Britney v2.0

The Britney Spears Image Rehabilitation has begun. She's now ministering to the poor Katrina victims with shopping trips.

"Pop star Britney Spears spent part of Mardi Gras with a group of Metairie students whose lives were upended when Hurricane Katrina devastated the area six months ago. Standing in the French Quarter surrounded by St. Catherine of Siena School dancers wearing "Gatorettes" uniforms, Spears talked Tuesday on ABC's "Good Morning America" of her recent "surprise" meeting with four older students from the suburban New Orleans school."

No word on hubby Kevin Federline or the baby-riding-in-the-lap-while-mommy-drives.

Spears Takes Katrina Victims Shopping [AP via Yahoo!]

Life is Fra-gee-lay!

I think the poster on Defamer said it best in reference to the recent deaths of Darren McGavin, known for his role as little Ralphie's dad in the holiday classic "A Christmas Story," and Don Knotts, who famously played Barney Fife in the old Andy Griffith Show.

Defamer points us to a teamup by the two in some old Disney comedies. This post led me to the comment below playing on Ralphie's dad who remarked that his "major award" was from France because the box was marked, "Fragile"...or as he pronounced, "Fra-gee-lay." A little known - at least to me - Arkansas-related fact about "A Christmas Story"...Melinda Dillon, who played Ralphie's mom, was born in Hope, Ark. Saa-lute!

Adds Defamer: "Barney Fife is arguably Knott’s best role, for us, it’s the swinging and sniffing leisure-suited landlord Mr. Furley with which he will forever be associated. With John Ritter (who I hear almost every morning at my house as the voice of Clifford, the Big Red Dog), Norman Fell, and now Knotts gone, we can only imagine Richard Kline, aka Larry, is feeling the uneasy combination of relief, melancholy and isolation that comes with being Three’s Company’s last surviving male."

Mr. Furley and Ralphie's Old Man Re-Team In Heaven [Defamer]

Monday Download

Slate has a good piece on VH1's latest incarnation as obsessed with pop culture and pop culture nostalgia and Flavor Flav. Slate writes that the VH1 leadership see the network's "voice" as "affectionate and highly ironic." Guess I did fit their demographic back in the late 90s, early 00s, when I dug Pop-Up Video, Behind the Music and the first round of "I Love the 80s." But it's all too tiresome for me now.

Why watch a bunch of comedians sit around and riff on pop culture? I can do that myself. As for music on TV...I watch VH1 Classic and MTV Hits these days. It's like MTV - but with music videos.

If I'm down on VH-1, then my buddy Murray is down on ESPN. I've been meaning to link to this post of his before but never got around to it. He does me a favor by not posting anything new since then. He offers up 10 reasons why he hates ESPN - dissing shows like Cold Pizza and Around the Horn. He makes some good points, noting the hypocrisy in coverage of the World Series of Poker, "We don't talk about point spreads because gambling is bad. Poker is good. What exactly is poker? I know it's cheap to film and I can't blame them for it but making Doyle Brunson a household name is wrong on so many levels. Bring back Aussie Football or CFL."

Seven for Sunday, 2/26

Trying to catch up after a busy few days kept me from blogging. Let's go ahead and start with the seven most listened to songs on my iPod in the past week.

The top 7, based on my iPod's playcount (last week):
1. Perfect Situation - Weezer - Love the line, "Here's the pitch, slow and straight/All I have to do is swing and I'm a hero...but I'm a zero." (1)
2. No Way Back - Foo Fighters - Straight-forward and rocking. (3)
3. Foxy, Foxy - Rob Zombie - (5)
4. Lights and Sounds - Yellowcard (2)
5. Wings of a Butterfly - H.I.M. (4)
6. I.R.S. - Guns n' Roses - Wow. Who'da thunk I'd have a GnR song??? No classic, but not bad. (-)
7. Winter's Wolves - The Sword - Need to hear somemore from this retro metal band. But I'm still enjoying this one. (6)

Hey! What Are Ewe Doing???

