Earthlings' Times

Scottish man dies, taking town's dialect with him

2012-10-04T17:42:00.000+00:00

LONDON (AP) — In a remote fishing town on the tip of Scotland's Black Isle, the last native speaker of the Cromarty dialect has passed away, taking with him a little fragment of the English linguistic mosaic. Academics said Wednesday that Bobby Hogg, who was 92 when he died last week, was the last person fluent in the dialect once common to the seaside town of Cromarty, 175 miles (280 kilometers) north of Edinburgh. "I think that's a terrible thing," said Robert Millar, a linguist at the University of Aberdeen in northern Scotland. "The more diversity in terms of nature we have, the healthier we are. It's the same with language." The demise of an obscure dialect spoken by a few hundred people may not register for most English speakers — "We'll all live," Millar said — but it's part of a relentless trend toward standardization which has driven many regional dialects and local languages into oblivion. Linguists often debate how to define and differentiate the world's many dialects, but most agree that urbanization, compulsory education and mass media have conspired to iron out many of the kinks that make rural speech unique. Cromarty, which counts just over 700 people, is at the very end of a sparsely populated peninsula of forest and farmland. It's separated from Inverness, the closest city, by the Beauly Firth, a wide body of cold water where salmon run and dolphins frolic. The Cromarty dialect included a helping of archaic "thees" and "thous" as well as a wealth of seafaring vocabulary, including three sets of words for "second fishing line." The aspirate "h'' was often added or subtracted, so that "house" would be pronounced "oos" and "apple" would be pronounced "haypel." The "wh" sound was often dropped entirely. A lexicon of Cromarty words, relying in large part on Hogg's speech, gave "Oo thee keepan?" as Cromarty's version of "How are you?" and "Hiv thoo a roosky sazpence i thi pooch?" for "Can you lend me some money?" Urban dialects may be strong — Millar referred to "Toonserspik," the "town speech" of cities like Aberdeen — but he said they don't replace what's being lost. He said urban dialects tend to be more similar to one another than their rural counterparts, with an emphasis on differences in pronunciation over differences in vocabulary. And even rival cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh "sound more like each other than they used to." Author Mark Abley, who has written about the dynamism of the English language, agrees. "I don't believe there's a straightforward balancing act in which urban dialects grow as rural ones shrink," he said in an email. "Cities are always melting pots, and isolation for any group is very hard to maintain." As the worlds' melting pots grow ever bigger — half the Earth's population now lives in cities — lesser-known dialects are evaporating. Worldwide, languages are disappearing regularly, with half of the globe's 6,000-plus languages expected to be extinct by the end of the century, according to UNESCO. The British Isles saw two languages go extinct within living memory, UNESCO says. The last native speaker of Alderney French, a Norman dialect spoken in the Channel Islands, died around 1960, and the last speaker of traditional Manx, the language once spoken on the Isle of Man, died in 1974. Donna Heddle, the director of the Center for Nordic Studies at Scotland's University of the Highlands and Islands, said the loss of each language or regional dialect leaves the world poorer than it was before. "It's one less little sparkle in the firmament," she said. "One little star might go out and you might never notice it, but it's not there anymore." ___ Online: The Cromarty Fisherfolk Dialect: http://www.ambaile.org.uk/en/download/files/The%20Cromarty%20Fisherfolk%20Dialect.pdf (PDF) UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger: http://www.unesco.org/culture/languages-atlas/index.php

Royal Mail GPS trials begin in East Anglia

2012-08-09T21:47:00.000+00:00

Crocodile - Ukraine's new drug threat

2012-08-04T14:17:00.000+00:00

The United Nations says extraordinary progress has been made fighting AIDS over the past decade.

But in Ukraine cases of HIV infection have been rising dramatically.

The injection by syringe of a home-made lethal cocktail known as 'crocodile' has been blamed for the spread. It is based on popular eye-drops that can be bought without prescription.

The effects of 'crocodile' are extremely disturbing. Its name comes from the effect it has on skin, making it resemble a reptile. In extreme cases, it can even reduce flesh to the bone.

