ALIEN ATTACK Bosnian blames ET over meteors
A Bosnian man whose home was hit five times by meteorites has claimed he is being targeted by aliens. Radivoje Lajic has reinforced his roof in Gornja Lamovite with a steel girder. “I am obviously being targeted by aliens. I don’t know what I have done to annoy them but there is no other explanation that makes sense,” he said. “The chance of being hit by a meteorite is so small that getting hit five times has to be deliberate.” Belgrade University has confirmed that all the rocks handed over by Mr. Lajic are meteorites, although it cannot confirm that they hit his house nor, indeed, that they were thrown by aliens. The meteors reportedly only hit the house when it was raining. “I don’t know why they are doing this. When it rains I can’t sleep for worrying about another strike,” Mr. Lajic said.
source: http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/bild-english/home/regularieninhalte/world-news-ticker/news,rendertext=13427148.html
Stampede at German Concert Kills at Least 18
At least 18 people were killed and dozens more injured in a stampede at the German techno-music festival Love Parade.
Fans were crushed to death when “mass panic” caused a stampede at the entrance tunnel to the music festival, BBC News reported.
“There was no escape, people were standing over me like a wall,” Raver Marius, an eyewitness said, according to The Guardian. “I was afraid I die.”
At least 10 people had to be resuscitated following the stampede at the grounds in the northeast city of Duisburg. Police say the situation was “very chaotic”" and that the details of what happened remain unclear.
Police commissioner Juergen Kieskemper said that police closed off the area leading to the parade because it was already overcrowded. Cops then told the festival-goers to turn around and walk back the way they had arrived, The Associated Press said.
The Love Parade is an annual music festival that began as a peace demonstration in 1989. It was originally held in Berlin, but moved to the Ruhr region in the west of the country in 2007.
Each year, hundreds of thousands attend from all over the world to see top techno DJs and parade floats from many different countries.
Love Parade did not immediately respond to a call and an e-mail from AOL News seeking comment.
The party continued even after the deaths, with many of the revelers unaware of the accident. At least one million were expected to attend the event.
Police originally reported that 10 people died in the stampede. The AP reported that emergency services had trouble reaching the injured.
source: http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/stampede-at-germanys-love-parade-kills-more-than-a-dozen-people/19567253
At Comic-Con, movies go big or go home
Only at San Diego Comic-Con, the annual gathering of self-proclaimed fanboys and fangirls, can an early screening of a movie feel like a rock concert, and then literally become one.
In a surprise on Thursday night, some audience members to the panel for “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” — in which star Michael Cera arrived in a Captain America costume — were given the chance to see the entire movie early at a nearby theater.
The crowd cheered during the movie’s opening credits and roared their approval whenever the title character landed a decisive blow while facing off with his new girlfriend’s “evil exes.”
The movie, based on a Japanese manga-inspired comic book, has a good possibility of appealing to comic book fans and gamers alike.
“It surpassed my expectations, and I’m a huge fan,” said Gabriel Simon, after the screening, which ended with a performance by the band Metric, while cast members such as Anna Kendrick from “Up in the Air” rocked out in the balcony.
Brittany Hernandez of La Jolla, California, is one of several who said the movie was the highlight of the convention so far. “I thought the movie was amazing. I saw the panel after the one for ‘The Expendables.’ Sylvester Stallone is hard to beat, but that was pretty awesome.”
It’s just one of many ways Hollywood studios are trying to get the most bang for their promotional buck among these hardcore filmgoers. Giving them a chance to see early footage is one thing, but some moviemakers are trying a more “immersive experience” to make sure that the fans have high praise for their top projects, especially when they post to their favorite social media site.
“Pilgrim” doesn’t stop there, with an off-site area center where attendees can get custom-made T-shirts.
Not to be outdone, “The Green Hornet’s” car, the Black Beauty, and the movie’s “booth babes,” known as the Green Hornettes are all over Comic-Con.
Con-goers can head up to another off-site location, Britt Reid’s Garage, to catch a glimpse of the masked hero’s vehicle of choice, and others owned by the Hornet.
“We tried to take risks and make something interesting, and also make something that is worth this amount of money,” said the Hornet himself, Seth Rogen, gesturing towards the cars. “We went through a lot of different designs [for the Black Beauty] and ended up with basically the same design as the TV show. We just added bigger guns.”
