More Good UK News on The DailyDust today

The Puzzle Of The Cube Is Solved - After 26 Years! Posted: 12 Jan 2009 09:18 AM CST Graham Parker had been trying to solve his Rubik’s Cube since 1983.Graham, 45, from Portchester, Hants, had been trying to solve the Cube since he bought the toy in 1983. A married dad-of-one, Graham has even endured endless sleepless nights… “I have missed important events to stay in and solve it and I would lay awake at night thinking about it. “I have had wrist and back problems from spending hours on it but it was all worth it. “When I clicked that last bit into place and each face was a solid colour I wept.” The Rubik’s Cube was invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor Erno Rubik but was originally called the Magic Cube.  More than 300 million have been sold worldwide. Erik Akkersdijk holds the record for a single solve with a time of 7.08 seconds.. Absolutely no idea how.. Related Posts Will The UK Get Its Own Area 51? Case Dismissed: 10 Most Bizarre UK Court Cases

Diane Warren’s Famous Songs Posted: 12 Jan 2009 08:47 AM CST She's writing our Eurovision entry, so let's explore her back catalogue. Diane Warren has an impressive list of hits, and as Andrew Lloyd Webber's chosen lyricist for the UK's Eurovision song, she'll be moulding her style to the voice of whoever wins Your Country Needs You. For now, though, here's a look at some of the highlights of her career so far. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now, – Starship Number one in the UK and the US, from the hit film Mannequin, we're pretty sure everyone reading can sing along with this 80s classic at the top of their voice. I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing – Aerosmith Aerosmith's first track to go straight to the top in the US singes charts, this was the big love theme from the biggest summer film of the 20th century. Now enshrined as the first dance in one in four weddings… honestly. Can't Fight The Moonlight – LeAnn Rimes It might not have made it’s mark anywhere except Australia, but boy is this a belter of a track for any female diva! If I Could Turn Back Time – Cher Cher. On a battleship. Astride the cannon. Singing. Hearts are still breaking all over Manchester's Canal Street. Where My Heart Will Take Me – Russell Watson Look it was a great song (and Watson's version shows Warren's versatility) but it just wasn't a theme tune for Star Trek. Really. Ignore that and you've got a powerful promise in a song that should be a karaoke standard at every Sci-Fi convention. Related Posts One To Watch: Eurovision, Your Country Needs You Eurovision’s Not Ready for Risque, thinks Nortons How HSM Could Win Eurovision for the UK Damien First Casualty In UK Eurovision National Final Uk Eurovision Contestants Under The Microscope

Premier League Transfer Rumour Mill 12.01.09 Posted: 12 Jan 2009 08:41 AM CST Each day, The Daily Dust brings you some thoughts on the latest and greatest transfer rumours. West Ham reject an improved bid from Manchester City for striker Craig Bellamy. (Sky Sports News, 1200 GMT) The Daily Dust Says: Mark Hughes has infinite wealth and his first stops are Wayne Bridge and Craig Bellamy? France striker Karim Benzema, a reported target of Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona, has said his future at Lyon depends on the club’s performance in the Champions League last 16 against Barcelona. (1029 GMT, Press Association) The Daily Dust Says: Should endear him to his fans, no doubt City will come in with a mega bid but we reckon he’ll ultimately end up at Real or Barca. Probably the former, just don’t see Fergie blowing another 30 million on a striker. Bolton manager Gary Megson claimed he has ended his interest in Joey Barton after the club had a £2m bid rejected for the Newcastle midfielder. (0915 GMT, Press Association) The Daily Dust Says: Don’t do it, DON’T do it! Zenit St Petersburg forward Andrei Arshavin will sign for Arsenal in the January transfer window, despite the Russian club turning down a £10m bid. (The Sun) The Daily Dust Says: Good ol’ Sun. So despite having their bid turned down, they are signing him. How’s that, then? David Blaine getting involved? Wigan striker Emile Heskey has agreed a pre-contract deal to join former club Liverpool as a free agent in the summer. (Daily Mail) The Daily Dust Says: Yes please, for that would be too hilarious for words. Portsmouth will offer Manchester City £6m for striker Benjani, who they sold to the Eastlands club, and midfielder Michael Johnson. (The Sun) The Daily Dust Says: We rate MJ, although he’s gone off the boil a bit under Hughes. There can’t be anything about being in Hughes’ position, though, everyone knows you have cash but you still can’t attract anyone while all your current squad have no motivation for suspicions of being replaced. Portsmouth manager Tony Adams could also offer Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton a chance to get his career back on track by taking him to Fratton Park. (Daily Star) The Daily Dust Says: DON’T DO IT (again)! Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones is a target for Aston Villa but manager Martin O’Neill will have to pay £12m for the Trinidad and Tobago international. (Daily Mirror) The Daily Dust Says: TDD are big fans of Kenwyne, and he would be utterly perfect for Martin O’Neill’s system. Shell out the cash Martin, shell it out. Related Posts Football Transfer Rumour Round-Up, 1.1.09 Premier League round-up: The Tightness Continues Arsenal collapse continues as ‘Big Four’ get shut out Well that didn’t take the nutter very long… Premier League Transfer Rumours - 1.7.09

