[scifinoir2] OT: Just how stupid are Americans?

[g123curious]

FYI:

http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/08/just-how-stupid-are-
americans.html

George

[scifinoir2] Re: Michael Moorcock fondly remembers Arthur C Clarke

[g123curious]

FYI:

http://indexed.blogspot.com/2008/03/he-knew-science-fiction-didnt-
have-to.html

George
http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "brent wodehouse" 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2267284,00.html
> 
> Brave new worlds
> 
> Michael Moorcock fondly remembers his friend Arthur C Clarke, the 
Ego,
> visionary and gentleman
> 
> Saturday March 22, 2008
> 
> The Guardian
> 
> 
> I was a very young journalist of 17 or so when Arthur C Clarke 
invited me to celebrate his birthday before he returned to Ceylon, 
where he had recently settled. The party was scheduled for November 5 
in north London. Flattered to be asked, I gave up plans to get drunk 
and do exciting things with explosives and set off into the terra 
incognita of Tottenham where Arthur's brother Fred lived a modest and 
respectable life. A bottle in my pocket, I knocked at the door to be 
greeted by Fred. "It's round the corner," he said. "I'm just off 
there myself." He turned a thoughtful eye on the bottle. "I don't 
think you'll need that."

[scifinoir2] OT: house stealing - the latest identity theft scam

[g123curious]

FYI… for current property owners:

http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/03/house-stealing.html

Even though April Fool's Day is near, this is no joke.

George
http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com

[scifinoir2] Re: "New Amsterdam" Thoughts

[g123curious]

Eactly! What made Babylon 5 so great, was its tight story arc created 
and implemented within 5 years by JMS. I get the feeling that both 
Lost and Heroes are going on... and on... and on... and on... To me, 
that does not feel like sincere storytelling.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> i feel that for "Lost" I lost interest and quite watching last year 
because I couldn't take it when they said the slowly-unfolding-
mystery would go until 2010! That's just stretching out a myster that 
frankly should have been told in three years. But I don't see that 
with "Heroes", it was pretty tight in the first season
> 
> -- Original message -- 
> From: "g123curious" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
> Why do I like New Amsterdam better than both Lost and Heroes? 
> Frankly, both Lost and Heroes remind me of the daily soaps: General 
> Hospital, As The World Turns, etc. Nothing ever really gets 
resolved. 
> It's like one long fake-out to me. And to keep viewers interested, 
> the plots get ever more fantastical... unbelieveable. With Google 
> Maps and Streetview, no downed airplane would ever be "lost" for so 
> long. So, it isn't so much that New Amsterdam is so great. Rather, 
> the others are so boring.
> 
> So much on TV these days is so boring... like all of the reality TV 
> shows are so boring and repetitive... I watch less and less TV and 
> blog more.
> 
> George
> 
> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, KeithBJohnson@ wrote:
> >
> > Wow, while I've lost interest in "Lost" (can't put more time into 
> this mystery show that has frequent repeats, half-seasons, and 
> dragging waaay too many seasons), I like "Heroes" a great deal. I 
> haven't seen anything in "New Amsterdam" to make it better 
> than "Heroes" when the latter's at its best. They're very different 
> shows, too. Why do you like it so much better?
> > 
> 
> 
>  
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

[scifinoir2] Presidential candidates as D&D characters

[g123curious]

FYI:

http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/geekend/?p=1210&tag=nl.e138

Enjoy!

George
http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com

[scifinoir2] Re: "New Amsterdam" Thoughts

[g123curious]

Why do I like New Amsterdam better than both Lost and Heroes? 
Frankly, both Lost and Heroes remind me of the daily soaps: General 
Hospital, As The World Turns, etc. Nothing ever really gets resolved. 
It's like one long fake-out to me. And to keep viewers interested, 
the plots get ever more fantastical... unbelieveable. With Google 
Maps and Streetview, no downed airplane would ever be "lost" for so 
long. So, it isn't so much that New Amsterdam is so great. Rather, 
the others are so boring.