This is making the local media rounds:

A homeless man was arrested by police Tuesday night as he tried to steal a sheep from the Little Rock Zoo. Security guards saw the man, Grady Allen Carnahan, dragging a trash can through the zoo. Inside, they found the sheep, which he initially said was sick and he was trying to take it to the doctor.

Now here's where it really gets...b-a-a-d: Says zoo curator Mark Shaw, "Apparently according to reports and stuff - one it almost sounded like he thought the sheep was his mother - and then another report sounded like it was his grandmother's sheep and it was sick and he was I don't know - it doesn't make any sense."

Writes the Democrat-Gazette: Police reports said that during questioning, Carnahan claimed a family attachment to the purloined sheep. “Carnahan advised that [the] sheep was his mother, named Dolly,” Little Rock police officer Christopher Johannes wrote in an arrest report, adding that the suspect made other “odd statements.”

The sheep was returned to the zoo and reportedly doing fine.

Sheep Taken Out Like Trash [KTHV]
Man Has Eyes on Zoo's Ewe [Ark Democrat-Gazette]
Sheep Rustler [Ark Times blog]

A-ha! Now the Shoe is on the Other Hand!

Howard Kurtz in Media Notes sums up exactly what I find humorously interesting about this whole "Arab-company-taking-over-U.S.-ports" firestorm.

He writes before his daily media roundup, "For more than four years, whenever opponents have tried to make complicated arguments about national security -- why we need a Patriot Act that doesn't obliterate civil liberties, why we need electronic surveillance that isn't illegal, why we need to support the troops but change their mission in Iraq -- the Bush administration has had a ready response:

9/11.

War on terror.

Safety of the American people.

"It's been very difficult for Democrats to trump such gut-level appeals with two- or three-step explanations about why of course they support stamping out terrorists but maybe looking into everyone's library records (or fill in the blank) isn't the best way to achieve that.
Now the rhetorical shoe is on the other foot. Now Bush has got the complicated argument to make on the Dubai port deal while critics -- of both parties, amazingly enough--say putting a company from the Arab country that was home to two of the hijackers in charge of American ports is an invitation to disaster."

At first, I had the same gut-level concerns, but I actually came around to seeing there's no way we can't allow this deal to happen - as long as those responsible for reviewing these sort of things have made sure all the "i"s are dotted and everything is in order.

Can't promote capitalism abroad when you selectively practice it at home. This was compounded as I read that we already have ports operated by companies from other countries, including China (with whom we have butted heads a few times diplomatically). In addition, port security would be handled by the US Coast Guard and US Customs, no matter who owns the port. And most likely American unionized dockworkers would be doing the day-t0-day heavy lifting.

I understand the concerns, but in this case I agree with the deal going through - although the Bushies have mangled this politically with word of secret negotiations and the president out of the loop until just a few days ago.

Turning the Tables [Wash Post]
Bush Says Ports Deal Not a Threat to Security [AP via Yahoo!]

Spreading 'Democracy'

LT tipped me to some leaked tracks off the looooooooooong anticipated Guns n' Roses album "Chinese Democracy" thanks to the site Stereogum (though it appears the links have since expired).

UPDATE: ("Forget Lies - Gn'R Leaks!" [E!Online])

I downloaded and gave "IRS," "T.W.A.T. (There Was A Time)" and "The Blues" and few listens. The mix wasn't the greatest. Definitely not the final product. It was OK.

I kept thinking THIS is the result of 9 years of work???? IRS was my favorite of the three. Had some good melodies and some classic Axl Rose screeching. But the guitar work was unremarkable (makes you realize how big a role Slash and Izzy played in shaping the GnR sound). The songs were OK but not memorable. Certainly no Appetite. Sounded more like left over Illusions.

He should just go ahead and put the whole thing out and be done with it. Take his critical lumps then go back to the studio and prepare his proper "comeback." I can hear it now: "The Emancipation of Axl."

