People set up fake accounts or rip of bands and get high friend numbers via adding programs, the things is now you had to have added people on fake accounts ages ago as now its way to hard to create them as every one is "sus" on fake accounts and as soon as they see advertising they report/delete you.
Almost every band thats big has a myspace account set up, so your chances of ripping off bands and making a fake band account are like 0.01% now days, the people who have accounts with very high friend numbers are people who have made fake band accounts ages ago and tricked people to believe their the real band, myspace is really cracking down on these accounts now and if you have one and a real band complains you basically gone.
Also people who have high friend accounts may be commonly known as "pishers"sp? these people are like hackers who steal information from other users to acquire a number of logins, they have 1000s and 1000s of logins...once aggain if some one has 1 million friends the chances are their a hacker with a number of smaller accounts is very high.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Microsoft to launch YouTube rival
Microsoft is aiming to capitalise on the user-generated video phenomenon by launching an online service to compete with YouTube, Google and Yahoo.
Soapbox starts testing on Tuesday and will launch within six months as part of current service, MSN Video.
"It's really early days in online video; this is still act one," said MSN's Rob Bennett.
YouTube had 34 million visitors last month, according to Nielsen/NetRatings, while MSN Video attracts about 12m.
"We're definitely not blind to the fact that YouTube has a big lead right now," said Mr Bennett, general manager of MSN's entertainment and video services.
The video-sharing market has proved increasingly popular with users in the last 12 months with services such as YouTube crossing over into mainstream success.
Popular video
MSN Video was once the most popular video site until fans of user-generated content propelled YouTube, MySpace and Google past Microsoft.
MySpace video receives 17.9 million visitors a month and Google Video attracts 13.5 million each month, according to Nielsen.
Microsoft is jumping on this bandwagon with some uncertainty
Joe Wilcox, Jupiter Research
"Microsoft is jumping on this bandwagon with some uncertainty with where it's going, but the company believes it needs to be on board," Joe Wilcox, an analyst at Jupiter Research, told Reuters news agency.
The testing period is by invitation only although users are encouraged to apply for invitation on the website.
However, the site was hit by a technical problem on Tuesday which told users: "Oops. It's not anything you did - it's us. Our site's down. Please try again later."
Microsoft has said it will take down any copyrighted material uploaded by users without permission once it is alerted by the rights holder.
The firm said the service would work with users of computers running both Windows and Apple operating systems and would support browsers including Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari.
Soapbox will also support a number of video file formats and delivery methods, according to Microsoft.
An early review of the Soapbox beta by website Cnet said it was "disappointing".
"It's a slightly better sharing service than YouTube in some small technical ways," wrote Cnet's Rafe Needleman.
Soapbox starts testing on Tuesday and will launch within six months as part of current service, MSN Video.
"It's really early days in online video; this is still act one," said MSN's Rob Bennett.
YouTube had 34 million visitors last month, according to Nielsen/NetRatings, while MSN Video attracts about 12m.
"We're definitely not blind to the fact that YouTube has a big lead right now," said Mr Bennett, general manager of MSN's entertainment and video services.
The video-sharing market has proved increasingly popular with users in the last 12 months with services such as YouTube crossing over into mainstream success.
Popular video
MSN Video was once the most popular video site until fans of user-generated content propelled YouTube, MySpace and Google past Microsoft.
MySpace video receives 17.9 million visitors a month and Google Video attracts 13.5 million each month, according to Nielsen.
Microsoft is jumping on this bandwagon with some uncertainty
Joe Wilcox, Jupiter Research
"Microsoft is jumping on this bandwagon with some uncertainty with where it's going, but the company believes it needs to be on board," Joe Wilcox, an analyst at Jupiter Research, told Reuters news agency.
The testing period is by invitation only although users are encouraged to apply for invitation on the website.
However, the site was hit by a technical problem on Tuesday which told users: "Oops. It's not anything you did - it's us. Our site's down. Please try again later."
Microsoft has said it will take down any copyrighted material uploaded by users without permission once it is alerted by the rights holder.
The firm said the service would work with users of computers running both Windows and Apple operating systems and would support browsers including Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari.
