smorg

Thus spake CNN:

LONDON, England (CNN) — The cartoon series “South Park” has never been shy of courting controversy, but its latest episode has caused outrage by featuring the recently deceased Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin.

Swearing and random death and destruction are staples of the cartoon, which has been broadcast since 1997. Irwin, killed by a stingray’s barb while snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef in September is the latest celebrity to be lampooned by the show.

The episode, aired in the U.S. earlier this week, shows Satan preparing to host a Halloween fancy dress party. Other guests include Princess Diana, Hitler and rapper Notorious B.I.G. Critics have been appalled by the Irwin character’s depiction in a bloodstained shirt and with a stingray still attached to his chest.

John Beyer of UK TV watchdog Mediawatch said: “This is such bad taste and the makers of ‘South Park’ should review their decision to show it. Steve’s family are still grieving.

“To lampoon somebody’s death like that is unacceptable and so soon after the event is grossly insensitive.”

“South Park” maker Comedy Central defended the episode. A spokesperson for the company said: “It has offended people in the past and probably will again. Regular watchers would not be shocked.”

The show holds the record for the most swearwords spoken in one program, and regularly takes pot-shots at celebrities and makes fun of politics and religion.

Some tamer examples include George Clooney, mocked for his politically-motivated Oscar acceptance speech, and lampooning Tom Cruise and John Travolta for their belief in Scientology. One episode with a depiction of a bleeding Virgin Mary so upset the Catholic Church that it was pulled from repeats of the series.

Check out the caption below the photo:

So, CNN adds ‘Crikey!’ and it’s ok?

The funny part is that in the episode, the Devil was saying ‘dude, he’s only been dead for a few weeks, it is too soon’ when he thought someone had dressed up as Irwin at a halloween party. Turns out it was the *real* Irwin.

Here, have a look for yourself:

I dunno; Irwin had a great sense of humor and had been on SP before, so he probably wouldn’t mind a little barbing. Oh. Sorry…pun.

Seriously? 35? I thought this guy was at least 10 years older than that. I feel REALLY old now.
:(

A school in Russia, I mean Massachusetts has banned tag and any other recess game that might cause a child harm.

ATTLEBORO, Massachusetts (AP) — Tag, you’re out!

Officials at an elementary school south of Boston have banned kids from playing tag, touch football and any other unsupervised chase game during recess for fear they’ll get hurt and hold the school liable.

Recess is “a time when accidents can happen,” said Willett Elementary School Principal Gaylene Heppe, who approved the ban.

While there is no districtwide ban on contact sports during recess, local rules have been cropping up. Several school administrators around Attleboro, a city of about 45,000 residents, took aim at dodgeball a few years ago, saying it was exclusionary and dangerous. (Watch how second-grader Kelsey interpreted the rule — 1:30)

Elementary schools in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Spokane, Washington, also recently banned tag during recess. A suburban Charleston, South Carolina, school outlawed all unsupervised contact sports.

“I think that it’s unfortunate that kids’ lives are micromanaged and there are social skills they’ll never develop on their own,” said Debbie Laferriere, who has two children at Willett, about 40 miles south of Boston. “Playing tag is just part of being a kid.”

Another Willett parent, Celeste D’Elia, said her son feels safer because of the rule. “I’ve witnessed enough near collisions,” she said.

My favorite line:

Another Willett parent, Celeste D’Elia, said her son feels safer because of the rule. “I’ve witnessed enough near collisions,” she said.

Oh no!!! A near collision with another child??? OH DEAR!!!

Soon kids won’t have lives at all. They’re going to be kept fat and happy in front of their tv/pc/xbox and will not even know what sunshine or breaking a sweat feels like.

Ugh.

Driving to work today, i saw a sign for a church that said:

EXERCISE DAILY
WALK WITH THE LORD

My idiot brain, of course, instantly chimed in, “Gee, I’d love to, but I’m already doing cardio three days a week with the Holy Ghost…”.

Sigh.

Holly got one for her birthday…very slick, and for a definite good cause. Some pics over on techpedia.