Sir Alex turns the other cheek to Benitez Posted: 12 Jan 2009 07:53 AM CST In the wake of Manchester United’s 3-0 win over Chelsea, Sir Alex took the time to respond to Rafa Benitez’s outbursts earlier this week. His opinions probably tempered by the contrasting fortunes of United and Liverpool, who drew with Stoke, this weekend, Ferguson showed uncharacteristic restraint: ”There was a lot of venom in what he has said,” reflected Ferguson. ”I don’t understand where it has come from. ”He is obviously disturbed about something. When he reflects on it he must realise what a ridiculous thing he is saying. But all I want to do is focus on my own team. If we can do that we have a big chance.” Related Posts Benitez sticks it to Ferguson one more time Benitez goes mental on Sir Alex Benitez reminds everyone that Liverpool could win too Rafa Benitez pulls the other one What the heck is Harry feeding them?

Will The UK Get Its Own Area 51? Posted: 12 Jan 2009 05:58 AM CST Security guards have sealed off the area where a UFO wrecked a giant wind turbine last week. The Sun reported today: Dog patrols have turned the site into a no-go zone amid fears alien hunters will try to plunder any debris. The results of the investigation being carried out by forensic scientists in Germany should be disclosed within a week. Dale Vine, managing director of Ecotricity which owns the turbine, said: “We’ve ruled out ice from other turbines or passing jets. “We’ve examined the turbine, the fallen blade and the surrounding area. We have been crawling all over it. To make one of these blades fall off, or to bend it, takes a lot.” Related Posts The Puzzle Of The Cube Is Solved - After 26 Years! They’re Here….A UFO Strikes A Wind Turbine Is It Santa? A UFO? Or some Weird Science? Case Dismissed: 10 Most Bizarre UK Court Cases MoD Release UFO Files

Snooker Needs Cowell’s X-Factor Posted: 12 Jan 2009 05:35 AM CST Rocket Ronnie lights a fire under the establishment. While it's still guaranteed time on terrestrial television and space in the back pages, Ronnie O'Sullivan reckons Snooker is "a dying sport" and needs some major surgery to become fit and healthy for the 21st Century. And he reckons that Simon Cowell should wield the medicine cue. O'Sullivan has always been a player that excites the Snooker fans, and he can be devastating when on-form (and controversial when he's not in his stride), and his warning that the green baize game needs to be more interesting and lively should be seen as another early warning. Darts went through a similar lull, but as can be seen with tournaments now held around the world, including Las Vegas, Dubai and Blackpool, it's possible to turn a sport around. If there's a will to do so. Could it be that when a man is tired of Snooker, is he tired of life? (Hat tip to BBC News). Related Posts Give ‘The Power’ A Knighthood Snooker Match Suspended by Bookmakers Phil “The Power” Talyor Joins Cast of Corrie

Hold Your Breath, Save The Planet Posted: 12 Jan 2009 04:47 AM CST If you're worried about Google searches producing CO2, you need some perspective. Kevin Marks, currently one of the Developer Advocates at Google, was interested to read in the UK press over the weekend that doing two searches on Google generates as much CO2 as boiling the kettle for a nice cup of tea. As with any argument involving numbers, a sense of scale is always useful. Given that the average human produces 6g of carbon every ten minutes, which is about the same as a regular computer, there's not a huge worry in the story. But if you are worried… "I suggest you hold your breath while you search Google," writes Marks on his personal blog, "to offset your carbon use." The maths is here….   (Hat tip to Marks' blog). Related Posts Facebook More Popular Than Jesus… Maybe Google Reveals Most Searched UK Terms for 2008 Google’s iPhone Speech Recognition fails British Accents Queen Visits Google - Gets her own logo