Talk - Robert Fisk - The Age of the Warrior

2012-07-25T01:55:00.000+00:00

Talk by Robert Fisk, Middle East Correspondent for The Independent (UK) and author of "The Age of the Warrior: Selected Essays by Robert Fisk" given September 26, 2008 at Seattle Public Library.

"Invisible Children" By Jason Russel

2012-03-17T20:35:00.000+00:00

David Blaine: How I held my breath for 17 min

2011-12-29T12:18:00.000+00:00

Shocking! Teachers Caught On Tape Bullying Special Needs Students!

2011-11-24T00:23:00.002+00:00

TED Scientist Discovers Secret to Longer Life

2011-11-24T00:14:00.000+00:00

German neo-Nazi terror cell linked to 10 murders

2011-11-23T23:29:00.002+00:00

Why Do We Dream?

2011-10-23T22:02:00.001+00:00

Montreal - 5th Shoe Pyramide Event

2011-09-19T18:59:00.000+00:00

Handicap International - The Shoe Pyramid is a symbol of Handicap International's fight against anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions. Since 1995, citizens from all over Europe have come together to stand side by side with Handicap International to demand the ban of these barbaric arms and to show support for victims.

Much remains to be done today. It is important to continue our fight to make the Treaty enforceable and enforced to obtain the complete eradication of cluster munitions and to change the situation of the victims.

As the public throws more pairs onto the Pyramid, these shoes become a symbol of the devastation, misery, the limb or the life lost by thousands of men, women and children following the explosion of a landmine or ckuster munitions. The immensity of the Pyramid invariably causes one to reflect on the suffering of these victims and their families - and on our responsability to recognize and repair the violence perpetrated against their rights.

Rendez-vous September 24, 2011 at Phillips Square (Downtown Montreal).

Nuclear: Collaborating to create a radioactive fallout contamination map

2011-08-25T15:35:00.000+00:00

Internet: "Code Rush" (Netscape Mozilla Documentary 1998 - 2000)

2011-08-25T15:16:00.000+00:00

Code Rush, produced in 2000 and broadcast on PBS, is an inside look at living and working in Silicon Valley at the height of the dot-com era.

The film follows a group of Netscape engineers as they pursue at that time a revolutionary venture to save their company - giving away the software recipe for Netscape's browser in exchange for integrating improvements created by outside software developers.

The copyright to the film is now available under Creative common licence vers. 3 for interested viewers to download and use. In the future the original footage from which this film was made will be accessible under the same terms.

Mystery Diagnosis: "Girl Who Couldnt Move"

2011-08-25T15:03:00.000+00:00

Sidi Bouzid: the roots of the Tunisia revolution

2011-08-21T15:08:00.000+00:00

Internet: Facebook and Skype to launch video chat service?

2011-08-21T14:25:00.000+00:00

The social networking site Facebook and the free internet calling site Skype are believed to be about to launch a new video chat service.

Fukushima safety fears

2011-08-21T14:20:00.002+00:00

Five months after the earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of Japan - work is still going on to clean up the stricken nuclear power station at Fukushima.

Movie: "The Nanny Diaries" (2007)

2011-08-20T08:30:00.000+00:00

Movie: "The Nanny Diaries" (2007)
- Directed by: Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini
- Writing: Emma McLaughlin(novel) & Nicola Kraus(novel); Shari Springer Berman(screenplay) & Robert Pulcini(screenplay).
- Original Music by: Mark Suozzo
- Genres: Comedy - Drama - Romance
- Country: USA
- Language: English
- Release Date: 24 August 2007 (USA)
- Runtime: 106 min

- Cast:

Scarlett Johansson as Annie 'Nanny' Braddock
Chris Evans as Hayden "Harvard Hottie"
Laura Linney as Mrs. Alexandra X
Paul Giamatti as Mr. Stan X
Nicholas Art as Grayer Addison X
Donna Murphy as Judy Braddock
Alicia Keys as Lynette
Nina Garbiras as Miss Chicago
Brande Roderick as Tanya
Heather Simms as Murnel
Julie White as Jane Gould
Judith Roberts as Milicent

