Elvis comes early (Canberra Times, October 18 2009, p. 9) Elvis the helicopter - one of Victoria’s key bushfire weapons - will start duty a month earlier this year to help fire authorities be better prepared for the bushfire season. The helicopter will be on the job from the third week of November. An additional [AUD] $21 million is being spent over the next four years to improve fire protection on public land around Melbourne’s urban fringes.
Move over, Elvis, here’s Elsie By Emily Sherlock (Canberra Times, October 21, 2007, p. 6) Fresh from battling the Greek fires, air-crane pilot Don Mcleod is back in Australia and gearing up for what is predicted to be a “dangerous” bush fire season. The pilot will be based in Canberra again this year providing vital support to local fire crews. Two air cranes - Elvis and Elsie - also touched down in Australia last week and are being assembled and tested before their contracts start late next month. It is believed that Elsie will be based in Canberra and Elvis in Melbourne. … While the helicopters attracted a lot of attention because of their fire-fighting capacity - holding 9800 litres (or 9.8 tonnes) - of water collected in 35 seconds, Mr Mcleod said the fire fighters on the ground wre true heroes. “They [helicopters] are just another tool in the arsenal,” he said. …
Move over Elvis, Rocky scoops the pool: Liquid asset - the Rocky Skycrane can draw 9000 litres of water in less than 50 seconds By Jonathan Pearlman (Sydney Morning Herald, November 25, 2005) The state’s latest weapon against bushfires can carry 9000 litres of water, costs about $4 million a season and is named after a flying squirrel with an annoying voice. The Rocky Skycrane, named after the sleuthing rodent in the cartoon series Rocky and Bullwinkle, arrived in Sydney from Oregon and unveiled yesterday by the Government and the NSW Rural Fire Service. A spokesman for the fire service, Murray Hillan, said the helicopter could scoop a tankful of water in less than 50 seconds. To fill up, it needs a water source that is at least a metre deep and 70 metres clear of obstacles. … “Rocky will be a very reassuring sight for property owners, landholders and national park users this summer. It is essentially the same type of aircraft as the famous Elvis.”…
Fire service backs claim ‘Elvis’ overrated (ABC News Online, January 25, 2005) The South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS) has backed claims that heavy-lift helicopters, such as the Erikson Sky Crane nicknamed “Elvis”, are overrated and expensive tools in the firefighting effort. A national inquiry into bushfire mitigation has found that helicopters are no more effective than ground crews. CFS chief officer Euan Ferguson has faced criticism because of delays in calling in water bombers for the deadly Eyre Peninsula bushfires and he agrees with the inquiry findings. “That’s one of our concerns, that Elvis is overrated,” he said. “Firefighting aircraft generally are overrated and if I can just perhaps snatch a couple of words from the report, which says that ‘the effective practice of firefighting lacks a scientific evaluation’. It’s saying that it’s overly influenced by media images of aircraft such as Elvis and self-promotion of aircraft operators.”
‘Elvis’ costs a bomb By Bernard Lane (The Australian, January 25, 2005) THE multi-million-dollar cost of water-bombing bushfires by “Elvis” and other aircraft has been called into question. Smaller helicopters were no better at firefighting than crews on the ground with hand tools, according to an independent national inquiry into bushfire mitigation released by Prime Minister John Howard yesterday, nine months after he received it. The wide-ranging report of the Council of Australian Governments’ inquiry made 29 recommendations to improve bushfire preparedness, including the update of building standards for bushfire-prone areas. The costly practice of aerial firefighting “lacked sufficient scientific evaluation”, was influenced by media images of aircraft such as Elvis - the Erickson Aircrane helicopter - and the self-promotion of aircraft operators, the report said. The report backed the new aerial fire-fighting centre as an example of national leadership, but said its future should depend on a review being undertaken by the Bushfire Co-operative Research Centre.