£400 Bottle Of Whisky For Burns Night Posted: 12 Jan 2009 03:28 AM CST The Famous Grouse is to release 250 bottles of 37-year-old blended malt Scotch to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns. The whisky manufacturer has specially created  a Burns Night bottle valued at upwards of £400, it will be auctioned off at Burns Night Suppers around the world, with a minimum £10,000 going to selected charities. The move takes place in 2009, celebrating 250 years since the birth of Robert Burns.  Burns Night takes place every year on the 25 January, commemorating the life of the Scottish poet. Scottish artist John Byrne was commissioned to create an original drawing of Robert Burns to be printed on The Famous Grouse 37-year-old bottles’ labels. More than 1,500 Burns Night dinners have so far registered on the BurnsSupper website in conjunction with Homecoming Scotland. Related Posts Investors put stock in rare whiskey

Winslet Rocks With Two Big Golden Globes Posted: 12 Jan 2009 02:41 AM CST Kate Winslet picked up two golden globes last night in Las Angeles, and sobbed her way through acceptance speech. The 33-year-old actress who is married to Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes, 43, took the best supporting actress gong for her role as a German tram conductress in the film The Reader, she also picked up the best actress honour for her role in Revolutionary Road, the film in which she is reunited with Titanic co-star Leonardo DiCaprio at The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. Tearful Kate began her speech by apologising to her fellow nominees, Anne Hathaway, Kristin Scott Thomas and Meryl Streep and then screwed up when she forgot “the other one”…then remembered, Angelina Jolie! Earlier Winslet, nominated five times before, said; “You have to forgive me because I have a habit of not winning things!” She was still talking when the music started playing and was promptly given the the cue to wrap up her speech, but she refused, saying “You have no idea how much I’m not wrapping up”. Best gag of the night went to RIcky Gervais: “Well done, Winslet! I told you, ‘Do a holocaust movie and it will come’.” Full list of winners:- BEST MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA Slumdog Millionaire BEST ACTRESS IN A FILM - DRAMA Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road BEST ACTOR IN A FILM - DRAMA Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler BEST ACTRESS IN A FILM - COMEDY/MUSICAL Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky BEST ACTOR IN A FILM - COMEDY/MUSICAL Colin Farrell, In Bruges BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Kate Winslet, The Reader BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight BEST DIRECTOR Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM -   WALL-E BEST SCREENPLAY Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM Waltz with Bashir (Israel) BEST ORIGINAL SONG The Wrestler, Bruce Springsteen BEST ORIGINAL SCORE A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire TELEVISION BEST DRAMA SERIES Mad Men, (AMC) BEST COMEDY SERIES 30 Rock, (NBC) BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA SERIES Anna Paquin, True Blood (HBO) BEST ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment (HBO) BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY SERIES Tina Fey, 30 Rock (NBC) BEST ACTOR, COMEDY SERIES Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock (NBC) BEST MINI-SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE John Adams (HBO) BEST ACTRESS, MINI-SERIES OR TV MOVIE Laura Linney, John Adams (HBO) BEST ACTOR, MINI-SERIES OR TV MOVIE Paul Giamatti, John Adams (HBO) BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR TV MOVIE Laura Dern, Recount (HBO) BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR TV MOVIE Tom Wilkinson, John Adams (HBO) Related Posts A Pair of Golden Globes for Kate

Le Saux First Out Of Dancing On Ice Posted: 12 Jan 2009 01:44 AM CST Ex-England and Chelsea football star, Graeme Le Saux became the first to get the boot from the new dancing show, Dancing on Ice. Last night Le Saux was kicked out of Dancing on Ice after being voted in the bottom two by viewers with Donal MacIntyre. The celebrities entered the dance-off, after which the judges voted for MacIntyre to stay in the show. The seven male celebrities were the first to be put through their paces.  With the ladies coming next week. The first contestant to perform was actor Jeremy Edwards with his dance partner Darya Nucci. Next up was undercover reporter Donal MacIntyre and his partner Florentine Houdiniere. He was followed by former EastEnders star Todd Carty and his partner Susie Lipanova. Former rugby star Ellery Hanley skated with Frankie Poultney. Then X Factor star Ray Quinn danced with partner Maria Filippov. Following our favourite to win, Quinn, Ex-footballer Graham Le Saux took to the ice with partner Kristina Lenko. Finally, TV presenter Michael Underwood made a return to form with dance partner Melanie Lambert after breaking his ankle during the last series. Next Sunday the ladies start, our early favourite is Ray Quinn. Related Posts Celeb’s Ban Toilet Scenes in Celeb Big Bruv Gordon Ramsay Jokes About Affair Allegations Delia Smith attacks Celebrity Chefs Couple admit serving drugs to A-List celebrities

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