Most people living in the Midwest have seen some
pretty incredible thunderstorms. But even though it is always
a intense experience to watch a super cell roll towards you, soon
after the winds have calmed down and the thunder and lightning
is off in the distance we rapidly forget about this awesome experience.
This week I have included 3 videos that capture the power and
beauty of a summer thunderstorm.
In video #1 we watch a time-lapse video of a storm rolling in
and out. You can notice that the clouds high up in the atmosphere
are moving the opposite direction to the lower storm clouds.
In video #2 the time-lapse camera catches a storm at night. You
get to see the lightning storm and stars streak overhead.
In video #3 it is in real time, the camera is on the edge of a
field of tall grass and you can see the in bound wind being sucked
into the center of the storm, then it gets pushed out at the top
of the super cell. Most impressive.
Every one in America, and most of Western Europe knows who Simon
Cowell is, the cranky judge on American Idol and other popular
talent shows. Cowell commands a salary of more than 33 million
dollars a year from American Idol, and that does not include income
from other shows and personal appearances.
It seams that every thing Cowell touches turns to gold, but it
was not always like that for this Englishman. Even though he was
born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
Cowell was born in 1959. His father was a powerful music industry
executive at EMI, and his mother was a former ballet dancer. How
ever they had their hands full with Simon. He had a appetite for
underage drinking and was thrown out of several privet schools.
Later Simons father got him a job in the mailroom at EMI records,
and he started to work his way up the corporate ladder.
Then in 1987 Cowell started up his own record company, Fanfare
Records, and even signed his first artist Sinitta, whom Cowell
also dated. Her debut LP, enjoyed strong sales but nevertheless
the next year his company went bankrupt and Cowell had to move
back into his parents house. But with in a few months he had refashioned
himself as an A&R consultant and initiated a long relationship
with BMG for whom Cowell signed several artist.
Good fortune continued for him in 2001, when Cowell became a judge
on a new British television show called Pop Idol. A year later
they launched the American version of the show and the rest is
history.
This guy makes a million dollars even before he gets out of bed
in the morning. He has fame fortune and he made most of it after
he turned 40. Simon Cowell, American Idol.
Gambler wins jackpot at casino but must give it all back.
Millions of green frogs take over Greek highway.
A Pennsylvania man who won a $2,001.00 slot machine pay out must
forfeit his winnings, and will be charged with trespassing, because
he had previously banned himself from casinos under a state program
for people who have gambling addictions.
Under the Pennsylvania gaming control board’s self exclusion
program, problem gamblers can choose to ban them selves from casinos
for one year, five years, of for life. Banned players are charged
with criminal trespass if they are caught in a casino, and they
must forfeit any winnings.
Giving back the money would be hard, but then to be charged with
trespassing is a real kick in the teeth. I hope the judge will
take it easy on this guy. Some people have more bad luck than
others, but this guy has it bad.
THESSALONIKI, Greece: Greek officials say that millions of migrating
frogs have forced the closer of a important high way in northern
Greece.
The incursion took place near the town of Langadas some 12 miles
east of Thessaloniki, and closed the highway for about 2 hours.
Traffic police chief Giorgos Thanoglou says “millions”
of amphibians covered the road last week and caused at least 3-traffic
accidents. There were no fatalities except for the thousands of
green frogs caught in the headlights of oncoming traffic. “It
was terrible 2 miles of green and red slimy guts”.