New Guns n' Roses - Chinese Democracy [Stereogum]

Earlier:
GnR: Get In the Ring [Jonworld]

'Tallica Taps Rubin

To me this is promising. Billboard is saying Metallica is turning to Rick Rubin to produce their next album. Rubin has been behind the knobs for some great albums. I liked his work with the Chili Peppers (Blood Sugar Sex Magik), Run DMC (Raising Hell) and The Cult (Electric).

I thought Bob Rock did some great work with Metallica, probably still about my favorite band (along with the Foos and The Beatles and Green Day and Def Leppard and Queen). But I think they were starting to tread water musically with him. Get too comfortable. We need an uncomfortable Metallica.

Rick Rubin Producing New Metallica Album [Billboard]
Studio Update [Metallica.com]

Seven for Sunday, 2/19

Still running a day or two behind. I promise I wrote the play list results down on Sunday - I just haven't posted until now.

My top 7 songs, based on my iPod play count (last week):

1. Perfect Situation - Weezer - Every time I think this song might go down the list, it gets stuck in my head again. It could soon battle the Foo's DOA for the all time #1 on my young list. (1)
2. Lights and Sounds - Yellowcard - So I finally saw the video for this song. They have a violinist? (3)
3. No Way Back - Foo Fighters - Perhaps knowing their all-time #1 record is in jeopardy... (-)
4. Wings of a Butterfly - H.I.M. (2)
5. Foxy, Foxy - Rob Zombie - New Rob Zombie, much like old Rob Zombie. Still a fun listen. So many of his songs, much like this Zombie stomp, would seem to translate well at a strip club - kind of steamy and naughty with a driving beat.
6. Winter's Wolves - The Sword - Had been reading about this band - who sound like a Sabbath throwback (not that there's anything wrong with that). Finally got to hear some for myself. They rock. And you gotta love a song with wolves howling in it. (-)
7. Dare - Gorillaz - Didn't have the power that Feel Good Inc. had but still a good tune. (4)

Five for Friday, Vol. 23: A Bigger Bang Edition

OK, I know running late seems to be a habit of late in Jonworld. But life should be less hectic now that one big work project is over.

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences imploded its old student dorm on a frigid Sunday morning and I was there, on the roof of a nearby building, escorting photographers. Here are five things I thought about:

1. That was cool to see and amazing they could do that with all those other buildings around it. And loud too.
2. See that building with the symbol on it at the right of the video view? That's the Arkansas Cancer Research Center. I was on the roof. Great view of the implosion.
3. Boy was it cold. Temps in the teens.
4. It was neat hearing the stories of those who lived in the dorm over the years.
5. Now the fun begins. Watching UAMS build a hospital expansion and other projects that will transform the campus and the future of health care in Arkansas.

Sympathy for the Devil

My friend Paul, taking the role of Devil's Advocate, raises some interesting criticisms in reaction to a blog post on the Cheney shooting incident.

He writes: "I honestly believe that part of the hysteria surrounding this issue is cultural. I'm not sure the New York and Beltway media can come to grips with guns and hunting as a sport."

He goes on with a fictional "What if Clinton had tripped..." First, tripping someone and shooting someone are drastically different situations.

I think you're buying into the Cheney-vision view on this, whether or not you are just playing the Devil's Advocate as you say. I don't think this is some cultural disconnect with the gun culture. I've heard criticisms from folk in all corners about how the incident was handled. I, and I think most rational people, know this was an absolute accident. I think most people know guns are dangerous and quite a few - including me - know that guns and hunting for sport are popular and legitimate. I haven't read any bashing of gun laws or "this is proof that more gun control is needed."

Paul goes on to write: "I re-read the 1st Amendment and it doesn't say anything about the press's right to know. I think this idea that we have to know everything, right now, before the facts are sorted out..."

Once again, you're following the Cheney line of thinking, that this is all about the press. It's that New York/White House media being jealous that the Corpus Christi paper got the scoop.

