability); Claire, Noal Bennett and Angela Petrelli fight off Sylar at Primatech in which Meredith's ability goes awry burning the building to the ground with Sylar presumably dead.

The lead-in to "Villains" showed Sylar regaining his lost powers, shown as the final scene of the "Generations" finale. Tim Kring said that the new volume would bring a cadre of villains to the show, hence the title. At the San Diego Comic-Con 2008 Kring screened the first part of the season opening episode of the "Villains" arc, entitled "The Second Coming", which was shown in its entirety at Comic-Con and received a positive response from fans. Despite the success of the first two seasons, Villains received steadily declining ratings and less positive reviews.

Volume Four begins with Nathan Petrelli telling the president about the existence of individuals who possess superhuman abilities. The president authorizes Nathan to capture heroes, and the majority of the main characters are rounded up, with the exception of Sylar who escapes Nathan's agents while attempting to locate his biological father.

The name of Volume Four was revealed by Tim Kring in 2008. "Fugitives" will make up the last 12 episodes of Season 3 and air from February 2 to April 20, 2009.

Tim Molloy has reported that Heroes will return to its roots with "Fugitives" in an effort to attract new viewers and regain those who gave up on the show due to too many characters and plot lines. Tim Kring had said in a statement: "This volume starts us pretty much from scratch. There is almost nothing that the audience needs to know from the previous volume in order to follow the storyline."

Angela Bromstead had expressed her concern about whether the producers had strayed too far from its original focus: "ordinary people with extraordinary abilities," saying "They may have taken on too much in terms of characters and multiple story lines." The "Fugitives" story begins with the heroes trying to lead normal lives, until Claire discovers Nathan's plot to hunt down and capture everyone with abilities, while Sylar begins searching for his biological parents.

Sylar is definitely the main villain of the show, with his ability to steal another heroes ability (using his mind to open up their forehead and remove their scalp).

-(the actor who plays Sylar is to play Spock in the new Star Trek movie).





Still... he's no Jack Bauer!

Bow down to the, Bow down to the Kings...

It takes a certain something to keep a band going, it takes even more of this to keep a band together for 34 years (and yes I know members have come and gone over the years, but the original member is still going and going strong).

I am of course talking about one of the greatest bands to have ever walked the face of the earth, the band that hates being stereotyped as "Heavy", "Speed" or "Thrash" metal- instead favouring the classification of simply 'rock 'n' roll'!

Fronted for the last 34 years by one of the greatest bass players in the world, Motörhead have enjoyed so much success since Lemmy decided to from the band in 1975; branching out from London until they reached worldwide recognition.

Motörhead's approach has remained the same over the band's career, preferring to play what they enjoy and do best; their appreciation of early rock and roll is reflected in some of their occasional cover songs. Motörhead's lyrics typically cover such topics as war, good versus evil, abuse of power, promiscuous sex, substance abuse and "life on the road."

So where did it all begin?
After he was sacked from 'Hawkwind' for being too hardcore with his drug taking, Lemmy Kilmister had the original idea to form a band under the name "Bastard". However after being told that it would be unlikely that Top of the Pops would allow a band with that name to perform, Lemmy decided on Motörhead. Which was inspired from the last song he wrote for Hawkwind, and also a slang term for a user of the drug Speed.

Lemmy's stated aim was for the outfit to be, "the dirtiest rock n' roll band in the world" and that, "if Motörhead moved in next to you, your lawn would die."

The original line up featured Larry Wallis on electric guitar, Lucas Fox on drums and Lemmy on bass. After several gigs with Lucas Fox, he was found to have become unreliable and was soon replaced by Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor. The decision was then made to have two lead guitarists, and as a result "Fast" Eddie Clarke was recruited. However, Wallis quit during the auditions and the double-lead idea was dropped. Lemmy, Clarke and Taylor are today regarded as 'Classic Motörhead'.

Initial reactions to the band were very negative, with them 'winning' a poll for "The Best Worst Band in the World" and after two years both Clarke and Taylor wanted to quit the band, and the decision was made to perform a farewell show in London.

However, an acquaintance of Lemmy's, Ted Carroll was asked to bring a mobile studio to their farewell gig so they could record it for posterity. Carroll was unable to bring the studio to the concert. However, they were offered a saving grace. Carroll offered them two days at Escape Studios to record a single. The band took the chance, but instead of recording a single, they recorded eleven unfinished tracks. Carroll offered them a few more days to finish the vocals and the band completed thirteen tracks for release as an album. In June they toured with Hawkwind and in late July began their 'Beyond the Threshold of Pain' tour.