Soapbox will also support a number of video file formats and delivery methods, according to Microsoft.
An early review of the Soapbox beta by website Cnet said it was "disappointing".
"It's a slightly better sharing service than YouTube in some small technical ways," wrote Cnet's Rafe Needleman.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Forbes.com list of 400 richest Americans:
Forbes.com list of 400 richest Americans:
http://www.forbes.com/400richest
Billionaires Only Occupy Forbes 400 List
Thursday September 21, 6:33 pm ET
By Vinnee Tong, AP Business Writer
For the First Time, Forbes List of 400 Richest Americans Consists Exclusively of Billionaires
NEW YORK (AP) -- For the first time, Forbes magazine's list of the 400 richest Americans consists exclusively of people worth $1 billion or more. As a group, the people who made the rankings released Thursday are worth a record $1.25 trillion, compared to $1.13 trillion last year.
In the billionaire-athon, casino magnate Sheldon Adelson pole-vaulted to No. 3 from 15 in last year's ranking, finishing behind the mainstays at Nos. 1 and 2: Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates and Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
Adelson is now estimated to have $20.5 billion, Buffett $46 billion and Gates $53 billion. Gates has held the No. 1 spot for the last 13 years while Buffett has been No. 2 every year since 1994 except 2000, when Larry Ellison of Oracle Corp. held that spot.
Adelson's expanding net worth is related in no small part to his decision to open a casino two years ago on the island of Macau, an emerging gambling haven off the southeastern coast of China. Profits are growing rapidly thanks to the Las Vegas Sands Corp.'s Macau casino. Adelson personally and through family trusts controls 60 percent of the company.
Forbes estimates Adelson earned about $1 million an hour over the past two years. In the second quarter alone, the Sands Macau property saw net revenue jump to $310.4 million, up from $205.1 million a year ago. To tap the demand from gamblers in Asia going forward, the Sands Corp. plans a second property on Macau and a casino in Singapore.
The two Google Inc. founders were also big earners. Sergey Brin and Larry Page gained about $13 million a day over the last two years, according to Forbes. That puts them in 12th and 13th place, up from a tie at 16th place last year.
Page and Brin also share the distinction of being, at 33 years old, the two youngest people on the list and two of only eight who are younger than 40.
The list was led off by technologists, such as Gates, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Dell Inc.'s Michael Dell and Ellison, and rounded out by five members of the Walton clan who have fortunes amassed from sales by the world's largest retailer.
Ellison, with $19.5 billion, moved to fourth place from fifth, while Allen, last year's No. 3, was fifth this year with $16 billion. Dell fell to a tie at ninth place from fourth in last year's list; he is worth $15.5 billion
Adelson's ascension knocks Helen Walton, the wife of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. founder Sam Walton, into 11th place with a net worth of $15.3 billion. Her children, Jim, S. Robson and Alice, and Christy Walton, the widow of her son John, ranked in the bottom half of the top 10 this year. Each was worth between $15.5 billion and $15.7 billion, Forbes reported.
Martha Stewart, founder of the eponymous Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc., fell off the list completely, as she lost $395 million over the past year.
The biggest number of people on the list live in California, which houses 90 of the 400, and another 44 live in New York City.
source:
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060921/forbes_400.html?.v=2
http://www.forbes.com/400richest
Billionaires Only Occupy Forbes 400 List
Thursday September 21, 6:33 pm ET
By Vinnee Tong, AP Business Writer
For the First Time, Forbes List of 400 Richest Americans Consists Exclusively of Billionaires
NEW YORK (AP) -- For the first time, Forbes magazine's list of the 400 richest Americans consists exclusively of people worth $1 billion or more. As a group, the people who made the rankings released Thursday are worth a record $1.25 trillion, compared to $1.13 trillion last year.
In the billionaire-athon, casino magnate Sheldon Adelson pole-vaulted to No. 3 from 15 in last year's ranking, finishing behind the mainstays at Nos. 1 and 2: Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates and Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
Adelson is now estimated to have $20.5 billion, Buffett $46 billion and Gates $53 billion. Gates has held the No. 1 spot for the last 13 years while Buffett has been No. 2 every year since 1994 except 2000, when Larry Ellison of Oracle Corp. held that spot.
