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September, 2004

  1. Only in Sweden

    September 30, 2004 by dafyd

    Baby superman (from BBC series My HeroSwedish MPs are calling for legislation on babies’ names to be changed after a Gothenburg woman was refused permission to call her son Staalman (or Superman).

    The parents wanted their son to be named after the cartoon superhero, because he was born with one arm pointing upwards – as Superman flies.

    Local tax authorities refused the request, saying the name could lead to the boy being ridiculed in later life.

    The chairman of the Swedish parliament’s legal affairs committee, Inger Rene, and five other MPs are to table a motion calling for the legislation to be changed, the Stockholm tabloid Expressen says.

    It points out that parents had been allowed to call a child Bebben, the nickname of a footballer, but not Bajen, the popular name of Stockholm football club Hammarby.

    It also points out that the Swedish patent and registration office permits the use of Batman, but not Asterix or Superman.

    I hate to say it, but who in their right mind would want to call their son Superman? Can you imagine Superman Smith at school? That said, it isn’t necessarily the place of the government to legislate what parents can and can’t call their children.

    More informed debate on the matter at BBC News…

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  2. Washington DC Baseball

    September 29, 2004 by dafyd

    OK, I really don’t understand how American Major League Baseball works – it seems that 33 years ago, the whole Washington DC baseball team (the Senators) moved to Texas, where they became the Rangers. Now, the Montreal Expos have announced that they will move to Washington.

    To quote the press release on the Expo’s website:

    Montreal Expos baseball

    Almost 33 years to the date of the Senators’ final game in Washington, D.C., the District and Major League Baseball on Wednesday announced that the Montreal Expos are moving to the nation’s capital. The Expos will be the first MLB franchise to move since 1971 when the second Senators franchise left Washington for Arlington, Texas. By choosing D.C. over suitors from Northern Virginia, Norfolk, Va., Portland, Ore., Monterrey, Mexico, and Las Vegas, the league ended a nearly two-year internal search to relocate the team. The Expos will be renamed and plan to play the next three seasons at RFK Stadium while a new $400 million ballpark is being built at a location along the Anacostia River waterfront near M and South Capitol Streets, which is now the preferred site among the four proposed in the District last year.

    Can you imagine Manchester United just moving en masse to London? That said, Wimbledon FC – ‘The Dons‘ – did move to Milton Keynes (God knows why they’d want to move there of all places…) a couple of years ago.

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  3. The £5,000 Overdue Library Book

    September 29, 2004 by dafyd

    And I get fined for returning books a week late…?

    The offending book

    A borrowed book has been returned to an Inverness library nearly 100 years overdue incurring a £5,000 fine. But kind-hearted staff at Inverness Library have decided to waive the financial penalty. Inverness Sketches 1901 to 1904, by Isabel Harriet Anderson, was discovered by Stuart Thomson in South Africa. The 63-year-old, who left Inverness to go overseas in 1971, said he stumbled across the book in Johannesburg when he was moving house three months ago. Mr Thomson bought the book at a South African flea market. He said: “I just looked at the book and saw Inverness on it and thought hell, I’ve just got to buy this book. “And when I saw it had Inverness Public Library printed on it I thought, I’m going to buy this book no matter what it costs. “When I was moving house three months ago I came across it and thought I should bring the book back home.” Inverness Sketches was originally presented to Inverness Library by its author in 1908. Staff said it would be returned to its rightful place in the reference department, and it should not have been loaned out in the first place. Librarian, Edwina Burridge, said: “We already have a collection of Isabel Anderson books, so we can add it to that.”

