Monthly Archives: June 2012

Earlier this week, IMDb user brian_007 (either joking, trolling or, God forbid, neither) wrote a long comment in the IMBb message boards regarding Peter Jackson’s upcoming The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, wherein he expounded his (ahem) theories about Tolkien, LOTR, and the Harry Potter series, attracting 100 comments until the post was deleted.

But not before being screencapped:

Here’s the full text:

Overall, I like Lord of the Rings. However, I do feel that Tolkien kind of rips off Harry Potter in many ways. There are several parallels, such as elves, dwarfs, wizards, goblins, trolls, magic (especially invisibility), etc. Sauron is referred to as “Dark Lord” just like Voldemort is. There is also the elder white-haired bearded wizard who serves as a mentor, Gandalf, who is reminiscent of Dumbledore. Some of the character names are similar, such as Wormtongue as opposed to Wormtail, too. There is even a gigantic spider (Shelob) at the end of “The Two Towers” that reminds one of Aragog from Chamber of Secrets. I even noticed that the plots of both series begin with the protagonists’ birthday. Now I see that Tolkien, this unoriginal bastard, is coming out with The Hobbit in December. This would be fine, but why didn’t he just write this book first to begin with? I still like Lord of the Rings, though–don’t get me wrong–but I wonder if Tolkien has ever said in interviews whether he borrowed elements from Harry Potter. I’ll be watching the extended DVDs later this week and I think he’s featured on the commentary track, so I look forward to that.

dailywh.at/uproxx

So, what is rosy-cheeked lifestyle guru and alleged svengali Tony ‘Educo’ Quinn, up to these days?

Well he’s currently commuting (by private jet) from his home in the Bahamas to court in the British Virgin Islands where he’s facing allegations of mismanagement by Sheila McCaffrey – a former director of his oil exploration company International Natural Energy.

INE has discovered extensive reserves of oil in Belize but has never paid a dividend to investors. Three of the individual directors and 74 of the 82 original investors were Irish and all had attended Mr Quinn’s mind power seminars. Those who founded the company have since fallen out and a succession of court actions has ensued, including Ms McCaffrey’s.

They looked into his eyes. Not around the eyes. Into the eyes.

Rookie mistake.

Tony Quinn in court row over oil firm millions (Irish Times)

(Photocall Ireland)

Is it just us.

Or is this kind of thing happening a lot recently?

Thousands of banking customers are still facing delays to payments as an ongoing technical issue with Ulster Bank affects lodgements to accounts.
Ulster Bank said up to 100,000 customers may have been affected by the problem.
Although Ulster Bank said delayed lodgements made overnight on Tuesday have now reached accounts, there was no indication this afternoon of when the issue may be resolved.


Thousands Hit By Ulster Bank Glitch (Carl O’Brien, Ulster Bank)

From the Ant-Racism Network Ireland:

Yesterday another mass deportation to Nigeria took place after many Direct Provision centres were raided by the GNIB [Garda National Immigration Bureau] early in the morning. We have been informed that people including women and children were taken in Carrick-on-Suir, Cork and Portlaoise.

Out of desperation, a woman called Adekemi tried to harm herself with a knife while she was being taken from her room….

 

Mass Deportations And Police Abuses On Asylum Seekers Mark 2012 World Refugee Day In Ireland (Anti-Racism Network Ireland)

Asylum-Seeker Boat Carrying 200 Capsizes Off Australia (AFP)