Adelson's expanding net worth is related in no small part to his decision to open a casino two years ago on the island of Macau, an emerging gambling haven off the southeastern coast of China. Profits are growing rapidly thanks to the Las Vegas Sands Corp.'s Macau casino. Adelson personally and through family trusts controls 60 percent of the company.
Forbes estimates Adelson earned about $1 million an hour over the past two years. In the second quarter alone, the Sands Macau property saw net revenue jump to $310.4 million, up from $205.1 million a year ago. To tap the demand from gamblers in Asia going forward, the Sands Corp. plans a second property on Macau and a casino in Singapore.
The two Google Inc. founders were also big earners. Sergey Brin and Larry Page gained about $13 million a day over the last two years, according to Forbes. That puts them in 12th and 13th place, up from a tie at 16th place last year.
Page and Brin also share the distinction of being, at 33 years old, the two youngest people on the list and two of only eight who are younger than 40.
The list was led off by technologists, such as Gates, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Dell Inc.'s Michael Dell and Ellison, and rounded out by five members of the Walton clan who have fortunes amassed from sales by the world's largest retailer.
Ellison, with $19.5 billion, moved to fourth place from fifth, while Allen, last year's No. 3, was fifth this year with $16 billion. Dell fell to a tie at ninth place from fourth in last year's list; he is worth $15.5 billion
Adelson's ascension knocks Helen Walton, the wife of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. founder Sam Walton, into 11th place with a net worth of $15.3 billion. Her children, Jim, S. Robson and Alice, and Christy Walton, the widow of her son John, ranked in the bottom half of the top 10 this year. Each was worth between $15.5 billion and $15.7 billion, Forbes reported.
Martha Stewart, founder of the eponymous Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc., fell off the list completely, as she lost $395 million over the past year.
The biggest number of people on the list live in California, which houses 90 of the 400, and another 44 live in New York City.
source:
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060921/forbes_400.html?.v=2
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Man urinates on supermarket register
September 20, 2006
A man standing in a checkout line at the Chester ShopRite took out his penis and urinated on the cash register last Friday afternoon, according to police.
By one account, the man stood up on the conveyor belt before relieving himself. Police responded to a report of indecent exposure at the time, but were unable to find the man.
ShopRite officials called it an unfortunate incident and said the register was cleaned and disinfected immediately.
Did this article satisfy your expectations?
A man standing in a checkout line at the Chester ShopRite took out his penis and urinated on the cash register last Friday afternoon, according to police.
By one account, the man stood up on the conveyor belt before relieving himself. Police responded to a report of indecent exposure at the time, but were unable to find the man.
ShopRite officials called it an unfortunate incident and said the register was cleaned and disinfected immediately.
Did this article satisfy your expectations?
Sep 20 - 23 year old in Richmond Makes $8 million in 6 months
"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," said Charles J. Cunningham, special agent in charge of the FBI Richmond field office.
Tell that to more than 350 investors who say that since April, they handed over about $8 million after James E. Brown Jr. promised to double their money every six weeks by trading in foreign currency.
Cunningham spoke at a news conference yesterday at which U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg and other law-enforcement officials announced Brown's indictment on charges of mail fraud and possession of a firearm by a felon. He was convicted in 2002 on a check-forgery charge.
Brown, 23, of Chesterfield County was arrested Friday morning. He remained in custody yesterday pending a detention hearing in U.S. District Court tomorrow.
He faces a maximum of 30 years on those charges if convicted. The multiagency federal investigation continues. Additional charges appear likely against Brown and some of the 10 employees of his Brown Investment Services, authorities said.
Brown allegedly used investment seminars held in the Richmond area and duped people with his presentation. He offered a written guarantee that he would double their investments every 30 business days by trading on the Foreign Currency Exchange Market, known as FOREX.
It was "a classic Ponzi scheme," Rosenberg said, a type of fraud in which money from new investors is used to pay earlier investors. "A Ponzi scheme works on the principle of robbing Peter to pay Paul," Rosenberg said. That makes things appear legitimate for a time, but eventually the pyramid collapses.