So much on TV these days is so boring... like all of the reality TV 
shows are so boring and repetitive... I watch less and less TV and 
blog more.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> Wow, while I've lost interest in "Lost" (can't put more time into 
this mystery show that has frequent repeats, half-seasons, and 
dragging waaay too many seasons), I like "Heroes" a great deal. I 
haven't seen anything in "New Amsterdam" to make it better 
than "Heroes" when the latter's at its best. They're very different 
shows, too. Why do you like it so much better?
> 

[scifinoir2] Re: "New Amsterdam" Thoughts

[g123curious]

I like the series a lot. My wife and I watch it regularly on TV, not 
via the web. New Amsterdam is far more interesting than both Lost and 
Heroes.

George
http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> Anyone catch the series premiere tonight? I wasn't really that 
impressed. The lead actor --who looks like some hyrid of Aaron 
Eckhart and Dennis Leary--didn't make that much of an impression on 
me. I guess he's got that brooding, soul-weary thing all immortals 
have, but it wasn't pulled off that well. I didn't get the angst or 
sometimes melancholy that say, Duncan McLeod or Angel conveyed in 
their characters. Also, unlike those two immortals, I didn't feel 
that the immortality angle was mixed in very well with the plot of 
the show. It really came off as two disparate stories meshed 
together: a spare tale of a dude who's lived for centuries and sees 
life in ways we don't, and a fairly standard procedural cop show. 
Neither half was scintillating, and the two together weren't that 
special either. "Highlander" in its first season was mythic and 
magical. "Angel" was exciting and thrilling. "New Amsterdam" was just 
kinda there. Anyone remember that short-lived show "Blind justice", 
about
>  the blind cop? For some reason it reminded me of that. The cop is 
supposed to be brilliant and quirky, kinda nuts at time, gruff, 
unlikeable. He's timed with a young lady cop who refuses to let him 
cow her. Sound familiar? Sounds like a ripoff of "Life", with 
immortality replacing incarceration as the cause for the star's 
strangeness. But it wasn't as catchy as that show either.
> 
> And I have to say, i outright laughed and groaned at the genesis of 
his immortality: a reward from Natives for him risking his life to 
stop a fellow soldier from killing Native women. One, the Natives 
were so cliched and stereotyped they made me groan. The magic 
ceremony (complete with mystic smoke),that typical movie Native music 
with pipes--brother. And I always get irritated at plots where native 
peoples have this incredibly powerful magic, but instead of using it 
on one of their own, grant it to some repentent European dude. The 
lady who gave him his immortality gives some dopey speech about him 
never dying until he meets his "one true love", and breathes some 
magic smoke on him. She was about as cliched as the lady back in the 
day who did the adver for Mazola Oil ("you call it 'corn', we call 
it 'maize'").  And given what was going on, she might as well have 
said, "Even though you came as part of a raiding party and meant to 
kill our men, you are a man of honor for not killing
>  our women. so we'll put our best mojo on you, cool European guy, 
instead of wasting it on one of our noble warriors". That really made 
me groan.
> 
> I've been wrong before about shows, and one ep doesn't always tell 
the story. So I'll give it three or four eps and see what happens.
> 
> Anyone else?
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

[scifinoir2] Re: Movie & TV writers have written scripts on spec during strike

[g123curious]

Welcome to American business practices vs. consumers and unions in 
2008, which can be summed up in two words:
INTIMIDATION
RETALIATION