Elvis hits the sky By Mark Moor (Herald Sun, January 14, 2005) A LITTLE Elvis will be the guardian angel of Melbourne’s water catchments during the summer bushfire season. Acting Premier John Thwaites welcomed a water-bombing helicopter from Canada to help fight possible fires in water catchment areas over the next 14 weeks. Smaller than the Elvis water helicopter that has battled fires in past years, the 1300L chopper is only ever 15 minutes from Melbourne’s water catchments. “A serious fire in Melbourne’s water catchments would be devastating for Melbourne’s long-term water supply,” Mr Thwaites said. “It could contaminate the supply with ash, silt and debris and reduce the quantity of water flowing to reservoirs.” …
Victorian firefighters still battling blaze (The Age, January 13, 2005) Fire crews were today working furiously to contain a blaze in Victoria’s far west, battling hot weather and gusts of north-westerly wind. Extra crews were sent to the area from across the state in an effort to control the fire that has already killed 6,000 head of livestock and destroyed several buildings since it began on Tuesday. Temperatures in the low 30s and wind gusts of 50kph were hampering firefighters’ efforts to quell the fire. Ten aircraft, including the water-bombing aircrane Elvis, helicopters, and four fixed-wing fire bombers were helping about 600 firefighters attempt to create a control line bordering the area in Fulham Reserve, north of the western Victorian town of Balmoral. So far the fire has burned more than 8,800 hectares, and that figure is set to rise before operations are completed. …
Anti-Elvis helicopter sends forests up in flames By Peter Brewer (Canberra Times, October 19, 2004) Trailing streams of flaming gel, a specialised heli-torch yesterday peformed the final act in the destruction of the once-abundant pine plantations to the west of Canberra. … The heli-torch was brought in from Tasmania to accelerate ACT Forests’ controlled burn-off of the plantation vestiges remaining over some 2000ha of the former Pierces Creek, Uriarra and Stromlo forests. …
Graceland, Elvis, and Elvis Presley are trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc (EPE) (c) Copyright 2000 onwards, Presleys in the Press Site provided free, courtesy of Elvicities
Graceland, Elvis, and Elvis Presley are trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc (EPE) (c) Copyright 2000 onwards, Presleys in the Press Site provided free, courtesy of Elvicities via whatgetsmehot.tumblr.com via whatgetsmehot.tumblr.com * Charles Dickens Un chant de Noël ( A Christmas Carol) ... » See Ya at » What Gets Me Hot
It’s St. Paddy’s season, and the celebrations are getting underway.
St. Patrick’s Day (17 March) is around the corner, so it’s time to
bring out the shamrocks and all things green and down pints of Guinness
(if you’re into that; no pressure, if not!). Here’s where you can immerse yourself in this joyous Irish occasion this year in Singapore. Sláinte!
1. St. Patrick’s Day Street Festival Singapore
Circular Road at Boat Quay turns into a raucous sea of green during
the St. Patrick’s weekend when its annual St Paddy’s festival kicks into
gear. The epic festival, which is supported by Mogambo Bar &
Restaurant, Hero’s, Molly Malone’s, The Public House and Boomarang, is
the ultimate celebration of all things Irish. So expect a whole lot of
revelry coupled with good food, fun activities, street performers, Irish
bands and more. There’d be live music across two stages over the
weekend, and Irish dancers too. Psst, there’s something for the kiddos
as well. So clad yourself in something green and soak in the lively
atmosphere. Heck, try the Irish jig while you’re at it.
About: Free admission. From March 15 to 17, 6pm to 10pm (March
15) and 2pm to 10pm (March 16 and 17). At Circular Road. For more info,
visit here.
2. Peranakan Place’s St. Patrick’s Mini Festival
Get a head-start on the St. Paddy’s revelry at this “mini festival”.
Four bars at Peranakan Place are offering Guinness draught beers at
$10++ a pint and $6++ for half pints, so you can drink to your heart’s
content. Try tapping your own pint, or bring home a personalised
Guinness cup with your name engraved on it. Other activities include
life-sized outdoor backyard games such as Human Billiards and Giant
Jenga. How fun!
About: On March 8, 7pm till late at Acid Bar, Alley Bar, Black
Nut and Hej Kitchen & Bar, 180 Orchard Road, 238846. RSVP for free
entry here.
3. Guinness’ St. Patrick’s Festival
Image: Guinness
Good news for those who have names that start with Pat! Whether
you’re called Patrick, Patricia, Patsy, Patrice, or even the endearing
Ah Pat, you’ll be entitled to a whole lot of perks, thanks to Irish
stout brand Guinness. You’d get discounts off GrabFood (first time
customers only), coupons off your Grab ride, Redmart discounts and more.
Remember to join in the street party at Maxwell Road on March 16, where
there’s beer (of course), good music, games and delicious food to be
had. If you’re Irish or you’re friends with one, you’d be entitled to
some benefits, such as Vespa tours, pop-up KTVs and discounted pints and
Guinness merchandise. Want to learn cool skills like how to pour the
perfect Guinness pint and how to make Guinness cocktails? There will be
dedicated masterclasses held as well, so you get to impress your friends
in future. Oh and did we mention innovative Guinness cocktails and $5
off Guinness pints if you sign up for the St Patrick’s Festival?
Look out for the Guinness roving van across Singapore (at Mapletree
Business City on Mar 6, 11.30am to 2.30pm; Guoco Tower on Mar 7, 3pm to
7pm; on GOGOVAN on Mar 12, 1pm to 3pm and The Exchange @ Asia Square on
Mar 13, 12pm to 2pm) where you get a taste of free Guinness draught and
ice cream infused with Guinness. Yum!