    (BBC News)

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  4. Another Dafyd Jones

    September 28, 2004 by dafyd

    Aargh! I was Googling for myself (cos I was bored, and I wanted to see if they actually listed my site yet), when I found this guy, called, strangely enough, Dafyd Jones:

    Some weird guy called Dafyd Jones

    The first listing for dafyd on Google is a photo gallery of a little person called Dafyd – I have no complaints about people naming themselves after me, but I’d rather they didn’t usurp my GoogleRank. Besides, his website breaks all the design rules laid down by Google. Hmmph. Anyway, here’s a picture of him:

    Some kid called Dafyd

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  5. Virgin Galactic

    September 28, 2004 by dafyd

    Richard 'Tiberius' BransonFrom the sublime to the ridiculous? Virgin Trains are yet to make a profit in the UK, they are almost always late, and, quite frankly, have managed to annoy almost everyone else in the rail industry. So the logical next step for Richard Branson? Of course, a trip into space…

    According to BBC News:

    Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson has signed a £14m agreement which will see his company take passengers into space. The British entrepreneur is having five “spaceliners” built in the US by the team behind the SpaceShipOne vehicle. Sir Richard says it will cost around £100,000 to go on a “Virgin Galactic” spaceliner, and the first flights should begin in about three years’ time. Sir Richard revealed his new venture at a briefing held on Monday at the Royal Aeronautical Society in London. “We’ve done quite a lot of research; we think there are about 3,000 people out there who would want to do this,” Sir Richard told the BBC. “If it is a success, we want to move into orbital flights and then, possibly, even get a hotel up there.”

    Virgin GalacticThe website for Virgin Galactic says that a few days of medical assessment and pre-flight familiarisation is all the space tourists of this decade will require prior to their real ET experience.

    The site is currently not taking bookings (surprise, surprise), but you can sign up for email updates to let you know what’s happening with the development of the Virgin Galactic space tourism programme.

    I hate to say it, but I can’t help but wonder whether this is not just a big joke…

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  6. Shaun the Sheep gets own show!

    September 27, 2004 by dafyd

    Shaun the Sheep

    Great news, from BBC News!

    Shaun the Sheep, the woolly star of the Wallace and Gromit short A Close Shave, is to get his own show on CBBC, the BBC’s digital channel for children. The 40-part series, commissioned from Aardman Animations, begins production at the end of the year and will be transmitted on CBBC in 2006. The show will follow the adventures of Shaun and the rest of his flock as they join in with his madcap schemes. Aardman are currently working on a Wallace and Gromit feature film. Shaun made his TV debut on Christmas Eve 1996 in Nick Park’s Academy Award-winning short. Since then he has become a regular fixture in schools, appearing on lunchboxes, backpacks and items of clothing. The new series will see him get up to all kinds of antics, including synchronised swimming in the sheep-dip and dressing up as a scarecrow. CBBC controller Dorothy Prior describes Shaun as “an adorable character with a big following”. “This is a great opportunity to introduce him and his new friends to a wide audience of children and no doubt their parents too.” Aardman executive Miles Bullogh said he was “very happy to have secured such a strong UK platform” for what he called “a significant global property”.

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  7. Jacques Villeneuve

    September 26, 2004 by dafyd

    From BBC News:

    Doesn't he look happy..?

    Jacques Villeneuve said he was not quick enough after finishing 11th in the Chinese Grand Prix on his Formula One return after a year away. The 1997 world champion, driving for Renault in the last three races of the year, said: “I just needed too long to get into the rhythm of the race. “I made a good start but hadn’t warmed up the tyres enough and lost a lot of the positions I had made up. “But I learned a lot and now feel ready for the next race at Suzuka.” Villeneuve was a long way off the pace of team-mate Fernando Alonso, who finished fourth behind Rubens Barrichello, Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen. The Canadian had had only minimal experience of Renault’s car before the race. He held off numerous attacks from Michael Schumacher during the race, but at one point the team told him on the radio to speed up.

    Oh diddums. I feel so sorry for him. Poor little man, sacked at the end of last year because he was rubbish – surprise, surprise, he’s still rubbish!

    Just a reminder though (JJ…) – NOBODY CARES!

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  8. Dafyd and Goliath?

