Facebook to become a pay site?

Talking is buzzing that the popular social site Facebook will be become a pay site. There even groups being formed within Facebook to fight the move.

My reaction? Big old yawn. Who freaking cares?

Probably most of the 200 million people who are members.

Well, boo-freaking-hoo.

Get a life.

Russian Soccer Fans Told to Drink Whiskey

As if they needed a reason to drink, the head of the Russian soccer supporter association (VOB) is encouraging fans to drink whiskey to ward off effects of the H1N1 virus if the travel to Wales for the September World Cup qualifier.

Alexander Shprygin reportedly told Reuters, "We urge our fans to drink a lot of Welsh whiskey as a form of disinfection. That should cure all symptoms of the disease."

His comments follow a warning from the Russian Health Ministry about traveling to the United Kingdom because of concerns about the virus.

Published reports carry this statement:

"Health officials say this virus is very dangerous but being a fan myself I can tell you that for a real fan nothing is more important than the well-being of the team," said Shprygin, who also sits on the executive board of the Russian FA.

"Russian fans don't fear anything or anybody so this virus will not stand in our way of supporting our team."

About 200 Russian fans are expected to attend the matches. No word if Welsh authorities will mobilized riot police.

Dis Big Oil, Lose Your Job

The head of Iraq's state-owned oil company lost his job after making critical remarks about the government's decision to auction the country's oil and gas fields to foreign companies.

Fayadh Hassan Nima was replaced as SOC's chief executive by the head of the company's department of oil fields, Dia Jaafar, ministry spokesman Assem Jihad said.

"The oil ministry and the government are always looking for ways to improve administration of the oil sector," Jihad said, referring to the reasons Nima was dismissed.

Nima had loudly protested the public auction for six giant oil fields and two major gas fields, arguing that the SOC should be given the task of exploiting the fields in southern Iraq with only technical assistance from foreign companies.

Palin: Star or Fading Quitter

Not even the Republicans can agree if Sarah Palin, who quit as Alaska's governor on Sunday, July 26, if she is still a star of the GOP or will go down in history as the country's most famous quitter.

CBS News reports:

If a three-way discussion among Republican pundits on "The Early Show Saturday Edition" is any indication, more of the same -- she'll remain as controversial and passion-provoking rod as ever.

Author and right-wing firebrand Ann Coulter, GOP strategist Bay Buchanan, and NewMajority.com founder and former George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum had at it over the question of whether Palin could be a viable presidential candidate at some point.

It got so heated the three were talking over each other, prompting co-anchor Erica Hill, who moderated, to interrupt them herself several times.

Palin was right about one thing: leaving the governor's office has done more for Alaska.

Susan Boyle Homesick, Anxious

This year's entertainment sensation, Susan Boyle, has checked into a London clinic for exhaustion. Reports the BBC:

The Scottish singing sensation is said to be drained after losing out to dance group Diversity on the ITV1 show.

Her brother, Gerry, told the BBC that Susan was "fine" but feeling homesick and "showing signs of anxiety".

Prime Minister Gordon Brown wished the star well. "I hope Susan Boyle is okay because she is a really, really nice person," he told GMTV.

Her 15 minutes finally caught up with her.

Catholics Vs. Obama

A lot of Catholics are up in arms because President Obama is scheduled to give the commencement address at Notre Dame.

Many Catholics are angered by Obama's planned appearance at the May 17 ceremony because of his decisions to provide federal funding for embryonic stem cell research and international family planning groups that provide abortions or educate about the procedure.

Bishop John D'Arcy of the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese, which includes Notre Dame, went so far as to say he will not attend the ceremony because of the president's policies.

Now, that's really following the teaching's of Jesus. But then again, the Catholic Church hardly has a history of tolerance. Think Spanish Inquisition.

Setting Free the 'Roos

Kangaroos Set Loose in France

TOULOUSE, France (AFP) – Vandals set loose 15 kangaroos from an Australian theme park in southern France, sparking a major search operation, with three marsupials still on the loose.

"When we arrived on Saturday morning, five pens had been broken open, their padlocks were smashed and the perimeter fence was torn in several places," said Carole Masson, owner of the nature reserve in southwestern Carcassonne.

"We had 15 missing kangaroos -- it was complete panic," she told AFP.

Firefighters, police and gendarmes were mobilised to track down the animals as they bounded through the woods.

Someone must have been reading John Irving.