About: Free entry. On March 16, from 1pm to 10pm. At 30 Maxwell Rd. For more info, visit here. Sign up for the festival on get.guinness.com.
4. McGettigan’s Clarke Quay’s Paddy’s Weekend
McGettigan’s is celebrating St Patrick’s with a weekend full of live
music from talented musicians. We’re most excited about its headline
act, Irish singer-songwriter Gavin James, who has opened for Ed Sheeran
and Sam Smith on their tours. The 27-year-old has snagged the Choice
Music Prize Irish Song of the Year award twice, and recently played to a
15,000-strong crowd in his first arena show at 3Arena in Dublin. Other
performers include Celtic band Gan Ainm, Irish solo act Gerry Cox who
plays pop, rock and folk tunes, and more. You can also expect
performances from Irish Inspirational Dancers at
their outdoor stage — how fun! In need of a few laughs? As part of
their participation in the Magner’s Comedy Festival, there’ll be
a special Irish Comedy nighton
Saturday from 7.45pm (early bird $20, standard $35), where two Irish
stand-up comedians — Aidan Killian and Kevin Gildea — will take to the
stage. Best of all, you get to shake your shamrocks like the Irish while
sipping on $14 (nett) draught beers and bottles of Magners all day on
Saturday and Sunday. It’ll be a weekend of booze, great tunes and craic!
About: Free admission for live performances. From March 15 to
March 17 (9pm to 1.30am on March 15, 2pm to 3.30am on March 16, and 2pm
to 2am on March 17). At McGettigan’s (Clarke Quay, Singapore), Blk A, 3
River Valley Road, Merchant’s Court, 179020. For more info, visit here.
5. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2019
Photo: St Patricks Day Parade Singapore’s Facebook page
Get your green on and march to the beat at the annual St. Patrick’s
Day Parade, which promises to be a sight to behold. Organised by
Singapore River One and sponsored by St. Patrick’s Society Singapore,
the parade is a lively spectacle that will see throngs of people,
from bagpipers to drummers to musicians and festivalgoers, walk around
the Central Business District in various shades of green. All in
rollicking good fun, the celebrations will get you in the mood for a
pint later.
About: On March 17 at the lawn in front of the Victoria Concert
Hall. Meet from 2.15pm to start walking at 3pm. For more info, visit here.
6. The Drunken Poet
Image: The Drunken Poet
Tuck into classic Irish fare such as Guinness Pie ($24), Shepherd’s
Pie ($20), Irish Breakfast Pizza ($25) and Irish Potato and Bacon Cakes
($12) at this Irish pub and don’t forget to wash that down with some
Guinness beer. Pssst, enjoy unlimited pints at $10 if you like their Facebook page,
show them the ad and whisper the code #IGotLucky. No social media? Get
your beers at a not-too-shabby price of $25 for two pints or $13 for one
pint. Besides good nosh and drinks, boogie to live music from Tina, a
band which consists of experienced musicians Emira & Tim. Need we
say more?
About: From March 15 to March 17, opening til late. At The Drunken Poet, #01-29C, Orchard Towers, 400 Orchard Road, 238875, tel: 6734 2924.
7. Muddy Murphy’s Irish Pub and The Penny Black Victorian London Pub
Muddy Murphy’s and The Penny Black, which are both owned by Muddy
Murphy Holdings, will be holding a series of promotions, activities and
entertainment that are fit for the jolly occasion. You get to enjoy four
pints of Guinness beer for just $50 at both spots from March 1 to 10,
but March 11 to 17 is when the fun really starts — you get five pints of
Guinness for $60 plus five complimentary freshly shucked oysters. Next,
test your knowledge of all things Irish and stand a chance to snag a
bottle of The Irishman single malt whiskey by taking part in their St
Patrick’s Trivia, which will be held on March 12 for The Penny Black and
March 14 for Muddy Murphy’s. The latter will also have an evening of
live Irish folk songs from Irish musician Paddyman on March 15, then
both bars will air the final round of Rugby Six Nations Championship
live from 8.30pm on March 16. On March 17, expect a traditional roast
lunch at 11.30am at Muddy Murphy’s, followed by live band performances
at 2pm (Paddyman) and 6pm (Gan Ainm). At The Penny Black, live music by
Paddyman will begin at 6pm.
Toast to the popular Irish festival with some
unique concoctions and exclusive pours, led by Bread Street Kitchen’s
bar manager William Pravda, a recent champion at the inaugural Pilsner
Urquell Tapster Singapore Competition. Knock back an O’hara Stout —
which exudes a robust roast flavour and mingling liquorice notes — or an
O’hara Red Ale — which has a smooth creamy caramel tone — at half-price
(S$9++). Or get a Leprechaun
cocktail (S$14++), which is a refreshing whisky concoction from Dublin.
