Caught in the Net

Some people are so blooming sensitive! A Cleveland man is suing NBC after taking offence to a Fear Factor contestant being asked to slurp down a freshly prepared rat smoothie.

“To have the individuals on the show eat and drink dead rats was crazy and from a viewer’s point of view made me throw-up as well as another in the house at the same time,” paralegal Austin Aitken says in his lawsuit. “NBC is sending the wrong message to its TV watchers that cash can make or have people do just about anything and in most cases against their will.”

The stunt went down just as badly with the contestant who had to feast on the blended rodent.

“It was absolutely the worst thing I’ve come into contact with,” complains Elizabeth Passarelli. “It was hairy and chunky and gritty and chalky. And it smelled awful. And it tasted worse.”

You can see the goings-on in graphic detail at www.nbc.com.

There’s more bleeding – or should that be smoldering? – heart liberalism to be had at www.claytonbailey.com, which reports on Amnesty International’s opposition to the Triton Museum in Santa Clara installing a coin-operated electric chair as an exhibit.

“The coin-operated electric chair provides a safe and healthy outlet for hatred,” proffers the museum guide. “It’s better than using real violence against real human beings, and it directs violence toward someone who deserves it, rather than toward an innocent person.”

The curator does concede that: “Some people seem to feel a surge of power when they throw the switch. This piece graphically shows what an execution is all about.” Nice.

After that some light relief in the form of www.rnb.hpg.ig.com.br, a nifty little site that’s made it its life work to embarrass rock stars by tracking down childhood snaps of them.

While no one’s pictured lying stark bollock naked on a sheepskin rug, Gene Simmons (brylcreemed side-parting); Tommy Lee (ballet tights); and Billie Jo Armstrong (Little Lord Fauntleroy curls) will be concerned at the possible damage that’s been done to their cool as fuck persona.

Which just leaves time for quick visits to www.go-offextreme.com.au (Aussie pyromaniac daredevil), www.cac.lt/tv (Lithuanian reality TV) and www.buttprintart.com (does exactly what it says it does in the address).