Look no further than the right-leaning editorial page of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette to make my point:

"...he's sticking with his story about its being perfectly proper to wait till the next day to let the country know that the vice president of the United States had shot a friend in a hunting accident. Even though presidential counselor Dan Bartlett and the president's press secretary, Scott McClellan, both advised him to get the story out - widely - as soon as he could. But the best advice is of no use if one doesn't take it."

Much comparison has been made to the president's early pretzel-choking accident and how he promptly walked out to meet reporters and answered questions. The story went away relatively quickly. This was no pretzel choking. This was an accidental shooting.

The D-G editorial notes that the veep claimed it was proper and appropriate that his hostess made the call to the local paper with the "accurate" story. But it wasn't. She told reporters later when asked that no alcohol was involved at all. Then later we find out Cheney told police he had had a beer before the hunt. "A troubling little detail. No big deal, but big enough to raise an eyebrow here or there." (Especially given the delay and method of releasing the news.)

I close this long post with more from the D-G:
"Leaders who are trusted tend to be those who trust the rest of us to be fair. Which is why the best way to manage the news may be not to manage it at all - just tell it the way it happened. And don't wait till you've got all your quails in a row with Fox News.
"Candor can be a virtue in a politician. In a society in which trust has eroded, it can be an especially valuable character trait."

I think that many looked at the incident and considered it in the prism of what the knew about the vice president. How he fought to keep secret his meetings with oil companies when fashioning an energy plan. How he, Mr. "We'll-be-welcomed-as-liberators" and "the-insurgency-is-in-its-final-throes" has positioned himself on Iraq and warrantless spying on American citizens.

They considered his F-U to a Decratic senator on the floor of the U.S. Senate. They considered he may have authorized his chief of staff to leak the identity of an undercover CIA agent as political payback. They considered this record and may well have thought when hearing of his bobbing and weaving on the hunting accident - to borrow a phrase - "There he goes again."

You Can Think That All You Want, But... [Jonworld]
Dick Cheney's Problem [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette]

"Holy Terror Batman!"

Wonkette tips us to plans by famed Batman writer Frank Miller, who breathed new life into the Batman franchise in the 1980s with the graphic novel "The Dark Knight Returns," to have Gotham's Caped Crusader going after Osama bin Laden in an upcoming comic.

Says the story: Miller, who has already inked his way through 120 pages of the 200-page opus, told a recent comic book convention that the novel was an unashamed "piece of propaganda" in which Batman "kicks Al-Qaeda's ass."

He adds that use of comic book heroes for propaganda had an honorable tradition.
"Superman punched out Hitler. So did Captain America. That's one of the things they're there for," he said. "These are our folk heroes. It just seems silly to chase around the Riddler when you've got Al-Qaeda out there."

No release date has been set for the new comic.

Let Us Know When the Justice League Secure Those Iraqi Pipelines [Wonkette]
'Holy Terror, Batman!,' Superhero Takes on Al-Queda [AFP via Yahoo!]

You Can Think That All You Want, But...

So the vice president finally deemed us worthy of a report on his shooting accident. Sure, he chose Republican-friendly Fox News as his venue, but hey, he's finally talking right?? He said all the right apology things, actually took full responsibility for the accident...then proceeded to defend his delaying any announcement of the news...of having the ranch owner call the local paper to get the "accurate" story out (then he says one of the reasons he finally spoke yesterday was to clear up some inaccuracies...that the victim had any responsibility for getting shot).

The Wash Post quotes the interview: The vice president rejected critics, including Republicans, who said the incident should have been announced promptly by the White House, rather than by the ranch owner calling a friendly local reporter the next day. "I thought that made good sense because you get as accurate a story as possible from somebody who knew and understood hunting," he said, adding: "And I thought that was the right call. . . . I still do."

Well, you can think that all you want, but you're still wrong, Mr. Vice President.

Then I see Mary Matlin on the Today Show this morning bobbing and weaving and trying to defend. Oh, calling your press secretary immediately to have them announce the news is the "conventional way," she says, and critics - like Bush I mouthpiece Marlin Fitzwater who says that should've been done - were right, she said. But the vice president was right, too, she added.