How much of the $8 million did Brown allegedly invest in FOREX? How much money did his investors make?
"The answers are not very much and nothing at all," Rosenberg said. "Mr. Brown lost money every month that he traded -- every month."
How much the alleged victims lost has not been determined. Some put in as much as $50,000, authorities said. Officials hope to make restitution after seizing known bank accounts and Brown possessions believed purchased with investors' money. About $1.1 million was in two bank accounts controlled by Brown last week, authorities said.
Court papers say Brown Investment Services opened three accounts at Wachovia Bank in April. One was in Brown's name, another in the name of the company; Brown alone controlled both. A third was in the names of Brown and a woman.
From April until this month, the $8 million flowed into the company account. Some, according to the indictment, may have gone into foreign-currency trading but much more went elsewhere -- to support the "increasingly lavish lifestyle" of Brown and his employees.
According to court papers, starting May 1 and as recently as Sept. 7, Brown bought $2.9 million worth of automobiles. Authorities described it as a luxury fleet of more than two dozen cars for Brown and employees of his company. One was a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren whose estimated value is about $450,000, authorities said.
Brown withdrew about $469,000 in cash and spent about $159,000 using a debit card, both in funds from investors, according to the indictment. He also bought more than $154,000 in jewelry and, from April until September, paid himself $640,000 in salary.
Salaries of the employees of Brown Investment Services averaged $115,000, the indictment says. One of them was a fashion consultant whose primary job was to choose Brown's clothes and set them out for him each morning.
Brown paid early investors a total of about $2.6 million in "lulling payments," according to the indictment.
In July and August, authorities said, people separately went to the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the criminal investigation unit of the Internal Revenue Service to inquire about the legitimacy of Brown's company. Investigators for the three agencies compared notes and went to work together.
One who complained became a confidential source for the investigation. The information gathered from the source, from bank records and from court-ordered wiretaps and surveillance led to Friday's arrest on a criminal complaint and yesterday's indictment.
Rosenberg said investigators worked fast on "a big complicated case" to stop the Ponzi scheme quickly and get as much money back for the victims as they could.
Tell that to more than 350 investors who say that since April, they handed over about $8 million after James E. Brown Jr. promised to double their money every six weeks by trading in foreign currency.
Cunningham spoke at a news conference yesterday at which U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg and other law-enforcement officials announced Brown's indictment on charges of mail fraud and possession of a firearm by a felon. He was convicted in 2002 on a check-forgery charge.
Brown, 23, of Chesterfield County was arrested Friday morning. He remained in custody yesterday pending a detention hearing in U.S. District Court tomorrow.
He faces a maximum of 30 years on those charges if convicted. The multiagency federal investigation continues. Additional charges appear likely against Brown and some of the 10 employees of his Brown Investment Services, authorities said.
Brown allegedly used investment seminars held in the Richmond area and duped people with his presentation. He offered a written guarantee that he would double their investments every 30 business days by trading on the Foreign Currency Exchange Market, known as FOREX.
It was "a classic Ponzi scheme," Rosenberg said, a type of fraud in which money from new investors is used to pay earlier investors. "A Ponzi scheme works on the principle of robbing Peter to pay Paul," Rosenberg said. That makes things appear legitimate for a time, but eventually the pyramid collapses.
How much of the $8 million did Brown allegedly invest in FOREX? How much money did his investors make?
"The answers are not very much and nothing at all," Rosenberg said. "Mr. Brown lost money every month that he traded -- every month."
How much the alleged victims lost has not been determined. Some put in as much as $50,000, authorities said. Officials hope to make restitution after seizing known bank accounts and Brown possessions believed purchased with investors' money. About $1.1 million was in two bank accounts controlled by Brown last week, authorities said.
Court papers say Brown Investment Services opened three accounts at Wachovia Bank in April. One was in Brown's name, another in the name of the company; Brown alone controlled both. A third was in the names of Brown and a woman.
From April until this month, the $8 million flowed into the company account. Some, according to the indictment, may have gone into foreign-currency trading but much more went elsewhere -- to support the "increasingly lavish lifestyle" of Brown and his employees.