There are delicious bites, such as burgers and fish and chips, to
accompany your drinks of course, and these will not disappoint.
9. The St. Patrick’s Ball by the St. Patrick’s Society Singapore
Photo: St. Patrick’s Society Singapore’s Facebook
Established in 1925, the St. Patrick’s Society Singapore aims
to extend a warm welcome to anyone with an Irish heritage, or who simply
have a love of, or interest in, Ireland. Its annual dinner, the St.
Patrick’s Ball, is their key event, where, in their words, they “raise
more than a glass of Guinness to celebrate our Patron Saint”. It’s a
glamorous event where the dress code involves ball gowns and black tie,
so don’t expect the same boisterous merrymaking as that of an Irish bar,
but it’ll be no less fun. The dinner will kick off with a champagne
reception accompanied by Irish Harp music, followed by a five-course
gourmet dinner that is accompanied by free flow wine, beer and Guinness.
Entertainment include Irish dancing, and afterwards if you’re in the
mood, you’re invited to dance the night away into the early hours.
Supper will be provided.
About: On March 16, from 7pm at Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, 22
Orange Grove Rd, 258350. Members pay $275 while non-members pay $300. To
buy, email stpatsticketing@outlook.com. For more info, see here.
Salman Rushdie Assassinated International Guerilla (Flying Korans kill infidel)
One of the major burning issues in the Islamic world in the late 1980s and early 1990s was Salman Rushdie's book the "Satanic Verses". The book caused a huge uproar in the Islamic world with large protests. It was then followed with a fatwa by the Iranian spiritual leader Ayatollah Khomeini to kill Salman Rushdie.
Taking advantage of this situation producer Sajjad Gul decided to make "International Guerillas", a totally fictitious film.
The film plot revolves around he film's protagonists are three Pakistani brothers, the older one being a police officer and the younger two, small-time hoodlums. The three brothers ultimately reconcile in the light of the controversy over The Satanic Verses: in a dramatized version of the Islamabad police firing on a mob on February 12, 1990 when five demonstrators were killed and 83 injured, their younger sister is killed by the police while demonstrating against Rushdie. The three brothers decide to avenge her and Islam's honor by hunting down and killing Rushdie. They receive the help of a female police officer in the course of their mission.Salman Rushdie, played by Afzaal Ahmad, is portrayed in the film as a criminal mastermind, working for an international organization devoted to destroying Islam (as the Muslim's faith is an obstacle to widespread crime and immorality). He is depicted as hiding in the Philippines, guarded by a private army led by an Israeli general. Saeed Khan Rangeela stars as "Chief Batu Batu", Rushdie's main Jewish henchman. The fictionalized Rushdie routinely amuses himself by torturing and killing the mujahideens who regularly try to hunt him down. He also enjoys torturing Muslims by making them listen to readings of The Satanic Verses.The protagonists arrive in the Philippines and start their hunt for Rushdie, who escapes them repeatedly thanks to the use of multiple decoys. In the course of one of their attempts to kill Rushdie, the three brothers appear wearing Batman disguises[4]. The Israeli general's sister is sent to seduce one of the Muslim guerillas but ends up falling in love with him and ultimately converting to Islam in the final scene.The film ends with a gunfight opposing the four Pakistani "international guerillas" and Rushdie's army of Israeli henchmen. The heroes defeat the villains and, as Rushdie attempts to flee the scene, three giant Qur'ans appear in the sky and fire energy beams at the wicked writer, incinerating him.The film was directed by Jan Mohammad, writer was Nasir Adeeb, Starring Afzal Ahmed, Mustafa Qureshi, Javed Shiekh, Ghulam Mohiyuddin, Babra Sharif, Neeli, Humayun Qureshi and Rangeela. Music by M.Ashraf.International Guerillas was a double vision film made in Urdu and Punjabi.A truly all and out commercial flick and nothing else. International Guerillas was a hit in Pakistan and was released in the UK after initially getting banned by the British Film Censor Board.International Guerillas probably become the first Pakistani film to get a review in the prestigious Time magazine. The western media and the audience found the film rather hilarious and funny.As the producer Sajjad Gul says "my film does not carry any facts and figures and is purely fictitious".This is a report by the BBC on the film.
Salman Rushdie Assassinated International Guerilla (Flying Korans kill infidel) One of the major burning issues in the Islamic world in the late 1980s and early 1990s was Salman Rushdie's book the "Satanic Verses". The book caused a huge uproar in the Islamic world with large protests. It was then f ... » See Ya at » What Gets Me Hot
