The Off Topic Topic

[katmai]

That she did only one porno?

[Ideologue]

I can't tell if that's a bust of Reagan or JFK behind him. I recognize the picture of Madonna and Justin Bieber, though.

Oh man, I think it's one of those creepy Orthodox icons with Ant-Man Jesus, a fully formed but tiny adult.

[Eddie Teach]

That she did only one porno?

Did you direct it?

[Zanza]

[katmai]

Cool map, wish i could zoom in to see the Alaska and hawaii names.

[Grinning_Colossus]

One for Martinus:

[CountDeMoney]

Iron Mike barred from Kiwiland; NZ says Momma Said Knock You Out, Aussies next

Knocked out: Mike Tyson barred from New Zealand

Retired boxer and convicted rapist Mike Tyson has been barred from New Zealand by government ministers who revoked an entry permit for his forthcoming speaking tour.

Authorities in the country - whose indigenous Maori people Tyson says inspired his facial tattoo – reversed an earlier decision to allow him entry after a children's health charity withdrew its support for his controversial visit.

The 46-year-old could now face a similar problem entering Australia. He is due to speak at a November event in Auckland, the "Day of the Champions."

Tyson's 1992 conviction for raping an Indiana beauty queen would normally prevent his entry in New Zealand and could be grounds for denial in Australia as well. He had been granted an exemption by the New Zealand government because some proceeds from his talk would have benefited the Life Education Trust.

However, that charity withdrew its previous support Tuesday. In a statement, New Zealand's Associate Immigration Minister Kate Wilkinson said: "Given that the trust is no longer supporting the event, on balance, I have made the decision to cancel his visa."

Max Markson, the promoter for Tyson's visits to Australia and New Zealand, told New Zealand television channel TV ONE that Tyson was "disappointed" by the decision.

"He is quite down about it," said Markson, adding that Tyson had "rebuilt his life" in recent years.

"He's clean, he sober, he's a vegan, he's coming with his wife, his two children under four and his mother-in-law, he can't possibly do anything wrong in 20 hours," Markson told the channel. "And in addition to that he is very much giving a social and economic benefit to the New Zealand economy."

A spokesman for Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship said a decision was "still pending" on Tyson's application for an Australian visa.

Markson told The Associated Press he's continuing to sell tickets to the planned speeches in both countries and that buyers will get a full refund if the shows are cancelled. He said he had immigration lawyers in Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. working on a new application. Tickets for the event cost up NZ$395 ($324) for a chance to meet Tyson in person.

Tyson said his distinctive facial was inspired by those worn by New Zealand's indigenous Maori. In pre-European times, many Maori wore elaborate facial tattoos as a sign of their status in their tribe. Some Maori today who identify strongly with their traditional culture get similar tattoos.

Tyson was undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion in the 1980s but in 1992 he was convicted of raping teenager Desiree Washington in Indiana and served three years in prison.

He added to his notoriety when he bit rival Evander Holyfield on both ears in a 1997 bout, for which he was disqualified and temporarily suspended from boxing.

Tyson declared bankruptcy in 2003 and retired from professional boxing in 2006.

Last month, Tyson spoke to a financiers' conference in Hong Kong about his life before and after boxing, his family and his acting career, which includes a recent one-man show on Broadway.

[garbon]

Cool map, wish i could zoom in to see the Alaska and hawaii names.

And you can:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/02/geography/usa-surnames-interactive

[CountDeMoney]

Damn, George.
You know you've got swag when you can give up those legs, man.

The drumbeat just got louder on the rumor that Stacy Keibler and George Clooney are nearing the end.

New York's Daily News just reported that the power couple are as good as done -- though still technically hanging on by a thread.

"Serial Hollywood heartbreaker George Clooney may soon be up for grabs," the paper's gossip columnists reported Tuesday. "Confidenti@l has learned exclusively that lovebirds Stacy Keibler and Clooney's rocky relationship is almost kaput.

The paper said the couple, who've made it past the one-year mark, are sorta/kinda still together but "it's anyone's guess how much longer they will last."

The Daily News report doesn't come off something to necesarily take to the bank. And it's based entirely on anonymous sources. Yet it comes after what seems like near-weekly break-up reports as the two make one solo appearance after another, despite spending a lot of time together this summer at Clooney's home in Italy.

Keibler was just in Baltimore for the Ravens game last week -- alone. Just as alone as she was in New York for fashion week before that.

At an event last week, the paper says, "a well-placed spy" said Keibler was "tearful" and  "stricken with grief" and seen being consoled and checking her phone for Clooney texts.

"They're barely talking," someone else told the paper. "She is worried that he may break up with her any day now."

In any event, looks like Operation Break-up Watch is back on.

[FunkMonk]

Cool map, wish i could zoom in to see the Alaska and hawaii names.

And you can:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/02/geography/usa-surnames-interactive

Was about to ask where he got it from. Thanks.

[garbon]

The only thing I don't get is the use of a geographical format.  While it makes for a visually interesting graphic, it's pretty clear that the names don't actually match up with locations within a state but it's hard to avoid reading it that way.

[alfred russel]

One for Martinus:

Cool map. I've seen Martinus post on the trends outlined in the map, with the commentary the Russians really screwed up the country.

[Grinning_Colossus]

One for Martinus:

Cool map. I've seen Martinus post on the trends outlined in the map, with the commentary the Russians really screwed up the country.

Except it also suggests that the Austrians screwed up the country. The liberal voting trends seem to have more to do with specifically German-led industrialization.

[Malthus]

Is this quite possibly the most disgusting food ever invented? 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casu_marzu

[Zanza]

One for Martinus:

Cool map. I've seen Martinus post on the trends outlined in the map, with the commentary the Russians really screwed up the country.

Except it also suggests that the Austrians screwed up the country. The liberal voting trends seem to have more to do with specifically German-led industrialization.

Silesia was heavily industrialized, but I don't think East and West Prussia, Pommerania or Posen were particularly industrialized. That was really were the traditional Prussian junkers had their big agrarian estates.