According to court papers, starting May 1 and as recently as Sept. 7, Brown bought $2.9 million worth of automobiles. Authorities described it as a luxury fleet of more than two dozen cars for Brown and employees of his company. One was a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren whose estimated value is about $450,000, authorities said.
Brown withdrew about $469,000 in cash and spent about $159,000 using a debit card, both in funds from investors, according to the indictment. He also bought more than $154,000 in jewelry and, from April until September, paid himself $640,000 in salary.
Salaries of the employees of Brown Investment Services averaged $115,000, the indictment says. One of them was a fashion consultant whose primary job was to choose Brown's clothes and set them out for him each morning.
Brown paid early investors a total of about $2.6 million in "lulling payments," according to the indictment.
In July and August, authorities said, people separately went to the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the criminal investigation unit of the Internal Revenue Service to inquire about the legitimacy of Brown's company. Investigators for the three agencies compared notes and went to work together.
One who complained became a confidential source for the investigation. The information gathered from the source, from bank records and from court-ordered wiretaps and surveillance led to Friday's arrest on a criminal complaint and yesterday's indictment.
Rosenberg said investigators worked fast on "a big complicated case" to stop the Ponzi scheme quickly and get as much money back for the victims as they could.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
'Top Gear' presenter's condition improves to stable
Richard Hammond, a presenter for the BBC's Top Gear automobile television series, has improved to a stable condition after being involved in a car accident which saw him being airlifted to hospital.
The 36-year-old television presenter was filming for the programme at a disused airfield in York, central England, when the accident happened and was airlifted to a hospital in nearby Leeds.
He was involved in a high-speed car crash while filming an apparent attempt to break Britain's land speed record in what was described as a "rocket powered dragster" that travelled at speeds close to 482.8 kilometres per hour.
The current British land speed record is 300.3 miles per hour, held by Colin Fallows, who set the record in 2000.
A former firefighter at the scene said the accident had happened on the last attempt of the day, which saw the car veer to the right, triggering the deployment of one of the parachutes.
The car, however, went onto the grass, and "spun over and over" before eventually resting upside down and "dug in" to the grass, Dave Ogden of Event Fire Services said.
Hammond was cut free, placed in a neck brace and onto a stretcher before an air ambulance arrived to take him to hospital.
My daddy was my hero - from bindy RIP STEVE IRWIN
Steve Irwin's brave little daughter, Bindi, got a standing ovation after delivering a eulogy to her father today.
Watched by her mother, Terri, brother Bob, and about 5000 mourners at the Crocoseum at Australia Zoo in Beerwah, the eight-year-old spoke with remarkable clarity and assurance.
Smiling and reading her own tribute from a sheet of paper in front of an image of her dad, she said: "My daddy was my hero - he was always there for me when I needed him."
She traced the words on the paper with a finger.
"He listened to me and taught me so many things but most of all he was fun.
"I know that Daddy had an important job. He was working to change the world so everyone would love wildlife like he did."
She said her father built a hospital and bought land to give animals a safe place to live and she wanted to continue his legacy.
"I don't want Daddy's passion to ever end," she said. "I want to help endangered wildlife just like he did."
Bindi said she would miss her father.
"I have the best Daddy in the whole world and I will miss him every day," she said.
"When I see a crocodile I will always think of him and I know that Daddy made this zoo so everyone could come and learn to love all the animals.
"Daddy made this place his whole life and now it's our turn to help Daddy."
Audience members too moved to speak
Thousands of memorial attendees filed out of the zoo shortly after the ceremony finished. Many were visibly upset and some were too moved to speak.
Michelle Wilson, 23, of Noosa said that the saddest part of the service was when Irwin's truck was driven out.
"He was a great inspiration - it was stunning and it was sad. I think Bindi did really well," she said.
Trish Whitehead of Caloundra said the memorial was "absolutely beautiful".
"It honoured his memory - Steve was a person with the power to change the world and he was doing that," she said.
"I don't think we'll see someone like that again.
"Bindi has the strength of her father - I thought it would be hard for her but she stood tall and stood proud."
Irwin's father, Bob, said afterwards that Terri was very pleased with the service and proud of the strength shown by Bindi.
