KFC Launches Pie and Return of the Double Down - Double Dose of Good News

There is a double dose of good news with the announcement that curve a drop in sales, KFC will not only bring back the controversial Double Down burger which was such a hit last year, but they are introducing a chicken and potato and gravy pie. They will only cost $4.50 and sound amazing. The beauty of these pies will be that they are probably not any worse nutrition wise than your usual pie and are cheaper than more burgers at KFC. Will you try one of these pies this winter? Or will you wait for the return of the Double Down?

For KFC lovers who are also partial to the odd pie, some good news is at hand.

The fast food chain is set to launch a chicken pie in its stores across the country next week.

Restaurant Brands chief executive Russel Creedy, whose firm operates KFC, Starbucks and Pizza Hut, said the pie contained KFC's famous mashed potato and gravy and, of course, chicken.

"It's fantastic," Creedy said. "I've had a few already."

He said the pie would go on the menu on Tuesday and would sell for $4.50.

It was the first time KFC had offered a pie in New Zealand, Creedy said, adding that KFC in United States had put a pie on its menu in the past.

The launch of the pie comes on the back of KFC's Double Down bunless chicken burger promotion, which was a marketing coup for the chain last year.

Creedy said he did not expect the pie to be as much of a hit as the Double Down. The company plans to re-launch the bunless chicken burger later this year.

The success last year of KFC's 'Double Down' burger promotion has made Restaurant Brands' first quarter sales report look comparatively weak.

The company, which has the local rights for KFC, Pizza Hut and Starbucks, said the group's same-store sales fell by 3.7 per cent over the quarter compared with the first quarter of last year.

"Sales were affected by the rolling over of the prior year's KFC Double Down burger promotion which was an unprecedented sales success,'' Restaurant Brands said.

Total sales across the company's three brands were $70.6m, a fall of 2.7 per cent or $2.0m.

KFC's total sales fell 3.1 per cent in the quarter. Starbucks sales decreased 3.5 per cent but Pizza Hut sales were the same as last year, despite there being nine fewer stores.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/food-beverage-industry/news/article.cfm?c_id=45&objectid=10809492

Child Sings Anti-Gay Song At Church

What do you think of this child's anti-gay song at church?

A child's anti-gay song in a US church is going viral on the internet.

The congregation in the church, which has been identified as the Apostolic Truth Tabernacle Church in Greensburg, Indiana, gives a standing ovation after the child sings, "The Bible's right, somebody's wrong. The Bible's right, somebody's wrong. Romans one, twenty six and twenty seven; Ain't no homos gonna make it to Heaven."

A man who appears to be the Church's pastor Jeff Sangl, can be see standing behind the child smiling as he listens to the performance while a person in the congregation can be heard calling "that's my boy".

Many comments across the internet have claimed the child has obviously been coached what to sing.

On its website the Apostolic Truth Tabernacle says "our doors are open to you regardless of your background or where you are on your spiritual journey".

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/7022270/Childs-anti-gay-church-song-goes-viral

Jaime Ridge To Fight GC's Rosana Arkle - Sonny Bill Williams Inspired

Jaime Ridge


Rosanna Arkle

Former girlfriend of Sonny Bill Williams Jaime Ridge will get into the boxing ring with The GC star Rosanna Arkle in a fight that is sure to get plenty of attention, especially from men.

Ridge knows what goes into preparing for boxing fights after being in a relationship with Sonny Bill Williams. It leaves me wondering if their relationship was in many ways one of convenience in order to boost her profile. She is the daughter of celebrities Matthew and Sally Ridge.

I wonder if more people will watch this boxing fight since both of these girls are relatively well known, rather than fights between no names. Will you pay money to watch these women fight?

Jaime Ridge hopes a boxing fight against The GC star Rosanna Arkle will help "inspire" other girls.

"Yeah, I have done a bit of modelling but I am a fulltime law and commerce student too," the 18-year-old said today.

"I want to do something outside of my comfort zone. And I want to inspire girls if I can. I want them to feel empowered too - to take an opportunity when it comes up rather than sit back and do nothing.

"This a great challenge. It's an amazing way to test myself. I am all about stretching my boundaries."