George
http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella (formerly 
Tracey L. Minor)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> It's not surprising -- as has become clear in the giddy 
productivity and oceanic email volume of these post-strike days -- 
that many writers turn out to have written scripts on spec over the 
past few months. Who can blame a harried artist for seizing the rare 
opportunity of 100 days in a row to put pen to paper and finger to 
keyboard without the threat of interruption by pedantic studio notes 
calls, shrill showrunner assignments or agent-mandated meetings? It 
comes as something of a shock, however, to discover that while the 
creative half of our business was quietly typing their way ahead of 
the game, the executive half turns out to have been doing the same 
thing. Brazenly defying the mandate of "pencils down," executives 
have apparently written on spec hundreds of emails, letters and faxes 
that are now being proudly submitted to writers across Hollywood. 
Apparently these documents are pre-prepared rejections of the scripts 
and screenplays that writers have sent, are preparing to send -- and 
in some cases, are vaguely considering sending sometime in the future.
> 
>   "I was pretty shocked to get the email [from Paramount]," says a 
prominent screenwriter who asked to remain anonymous. "At first I was 
impressed that the studio was reaching out to me so quickly after the 
WGA vote. But then I read the email, and it was all about how he 
didn't see a way to take on my screenplay, but thanks for sending it -
- 'great hook, good dialogue' -- and how he hopes to work together in 
the future. The thing is: I didn't have a script yet. I was working 
on one, sure; but I would come home every day from all that marching 
and -- I don't know -- my back hurt, and my legs were kind of 
exhausted, and my wife would get on me about some playdate for our 
daughter and before you know it the afternoon was shot. I meant to; I 
just didn't get it done. And now, frankly, there doesn't seem to be 
much of a point."
> 
> A prominent television comedy showrunner reports receipt of a 
similar message, this one a letter from ABC Studios after her Disney-
based email account had been disabled with the suspension of her 
overall deal. "I have to say: it was pretty convincing," the scribe 
admits. "Apparently they liked my spec pilot, but didn't see a way to 
get it on ABC's air, given the amount of reality programming 
occupying primetime slots and given the general 'uphill battle' that 
comedy faces. And apparently my concept and characters were 
not 'female-friendly' enough for their demo. I only wish I knew the 
story or the characters they were referring to," she considers. "I 
could have made them, I don't know, sisters." Then -- against all 
odds -- hope enters her voice: "Maybe I will."
> 
> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nicholas-weinstock/spec-and-spam-
hollywood-_b_86949.html
>

[scifinoir2] Which sci-fi presidential ticket gets your vote?

[g123curious]

FYI:

http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/geekend/?p=1156

George
http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com

[scifinoir2] CIA monitors YouTube for intelligence

[g123curious]

FYI:

http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/02/cia-monitors-yo.html

No joke.

George
http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com

[scifinoir2] Re: OT: Romney Rumoured to Be Suspending Campaign

[g123curious]

I live and work in Massachusetts. Romney will not be missed. On the 
way out, don't let the door hit him where the sun don't shine.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> I'll be darned! this is the most interesting election year I can 
remember since, well, the last couple of election years! Good 
riddance, I say: spend some time looking at how he *used* to feel on 
issues, and how he feels now, and you talk bout an opportunistic flip-
flopper! I'm also amazed at how Limbaugh and the others of his ilk 
have so embraced this Mormon ( who in other times they'd be attacking 
as not a real Christian, no doubt), just because they hate 
the "liberal" McCain!  
> More interesting is the reaction of many of my co-workers, who are 
perfect barometers for the ultra-conservative, braindead segment of 
society. They're all but in morning. Oh, it might be a riot up in 
here if Obama or Hillary wins come Election Day!
> 
> **
> 
> CNN) -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will suspend his bid 
for the Republican presidential nomination, GOP sources tell CNN.
> Romney had won 270 delegates in through the Super Tuesday contests, 
compared with front-runner John McCain's 680.

[scifinoir2] OT: For my fashionista friends

[g123curious]

(Yeah, I know this is not about sci-fi stuff.)

FYI:

http://www.discoveringradiance.com/

This site just launched this week. You have the opportunity to interact 
with one or several designers who are designing clothes based on 3 
Downy scents. You can design and submit a mood board. If a designer 
picks your mood board, you win a trip to the People's Choice Awards. 
See the site for details and other prizes.

George
http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com

[scifinoir2] It's nice when your work is in a Super Bowl ad

[g123curious]

(Yeah, I know this is OT and not about sci-fi.)

You can view all Super Bowl ads at:
http://www.myspace.com/superbowlads

During the 2nd quarter, the Tide To Go commercial aired. At my day job 
(www.digitas.com) I worked on the web site mentioned in the ad:
http://www.mytalkingstain.com/

Be the stain! (smile)

George

[scifinoir2] Re: [OT] Comcast's new rates -- say wha?