"I was coping fairly well until John sang that song [True Blue] and then I fell apart," he said. "If our roles would have been reversed, Steve would have fallen apart too because he really loved that song."
Mr Irwin said Bindi had shown a lot of strength but he expected her to do well because of her media experience.
"I don't think Bindi has broken down as much as I would have expected. She's been a strong little girl and she's coping extremely well," he said.
PM tells of 'zest for life'
Earlier at the service Prime Minister John Howard paid tribute to the Crocodile Hunter's "zest for life".
"We gather in this special place that Steve created to celebrate the life of a remarkable man and a remarkable Australian," he said.
"Steve Irwin touched the hearts of Australians and touched the hearts of millions around the world in a very special way.
"He did that because he had that quality of being genuine, of being authentic, of being unconditional and having a great zest for life and, throughout his all-too-short life, he demonstrated a love for the two things that ought to matter more to all of us than anything else - his love of his family and his love of his country."
Mr Howard said Irwin brought to Australians and to the world an understanding of nature.
"He taught our children in particular to love and respect all creatures great and small," he said.
"In everything he did he was direct, he was genuine and oh so Australian and that is what we loved about him."
Russell Crowe's taped tribute
Before Mr Howard's comments, actor Russell Crowe's taped tribute was played.
"Your passing has suspended reality for all of us,'' Crowe said on the recording from New York. "It was way too soon and completely unfair on all accounts.
"I know, as humble as you always were, you would still be pleased to know that the world sends its love and people all over this planet have been grieving.
"We have all lost a friend, we have lost a champion and we are going to take some time to adjust to that."
Australian music star John Williamson sang True Blue, the Crocodile Hunter's favourite song, earning a standing ovation from the crowd.
Children's entertainers The Wiggles also paid tribute to Irwin, while Hollywood movie star Cameron Diaz sent a video tribute.
"People were just taken by him; they were just inspired and in awe of his energy and how he actually went about putting himself forward and what he represented," she said.
Every kid wanted to be him
"Every kid was in love with the idea of being able to be him."
In a taped interview, US talk show host Larry King said he loved having Irwin on his show, not just because it was "terrific" television but also because it impressed his two young sons, Chance and Cannon.
"I've interviewed presidents, kings and Oscar-winning movie stars," he said. "But once I talked to the real-life world famous Croc Hunter, well that made me a hero.
"Steve's connection with kids will be one of his enduring legacies," King said.
"He took them to the animal world, up close and personal.
"He gave them an education, as well as excitement."
He was fearless, says Costner
Movie legend Kevin Costner also paid tribute to Irwin in a taped message.
"His son and daughter and his wife can be very proud that not only was their father seemingly to the rest of the world fearless when he was around these animals," he said.
"Where he is the most fearless is that he let us see who he was and that's being brave in today's society because ... you show yourself to so many people willing to mimic you and mock you.
"He was unafraid of that because he knew his idea and his truth was a lot bigger than the aside joke."
Irwin's father, Bob, choked back tears as he briefly thanked well-wishers for their letters and gifts on behalf of the family.
"Please don't grieve for Steve - he's at peace now," he said.
"But I would like you to grieve for the animals - the animals have lost the best friend they ever had, and so have I.
"I was fortunate to just recently spend three or four weeks with Steve on crocodile research and he was the best he'd been for many years and I'll certainly treasure that."
Irwin messing around lightens mood
Lightening the mood, the crowd was shown humorous footage of Irwin falling out of boats, getting bitten by crocodiles and lizards, messing up his lines and being chased by cassowaries.
They were also shown clips of his journey "from the outback to Hollywood" and footage of him speaking about the death of his mother.
The crowd enthusiastically jumped to its feet and clapped along as Williamson sang a spirited version of Home Among the Gum Trees from the back of Irwin's ute, accompanied by Australia Zoo staff.
Clark Bunting, executive vice-president of Discovery Network, said he first met Irwin as the head of cable channel Animal Planet in the US.
He said when he saw a "very rough" video of the Crocodile Hunter's exploits, "his passion, sincerity and knowledge were obvious".