Ridge and Arkle, 23, star of TV3 show The GC, will go toe-to-toe during an undercard match at the KFC Godfather of Fight Nights in Auckland on July 5.

Arkle, who is understood to be fighting in just a bikini, flew into Auckland with reality TV housemate and boyfriend Zane yesterday.

"Life is about living right? It's about taking chances and that's why I agreed to this fight," the Whangarei-raised glamour model said.

"There's no hiding place on reality TV and there will be no hiding place in the ring. And that's OK. I had never heard of Jaime Ridge until this fight came up. I don't know anything about her. But I know I want to beat her... and that's what I am training for."

Neither fighter, both models, are concerned about being injured, but Arkle conceded she would need to keep her face well guarded.

"I never really thought about that until now.

"I guess I just have to keep my guard up. I don't like the thought of getting hurt."

Ridge, the daughter of former Kiwis captain and All Black Matthew Ridge, said there would be no surprises for her when she steps inside the ring. She has been training with former Warrior and boxer Monty Betham.

"Boxing is not so foreign to me," she said.

"I know what Sonny (Bill Williams) went through to prepare for his fight in February and I have been to heaps of corporate events so I understand the concept of it all. There is an element of risk but I know the work Monty is doing with me will be a massive help in the ring. Although, yeah, I am slightly worried about getting punched in the face."

Ridge and Williams dated for more than a month earlier this year, parting ways shortly after Williams gained the New Zealand heavyweight title.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/7020645/Jaime-Ridge-to-fight-GC-star-in-boxing-match

Research Shows That Cricket Swing Bowling Not Related To Humidity and Moisture In Air

Some scientific research including work done by the University of Auckland has found that there is no relationship between moisture in the air during humid conditions and the cricket ball swinging. It is difficult to know if it will change the way cricketers play the game. What do you think? I don't think it makes too much difference to the approach taken by players, with humid conditions still very conducive to swing bowling event if moisture in the air isn't the main reason for the ball swinging.

WELLINGTON (AFP) - The widely-held belief that moisture in the air during humid conditions helps make a cricket ball swing has been clean bowled in a scientific study.

Swing bowling -- when a delivery curves sideways in mid-air -- has long been regarded as one of the game's dark arts, not only deceiving hapless batsmen but also puzzling cricket-loving scientists.

Researchers from Britain's Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Auckland in New Zealand reviewed scientific literature on the subject and conducted their own tests to try to get to the bottom of the mystery.

From the earliest studies of the phenomenon in the 1950s to the "seminal review of sports ball dynamics" by NASA scientist Rabindra Mehta in 1985, they found humidity was consistently cited as a crucial factor in achieving swing.

The researchers tested the theory using 3D laser scanners in an atmospheric chamber to measure the effect different humidity levels had on deliveries using balls which had been "aged" to simulate match conditions.

While altitude and the age of the ball both increased swing, the scientists did not discover any link between moisture levels in the air and sideways movement of the ball.

"This study shows that there is no direct or indirect manner in which humidity can significantly affect the ability of the bowler to make the ball swing," they concluded in research published in the online journal Procedia Engineering this week.

"It is therefore logical to conclude that humidity may not have the significant influence on swing bowling that is widely assumed."

Instead, the researchers put forward their own theory that cloud cover provided the ideal environment for swing bowling because it reduced turbulence in the air caused by heating from sunlight.

They said such still conditions meant the air surrounding the ball during the delivery was less likely to be disturbed, making it easier to produce the "asymmetrical" flight needed for swing bowling.
"What is clear is that the scientific community should turn their attention away from the question of humidity and focus their efforts to test the cloud cover hypothesis," they said.

http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/cricket/news/article/-/13817886/cricket-swing-theory-does-not-hold-water-study/

Gordon Ramsay Injured During Soccer Aid 2012 England vs Rest of the World - We Need More Of These Matches

Here are highlights of Soccer Aid 2012 England vs Rest of the World match.


Former England international Teddy Sherringham injures celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay in a blatant foul which would have been satisfying for all those people who Ramsay has offended over the years.