[g123curious]

Here in Massachusetts, Comcast's Basic Service is $8.95 per month. 
It's commonly referred to as "antenna service"... the stations you'd 
get with an antenna plus the home shopping channels. While I don't 
get the SciFi channel, ESPN, C-SPAN channels, TBS, premium cable 
channels like HBO, I don't pay those sky-high cable rates either.

I am very happy with this Basic Service because it also includes HD 
channels... at no extra charge. I was pleasantly surprised when I 
hooked up my new Sony Bravia 32-inch HDTV a couple months ago to 
watch the Patriots make their historic football run. I found several 
HD stations alongside the low-def stations. Examples:
channel 4 is CBS in low-def
channel 4.1 is CBS in HD

channel 5 is ABC in low-def
channel 5.1 is ABC in HD

channel 7 is NBC in low-def
channel 7.1 is NBC in HD
channel 7.2 is NBC's weather channel in HD

channel 2 is PBS in low def
channel 2.2 is PBS in HD

channel 44 is PBS in low def
channel 44.1 is PBS in HD
channel 44.2 is PBS childrens in HD
etc.

And so forth. You get the idea. Almost all low-def channels I get in 
HD, too. My HDTV found all of these embedded HD channels during auto-
channel-search.

For the cable channels I don't get, I supplement my cable with 
NetFlix. Everything on the History Channel, Discovery channel, TBS 
movies, and so forth is available on DVD via NetFlix (or via instand 
demand via NetFlix). And I don't have a cable box nor it's monthly 
expense.

Add up my monthly cable ($9) and NetFlix ($15) bills and it's STILL 
far cheaper than Comcast cable's standard package ($54 per month here 
in Mass).

George
http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com


--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Daryle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> 
> [source: MediaPost TV Board]
> 
> Too Much Information -- Or Is Obfuscation The Preferred Policy?
> by Mitch Oscar, Tuesday, January 15, 2008
> 
> I'm a Comcast customer. Recently, included in my monthly billing 
statement was an "IMPORTANT Information" alert about Service, 
Installation & Equipment Prices for myself and my neighbors:
> 
> Level of Service 
> 
> Current Price
>  
> Basic (3,5) 
> $15.95 
> 
> New Price February 1, 2008
> $17.95 
> 
> Expanded Basic Service
> 
> $36.04 
> 
> $36.54 
> 
> Standard Cable (2,3)
> 
> $51.99 
> 
> $54.49 
> 
> Digital Starter (4)
> 
> $55.98 
> 
> $58.48 
> 
> 
> 
> 1) The minimum level of cable service you may purchase is BASIC 
SERVICE. As a cable customer, you must purchase BASIC SERVICE to 
subscribe to any other video service offered by Comcast Service, 
programming and equipment are subject to availability. All pricing, 
programming channel locations are subject to change. Please call 1-
866-660-6137 for further information. The purchase of premium 
channels, packages and a la carte services including iN DEMAND, Pay-
Per-View and Channel 1 On Demand) requires the appropriate
> equipment (c)2008 Comcast. All Rights Reserved.
> 
> 2) The price for Standard Cable includes Basic Service and Expanded 
Basic Service.
> 
> 3) A cable box/converter may not be necessary to view Basic Service 
or Standard Cable. Please visit www.comcast.com/cablebox or call 1-
866-660-6137 for further information.
> 
> 4) Digital Starter includes Standard Cable, a discounted Digital 
Cable Box, a remote control, Interactive Program Guide, MusicChoice 
and limited Channel 1 On Demand content. To upgrade to a discounted 
high definition cable box and remote control, an additional $6 
equipment fee is required.
> 
> 5) Discount available to subscribers who are age 65+ and not more 
than 1 person under age 65 in household. Customers must complete and 
submit application to Comcast Cable at 21 Old Route 6, Carmel, New 
York 10512. Restrictions apply.
> 
> 
> I'm fine with all this information, although I must admit that the 
fine print didn't really help clarify exactly what I was getting for 
my dough. Being the curious type of guy that I am, with trepidation I 
turned to the next page and the next and the next -- and then my head 
imploded. Too many pricing choices, each with its own arcane 
definition. Take a look for yourself (left and right, at two out of 
the three pages. Perhaps this printed exercise was meant to satiate 
the government as well as obfuscate instead of clarify. Beats me. 
Don't get me wrong -- I enjoy my Comcast service (though I wish my 
HD/DVR wouldn't freeze up so often and the set top box would be 
cooler than a hot griddle). However, there must be an easier, more 
inviting way to communicate viewing and service options to consumers.
> 
> Then again, I should be thankful that the Comcast services pricing 
litany was at least in decipherable English. You should see my family 
plan monthly wireless billing statement...
> 
> 
> Mitch Oscar is executive vice president, director of CaratDigital, 
Carat North America.
>