And Cheney saying the media chatter was merely jealousy by the White House press for losing the story to the Corpus Christi paper. That's a steaming load, I think. He concedes the newsworthiness of the story, that the Vice President of the United States shoots someone. But then says he was right in trying to downplay the story by having a minor player in the whole thing call only the local paper...delaying that call and any other info about the incident by almost a day. Then steadfastly not addressing it personally for four days.

If nothing else it was a PR snafu for noting getting in front of the story because the delay gave critics and comedians more time to sharpen their knives and harp on the silence in a vaccuum.

Writes Jacob Weisberg in Slate: "...American tradition, however, suggests that high officials are obliged to inform the public not just about the rare violent encounter, but also about their financial interests and the condition of their health, and above all about the workings of the government."

I think Nick Anderson's cartoon above from the Houston Chronicle hits the bullseye.

Cheney Says Shooting Was His Fault [Wash Post]
Fitzwater, Former WH Press Secretary, Blasts Handling of Cheney Shooting [Editor & Publisher]
Smoking Gun: Dick Cheney's Assault on the Public's Right to Know [Slate]

Yeah, It's the Same, Only Different

The gnashing of teeth in the media increases over the vice president's reticence in releasing information his accidental shooting of a hunting buddy and the withholding of any announcement of the incident - even to his boss - by a day. The Drudge Report seems to want us to draw a parallel to Democratic leader Henry Reid withholding announcement of a stroke. The headlines are placed next to each other - in true passive aggressive Drudgian fashion:

Man Shot by Cheney to Remain Hospitalized...

NYT: CHENEY FACES GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION IF MAN DIES...

FLASHBACK: Dem Leader Reid Hid Stroke News For 3 days...

Yeah, holding back on releasing info on a shooting is the same as not talking about a stroke.

Yeah, right.

My buddy LT was thinking of me this Valentine's Day when he sent a link to these Star Wars Valentines...similar funny stuff to the SVU Valentines.

Star Wars Valentines [Something Awful]
You Have the Right to be My Valentine [Jonworld]

Uncle Owen, RIP

A member of the Star Wars universe has died. Actor Phil Brown, who played Luke's Uncle Owen in Episode IV died last week. He was 89.

You remember the scene, when Luke storms off after his uncle won't let him leave Tatooine.
Aunt Beru: "Owen, he can't stay here forever, most of his friends have gone. It means so much to him.
Uncle Owen: "Well, I'll make it up to him next year, I promise."
Beru: "Luke's just not a farmer, Owen. He has too much of his father in him."
Owen: "That's what I'm afraid of." [foreshadowing future events...and Luke's lineage]

Brown once told the Baltimore Sun: It was "a very small part by comparison to the roles I had previously played. To be quite frank, I never gave it a thought again."

'Star Wars' Uncle Phil Brown Dies at 89 [AP via Yahoo!]

Shoot Me Again, I Ain't Dead Yet

Oh, to be sooo busy yet want to post something so badly... But I had to sit on my mouse (eek!) yesterday as the world turned its wit and wisdom to the vice president's hunting expedition (where he accidentally shot and wounded a hunting buddy). I even hit on a funny word play with an Aerosmith song, "Cheney's Got a Gun" only to find the blogosphere was waaaaaaaay ahead of me. Nice illustration here courtesy of Wonkette.

Among my favorite lines:
"But here is the sad part — before the trip Donald Rumsfeld had denied the guy's request for body armor." - Letterman
"You can understand why this lawyer fellow let his guard down, because if you're out hunting with a politician, you think, 'If I'm going to get it, it's going to be in the back.' " - Ferguson
"Now, this story certainly has its humorous aspects. ... But it also raises a serious issue, one which I feel very strongly about. ... moms, dads, if you're watching right now, I can't emphasize this enough: Do not let your kids go on hunting trips with the vice president. I don't care what kind of lucrative contracts they're trying to land, or energy regulations they're trying to get lifted — it's just not worth it." - Stewart

