Monthly Archive for July, 2005

Idiot of the Week – Pt. 30

Published on July 29, 2005 in Idiot of the Week.

An alleged crook made a big mistake when he tried to rob a coffee shop in the same building as the FBI.

Carl Spicocchi, head of the Toledo FBI office, was standing in line at Beaner’s Gourmet Coffee around 8 a.m. Monday when he saw a man go behind the counter and take $165 in cash from a drawer.

Spicocchi and other customers at first thought Andrew Johnson worked there, but caught on quickly after manager Jordan Mocek confronted him and Johnson leaped back over the counter.

“It surprised me,” Spicocchi told the Toledo Blade.

Mocek grabbed Johnson around the waist, according to witnesses, and both fell into a juice machine. Johnson got up, pushed Mocek back into the machine and tried to run, but Spicocchi, Mocek and two other customers tackled him.

Spicocchi called 911 and more FBI agents rushed down from the eighth floor, followed quickly by police officers. Johnson allegedly gave up the fight when he saw he was outnumbered, but once placed in a squad car he allegedly thrashed around, shouted obscenities and kicked out the car’s back window.

A police prisoner van came, but Johnson, apparently recognizing its drivers, refused to get out of the squad car and had to be pepper-sprayed before he would move.

One officer was cut by flying glass from the squad car window, and Mocek banged his head during the fight. Both were treated by ambulance personnel.

Johnson, 34, was charged with robbery and felony vandalism and booked at the Lucas County Jail

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Phew, That Was a Close One

Published on July 28, 2005 in Rantings.

Back in May I got a speeding ticket from some NY State Trooper, I was doing 80 in a 65. Let’s forget the fact that I was following a car, which also pulled over when I did and which he let go. It was also my first speeding ticket ever, which sucked. Well enough of that.

Today was my court date and so I went to Cobleskill, about an hour and a half away from here. So I took the day off and drove up there and it was worth it. Ever heard the story how if the trooper doesn’t show up your ticket is thrown out? Well not anymore, the trooper that pulled me over never showed, neother did two others. That left only one trooper and for some reason he took all the cases. He basically pulled each person over and got all the tickets reduced. He was a pretty nice guy so I can’t complain. He got my ticket reduced to nothing more than a $100 fine. Now it’s a steep fine, but there will be no record and no points. Can’t really complain about that, at least I don’t have to worry about my insurance going up. So I guess it pays to be nice to cops, or at least some of them.

That’s all, nothing enlightning or funny. Just wanted to share.

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M$ Tries Deleting Apple from Satellite Maps

Published on July 25, 2005 in Apple.

Now why is this not surprising??

Not one but two of The Register’s readers emailed Engadget to tell them that MSN’s Virtual Earth is promoting a world free of the menace of Apple Computers.

If you’ve got time on your hands have a look at Apple’s Cupertino headquarters from Google and MSN’s rival map sites. Both sites offer aerial photos alongside maps. MSN’s version is here and Google’s is here.

See the difference? Google shows the Apple Cupertino HQ – a lovely, shiny building probably full of iPods. MSN on the other hand shows an apparently empty field. Not as much as a black turtle-necked jumper remains of Apple’s headquarters. This could be no more than an old picture taken before Cupertino was built or a glimpse of an imagined future.

How this terrible error came about is not yet clear. Nor can we be certain who else has been removed from Bill’s upgraded planet.

Reg reader Michael Sage pointed out that zooming in on the UK will reveal towns like Norwich and Lowestoft long before little old London appears. Is London next to be removed? We need to know.

Even more disturbing MSN’s Virtual Earth still shows the twin towers of the World Trade Center in all their pre-9/11 glory.

No comment from Microsoft HQ, but do you expect any different?

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So What Am I Watching This Season – The Summer Edition

Published on July 24, 2005 in Idiotbox (aka TV).

So now that the summer is upon us a lot of people think that there’s nothing on tv. Well they couldn’t be more wrong. I thought I’d give a little roundup of what I’m watching this summer.

Here are my lists of what’s hot…

What’s Hot

Rescue Me – One of the BEST shows of the season, it’s better than season one.
Hell’s Kitchen – The only reality show I’ll watch this summer. Chef Gordon Ramsey is great and so is the show.
Stargate Atlantis – Campy? Yeah a little, but it’s a fun campy show.
Battlestar Galactica – One of the best shows to come around in a while. GREAT writing with great acting, it’s definitely a must see…. No, it’s not campy like its predecessor and yes season two is turning up to be just as good as the first season.
The 4400 – A great Sci Fi show from the producers of Deep Space 9. Something that you should check out.
Entourage – One of the few shows that I REALLY look forward to each week. Season 2 is shaping up to be GREAT. Thankfully they gave the greenlight to season 3.

Over There – While it hasn’t started yet, it’s starts Wednesday, it looks like it’s going be a great one. FX has some great stuff out there.

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Recent movie reviews

Published on July 24, 2005 in Movies.

Since joining Netflix I’ve watched a lot of movies, with that being said every now and then I think I’ll give a brief write up of what I think you should see. Nothing fancy, just the basics. So, let’s get to business.

Man of Fire – GREAT movie, the visual style was great as was the acting. I haven’t enjoyed a movie like this in a while. 5 out of 5 stars

Supersize Me – Yeah it’s a documentary, but it’s something everyone should watch. Definitely informative and it gives a good explanation as to why so many Americans are fat. 4 out of 5 stars.

Gunner Palace – Yeah, another documentary, and again it’s something that everyone should watch. It gives some great insight as to what the guys that are in Iraq are really thinking about. It gives a 5 out of 5 stars.

Battle Royale: Special Edition – It’s a Japanese movie and it’s not dubbed, but it’s definitely worth it. It’s a disturbing look at high school kids having to kill their fellow classmates so they can survive an island. Last one alive gets to get off the island. 4 out of 5 stars.

Wedding Crashers – Yeah I know it’s not out of video yet, but you should still see it. 4 out of 5 stars.

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