Anil Kokaram, an expert in the restoration of films, who is currently a senior engineering lecturer and fellow at Trinity College Dublin, is to receive an Oscar in the Scientific and Technical Academy Awards on the 10th of February.

Unlike the main prizes, which are to be given out on the 25th, the Science and Technical awards are announced in advance.

Mr. Kokaram is to win for the design of Furnace, a set of visual effects software tools. He is to receive the award, along with his colleagues, Bill Collis, Simon Robinson and Ben Kent, at a gala function at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

The ceremony will be hosted by Maggie Gyllanhaal.

How can I title this post ? I just don’t know where to begin… I defy you not to go into convulsions of incredulous laughter while moving at least one part of your anatomy in rhythm to the music while viewing this !

In fact I’m launching the inaugural Bifsniff “Title This Post Competition”. The winner will be sent a pair of tight fitting pants and and some hairspray. The judges decision will be final. A copy of the full rules and regulations can be read on the side of a cornflakes packet. All entries must be posted below.

Recently Blogorrah displayed a clip of our glorious leader illustrating that no cartoon of Irish politics can ever be as crazy as the truth.

Blogorrah were referring to a report on CIA rendition flights, about which RTE had this to say:

The final report by the European Parliament into CIA rendition flights has criticised the Government’s response to the issue.

And the clip in question is of Bertie referring to a high level discussion he held with George W Bush on the issue of rendition. Why on earth would anyone criticise a response like this is beyond me, I don’t see what more we could ask for:

‘I looked at the great President Bush and said to him I wanted to be sure to be sure — and he assured me’.

Ah yes, ‘The Great President Bush. Obviously his new official title which the rest of us haven’t been told about yet. Begorrah Bertie, did you offer him some of your Lucky Charms?

And just what were these assurances exactly? Green Ink has the answer:

While I needed a bit of time to digest this information the real reason I’m a day late with this post is because I couldn’t decide if anyone who frequents this site would be interested in reading this. Please let me know if you would like to read more posts like this or if you never want to see the word football on the site again. Thanks!

Yesterday Liverpool Football Club was sold to a company called Kop Football Ltd. Kop Football Ltd. are American business men George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

For over 50 years Liverpool have been under the ownership of the Moores family, but outgoing chairman David Moores felt he no longer had enough money for the club to challenge in the modern game.

Moores has endured much criticism during the three years Liverpool have been looking for investment as the former Prime Minister of Thailand - Thaksin Shinawatra, Steve Morgan, Robert Kraft, the L4 consortium - who kept a low profile but were headed by Goal writer/producer Mike Jefferies along with Stuart Ford and Robert Kraft (with unconfirmed links to Liverpool Legend Kenny Dalglish), and Dubai International Capital , came and went.

This latest development looks like a good deal for Liverpool FC. Unlike the Malcolm Glazer takeover of Manchester United the Kop Football deal will not put any debt on the club, they have agreed to fund the development of the new stadium, they have taken on board the club’s debts of £44.8m and have promised to back the manager, Rafael Benitez, in the transfer market.

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I’ve always had the idea in my head that it would be good to do a good musical (note - I hate musicals) and one idea I had was to write a standard love story and then insert the music of The Beatles where appropriate - ie. not singing while pretending to talk. Well I dithered too long and figured I’d never get the rights and now it’s too late.

Across The Universe is directed by Julie Taymor, who brought us Frida in 2002.
It isn’t released in the US until September 28th and there’s no official release date for this part of the World yet but I’d guess late October early November. Could be good.

Reminds me a bit of the work of Dennis Potter, mostly The Singing Detective.

If you’re wondering that’s Bono singing Hey Jude in the trailer and both himself and Eddie Izzard are in the movie.

In related news. Apple and Apple are friends again.