A sampling of some good stuff I saw:
White House Deferred to Cheney on Shooting [Wash Post]
Comedians: 'Cheney's Got a Gun' [WXIA-TV Atlanta]
Cheney's Bad Aim: Shoot First; Don't Answer Questions Later [Slate]
Cheney Cited For Breaking Hunting Law [AP via Yahoo!]
White House Briefing: The Cheney Shooting [Wonkette]
Dick Cheney Finally Takes A Stand Against Trial Lawyers [Wonkette]
Tool of the Week (Your eyes...as in look before you shoot) [Middle Class Tool]

Seven for Sunday, 2/12

OK, I'm changing my date format. If I'm going to call it Seven for Sunday, I should actually end the music count on Sunday. So that's what I'm doing. We're at 3 weeks for this week's No. 1...could perhaps challenge the Foo's DOA for the all-time No. 1 crown.


The top 7 songs played on my iPod, based on the playcount (last week):
1. Perfect Situation - Weezer - It's especially cute to hear my 3 yr old daughter singing along to the chorus. (1)
2. Wings of a Butterfly - H.I.M. - Cool song. (-)
3. Lights and Sounds - Yellowcard (2)
4. Dare - Gorillaz (3)
5. Animals - Nickelback (7)
6. Fall Behind Me - The Donnas - OK, been hearing it on that car commercial and got stuck in my brain and had to listen to it. (-)
7. Every Day is Exactly The Same - Nine Inch Nails (6)

Five for Friday, Vol. 22: Favorite Harrison Ford Movies*

OK, Harrison Ford has been making the rounds this week to promote his latest movie. It makes me all nostalgic for some past movies - especially since a few favorites have been on cable lately. So, here are my favorite Harrison Ford *non Star Wars, non Indiana Jones movies (otherwise the list would come entirely from those two sagas).

1. The Fugitive - This was a tough choice with number 2. But in the end, he created a believable Dr. Kimble that didn't seem like Han Solo or Indiana (which is the tough part in ant Ford movie since those were iconic roles). This is a solidly entertaining chase flick, made more so by Ford and Oscar-winner Tommy Lee Jones.
2. Blade Runner - This is a cult classic since it was memorable for its vision of the future but was too dark to be a box office hit (at the time). Ford is the cop and again, successful in not being a Han Solo.
3. Regarding Henry - Touching role against type as Ford is a bad lawyer who suffers brain damage after being shot in the head. I know its easy to say that great actors always seem to play mentally disabled characters when they want to go against type. But this was well done because his character didn't start the movie in this condition. Should've been an Oscar nomination.
4. Clear and Present Danger - Ford plays Jack Ryan in this, his second appearance as the CIA superman, now being the honorable, honest man amongst dishonorable, dishonest politicians (and drug lords). The alley ambush of Ford's convoy is a well done action sequence.
5. What Lies Beneath - Again, Ford goes against his good guy, Everyman type as in the ending twist, it is revealed he's the bad guy. He is creepy bad as in any good horror/thriller, he gets what he deserves in the end.

Honorable Mention:
Presumed Innocent
Mosquito Coast
Witness

To The Stores! To The Stores!

There are snow flurries in Little Rock! See this snapshot of the real time Web cam view of the UAMS Student Dormitory (now being readied for a Feb. 19 implosion). Those white flecks are snow, baby. And it looks to be sticking on the grass!!!

Quick, we need bread and milk. We MIGHT get one whole inch of the "white stuff."

The Ritual Buying of the Bread [Jonworld]

But Does The Rabbit Get a Signing Bonus?

The Associated Press tips us to a side agreement that's part of the deal announced this week for veteran sports announcer Al "Do You Believe In Miracles?!" Michaels to move from ABC where he was chiefly known as the voice of Monday Night Football over to NBC where he will handle the play-by-play for NBC's Sunday night NFL games that will air starting next season.

The AP reports thast as part of the deal, NBC, which also owns Universal Studios, is handing over rights to Disney, which owns ABC, for the first animated character created by Walt Disney and the forerunner to Mickey Mouse.