Their rise to success began when they used eight of their recorded tracks, releasing their first album (entitled Motörhead, which reached number 43 in the UK Album Chart). This lead to them beginning to garner a following from metal and punk enthusiasts.

They had their first appearance on BBC's Top of the Pops with their single 'Louie Louie'. After several other singles and a tour, the band returned to the studios, releasing four tracks as 'Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers'.

The band's most memorable song (which propelled them into the mainstream limelight) was 'Ace of Spades'. The single reached number 15 and the album reached number 4 in the charts. The band made two appearances on Top of the Pops in the October of 2008 with 'Ace of Spades'. The band also made an appearance on popular 80's children's TV programme 'Tiswas'. And the single "put a choke on the English music charts and proved to all that a band could succeed without sacrificing its blunt power and speed."

Clarke left the band in May 1982, because he felt that recording a cover of 'Stand by Your Man' compromised the band's principles, after leaving he formed his own band 'Fastway.' Lemmy and Taylor hunted desperately to find a new guitarist, including a plea to Thin Lizzy's Brian Robertson, (who agreed to help out, signing up to a one-album deal resulting in 1983 with the album 'Another Perfect Day').

Robertson's attire of shorts and ballet shoes caused friction within the band. This along with Robertson's refusal to go back to the 'good old' standards led to an amicable departure from the band.

The group then returned to the concept of having a dual-lead and unknowns Wurzel and Phil Campbell. The four re-recorded Ace of Spades for TV.

Taylor left the band following the recording, which caused Lemmy to ask "Did I leave them or did they leave me?"

The band continued through the late 80's with Taylor until 1992 when he played his very last gig with the band. Lemmy later whipped up Mikkey Dee, and the band recorded 'Hellraiser' and went on tour with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne.

Wurzel would later leave the band in the mid-90's and the band have continued touring and recording with the power trio of Lemmy, Mikkey and Campbell.

Though the band are typically classified as heavy metal or speed metal, Lemmy has stated that he never considered Motörhead a metal band. When asked if he has a problem with Motörhead being called a metal band, he replied: "I do because I come from way before Metal. I’m playing Rock n’ Roll and I think Rock n’ Roll should be sacred – it is to me. I don’t see why it should not be for everybody else."

The band have enjoyed success with the WWE, with top superstars such as Triple H being a huge fan of the band- who have recorded entrance music for HHH and his (now-defunct) faction Evolution.

34 years and still going strong...

Now I put it to all of you 'Jizzy Tissues' out there who aspire to be like Busta Rhymes or Dizzy Rascal to try to match what Motörhead have accomplished. I urge you to try and cover one of the greatest songs of all times and actually make it a credible song.

Whilst all of you chat about 'popping caps in each others asses', 'slapping your bitch up' or 'chilling in your childhood bed' (crib), Motörhead's lyrics, much like Muse's, actually have depth to them. Whilst all of you Dizzy Rascals out there and dancing 'Wiv Me', Motörhead, or more importantly Lemmy (who has the best voice in the world) are singing songs with depths; such as the abuse of power in 'Ace of Spades'. The only abuse Busta raps about is probably illegal in pretty much most of the world.

"The pleasure is to play, it makes no difference what you say
I don't share your greed, the only card I need is
The Ace Of Spades"

compare that to one of Busta's lyrics...

"A yo, we ain't familiar at all nigga
Don't like, go grab your gat and lets brawl at hall nigga
Straight fallin".

I know who I'd rather listen too...

(n.b, It's not Busta or Dizzy...)

(sorry about the changes today :-)

I thought the topic was sport...

Yes I know I'm a little late to be posting my counter-argument to the recent p4 sports posts but this is completely relevant

Please forgive my ignorance, but I did believe that the recent P4 post was about sport, and yes whilst wrestling is scripted- the athletes are actually moving about and partaking in some form of sporting activity, whilst cricket is boring- the players do actually move about and sweat, and American football- is pretty much the same.

Which brings me to question the recent claim by Luke over at a.o.m, who claimed (rather blasphemously) that sitting on your arse in a glorified glider is a sport. The only exercise you get is from moving your wrists from left to right.

