PEARL HARBOR MONUMENT, MARIJUANA COMPOST, PLAN 9 REMAKE, AND BIG BUCK BUNNY

PEARL HARBOR NATIONAL MONUMENT

In one of the few moves I’ve ever agreed with by George Bush, he’s trying to get national Monument status for the Pearl Harbor region in Hawaii. To date no such thing exists. There is the memorial for the USS Arizona and Ford Island, where several of the Navy’s battleships were moored during the attack, is a National Historic Landmark. This would give historic staus to the whole region which would qualify it for preservation and restoration beneifts. A May 29 presidential memo to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said such status could offer the sites additional protection. “These objects of historical and scientific interest may tell the broader story of the war, the sacrifices made by America and its allies, and the heroism and determination that laid the groundwork for victory in the Pacific and triumph in World War II,” Bush said. Surely this region deserves the recognition and the protection.  This plan might also include some of the surrounding areas where other World War II conflicts took place like Guam, Wake and Midway. If Bush was looking for something that the American public would approve of this will likely not elicite many arguments. Yes, George, for once you may actually have a good idea. Remembering a war is better than having one. I think I may mark this one on the calendar- Bush has a good idea. I never thought we’d be going there.

 

USING MARIJUANA AS COMPOST?

Police have arrested a 30-year old man in Iowa for possessing Marijuana with the intent to distribute. He says no. He was going to recycle it. I know I recycle mine. Every chance I get. Yes, according to him, it was for the compost pile. Apparently he’d been smoking some before he handed them that excuse. You gotta hand it to him, it’s original. Police say that the several bags he had all held at least a gallon of pot each. That’s a lot of compost. I wonder if he was going to mix it with manure, like his story is.  The police wasn’t buying it as he now has to post $14,000 for bail. I guess the compost will be a little thin this year.

THE ULTIMATE MOVIE REMAKE – PLAN 9

I admit it, I’m a fan of really bad movies. There are few worse and more hilarious than Ed Wood’s classic Plan 9 from Outer Space featuring Tor Johnson and Vampira.  The beauty of this film is its complete ineptitude as a film. Now a company wants to remake the film. Just what we need is a bad remake of a bad film.  Let’s see bad story, bad acting and bad effects. Hmm, can’t be worse than Spielberg’s War of the Worlds. But I think they ought to leave it alone. If they turn it into a good movie, then the beauty is lost, same thing if they try to do a comedy, Plan 9 is unintentionally funny. If I want to watch silly Sci-Fi, I’ll catch Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks.   Anyway, a tiny little horror production company in Charlottesville, Virginia has announced plans to remake it as titled Plan 9, in participation with Conrad Brooks, the only surviving cast/crew member, aiming for a release date of 9/9/09. Guys if you want to do cheap bad horror/sci-fi try something that hasn’t been done. Personally I’m looking forward to Zombie Strippers. Leave great bad classics alone and let Ed Wood rest in his angora film maker deluded peace. Next thing some idiot will want to do a hip-hop version of Rocky Horror. Oops, better keep my mouth shut, somebody will run with that one.

BIG BUCK BUNNY

This thing is too funny. You have to watch it to the very end and bear with the credits. It’s worth it.

CONDOLEEZA RICE MEETS KISS, THONG THIEVES, EMPTY HOUSE SHOOTOUT, AMAZON LOST TRIBE, AND MODERN ROBINSON CRUSOE

CONDOLEEZA RICE JOINS THE KISS ARMY

Who knew the Secretary of State was a Kiss fan. While in Stockholm, Sweden she decided to “Let her hair down” and take in a show with the aging rockers.  “I was thrilled,” Rice said of her late-night encounter with Kiss’ Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer in the executive lounge of the Sheraton Hotel where they signed autographs and handed out backstage passes and T-shirts to her staff. Late night encounter? This sounds like more than a passing fancy. I can’t wait for the tell-all book on that one. “It was really fun to meet Kiss and Gene Simmons,” she told reporters, noting that they seemed well-informed about current events. The band had asked if she could stop by after she finished dinner with the Swedish foreign minister and Rice readily agreed, she said. When Kiss beacons, she comes? Wow, how does that rate? I didn’t know they had that kind of power. Rice, a classically trained pianist, said she has eclectic musical tastes ranging from Beethoven to Bruce Springsteen. Kiss is apparently one of them. Rice said her favorite Kiss tune is “Rock and Roll All Nite.” I’m sorry, I have a hard time picturing her Rock and Rolling all night and partying everyday. Is there something about her we don’t know. Has she been hiding this closet nightlife? Could she be a mosh-pitter?

 

ROBBERS USE WOMEN’S THONGS FOR MASKS

In Arvada, Colorado, police are searching for two men who robbed a convenience store. instead of useing masks, they decided to use women’s thongs to hide their identities. The two apparent panty sniffers wandered through the store and then went up and demanded money and cigarettes from the clerk. I wonder if she kept a straight face during all of this? The two were unarmed. That’s right, they didn’t even take guns. The two left the store still wearing the thongs on their heads. They actually went out in public like that.

POLICE ATTACK EMPTY HOUSE

Police suspected that criminals from a post office robbery were hiding out in a house in Conset, England. They laid siege to the house for four hours trying to get the suspects to come out with their hands up. Finally the cops gave up and entered the house with dogs. The house was empty. Yep, no one home. So much for that reputed brilliant criminal deduction we’ve heard so much about. Elementary? 