A Comic-Con veteran, Rogen prefers Marvel Comics over DC and, as for the convention itself, he says he “wishes it were a little bit more about the comics, actually.”
If cars aren’t your thing and you prefer your “immersive experiences” to be more on the techie side, “Tron: Legacy” has an app for that: an all-new version of the “Tanks” game from the Tron arcade can be downloaded onto iPhones.
There’s also “Flynn’s Arcade,” returning to Comic-Con for the second year in a row. This year, there is a scavenger hunt of sorts on Twitter, where attentive fans can gain access to special events inside the arcade, which reveal secrets of the film, among other things.
As “immersive experiences” go, however, “Salt,” which had all of 24 hours before the movie’s release to make an impression, went the old-fashioned route by revealing a big surprise Thursday: Angelina Jolie favoring the audience with an appearance.
Bruce Willis was also on hand to promote the upcoming comic book adaptation, “Red,” though Oscar winner Helen Mirren may have stolen the show by talking about her first action role.
Speaking of action, the aforementioned Stallone was indeed there Thursday, pushing “The Expendables,” along with just about every other action hero who isn’t the governor of the most populous state in the union.
Another way to grab fans’ attention is food, and Robert Rodriguez’s upcoming “Machete” had a taco stand set up on Thursday night, along with an outdoor screening of new footage.
There are still a few more high-profile movies hoping to thrill the Comic-Con crowd. “Green Lantern” starring Ryan Reynolds, and the next two Marvel Comics adaptations, “Thor” and “Captain America: The First Avenger” still have their Hall H presentations coming up over the weekend. Visitors to the booths in the exhibitors hall had an early glimpse of Abin Sur, an alien from “Green Lantern,” and both Thor’s hammer and Cap’s shield were on display.
Also, “Iron Man” director Jon Favreu is hoping that his third time’s a charm at Comic-Con with “Cowboys & Aliens,” which is still in production.
And believe it or not, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” will mark that successful movie franchise’s first appearance in San Diego. Prior to the panel, fans are getting a look at the famous horcruxes as they will appear in the movie. At a convention where there is no such thing as too flashy, even the wildly-popular “Potter” might have to pull off every trick up his sleeve to avoid getting overshadowed.
source: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/07/23/comic.con.movies/index.html?hpt=Sbin#fbid=KgaSu-FFqPr
Schumi to help Vettel against Webber on home soil
Dark clouds were hanging over Hockenheim on Friday as little rivers flowed through the paddock leaving big puddles: F1 is under the weather!
Sebastian Vettel, who grew up half an hour away in Heppenheim, said: “I should probably apologise for the weather here. I’m sorry.”
The 23-year-old – fourth in the title race with 121 points – sat to the left of Michael Schumacher in a press conference ahead of this weekend’s German Grand Prix. To the right of Schumi was Mark Webber (third with 128 points).
Schumi looked like the buffer between the two Red Bull steers.
BILD asked the seven-time world champion which of his neighbours would win the title.
The Mercedes star replied: “You should not forget McLaren. The also have every chance. But if I commit myself now here, for whom I’m keeping my fingers cross… Sorry, Mark! It also has something to do with one’s own country, I’m for Seb.”
Webber quite simply: “Oh, that’s ok…”
But everyone feels it. The eyes of the world championship rivals never met in the front row. After his triumph at Silverstone, Webber desperately wants to beat Vettel at his home race in Hockenheim as well. It would give him a serious title boost – and would deal a big psychological blow to his rival.
Officially he insisted: “I have no problem with Seb.” Webber blamed the trouble elsewhere: “The media and everyone wants to wind up a nice rivalry between whoever it is, but Seb and I are naturally going about our jobs,” he said. “[We] have the same passion and the same drive to get the same result and there is nothing wrong with that.”
But Webber’s attack on Vettel in Silverstone (”Not bad for a number two driver”) did not help. Formula 1 experts have long spoken of the Australian leaving Red Bull.
Webber has lost a lot of sympathy – but at the Hockenheim circuit around 100,000 spectators and now Schumi will be against him. The Mercedes driver admitted: “My heart comes through there and with it the German bias.”
Schumi will help Vettel against Webber!
Vettel must finish ahead of Webber on home soil. Only then would he be back in the running for the title. He is remaining cool however – and did not want to discuss the disputes: “As far as I know, we are selling enough cans!”