We need more of these Soccer Aid 2012 celebrity matches where you get former international players and heaps of television and movie stars in a match. The standard was good too by the looks of things. Why were so many Englishmen in the Rest of the World team? We need to have one of these matches in New Zealand.

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay had to be carried off the field after absorbing a big hit in a charity football match in Manchester, England.

Ramsay was given oxygen and carted off the field on a stretcher during the celebrity benefit Soccer Aid. He was taken to the hospital and released a few hours later. His spokesman released the following statement:

"Gordon was taken to hospital after injuring his back during the game. He was released after receiving treatment and although he's in pain today, there shouldn't be any long term damage."

Ramsay wasn't the only one hurting. "Anchorman" star Will Ferrell had to leave the match early with leg injury.

Other celebrities playing included Mike Myers, Gerard Butler, Edward Norton, Woody Harrelson and Michael Sheen. They took on an England team that included Take That's Mark Owen and JLS singers Aston Merrygold and Marvin Humes.

While he recuperates, Ramsay can take heart in the fact that it was for a good cause. The event, set up by Take That star Robbie Williams, raised more than $6.4 million for UNICEF.

England won the match, 3-1.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/7014990/Gordon-Ramsay-injured-in-celebrity-football-game

Dog Follows Chinese Cyclists 1700 Kilometres - Cute Story

This is why you shouldn't feed stray animals!

A dedicated dog in China has followed a group of cyclists for 1700 kilometres.

The cyclists came across the stray dog, threw it a drumstick and it followed them as they rode to Tibet.

The cyclists say the dog showed strong 'willpower' to follow them all the way.

It never fell behind and even put its paws on its new master to push him to keep going.

The cyclists' new best friend, who they've compared to Forrest Gump, has climbed over 10 mountains more than 4,000 metres high and ran up to 60 kilometres a day.

http://www.skynews.com.au/offbeat/article.aspx?id=754363&vId=

Isaac's Live Lip-Dub Proposal - Another Great Idea

Watch this great live lip-dub proposal from Isaac Lamb. It has become a new internet sensation and thanks to the help of his friends and Bruno Mars it was a successful marriage proposal. It is getting tougher to come up with an original marriage proposal idea.

It's a marriage proposal unlike anything you've seen before, and has shot to viral video status.

Isaac Lamb popped the question to his girlfriend Amy Frankel calling it the "first live lip-dub proposal" - a choreographed dance routine that has been viewed more than 2.2 million times on YouTube.

Set to Bruno Mars' song Marry You, the US actor enlisted the help of 60 friends to choreograph a production to win his girlfriend's hand in marriage.

Lamb's now fiancée put on headphones and sat in the back of a moving car while a parade-like sequence unfolded before her. Only she could hear the music, while her family and friends took part in the elaborate mime.

The lip-dub included a marching band, dancing and simultaneous performances from absent friends using Skype. The video shows a picture-in-picture of Frankel's delight. The pair met through auditions for a local production of West Side Story six years ago and reportedly bonded over their love of lip-dubs.

"To be honest it's a little overwhelming. I'm really, really, really touched by how positive people's reactions have been," Lamb told The Oregonian.

"The love I genuinely feel for my fiancé has touched other people. I never expected this and I'm really amazed by the response. My intention was never to make a viral video."

The happy couple told the paper they had been contacted by The Today Show, Good Morning America and Ellen DeGeneres.

Even the singer himself has contacted Lamb via twitter writing ‏"Congrats to Isaac Lamb and the future Mrs.. I don't think I could've made a better music video for this song. Thank you."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/weddings/7001770/Marry-You-lip-dub-proposal-gets-yes

Police Kill Naked Man Zombie Who Was Eating Another Man's Head

I was shocked when I read about a naked man who was found eating another man's head/face being shot. Good on the Police intervention, but this sounds disgusting. Is this man who was shot, a zombie? How often does this sort of thing happen? I feel sick!

One man was shot to death by Miami police, and another man is fighting for his life after he was attacked and his face allegedly half eaten, by a naked man on the MacArthur Causeway off ramp, police said.