LOST TRIBE DISCOVERED IN BRAZIL

 This is like something out of Indiana Jones. Deep in the Amazon Jungle, a plane flying over Brazil co\aught these images of a previously uncontacted tribe near the Peruvian border along the Envira river. According to authorities, the tribe looks healthy and thriving. They are located in what is called an Ethno-Environmental Protected Area. There are nearly 100 uncontacted tribes in this region and officials strive to keep them that way. “These pictures are further evidence that uncontacted tribes really do exist,” Survival director Stephen Corry said. “The world needs to wake up to this, and ensure that their territory is protected in accordance with international law. Otherwise, they will soon be made extinct.” I like knowing there are still things in the world we know nothing about and that there are a few mysteries left out there. Think of it, a culture with no cellphones, internet, or cable TV.

 

EXPLORER TO LIVE 300 DAYS ALONE ON AN ISLAND

A French explorer and adventurer Xavier Rosset has decided he is going to live for nearly a year on the remote isolated island of Tofua in the pacific. He intends to turn his adventure into a documentary of a modern day Robinson Crusoe. Tofua is only 30 miles away from where the mutiny on the HMS Bounty took place. Suppossedly Captain Bligh landed there after Spencer Christian set him and his men adrift searching for water.  One of Bligh’s men was buried there. Rosset has picked an interesting place to stay.  The only things he’s taking with him is a Swiss army knife, machete, video camera and solar panels for charging batteries for the camera. I have to admit, I’m a little envious on this one. Nearly a year with no phone, no lights, no motor cars, not a single luxury. He intends to build a shelter, find fish and plants for food, and gather rainwater for drinking. Sounds like he has this all thought out. Only problem is, I’ve seen a lot of movies about these isolated pacific islands. The volcano always goes off. It can be seen in the picture below, sending off smoke, obviously active.

POLAR BEARS, UFOS, BRIAN URLACHER, XP VS VISTA, AND ART?

POLAR BEARS OFFICIALLY ON ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST

The U.S. Government has listed the Polar Bear as an endangered species. It cites the rapid loss of the ice pack due to global warming as the reason. This is the first time the administration has officially admitted to global warming. Though the Department of the Interior says this shouldn’t be used as a means for addressing the issue of Global Warming, it certainly does say that the Arctic ice is melting at a very rapid pace and the Polar Bear is in danger of extinction. “This listing will not stop global climate change or prevent any sea ice from melting,” said Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne. He said he had consulted with the White House on the decision, but “at no time was there ever a suggestion that this was not my decision.” This certainly seems like a step in the right direction though. The Bush Administration and the Federal Government has spent so much time trying to ignore the effects of Global Warming by playing Ostriches with their heads in the sand that it’s about time they pulled them out of the ground and looked around. Unfortuantely, we may have waited too long.

UK RELEASES FILES ON UFO SIGHTINGS.

The Ministry of Defence in Britain has released the files on over 11,000 UFO sightings in Britain. The British Isles have been a UFO hotspot for years and now they have declassified their files deeming UFOs as no threat. It appears the Brits prefer the Close Encounters aliens over the Independence Day version. According to the files, the alien craft come in all shapes and sizes, but the aliens themselves seem to be uniformly green. So much for the “Grays” idea.  Though 90 percent of the sightings are dismissed as explainable, 10 percent are left with a question mark. For me it certainly explains the presence of Boy George.

BRIAN URLACHER HOLDS OUT FOR RAISE

 Brian Urlacher of the Chicago Bears feels his 56.5 million dollars isn’t enough and wants a raise. He cites his arthritic back as an issue. I wish I could get that kind of money for my arthritis. Urlacher claims that since salary caps now exceed 100 million that his piece of the Bear’s pie should be bigger. He is intending on boycotting the May minicamp in protest. He still has four years to go on his nine year contract. I’m endlessly amazed by the amount of money athletes think they deserve. I agree that football takes a toll, but they knew the job was dangerous when they took it. He signed on the dotted line, he should keep his word. 56 million dollars should be enough for anybody.  

MICROSOFT MAY EXTEND LIFE OF XP

Due to pressure from some computer manufacturers, Microsoft may be giving in and not taking XP off the shelf on its deadline date. Vista simply hasn’t worked well. Customers are requesting that their new computer still be loaded with XP and many of the manufacturers have said they will continue to load them through 2009. If you want to continue to get XP you must actually request it on your new computer, but it is still available. Microsoft may be reconsidering pulling it off the shelf on June, 30. Online petitions and negative customer feedback has been ongoing.  Face it, Vista needs to go back to the drawing board. XP is a good operating system and if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.  It goes to show that if you try to market something crappy, people won’t take it. Apparently computer users aren’t suckers born every minute.

 $33 MILLION PAINTING?

Somebody paid $33 million for this? What are they crazy? This is a painting by Lucian Freud and this is the highest price ever paid for a painting by a living artist. It sold Tuesday at Christie’s. I’m sorry but if I had that kind of money, this is not where it would go. A weekend retreat in the Caribbean comes to mind. Sending money to help people in Burma or China also comes to mind. Some people have way too much money and no sense. Almost 350 million dollars was spent on this one auction and most of it by Americans. Christie’s percentage alone must have been incredible. So much for the theory that Americans don’t have much disposable cash. Ugh, I certainly wouldn’t want this painting in my living room.