What about Schumi at Hockenheim? He has a dream: “If we could manage a podium, that would be a great and a fantastic result for us… that’s what we’re aiming for.”
source: http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/bild-english/sport-news/more-sport/2010/07/23/f1-german-grand-prix/schumi-to-help-vettel-against-webber-on-home-soil.html
France World Cup squad suspended for Norway friendly
The French Football Federation has suspended all 23 members of France’s World Cup squad for their next game.
New France coach Laurent Blanc requested that no member of the squad be selected for a friendly against Norway in Oslo on 11 August.
France failed to win any of their three group games in South Africa.
The campaign included players boycotting training in support of Nicolas Anelka, who was sent home for insulting coach Raymond Domenech.
The sanction means France’s opening qualifier for Euro 2012, at home to Belarus on 3 September, will be the first opportunity for any of the 23 to feature in a Blanc squad.
Blanc said: “I obviously cannot act as if nothing had happened in South Africa.
“I followed the events with sadness, I was disappointed with the sporting results and I was shocked by certain behaviours.
“I will integrate these elements into my analysis and my thoughts. I always had the principles, rules of conduct and not just in my sporting life. They have not changed and I will not change.”
The crisis that engulfed Domenech’s last tournament as national coach resulted in the resignation of FFF president Jean-Pierre Escalettes, with his successor due to be unveiled on Friday.
The one-day training strike, on 20 June, came after Chelsea forward Anelka was sent home from the tournament following a heated exchange with Domenech at half-time during the defeat to Mexico on 17 June.
France captain Patrice Evra accused a “traitor” within the party of leaking details of Anelka’s rant to the media and of destabilising the squad, and the skipper was then seen arguing with fitness coach Robert Duverne at the start of the scheduled training session.
Duverne stormed off the training ground and the players headed for their bus and refused to train, leaving Domenech to read a statement to the press on their behalf.
Former France defenders Lilian Thuram and Marcel Desailly called for Evra to be banned from national team duty over his part in the insurrection, and Escalettes took a similar stance.
But Blanc said upon his unveiling as Domenech’s successor: “It is not for me to decide on sanctions. I am not the bogeyman. If I consider they are the best players in their position, I will take them.”
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has admitted that the decision to strike was “completely stupid”.
The Lyon star told French sports newspaper L’Equipe: “We acted as a team. To strike was the decision of a squad who felt lonely, who believed that no-one had stood up for them and who had a message to convey.
“We went too far. It was a very awkward decision, a big mistake. It was completely stupid. But there were so many problems.
“We all want to improve the image of Les Bleus. We must make all possible effort, give everything. It’s important for us.
“We must go back to basics – respect for the jersey, of course, the team and the institution of France.
“We have a great desire that what happened in South Africa should not happen again, that there should be no self-destruction like that any more.”
Meanwhile Fernand Duchaussoy has been named as the FFF’s interim president.
President of the Ligue du Football Amateur since 2005, the 67-year-old Fernand Duchaussoy succeeds Jean-Pierre Escalettes, whose resignation was accepted at a 2 July 2 meeting of the federation’s federal council but stayed on until a successor could be found.
source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8849972.stm
Pink rushed to hospital after Nuremberg stage fall
She is known for artistic performances at her concerts but something went horribly wrong at Pink’s gig in Nuremberg.
The American singer tumbled from the stage on Thursday evening and was taken to hospital. She was supposed to be hoisted up on a trapeze for a stunt, but the 30-year-old was not properly secured.
She fell out of the harness and dropped down into the barricades, as she revealed herself later on Twitter.
Both fans and Pink herself were shocked following the fall, and the exuberant atmosphere suddenly disappeared.
Pink complained: “Oh sh*t, I hurt like a motherf**ker!” The music suddenly stopped. The fans began clapping to encourage the popstar. A couple of minutes later, she climbed back on stage.
But nothing helped – the concert was cut short as Pink was rushed to hospital.
Fortunately, however, the superstar did not suffer serious injuries, according to a police spokesman on Thursday night.
After a quick check-up in the hospital, she reportedly then left Nuremburg.
Pink let fans know about it on Twitter: “Nothing’s broken, no fluid in the lungs, just seriously sore. I made that barricade my b*tch!”
source: http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/bild-english/celebrity-gossip/2010/07/16/pink-taken-to-hospital/popstar-stage-fall-nuremberg-concert-cut-short.html