His name was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, and the cheeky bunny was created in 1927 by Disney and his chief creative partner, Ub Iwerks, at the request of Carl Laemmle, the founder of Universal Pictures.

Michaels takes it all in stride, saying, "Oswald is definitely worth more than a fourth-round draft choice," Michaels said, referring to what the Kansas City Chiefs gave the New York Jets as compensation for releasing coach Herm Edwards from his contract. "I'm going to be a trivia answer someday."

This little story is more interesting to me since I'm currently reading "The Big Picture: Money and Power in Hollywood" by Edward Jay Epstein. This fascinating read charts the evolution of the movie business from the early pre-TV days of the studio system when most of the countries population went to the movies on a weekly basis, and most of the films targetted adult audiences, to today's business where most of the films seek to appeal to teens and pre-teens who spend money on merchandise and will see a movie multiple times.

I just finished reading about Disney's early days, as he is given a lot of credit for this evolution, and his work with Iwerks. Oh, and no sarcastic responses about my previous post being about Han Solo as I read a book that in part decries the system that begat Star Wars, Indiana Jones, et al.

Michaels Traded for Cartoon Rabbit [AP via Yahoo!]

Still The Man

A run-of-the-mill thriller (getting horrible reviews) gets a lot more attention when it stars Han Solo. I'm mildly interested (but becoming less and less after a consensus of "bad movie" from the reviews) in Firewall...but star Harrison Ford, the onetime Corellian smuggler and whipsmart archeologist, is ever cool, as CNN finds him while promoting his new movie (he also appeared this week with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show).

Ford tells CNN of Indy 4 still sounding like it's stuck in neutral: "Well, it hasn't been announced yet," he says. "And the script goes through a process: George [Lucas] is the initiator, then it goes to Steven [Spielberg], and then Steven and I work together. ... But we're hoping it will get up and going very soon."

Harrison Ford and the Movie Machine [CNN]

Don't Bet On It

The hockey world is all a tither over a gambling scandal and it has ensnared some big names - The Great One's wife - Mrs. Wayne "I was in that awful Footloose-esque movie 'American Anthem' that tried to make gymnastics hip back in the 1980s" Gretzky.

Our Vegas-based friend Murray, who dabbles more than a little (and usually successfully I might add), is non-plussed by all the attention. "I think 90% of the US adults have made a sports bet in their life. If it's a million dollars or a hundred dollars, loser buys the beers, March Madness brackets: it's all relative the amount you bet. Should we be shocked that people who have more money bet more money?"

LT points out the "spirited" defense that Mr. Wayne Gretzky provided for his wife. "First of all, my wife is my best friend," Gretzky said. "My love for her is deeper than anything. The reality is, I'm not involved, I wasn't involved and I'm not going to be involved. Am I concerned for both of them? Sure there's concern from me. I'm more worried about them than me. ... I'm trying to figure it all out."

Says LT: "Now there's a man in love, one we can tell truly trusts his wife and will defend her to the death. Or at least until he finds out how much she lost betting the Seahawks on Sunday."

NHL Grants Coach Indefinite Leave [AP via Yahoo!]
Operation Slapshot [Murray's View on Sports]
What The H-E-Double Hockeysticks?! [Dashboard]

A Lot of Hot Air

This week TIME talks about scientists complaining Bush appointees with no scientific background our overruling or stifling their suggestions, recommendations, reports, etc. "Last week, in his State of the Union address, the President pointed to scientific research as the way to 'lead the world in opportunity and innovation for decades to come.' Yet growing numbers of researchers, both in and out of government, say their findings--on pollution, climate change, reproductive health, stem-cell research and other areas in which science often finds itself at odds with religious, ideological or corporate interests--are being discounted, distorted or quashed by Bush Administration appointees."

This story comes in a TIME cover package about the state of scientific research in the United States, titled "Are We Losing Our Edge?". Says the subhead: "The U.S. still leads the world in scientific innovation. But years of declining investment and fresh competition from abroad threaten to end our supremacy."