From what I could grasp from this 'pass-time' (for want of words) is that you have to complete a course in the fastest times, whilst releasing colourful shit from the rear of the glider.

How anyone can find this entertaining is beyond me, and I guarantee you that had this not have had sponsorship from a big company, then it would probably still be out of mainstream public limelight.

I mean at least in the other three sports there is excitement, I would start to watch if more participants began crashing and burning. At least there's fireworks in wrestling and American Can't use my feet so I'll use anything else ball. And I'm sure there's an entertaining side to cricket (I hope).

I mean I found Lab Rats more entertaining than this sport, and if I completely honest, I'd rather watch a Russian prostitute pleasuring herself whilst washing her armpits with olive oil.

Or just watch paint dry...........

It's the macho man's soap opera!

I am of course talking about the great entity that is sports entertainment.

I mean where else can you find a programme(s) that combines superbly written story-lines with death-defying moves (such as the chokeslam, moonsault or the pedigree). Where else would you find world-wide fan clubs, regular selling-out crowds and three world championships?

I am of course talking about the World Wrestling Entertainment industry.

It caters for everyone, with RAW talent, high-flying extremists over at ECW and see people laying the SmackDown!

It's hard not to be a fan.

There are also annual pay-per-view events which air monthly, with the 'wrestling year' ending on the grandest stage of the all 'Wrestlemania'.

All this is accompanied by hilarious, and often side-splitting commentary teams, be it 'Good Old' J.R and Tazz on SmackDown!, Jerry 'The King' Lawler and Michael Cole on RAW, and Todd Grisham and Matt Strikier over at ECW.

The Championships
WWE Championship
World Heavyweight Championship
ECW Championship
Intercontinental Championship
United States Championship
World Tag Team Championship
WWE Tag Team Championship
Women's Championship
Diva's Championship.

Headed by the McMahon family (my favourite being Stephanie) there is always no shortage of drama whilst there around.

And of course, there is the Divas... wwe.com/divas pick your favourite.

There is of course the need to mention the match types for which all of this explosive action takes place, from the traditional singles matches, to the more extravagant (and injury prone) 'Hell in a Cell' matches. From tag-team match-ups, to the 'Elimination Chamber'. From Triple-threat matches, to the 'Royal Rumble' (30 superstars battling it out to be the winner- earning a chance to challenge for a championship at Wrestlemania!)

Now the confusing bit, the reason for why there are three different shows. During the attitude era (and indeed whilst they were known as the WWF- the lost out to the World Wildlife Fund) the company competed with another wrestling company, known as WCW (World Championship Wrestling) for television. When WCW went bust, WWE were allowed to acquire WCW and ending the Monday Night Wars.

In a bid to keep the rating wars going they decided to split the flagship shows RAW and SmackDown! into two separate brands competing against each other for ratings. When WWE acquired ECW they added that as a programme to 'shake things up a bit!'. Each show is headed by a General Manager (a supervisor in effect), who endeavours to ensure their show coming out on top. The current GM's are;
RAW: Stephanie McMahon
SmackDown!: Vickie Guerrero
ECW: Theodore 'Teddy' Long

Another feature which has been added to the mix-up over the past few years is that of the WWE Draft, where every single superstar, general manager, commentator or indeed ring announcer, is eligible to be drafted to one of the opposing shows. Some of the most historic draft picks from years gone by include; Triple H and J.R moving to SmackDown!, Kane and Michael Cole moving to RAW and Matt Hardy moving to ECW.

There are of course, as with most sports, Legends in this business. My favourite being the soon to be inducted Hall of Famer, Stone Cold Steve Austin . The man who revolutionised the stunner, the man who flipped 'the bird' more times than Hitler's salute.

This legend, a hero had the balls to 'cross the boss', and came out on top! He has held a world title longer than Gravity's hold on a very fat man. He is still the only man to have stunned every member of the McMahon family-and get away with it!

Whilst there may be sceptics out there who , just because it's fake, refuse to watch it, and those who just make "gay" jokes as a reason to not watch it. This is a real sport. The WWE superstars don't need 6 months to recover after Wrestlemania! They are in action for 52 weeks a year.


Now whilst wrestling maybe be fake, you can guarantee it is; more exciting then Cricket, has more contact than American Football and you can guarantee you won't strain your neck like you would with Air Racing.

"And that's the bottom line, cause Stone Cold said so!"