    September 25, 2004 by dafyd

    I found this while searching for me on Yahoo, seeing as Google still doesn’t list me. I don’t know why. Hmmph. Anyway… this is from the Armidale Church of Christ (some sort of Australian church-y sort-of organisation):

    Well…one day David changed his name to Dafyd (and there was much media interest). I’m sure your wondering who Dafyd is, eh? Dafyd was a short man only 4 feet 11 inches high, weighed 150 pounds, and earned AUD $250,000 p.a. and he played Rugby League for the Australian Kangaroos. To pass the time while there was no game he would sing: “I’m only 4 feet 11, but I’m going to Heaven, and it makes me feel 10 feet tall!…” Big John played for the New Zealand All Blacks… He was 7 feet, 11 inches tall, weighed 500 pounds and earned NZD $1,000,000 p.a. Big John would chant Maori war cries to pass the time (his doctor insisted it was therapeutic). Now one fine day in the middle of the night, these two teams came out to fight; front to front they faced each other, opened their mouths and abused each other. The All Blacks yelled at the Kangaroos: “You play us: whoever first scores becomes Rugby League Footy Champions Of The World!” “Well, that’s a bit of alright” said the Australian Team. Just then the ‘Roos saw Big John…and he was big… and I mean BIG! “Wait!, hold on while we get organised!” pleaded the ‘Roos. “OK, you got 5 minutes!” yelled Big John Well the captain of the ‘Roos was at a slight loss, his men being on average only 5 feet tall were up against this 8 foot giant….so while the All Blacks were yelling at them to play, they walked back to their changerooms to discuss battle plans. They knew that if they gave up now they would be branded cowards, if they played they would die. Just then Dafyd spoke up. “Let me go one-on-one with Big John…” “What! Are you stupid!? He’ll eat you whole and spit out your bones like melon pips!” said the Captain. “My loss,” replied Dafyd. “But really, by trusting God I killed 3 American Pit Bull Terriers the other day – with my bear hands!” “Well at least wear some proection!” cried the Captain, holding up a balloon-like apparatus. “What!?” said Dafyd. “Oops,” said the Captain, whipping the balloon-thing behind his back, and directing Dafyd’s attention to the armoury, “Uh, I mean this 2nd hand M-16 machine gun. My wife bought it for me for my birthday – on special from Avon – only $59.95! But wait, there’s more! If you take it now you’ll also get two, yes, TWO ammo belts & kevlar bullet-proof jacket!” Well, Dafyd tried on the weapon, belts and jacket, but being a short guy they were too heavy for him to manage. “Look I can’t use this stuff, it’s too heavy. I’ll take this instead!” said Dafyd, discarding the gear and picking up a footy boot by its laces. Just then, a smoking goat walked in. “No Butts!” said Dafyd and strode out. In the stadium the atmosphere was electric. Dafyd walked out to the All Blacks and said: “We’ll play, but just one-on-one, you and me, Big John!” Big John roared with laughter and said: “What? A shrimp dares to fight me?! What would you know about a Man’s Game, like RFL?” “I warn you,” Dafyd threatened, “God and I will beat you up with this shoe and score!” Somewhere from above their heads Beethoven’s 5th was heard. Everyone looked up. “What’s this God stuff…,” bellowed Big John, getting right back to business, “Don’t make me laugh! ha ha ha ha!” At that Dafyd swung the boot around and around, faster and faster. All the spectators were getting dizzy. Suddenly, he let fly. It flew toward Big John, knocking him out cold. Dafyd said to the other All Blacks; “Any of you get in my way, you get the boot!” The All Blacks couldn’t clear a path quick enough. So Dafyd scored the winning try for Australia and the All Blacks went home defeated. The ‘Roos captain was so impressed that he gave Dafyd the Wallabies’ Captaincy and his daughter’s hand in marriage, like every good fairy-tale, but Dafyd was too busy to marry because he was converting the Wallabies from Union to League. This funny story is a humourous version of an Old Testament story about David and Goliath. It tells of how David, a boy not old enough to join the army, defeats the enemy’s strongest and biggest soldier, Goliath, with only his Faith in God and a slingshot. By doing so he wins a great victory for his people in this unlikely match fight. David is rewarded by the king and goes on to win many more victories (by more conventional means!). This story illustrates how we can also win over insurmountable odds with a little faith and a great heart for God. You can read about David and Goliath in the Old Testament, 1 Samuel chapter 17.