Meanwhile, on the controversial science front, environmentals are getting growing support from an unlikely source - evangelical Christians - on the subject of global warming. The NY Times reports that 86 evangelicals, including pastor Rick Warren - author of the popular tome "The Purpose-Driven Life" - signed a statement backing an initiative to fight global warming, saying "millions of people could die in this century because of climate change, most of them our poorest global neighbors."

And finally, on the topic of global warming...and referring back to the first graf - a young presidential appointee at NASA "who told public affairs workers to limit reporters' access to a top climate scientist and told a Web designer to add the word 'theory' at every mention of the Big Bang, resigned." The resignation came, the report says, the same day that Texas A&M University confirmed that he did not graduate from there, as his résumé on file at the agency asserted.

The Political Science Test [TIME]
Are We Losing Our Edge [TIME]
Evangelical Leaders Join Global Warming Initiative [NY Times]
A Young Bush Appointee Resigns His Post at NASA [NY Times]

What He Said, AKA So Much to Blog, So Little Time

I wish I had all the time LT does. Seems work and family demands keep getting in the way of satisfying my blog jones.

That was originally my idea behind daily downloads...actually an idea ripped from several other blogs: A chance to get a lot posted in a short amount of time. But unlike Styx, I do not have Too Much Time on My Hands.

So then, while I'm up to my eye balls in work, I steal a couple of minutes to look around the Internets and what do I find...lots of great posts from LT that I wish I had the time to comment on. I can only point you in his direction.

LT notices what I did - and others about Sunday's Super Bowl. The officiating stunk. Unless you were a Stealer...I mean Steeler.

You've got to love a post that includes the sentence, "Nature abhors a sex-drink vacuum."

And finally, LT tells about Ricky Gervais, the Brit star and creator of TV's "The Office," which has been Americanized of late and has recently been added to my DVR schedule (still think Earl is the funniest on TV right now, though). Anyway, seems Gervais will pen another episode of the American version of the show. Something to look forward to...kind of like tonight's new episode of Lost. Too bad I'll be watching it tomorrow - since I'll be watching the Razorbacks try not to blow another potential victory tonight while Lost is tape delayed until 12:35 a.m.

Seven for Sunday, 2/4

Well, iTunes led me this week to download some old covers by a band from back in the day - Germany's Helloween.

1. Perfect Situation - Weezer - Great song. (1)
2. Lights and Sounds - Yellowcard - Still rockin' (2)
3. Dare - Gorillaz (3)
4. Lay All Your Love On Me - Helloween - I had dug this band back in the late 80s/early 90s metal years but never bought an album. This crackling take on an ABBA tune is from a 1999 album of covers. (-)
5. All Your Lovin' - Helloween - An OK metal version of The Beatles classic. But I give them credit for trying. (-)
6. Every Day Is Exactly The Same - Nine Inch Nails (6)
7. Animals - Nickelback (5)

Been Away So Long I Hardly Knew the Place...

Work, home, the Super Bowl and various other demands kept me away from blogging the last few days. I had planned a Friday five list on Super Bowl memories but can't remember my list now. ;) So I think I'm just going to bag it all and make a fresh start.

Thought the Seahawks were going to win last night going in. But they made too many mistakes and didn't make the plays down the stretch. I thought the interference call on the TD pass in the 1st Q was tickey-tack and not Super Bowl worthy. I still question whether Big Ben scored. But I don't hate the Steelers as I did in the late 70s when they were the Cowboys nemesis. So Cowher and Co. winning didn't bend me out of shape.

You Have the Right to be My Valentine

Someone forward-thinking Law & Order fan has come up with some L&O: Special Victims Unit Valentine cards. Quirky and clever. Thanks to Defamer.

Your valentine "might be mildly put off when they tear open the envelope and first catch a glimpse of the stars of the sex crime-specific detective series staring back out at them, but in the end, who could deny Richard Belzer’s adorable mug, especially when paired with his playful salutation: 'HEY CUTIE!'"

Say, LT is a L&O fan. He's gotta get these.

Love & Order [Defamer]