- Plot:

21-year-old Annie Braddock (Scarlett Johansson) has just graduated from Montclair State University. Annie has no idea what or who she wants to be. While sitting in the park, Annie sees a young boy in a uniform almost getting run over. Annie saves him and then the boy's mother, Mrs. Alexandra X (Laura Linney), mistakes Annie for a nanny. She gives her a card. Annie lies to her mother about taking a job at a bank and, in reality, moves in with the X's to be the nanny for Grayer, the boy she saved. Life with the incredibly privileged X's isn't all she thought it would be, and her life is complicated further when she falls for "Harvard Hottie" (Chris Evans), who lives in the building.

Movie: "McLintock!" (1963)

2011-08-20T08:17:00.000+00:00

Movie: "McLintock!" (1963)
Director: Andrew V. McLaglen
Writer: James Edward Grant
Country: USA
Release Date: 13 November 1963 (USA)
Runtime: 127 min

- Cast:

John Wayne George Washington "G.W." McLintock
Maureen O'Hara Katherine McLintock
Yvonne De Carlo Louise Warren
Patrick Wayne Devlin Warren
Stefanie Powers Becky McLintock
Jack Kruschen Jake Birnbaum
Chill Wills Drago
Edward Faulkner Young Ben Sage
Jerry Van Dyke Matt Douglas, Jr.
Edgar Buchanan Bunny Dull
Bruce Cabot Ben Sage
Perry Lopez Davey Elk
Michael Pate Puma
Strother Martin Agard
Gordon Jones Matt Douglas
Robert Lowery Gov. Cuthbert H. Humphrey
Leo Gordon Jones
Hank Worden Curly Fletcher
Mari Blanchard Camille
Chuck Roberson Sheriff Jeff Lord
Bob Steele Train Engineer
Aissa Wayne Alice Warren

- Synopsis:

Cattle baron George Washington McLintock (John Wayne) is living the single life on his ranch. He is estranged from his wife Katherine (Maureen O'Hara), who left him two years before, suspecting him of adultery. He holds a record for throwing his hat up onto the longhorn-shaped weather vane at the top of his house every time he comes home drunk. McLintock hires beautiful widow Louise Warren (Yvonne De Carlo) as his cook and welcomes both her and her two children into his home. He also butts heads with Douglas, a sleazy bureaucrat who is looking to discredit McLintock, settle the territory, and remove the local Indians. Sparks begin to fly as an unexpected turn of events results in brawls, gunfire, an Indian attack...and the return of Mrs. McLintock, who wants custody over their daughter Becky (Stefanie Powers) (returning from college) and a divorce from G.W.

Film: "Man in the Attic" (1953)

2011-08-20T08:11:00.000+00:00

"Man in the Attic" (1953)
Director: Hugo Fregonese
Writers: Marie Belloc Lowndes & Barré Lyndon
Country: USA
Release Date: 23 December 1953 (USA)
Runtime: 82 min

- Cast:

Jack Palance as Slade
Constance Smith as Lily Bonner
Byron Palmer as Insp. Paul Warwick
Frances Bavier as Helen Harley
Rhys Williams as William Harley

- About The Movie:

Man in the Attic is a 1953 mystery film directed by Hugo Fregonese. It was released in the United States on December 23 by Twentieth Century Fox. The movie, based on the novel The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes, fictionalizes the Jack the Ripper killings which was previously filmed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1927, by Maurice Elvey in 1932, by John Brahm in 1944, and subsequently by David Ondaatje in 2009.

The story takes place in London, 1888. On the third night of the Jack the Ripper killings, a man rents out an attic from an older couple in need of extra income. The man (Jack Palance), a research pathologist, begins working on his experiments in the rooms. Helen Harley, the landlady (Frances Bavier), becomes suspicious of the man, especially when her niece shows an interest in him.