[scifinoir2] Re: Angry White Man: The bigoted past of Ron Paul

[g123curious]

This was changed in Massachusetts. You can vote any way you please in 
the Primary on February 5th.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Martin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Keith, that also means that we'd have to scrap the voting system as 
is, get rid of voting rules like the one here in Jawja that says that 
you have to be GOP or Dem to vote. The Powers'll never let that fly..
> 
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: back to my feeling we need a true multi-
party system. maybe a small but viable minority could do something to 
get ideals like his better ones out there
> 
> -- Original message -- 
> From: Daryle  
> 
> I've heard a lot of this from early in the campaign, and it's
> amazing to me that the candidate that means me the least good is
> the one I agree with the most out of all the available Republicans.
> 
> What also gets me is how no one takes his good points and runs with
> them. Paul's analysis of the economy is the best of all the
> candidates, in either party. For the reasons described below (as
> well as others), there's no way he's going to get he nomination...
> so why not steal his math homework and look like a genius?
> 
> On 1/17/08 1:15 PM, "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" 
> wrote:
> 
> i missed that, heard him on "Meet the PRess" saying his message had 
wide appeal, and, unfortunately, that included some deemed racists--
but that's not his fault or an indication of any negatives in his 
message.
> 
> -- Original message --
> From: "B. Smith" 
> This story has been around for a while but it finally seemed to 
gain traction when it was published in the New Republic.
> 
> BTW did you see him try to defend himself? According to him Dr. 
King and Rosa Parks were his heroes and this coming out now because 
it would erode the support he was getting from "the blacks."
>

[scifinoir2] Re: Fw: Barack Obama: EXPOSED!

[g123curious]

Not to worry. This has been forwarded to the appropriate people.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Amy Harlib" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> 
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 
> Subject: Fwd: Barack Obama: EXPOSED!
> 
> 
> Thought you might find this interesting: They're loading the 
catapults.
> 
> Human Events <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>   Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 04:24:44 +
>   To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>   From: Human Events <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>   Subject: Barack Obama: EXPOSED!
> 
> 
>   Dear Fellow Conservative,
>   Attached is your requested special report, Barack Obama: Exposed! 
You'll soon see that, regarding Sen. Obama, the mainstream media has 
been under-reporting the facts and over-reporting the P.C. nonsense.
>   And if you appreciate the honest reporting in Barack Obama: 
Exposed!, you'll surely relish the kind of reporting in every issue 
of HUMAN EVENTS...
>   You see, for over sixty years, HUMAN EVENTS has made it a policy 
to deliver to intelligent, independent-thinking news readers 
something entirely different - something you cannot get from 
conventional news sources.
>   In every issue, you will savor that rare moment in journalism 
when the thick fog of liberal bias is blown away to reveal... THE 
NAKED, BEDROCK TRUTH!
>   And today I'm also pleased to be able to give you a free copy of 
Ann Coulter's best-selling Godless when you subscribe to HUMAN EVENTS 
right now.
>   Click here to start your new subscription to HUMAN EVENTS!
>   Sincerely,
>   Tom Winter 
>   Editor in Chief, HUMAN EVENTS
>   Human Events - One Massachusetts Ave. NW - Washington, DC 20001 
>   Unsubscribe 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> NOTICE: Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security
> > Agency may have illegally read this email without warning, 
warrant, or notice.
> > They may do this without any judicial or legislative oversight. 
You 
> > have no recourse nor protection save to call for the impeachment 
of
> > the current President.
> 

[scifinoir2] Re: Connor Terminates Competitors

[g123curious]

As much as I hate watching Fox due to the politics of its owner...