The bloodshed began about 2 p.m. when a series of gunshots were heard on the ramp, which is along NE 13th Street, just south of The Miami Herald building. Witnesses said a woman saw the two men fighting and flagged down a police officer who was in the area.

The officer, who has not been identified, approached and saw that the naked man was actually chewing the other man's head, according to witnesses. The officer ordered the naked man to back away, and when he continued the assault, the officer shot him. The attacker continued to eat the man, despite being shot, forcing the officer to continue firing. Witnesses said they heard at least a half dozen shots.

Miami police were on the scene, which was just south of The Miami Herald building on Biscayne Boulevard. The naked man who was killed lay face down on the pedestrian walkway just below the newspaper's two-story parking garage. Police requested The Herald's video surveillance tapes.

The other man was transported to the hospital with critical injuries, according to police. Their identities were not released.

The incident, which came as crowds descended upon South Beach for the annual Urban Beach Week hip-hop festival, snarled traffic on the causeway for several hours.
Based on the information provided, our Miami police officer is a hero and saved a life,'' he said.

Sergeant Altarr Williams, supervisor of Miami police's Homicide Unit, said a man doesn't have to be armed to be dangerous.

"There are other ways to injure people,'' Williams said. "Some people know martial arts, others are very strong and can kill you with their hands.''

In a text message, Javier Ortiz, spokesman for Miami police's Fraternal Order of Police, said the officer who fired the fatal shots was "a hero."

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/26/2818832/naked-man-shot-killed-on-macarthur.html

Sweden's Loreen Wins Eurovision Song Contest 2012

Loreen won the contest with her club track Euphoria.


The Buranovo grannies were among the favourites.



Sweden's Loreen has won Eurovision Song Contest 2012, maintaining Sweden's strong showing at the competition. Abba were the very first winners. This seems like such a strange song competition when you get some Russian grannies finishing second and veteran singer Engelbert Humperdinck representing such a talented country like Great Britain. It makes you wonder what sort of talent the Eurovision Song Contest is looking for when you see such a wide range of random acts involving old washed up singers, dancing grannies and young talent. Who do you think should have won?

Swedish contestant Loreen has won the Eurovision Song Contest, edging out a popular choir of elderly women from a remote village in Russia.

Loreen's club anthem Euphoria won a total of 372 points, easily outscoring entries from her nearest rivals from Russia, Serbia and hosts Azerbaijan.

Second were Russian choir Buranovskiye Babushki (Buranovo grannies), who warmed the hearts of audiences with their disco song in traditional dress.

Serbia, represented by the hugely popular Eurovision veteran Zeljko Joksimovic came third in the competition held this year the Azerbaijani capital Baku.

The victory earns Sweden the right to host the competition next year.

Sweden has won the annual music extravaganza five times since it first took part in 1958.

It first won the contest in Brighton in England in 1974 with the instantly memorable hit Waterloo by iconic group ABBA - for many the band and the song that defined the competition forever.

British entry Engelbert Humperdinck, who opened the contest with his ballad Love Will Set You Free, finished second from last, the BBC reports.

The 76-year-old crooner, who has sold more than 150 million records worldwide, received just 12 points - from Estonia, Latvia, Belgium and Ireland.

The UK has not won since 1997 and has come last three times in the past decade.

The contest is decided by a combination of votes cast by text by people in Eurovision member nations and decisions of professional juries in each country.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/106811/sweden-wins-eurovision-song-contest

Watch Free Live Streaming Football New Zealand OFC Nations Cup FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualification

Watch Free Live Streaming Football New Zealand OFC Nations Cup FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualification

http://www.oceaniafootball.com/

Sheldon From Big Bang Theory Actor Jim Parsons Is Gay

Jim Parsons who plays the anal retentive Sheldon Cooper on the Big Bang Theory is gay and has been in a same sex relationship for ten years. It is difficult to separate fiction from reality, but if he is anything like his on stage persona as the eccentric Sheldon Cooper then it is hardly surprising. He is 39 years old which is surprising given his youthful looks.