Movie: "Reefer Madness" (1936)

2011-08-20T08:01:00.000+00:00

"Reefer Madness" (1936)
Director: Louis J. Gasnier
Writers: Lawrence Meade & Arthur Hoerl
Country: USA
Release Date: 1936 (USA)
Also Known As: "Dope Addict" & "Tell Your Children"
Runtime: 66 min

- Cast:

Dorothy Short ... Mary
Kenneth Craig ... Bill
Lillian Miles ... Blanche
Dave O'Brien ... Ralph
Thelma White ... Mae
Carleton Young ... Jack
Warren McCollum ... Jimmy (as Warren McCullom)
Patricia Royale ... Agnes (as Pat Royale)
Joseph Forte ... Dr. Carroll (as Josef Forte)

- About The Film:

"Reefer Madness" (originally released as Tell Your Children) is a well-known 1936 American propaganda exploitation film revolving around the melodramatic events that ensue when high school students are lured by pushers to try "marijuana" — from a hit and run accident, to manslaughter, suicide, attempted rape, and descent into madness. The film was directed by Louis Gasnier and starred a cast composed of mostly unknown bit actors.

Originally financed by a church group under the title Tell Your Children, the film was intended to be shown to parents as a morality tale attempting to teach them about the dangers of cannabis use. However, soon after the film was shot, it was purchased by producer Dwain Esper, who re-cut the film for distribution on the exploitation film circuit. The film was then reissued under several titles in addition to Reefer Madness, including Dope Addict, Doped Youth, Love Madness, and The Burning Question. The film did not gain an audience until it was rediscovered in the 1970s and gained new life as a piece of unintentional comedy among advocates of cannabis policy reform. Today, it is in the public domain in the United States and is considered a cult film. It inspired a musical satire, which premiered off-Broadway in 2001, and a film based on the musical in 2005.

Movie: "Awake" (2007)

2011-08-20T07:49:00.000+00:00

"Awake" (2007)
Director: Joby Harold
Writer: Joby Harold
Country: USA
Release Date: 30 November 2007 (USA)
Also Known As: Bajo anestesia
Runtime: 84 min

- Cast:

Hayden Christensen ... Clay Beresford
Jessica Alba ... Sam Lockwood
Terrence Howard ... Dr. Jack Harper
Lena Olin ... Lilith Beresford
Christopher McDonald ... Dr. Larry Lupin
Sam Robards ... Clayton Beresford Sr.
Arliss Howard ... Dr. Jonathan Neyer
Fisher Stevens ... Dr. Puttnam
Georgina Chapman ... Penny Carver
Denis O'Hare ... Financial News Analyst
Charlie Hewson ... Brian the Orderly
Court Young ... Officer Doherty
Joseph Costa ... Dr. Elbogen

- Plot:

A wealthy man named Clayton Beresford Jr. (Hayden Christensen) has a faulty heart and needs a heart transplant. Against his mother's wishes, he will be operated on by his surgeon friend, Jack (Terrence Howard), instead of a prestigious doctor. He is also dating his mother's secretary Sam (played by Alba), whom he marries on the eve of the surgery. However, when he finds that he is still awake during the operation (a phenomenon called anesthesia awareness), he finds out about a plot to kill him and get his money, and learns that Jack and Sam are in on it. Eventually, his mother catches on and sacrifices herself to let Clayton have her compatible heart. The film ends with hospital security arresting all the corrupt doctors except Jack, who has locked himself inside his office. His respite is short-lived however, as a locksmith is seen in the last scene, undoing the lock in the door. He also has evidence in his hands showing that Sam was in the room during surgery. Meanwhile, Sam attempts to escape by using one of the hospital's Emergency Exit doors but is apprehended by authorities.

