On Monday 19 December 2011, China commenced the trials of about 60 players, referees and officials over allegations of corruption and match-fixing, after a crackdown that began in January 2010 (see above video). Besides match-fixing for gambling syndicates linked (inevitably) with organised crime in East Asia, the trials cover more petty forms of corruption such as the sale of positions in the Chinese men’s national soccer team, which has gone from qualifying for the World Cup in 2002 and making the final of the Asian Cup in 2004 to not qualifying for any World Cup since then. To put this in perspective, North Korea qualified last time and China did not. Continue reading
Don’t get distracted by all the pretty, shiny things. Continue reading
Let’s switch it up shall we? Are you at all curious about what in hell’s doom led John McCain to pluck some Alaskan simpleton from relative obscurity, dress her up, feed her ego, and basically let her become the Zapf dingbats with a hair bump campaign grenade that she morphed into to his utter monstrous ball-shrinking detriment? Yes, well, Game Change would like you to witness the carnage. Continue reading
Kiedis, leader singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and occasional leather daddy, poses with the rest of the band in a Los Angeles alleyway, 2011
In this concluding edition of the year in review, we will touch upon the developments within the sphere of indie music, reissues, and the absolute worst albums released in 2011. Without further ado, let’s jump on in. Continue reading
My love of wine is well known. Cocktails are special occasion drinks for me. The Season of Summer is a special occasion as is Christmas and New Year’s in my household. I love a good cocktail during these times, but I am lazy and usually settle for something simple with gin or vodka — straight gin and vodka is sooo simple.
The holidays require something a bit spiffier. This is where you Crasstalkers can be helpful…. Continue reading
You can do this. You can get everything done that needs to be done and keep your sanity. A spa day sure does sound good right now, though. Continue reading
Well, that whole Dark Knight Rises thing was fun while it lasted. We’re now back to viewing poop-quakes on film. Continue reading
Christstollen is delicious German Christmas bread with a long history. It goes back to early 15th century, although the ingredients they used were slightly different. Because of fasting during the Advent season, no one could use butter, so they had to use oil. Continue reading
The above image, taken by a satellite from the defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), starkly illustrates the difference between North Korea and South Korea. Continue reading
Many fans of TLC’s competition show The Next Great Baker got a shock last night after contestant Wesley Durden was eliminated from competition. The reason? TLC included an in memoriam note for Durden, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound nearly two months ago.
Durden, a former paratrooper and veteran with two stints in Iraq behind him, was found dead on October 25 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Apparently only one news story, this Worchester Telegram article from December 2, mentioned both Durden’s passing and his part on the show before last night. TLC waited until nearly a month into this season’s competition to acknowledge Durden’s death.