The Big Bang Theory actor Jim Parsons has skipped the "I'M GAY!" magazine
cover approach to coming out: Far down in a New York Times profile on
Wednesday
was the subtle mention that the two-time Emmy winner has been in a
same-sex
relationship for a decade.
The blink-and-you'll miss it aside
appeared in a story about Parsons'
starring stint in the Broadway production
of Harvey.
Discussing Parsons' small role in the play The Normal Heart -
about gay men
dying of AIDS - the story noted: "The Normal Heart resonated
with him on a few
levels: Mr Parsons is gay and in a 10-year relationship,
and working with an
ensemble again onstage was like nourishment, he said."
Parsons played young gay activist Tommy Boatwright in the play.
While
this may be the first official confirmation of Parsons' sexuality, the
National Enquirer attempted to "out" the actor in 2010 by writing that he
was
engaged to his boyfriend, Todd Spiewak.
Parsons' publicist has not
yet responded for comment

http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/celebrities/6987576/Big-Bang-Theorys-Parsons-outed

Shortland Street 20 Years On - Should We Celebrate This Kiwi Export?

Shortland Street celebrates twenty years on television. My only concern is that this show has been screened in 15 countries and is how people all over the world see New Zealand culture. This scares me!

Despite it being painful to watch with cringeworthy kiwi accents and bad acting, it obviously still appeals to enough people to warrant it being around twenty years and therefore it can't be that bad, can it? I must admit that I started watching Shortland Street in 1992, but it was revolutionary at the time, but in my view, it never really surpassed the Australian soaps like Neighbours or Home and Away and appealed to a different market to Coronation Street.

Shortland Street probably appeals to schoolgirls more than anything, but I guess every show has to have a target market. I haven't watched it in years, but have stumbled upon it accidentially and realised that the acting hasn't got much better, but it has given opportunities to New Zealand actors to launch their careers.

I would be surprised if one in four people watch Shortland Street anymore, but they keep pumping out the shows, so something must be going alright!

It has provided some great quotes like "You are not in Guatemala now Doctor Ropata" and some great actors who have gone onto bigger things like Tem Morrison and Craig Parker, but I wonder if it will last another twenty years and get up to the lofty heights of Coronation Street as far as long term dramas go? I wonder how many people who started watching in 1992 are still watching now that they are older?

The nation's favourite soap, Shortland Street reaches a historic milestone tonight on TV2 as the show celebrates twenty years on New Zealand screens.

When TVNZ and South Pacific Pictures launched the fledgling show on Monday 25 May 1992, more than one in four people tuned in to watch the first episode - ensuring its launch was a huge success and that Shorty was well on the way to becoming lodged in the nation's collective consciousness.

Despite complaints about bad acting, cringe-worthy Kiwi accents and misrepresenting medical realities, Shortland Street soon had a cult following - both here and abroad.

From suicide and HIV scares, to drug addictions and scandalous affairs, the show pushed boundaries by delving into social issues in a way that had not been possible before. Shortland Street also helped launch the careers of numerous successful Kiwi actors including Temuera Morrison, Martin Henderson and Karl Urban.

Over the last twenty years the show has entertained generations of Kiwis and viewers in more than 15 other countries - while consistently retaining its top spot on TV2 and as one of the most-watched shows on New Zealand television.

http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/shortland-street-celebrates-20-years-new-zealand-television-4899874

Watch Free Live Streaming Football New Zealand vs El Salvadore

Watch Free Live Streaming Football New Zealand vs El Salvadore


http://www.oleoletv.com/category/football/

http://www.vipbox.tv/sports/football.html

Autumn Heatwave Hits Invercargill - TVNZ Website Gets Weather Wrong or Are They Taking The Piss?

Thanks to Andy Leitch for this screenshot.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=4113485079942&set=a.2086598729050.2131339.1367626350&type=3&theater

According to the TVNZ website, Invercargill is experiencing record high temperatures for the end of May. I thought my friend was making this up, but they must have made some kind of mistake on the website. Well done intern! Thursday is expected to reach a low of 49 degrees. I think something must be wrong with their input data! I wonder if someone is taking the piss and wondering how long it would take anyone to notice. Look for yourself below. I thought it might be Farenheit, but it seems weird that some of the minimum temperatures are higher than the maximums.


http://tvnz.co.nz/weather-forecast/invercargill