Full Length Movie: "Two Women" (1960)

2011-08-20T07:35:00.000+00:00

- Synopsis:

"Two Women" (Italian: "La ciociara", roughly translated as "The Woman from Ciociaria") is a 1960 Italian film directed by Vittorio De Sica. It tells the story of a woman trying to protect her young daughter from the horrors of war. The film stars Sophia Loren, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Eleonora Brown, Carlo Ninchi and Andrea Checchi. The film was adapted by De Sica and Cesare Zavattini from the novel of the same name written by Alberto Moravia.

The story centers on Cesira (Loren), a widowed Roman shopkeeper, and Rosetta (Brown), her devoutly religious twelve-year-old daughter, during World War II. To escape the Allied bombing of Rome, Cesira and her daughter flee southern Lazio for her native Ciociaria, a rural, mountainous province of central Italy.

After they arrive at Ciociaria, Cesira attracts the attention of a young local intellectual with communist sympathies named Michele (Jean-Paul Belmondo). However, Michele is eventually taken prisoner by a company of German soldiers, who hope to use him as a guide to the mountainous terrain. Later, Cesira and Rosetta learn that he has been shot and killed by the same soldiers who took him hostage.

After the Italian liberation, mother and daughter decide to go back to Rome. After experiencing mild harassment and propositioning throughout their journey, they fall subject to an unexpected tragedy. As they rest in a bombed-out church, they are captured and gang raped by Goumiers (Moroccan allied soldiers) serving in the Free French forces under Alphonse Juin. Rosetta is particularly traumatized and has conflicting feelings for her mother. Eventually the two succeed in re-establishing the bond that linked them.

- Cast:

Sophia Loren - Cesira
Jean-Paul Belmondo - Michele Di Libero, a young communist
Eleonora Brown - Rosetta
Carlo Ninchi - Filippo, Michele's father
Raf Vallone - Giovanni
Andrea Checchi - A fascist
Pupella Maggio - A peasant
Emma Baron - Maria
Bruna Cealti - A refugee
Antonella Della Porta - A crazy mother
Mario Frera
Franco Balducci - A German in the haystack

- Awards:

The film won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Sophia Loren. This was the first time an acting Oscar had been given for a non-English-speaking performance. Loren also won the award for Best Actress at the 1961 Cannes Film Festival. Loren won 22 international awards for Two Women.

- More About The Movie:

La Ciociara was remade for television in 1988. It was adapted by Diana Gould, Lidia Ravera, Dino Risi and Bernardino Zapponi. It was directed by Risi and starred Loren, Robert Loggia, Leonardo Ferrantini, Dario Ghirardi and Sydney Penny.

West Memphis Three Freed From Prison

2011-08-19T23:02:00.000+00:00

Assopciated Press - Aug. 19th, 2011:

Three men convicted of killing three 8-year-old Cub Scouts and dumping their bodies in an Arkansas ditch changed their pleas Friday, resolving a yearslong effort to win their freedom.

- Previous Article On "West Memphis Three" Case:

* First Video:

* Second Video:

Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley - also known as the West Memphis Three -- were teenagers when they were wrongfully convicted in 1994 of the murders of three children in West Memphis Arkansas. As highlighted in the landmark HBO Documentary "Paradise Lost," the investigation of these murders and subsequent arrests and trials were tragically mishandled, and amounted to little more than a witch hunt. To date, not one piece of substantial evidence, physical or otherwise, has connected the three men to the crime.

Now, after spending more than 16 years in prison, new DNA and forensic evidence has proven the innocence of the West Memphis Three.

This 20-minute video explores the new evidence in the case and gives Damien Echols a chance to speak in his own defense. Compiled from new defense and expert testimony, an interview with Echols on Larry King Live, and footage from '"Paradise Lost," 'West Memphis Three: Time For Truth" explores the latest chapter in this harrowing miscarriage of American justice, and leaves you aching to get involved.

"This is the most powerful and comprehensive visual representation of this very complicated story that we have seen to date. We only wish we could condense the facts so effectively." - Dennis Riordan and Don Horgan, Lead Counsels for Damien Echols

Video Produced & Edited by Brian Quist

Corey Feldman: Paedophilia Rampant in Hollywood!

2011-08-17T21:24:00.000+00:00