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Australian Comedy Group Prods APEC Security
ajdlinux writes "Members of the Australian comedy group The Chaser were arrested today after attempting to breach security at the APEC Leaders Conference in Sydney. Chas Licciardello and Julian Morrow were arrested, along with nine crew members (all are now free on bail), just a short distance away from the InterContinental Hotel where President Bush is staying. They had already cleared at least two police checkpoints, according to CNN, disguised as a Canadian motorcade. 'No particular reason we chose Canada,' said Taylor. 'We just thought they'd be a country who the cops wouldn't scrutinize too closely, and who feasibly would only have three cars in their motorcade — as opposed to the 20 or so gas guzzlers that Bush has brought with him.'" CNN has a photo of Licciardello, dressed as Osama bin Laden, being arrested.
Actually most people in AUSTRALIA (ie, where they're from) have heard of them.
It frightens me that there's a very real chance that had castmember Chas Licciardello not been dressed up as Osama Bin Laden, they could have made it all the way inside.
Of course the police are spinning this and saying that due to the arrests its 'proof' that security works and the $170 million spent on security was well worth it, despite the fact that Candian flags and fake APEC stickers on the hood are all that's required to get within ten metres of the President's hotel.
I've seen some of their clips on youtube and they're pretty damn funny!!
Over here in the UK, the main Aussie telly we're blessed with are neighbours and home & away - I would swap war on everything for neighbours any day!!
SURELY NOT!!!!!
According to the video, they didn't catch on until one of them stepped out dressed as Osama bin Laden. The only reason they were caught was their completely absurd attire. And the security guys pat each other on the back for that. I'm not sure which part is funniest, but I'm definitely laughing.
You're unpleasant and judgemental - go back to your Friends and your Cheers, I'm sure they suit your intellect perfectly.
Those of us who are sufficiently open-minded to watch a comedy show before deciding whether it is any good or not will, I'm sure, be in for a treat with the third series.
SURELY NOT!!!!!
I didn't link to the ABC website because it is supposed to be for Australians only to view. They aren't doing anything to non-Australians but if at the end of the month most of their bandwidth bill is from international traffic be sure they will start ip locking it. The ABC is happy with their content being available on as many possible channels (they even upload torrents of their shows to bit torrent networks) as long as they aren't paying the bandwidth bill.
You can get some grass roots coverage of the protests against APEC at Sydney Indymedia.
I feel that it was utterly un-Australian to arrest these guys. It was a complete waste of police & justice system resources, and really only a pathetic attempt to legitimise the $170 million spent on the ridiculous security theatre show borking up Sydney's CBD.
Well, considering the government is spending 170 million on security, which includes a lot of technological crap - such as choppers flying around blocking mobile phone signals, it seems important to note that all you need is 3 cars, a couple of flags, and a fake sticker to bypass all that security... I know it isn't massively relevant, but it is funny.
We already know all politicians are dick heads, we don't worship them (or want to) as many Americans seem to do.
Boffoonery - downloadable Comedy Benefit for Bletchley Park
Have they gone too far this time though? With times so security conscious, dressing up as Osama and getting that close to the US Presidents quarters, they are lucky they weren't fired upon!
No, they haven't gone too far. By pointing out that the US has a huge and unnecessary motorcade in a foreign country, it opens my eyes to yet another fleecing of America by the douchebags in office. By pointing out that people may be arrested for nothing more than a prank mostly because it embarrassed the security forces supposedly increased for the visit of someone "so important", it shows me that the countries we live in suck compared to 10 years ago.
Someone needs to continually point out the failures and by doing it with comedic value, a larger majority of people will pay attention.
Or reading newspapers, reading websites. You know basically being aware of the world around you :)
That's what one of the senior cops said. Something about all the snipers on the building would have shot them. If that's the case, the snipers are a bigger threat than a terrorist.
I'm not suggesting anyone do something stupid (go away, Secret Service, I'm not a "person of interest") but sheesh. America desperately needs some political instability.
And a president is just some guy. He can be replaced, and the current one hasn't demonstrated any particularly unusual skills. That doesn't mean he (or anyone else) should be murdered, but if his murder is a serious problem for society, then you already have a serious problem for society.
This applies whether you agree or disagree with his particular policies. We're talking about one person, who works in an administrative capacity, and is surrounded by hundreds of other people who almost certainly have even more administrative experience. He's a cog. That isn't to say he doesn't have a shitload of power and that his decisions don't end up being far-reaching. But he's not a key man whose duties someone else can't easily take over.
Not for Downer. This guy was mixed up in an incident where Saddam was bribed for over 300 million. A long string of incidents show he's a living example of why hereditary leadership is a bad idea - if his grandfather had not been sucessful he would not control a political faction and would be almost unemployable.
"You're unpleasant and judgemental - go back to your Friends and your Cheers, I'm sure they suit your intellect perfectly."
Can you not see the irony in that statement. Personally I have been a Chasers fan from the first show and I also loved Friends and Cheers back when they were fresh. However I do agree that the ABC and SBS are under-rated by many Aussies.
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
No, the ABC Site is ONLY for Australians. The ABC and the Chasers themselves encourage foreigners to view the youtube links.
In Soviet Russia the insensitive clod is YOU!