Ocili News

Given all that Metallica has done, said, and been through in the last 20 years, what could they still do that would lead bloggers to ask, “What the hell is wrong with Metallica?” In this case, the answer is fairly pedestrian but still dumb: censor bloggers.

Here’s the scenario: internationally known heavy metal band with long history in the business invites music critics in London to listen to six tracks off the band’s forthcoming album. Those critics then write reviews based on what they’ve heard. Despite the total lack of any non-disclosure agreements and the fact that the band must have known what it was doing, its management then contacted the blogs in question and asked them to take down the reviews.
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Tags: ArsTechinca, bloggers, internet, journalists, Metallica, Napster

If we don’t stop extending our troops all around the world in nation-building missions, then we’re going to have a serious problem.” — George W. Bush, Jan. 2001. Continue reading »

Tags: cost, Iraq, war, ZFacts

Is nothing from our childhoods sacred?The prospect of a movie based on the ancient and well-regarded cartoon The Smurfs was hardly something that had filled us with joy.

It made hecklerspray let out a trademark sigh as we looked forward to another summer of movies single-handedly decimating the best years of our lives. Continue reading »

Tags: action, HecklerSpray, movie, Smurfs

Up to four beaver families will be released at lochs in Argyll

The European beaver is to be reintroduced to Scotland for the first time in more than 400 years, the Scottish Government has announced.

Environment Minister Michael Russell has given the go-ahead for up to four beaver families to be released in Knapdale, Argyll, on a trial basis.

The beavers will be caught in Norway and released in spring 2009.

Mr Russell said: “This is an exciting development for wildlife enthusiasts all over Scotland and beyond.” Continue reading »

Tags: BBC, beaver, mammal, Norway, Scotland, UK, wildlife

A donkey has been sent to prison in southern Mexico for a brutal case of ass-ault and battery.

The animal was locked up at a local jail that normally holds people for public drunkenness and other disturbances after it bit and kicked two men near a ranch in the state of Chiapas.

The two victims accuse it of biting one of them in the chest and then kicking the other as he came to the rescue, fracturing his ankle.

Police said it took half a dozen men to control the enraged beast. Continue reading »

Tags: attack, Chiapas, donkey, Mexico, police, prison, SkyNews