"I still remember thinking to myself, if this guy is for real we have to work with him," Mr Bunting said.
"Anyone who spent any time with Steve knew that above all else he was real."
Stars deliver messages
The one-hour special will be aired in the US next Wednesday and should reap huge ratings for ABC as Irwin, through his documentaries, was a much-loved TV star in America.
Watched by her mother, Terri, brother Bob, and about 5000 mourners at the Crocoseum at Australia Zoo in Beerwah, the eight-year-old spoke with remarkable clarity and assurance.
Smiling and reading her own tribute from a sheet of paper in front of an image of her dad, she said: "My daddy was my hero - he was always there for me when I needed him."
She traced the words on the paper with a finger.
"He listened to me and taught me so many things but most of all he was fun.
"I know that Daddy had an important job. He was working to change the world so everyone would love wildlife like he did."
She said her father built a hospital and bought land to give animals a safe place to live and she wanted to continue his legacy.
"I don't want Daddy's passion to ever end," she said. "I want to help endangered wildlife just like he did."
Bindi said she would miss her father.
"I have the best Daddy in the whole world and I will miss him every day," she said.
"When I see a crocodile I will always think of him and I know that Daddy made this zoo so everyone could come and learn to love all the animals.
"Daddy made this place his whole life and now it's our turn to help Daddy."
Audience members too moved to speak
Thousands of memorial attendees filed out of the zoo shortly after the ceremony finished. Many were visibly upset and some were too moved to speak.
Michelle Wilson, 23, of Noosa said that the saddest part of the service was when Irwin's truck was driven out.
"He was a great inspiration - it was stunning and it was sad. I think Bindi did really well," she said.
Trish Whitehead of Caloundra said the memorial was "absolutely beautiful".
"It honoured his memory - Steve was a person with the power to change the world and he was doing that," she said.
"I don't think we'll see someone like that again.
"Bindi has the strength of her father - I thought it would be hard for her but she stood tall and stood proud."
Irwin's father, Bob, said afterwards that Terri was very pleased with the service and proud of the strength shown by Bindi.
"I was coping fairly well until John sang that song [True Blue] and then I fell apart," he said. "If our roles would have been reversed, Steve would have fallen apart too because he really loved that song."
Mr Irwin said Bindi had shown a lot of strength but he expected her to do well because of her media experience.
"I don't think Bindi has broken down as much as I would have expected. She's been a strong little girl and she's coping extremely well," he said.
PM tells of 'zest for life'
Earlier at the service Prime Minister John Howard paid tribute to the Crocodile Hunter's "zest for life".
"We gather in this special place that Steve created to celebrate the life of a remarkable man and a remarkable Australian," he said.
"Steve Irwin touched the hearts of Australians and touched the hearts of millions around the world in a very special way.
"He did that because he had that quality of being genuine, of being authentic, of being unconditional and having a great zest for life and, throughout his all-too-short life, he demonstrated a love for the two things that ought to matter more to all of us than anything else - his love of his family and his love of his country."
Mr Howard said Irwin brought to Australians and to the world an understanding of nature.
"He taught our children in particular to love and respect all creatures great and small," he said.
"In everything he did he was direct, he was genuine and oh so Australian and that is what we loved about him."
Russell Crowe's taped tribute
Before Mr Howard's comments, actor Russell Crowe's taped tribute was played.
"Your passing has suspended reality for all of us,'' Crowe said on the recording from New York. "It was way too soon and completely unfair on all accounts.
"I know, as humble as you always were, you would still be pleased to know that the world sends its love and people all over this planet have been grieving.
"We have all lost a friend, we have lost a champion and we are going to take some time to adjust to that."
Australian music star John Williamson sang True Blue, the Crocodile Hunter's favourite song, earning a standing ovation from the crowd.
Children's entertainers The Wiggles also paid tribute to Irwin, while Hollywood movie star Cameron Diaz sent a video tribute.
"People were just taken by him; they were just inspired and in awe of his energy and how he actually went about putting himself forward and what he represented," she said.
Every kid wanted to be him
"Every kid was in love with the idea of being able to be him."
