bbc.co.uk

Are You Havin' A Laugh?

Nocketback — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:56:17 -0700

The Office to be remade in Russia
A Russian version of award-winning comedy The Office is to be made, after a licensing deal was agreed between BBC Worldwide and Russia's Channel One.

A total of 24 half-hour episodes will be recorded and producers can develop their own scripts, which do not have to follow the original British plots.

No details of the new show's cast have yet been announced.

The UK version of The Office has been seen in more than 70 countries and there have been several spin-offs.

Canada's Middle Class is Smokin'

Nocketback — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:29:44 -0700

Canada's spreading cannabis crop
In the first of two pieces on organised crime accompanying his Radio 4 series How crime took on the world, Misha Glenny visits British Columbia in Canada where homegrown marijuana has become big business.

As we walk into John's basement, the smell is so overwhelming it almost knocks me off my feet.

In front of me stand 120 marijuana plants whose thick bushy leaves cover the strong stems.

John explains quite nonchalantly that this is just a small growing operation, or grow-ops as they are known throughout Canada.

Banksy Busted?

Nocketback — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:29:03 -0700

Paper 'reveals Banksy's identity'
Mysterious graffiti artist Banksy is a 34-year-old former public school pupil called Robin Gunningham, The Mail On Sunday has claimed.

The paper says it has identified the "guerrilla artist" from a photograph taken four years ago in Jamaica, which shows a man kneeling by a spray can.

But a spokeswoman for Banksy refused to comment on the report. "We get these calls all the time," she told the BBC.

"I'll say what I always say: I never confirm or deny these stories".

Black Kids Take Aim At Music Biz

Nocketback — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:14:12 -0700

Talking Shop: Black Kids

A party-starting pulp of indie, pop and funk has helped US band Black Kids become one of the hottest new groups around.

With echoes of 1980s stars like Prince, The Cure and The Human League, their debut album Partie Traumatic has just come out in the UK.

They have also won over live crowds and scored a UK hit with their single I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You.

Singer Reggie Youngblood discusses his band's rise and explains why he is ready to be a pop star.

Pot Sticker

Nocketback — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 09:30:23 -0700

High times for medicinal marijuana
In California, marijuana is supposed to be prescribed only to people suffering from life-threatening conditions but David Willis finds the reality is quite different.

A Google search revealed plenty of options.

I had typed in medicinal marijuana + Los Angeles and within seconds there was practically smoke coming out of the back of my computer.

Among the seemingly endless stream of entries was the 420 Evaluation Center (420 is a local nickname for marijuana).

Hangin' Tuff--like their skin these days

Nocketback — Sat, 17 May 2008 13:00:28 -0700

Hundreds watch New Kids comeback
Reunited boy band New Kids on the Block have performed together for the first time in 15 years.

Hundreds of fans watched the group sing a medley of their hits, including Right Stuff and Hangin' Tough, at the Rockefeller Plaza in New York.

Joey McIntyre said: "I think the story is the fans more than anything and that's what makes us feel so good."

The band also sang their new single Summertime during their performance for TV network NBC's Today programme.

'Brotherhood'

Get Your Shit Straight

Nocketback — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:15:57 -0700

Animal dung coffee at £50 a cup
A gourmet coffee blended from animal droppings is being sold at a London department store for £50 per cup.

Jamaican Blue Mountain and the Kopi Luwak bean are used to create Caffe Raro which is thought to be the most expensive cup of coffee in the world.

Kopi Luwak beans are eaten, then passed, by the cat-like Asian palm civet, and sell for £324 a kilogram.

All profits from sales of the coffee at Peter Jones in Sloane Square in April will go to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Ripest berries

Now That's What I call Major Wood

Nocketback — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 08:37:01 -0700

Brazil makes 'rainforest' condoms
By Gary Duffy
BBC News, Sao Paulo

The Brazilian government has begun producing condoms using rubber from trees in the Amazon.

The health ministry says the move will help preserve the largest rainforest in the world.

It will also cut dependence on imported contraceptives, which are given away to fight Aids.

The Brazilian government has one of the biggest programmes in the world to distribute free condoms in the fight against the disease.