    Obviously.

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  9. Presidential Election Predictor

    September 24, 2004 by dafyd

    From BuyCostumes.com:

    Presidential Mask Election

    The BuyCostumes.com Presidential Mask Election Predictor is HERE for the 2004 Election! You’ll remember the mask predictions from the 2000 Presidential Election, as referred to by many media sources including CNN, the Associated Press, the Wall Street Journal and USA Today. What is the Presidential Mask Election Predictor? In 2000, due to the popularity of political masks, BuyCostumes.com began publishing statistics on each Presidential Candidate’s mask sales. It was soon apparent that the mask sales were as good a resource as the polls being published by major national media groups. Seeing the similarities, BuyCostumes.com then looked into some data on political mask sales in election years. Not only did they ask five different mask manufacturers, they also spoke with 12 national stores about their sales history all the way back to 1980. Their findings were astounding and right every time…
    YearWinnerLoser
    1980Reagan = 60%Carter = 40%
    1984Reagan = 68%Mondale = 32%
    1988Bush = 62%Dukakis = 38%
    1992Clinton = 41%Bush 39%
    1996Clinton = 56%Dole = 40%
    2000Bush = 57%Gore = 43%
    With the 2004 Presidential Election campaigns underway, BuyCostumes.com has once again produced the Original Presidential Mask Election Predictor to provide reporting on candidate masks sales. John Kerry is going “face to face” with George W., and this is the one source for accurate, national statistics as based on sales of their caricature masks. This poll can be accessed from BuyCostumes.com and will show you up-to-the minute stats. Visit our Political Mask area to see all the other faces available! We did it in 2000, and we’ll do it again in 2004 – keep coming back for more info on who’ll be the next President of the United States of America!

    We should really have something like that in Britain… oh wait, we do! It’s called the Daily Mail…

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  10. Happy Birthday Ceefax!

    September 23, 2004 by dafyd

    Found this on BBC News – good stuff!

    Tributes have been pouring in as the world’s first TV text service – the BBC’s Ceefax – marks its 30th birthday. Launched on 23 September, 1974, Ceefax has developed an army of armchair fans from the world of news and sport. Former prime minister John Major and Newcastle striker Alan Shearer both described it as an “institution”. Conservative leader Michael Howard said it was a “first-class public service”. Ceefax began as an experimental service of 30 pages but now has 1,000 pages. Before the advent of the internet and 24-hour news channels, Ceefax was at “the forefront of journalism”, according to BBC chairman Michael Grade. “It led the way in the breaking of stories,” he added. Culture secretary Tessa Jowell described Ceefax as the “precursor to the internet news revolution”. She added: “It still provides a distinct and unique service that many millions use and I wish it well on its 30th birthday.” Four Weddings and a Funeral director Richard Curtis said: “Ceefax is the only reason I know anything about what is going on in the world.” He joked: “It is also, of course, the reason my children hate me. They are always in the middle of a perfectly good programme when I plunge in and cover the screen with print. Ceefax was developed by BBC broadcast engineers who were working on ways of providing subtitles for the deaf. They found that a normal television picture of 625 lines has “spare” lines at the top of the picture that could be used to transmit words or numbers. The first time the public heard the name Ceefax – a play on “see facts” – was late in 1972, in advance of the first experimental transmissions. It went live in 1974 but one of the early problems was its expense. Decoders cost more than £300 while teletext-enabled sets would set consumers back £700. But as prices dropped, demand grew. By 1985, more than two million TV sets had access to Ceefax as well as its ITV counterpart, Oracle. Ceefax now has more than 20 million viewers a week.

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