In a taped interview, US talk show host Larry King said he loved having Irwin on his show, not just because it was "terrific" television but also because it impressed his two young sons, Chance and Cannon.
"I've interviewed presidents, kings and Oscar-winning movie stars," he said. "But once I talked to the real-life world famous Croc Hunter, well that made me a hero.
"Steve's connection with kids will be one of his enduring legacies," King said.
"He took them to the animal world, up close and personal.
"He gave them an education, as well as excitement."
He was fearless, says Costner
Movie legend Kevin Costner also paid tribute to Irwin in a taped message.
"His son and daughter and his wife can be very proud that not only was their father seemingly to the rest of the world fearless when he was around these animals," he said.
"Where he is the most fearless is that he let us see who he was and that's being brave in today's society because ... you show yourself to so many people willing to mimic you and mock you.
"He was unafraid of that because he knew his idea and his truth was a lot bigger than the aside joke."
Irwin's father, Bob, choked back tears as he briefly thanked well-wishers for their letters and gifts on behalf of the family.
"Please don't grieve for Steve - he's at peace now," he said.
"But I would like you to grieve for the animals - the animals have lost the best friend they ever had, and so have I.
"I was fortunate to just recently spend three or four weeks with Steve on crocodile research and he was the best he'd been for many years and I'll certainly treasure that."
Irwin messing around lightens mood
Lightening the mood, the crowd was shown humorous footage of Irwin falling out of boats, getting bitten by crocodiles and lizards, messing up his lines and being chased by cassowaries.
They were also shown clips of his journey "from the outback to Hollywood" and footage of him speaking about the death of his mother.
The crowd enthusiastically jumped to its feet and clapped along as Williamson sang a spirited version of Home Among the Gum Trees from the back of Irwin's ute, accompanied by Australia Zoo staff.
Clark Bunting, executive vice-president of Discovery Network, said he first met Irwin as the head of cable channel Animal Planet in the US.
He said when he saw a "very rough" video of the Crocodile Hunter's exploits, "his passion, sincerity and knowledge were obvious".
"I still remember thinking to myself, if this guy is for real we have to work with him," Mr Bunting said.
"Anyone who spent any time with Steve knew that above all else he was real."
Stars deliver messages
The one-hour special will be aired in the US next Wednesday and should reap huge ratings for ABC as Irwin, through his documentaries, was a much-loved TV star in America.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Lindsay Lohan not alloud into a club SUCKED IN HOE
Movie star Lindsay Lohan tried to get to see ex-lover Jared Leto's band play live — but was barred for being too young.
Friends say the Mean Girls star was itching to see Leto be a rock star with his band 30 Seconds to Mars playing in New York.
But the venue, New York's trendy Capitale, has a strict policy of not allowing in under 21s - and security knew the notorious party-girl is only 20.
"She was really excited about seeing Jared onstage. But I guess this is what comes with being so famous, the doorstaff know you all too well," one insider said.
Meanwhile Leto — playing John Lennon's killer Mark Chapman in an upcoming movie — showed he loves being a full-on rock star during the show.
He stunned fans by going crowd-surfing, running around with a wireless microphone screaming, "I wanna f**k you like an animal", a line from the Nine Inch Nails song Closer.
hahahahh sucked in lindsey you think your famous and every one loves you well i dont liek tou more places shoudl kick you out you notihng a NO BODY!!!
Friends say the Mean Girls star was itching to see Leto be a rock star with his band 30 Seconds to Mars playing in New York.
But the venue, New York's trendy Capitale, has a strict policy of not allowing in under 21s - and security knew the notorious party-girl is only 20.
"She was really excited about seeing Jared onstage. But I guess this is what comes with being so famous, the doorstaff know you all too well," one insider said.
Meanwhile Leto — playing John Lennon's killer Mark Chapman in an upcoming movie — showed he loves being a full-on rock star during the show.
He stunned fans by going crowd-surfing, running around with a wireless microphone screaming, "I wanna f**k you like an animal", a line from the Nine Inch Nails song Closer.
hahahahh sucked in lindsey you think your famous and every one loves you well i dont liek tou more places shoudl kick you out you notihng a NO BODY!!!
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