I enjoyed it. Watched the first 2 eps. The female lead was kicking 
a$$ as expected, something the femlae lead in the Bionic Woman should 
have done but didn't. The BW was oh so poorly written.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella (formerly 
Tracey L. Minor)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Fox's Jan. 13 debut of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles 
scored the best opening-night demographic ratings of any new show in 
three years, Variety reported.
> 
> Boosted by strong marketing and a big NFL-playoffs lead-in, the 
Warner Brothers TV-produced Terminator notched a 7.6 rating/18 share 
among adults 18-49 and delivered some 18.3 million viewers with its 
one-hour debut on Sunday at 8, preliminary Nielsen national data 
showed.
> 
> The pilot gave Fox its best premiere numbers for a scripted show in 
eight years, since Malcolm in the Middle became an instant hit on a 
Sunday night in January 2000. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles 
moved into its regular Monday 9 p.m. timeslot on Jan. 14.
> http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=47294
>

[scifinoir2] OT: Good news on the blogging front...

[g123curious]

FYI... for those in the New England area...

I will be speaking at this ACLU conference on January 26, 2008 during a 
workshop titled "Blogging For Civil Liberties." To learn more, see:
http://action.aclum.org/2008conference

George
http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com

[scifinoir2] Re: Credit cards after death

[g123curious]

Sorry to hear about the death of a loved one.

I blog about identity theft and corporate responsibility. I've also 
had the same experience after the death of a parent.

Your situation can easily be handled as follows:

1. Send Citibank a certified, return recipt letter with a cover 
letter explaining the situation and a death notice attached to it. 
There's no way for Citibank to know of the death if nobody informs 
them. Whoever is the executor of the estate is responsible for this. 
I am fairly sure Citibank will wipe clean any fees once they get the 
death notice. People will tell them anything over the phone, but a 
legal death notice is a wholly different matter they must respond to. 
That is a legal document.

2. Whoever is the executor of the estate is responsible for notifying 
all related companies of the deceased's death... magazines, 
newspaper, credit cards, banks, insurance companies, mortgage 
companies, health care organizations and so forth. A good funeral 
director will provide 2 dozen copies of the death certificate. The 
executor just has to write and mail notices via snail mail.

3. Be sure to notify the national credit reporting agencies (e.g., 
Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). You do not want identity thieves 
opening accounts in your loved one's name. The companies will come 
looking for the executor of the estate to pay any outstanding bills.

4. If you don't do this, you leave your loved one open for identity 
theft.

5. Credit card companies have opened new credit cards named after 
dogs, dead people... and even credit card applications that have been 
torn up and scotch-taped back together. The 3 credit bureaus make 
money selling your credit information, whether it is accurate or not.

Unfortunately, we live in a societ where YOU are responsible for your 
credit report's accuracy. In the case of a death, it is the 
executor's responsibility.

6. You can place a Fraud Alert (90-day or 7-year duration) on your 
credit report for free. You can pay to place a Credit Freeze on your 
credit report so noboby had access to it. Local state laws govern if 
a Crtedit Freeze (also called a Security Freeze) is free or not in 
your state.

If you have questions about identity theft, Security Freezes, or 
Fraud Alerts... see my blog and click on one of the subjects in the 
right column:
http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com

George
http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Reece Jennings" 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> 
> This is so easy to see happening, customer service being what it is 
today.
> 
> A lady died this past January, and Citibank billed her for February 
and March for their annual service charges on her credit card, and 
then added late fees and interest on the monthly charge. The balance 
had been $0.00, now is somewhere around $60.00! A family member 
placed a call to Citibank:
> 
> .   Family Member: "I am calling to tell you that she died in 
January."
> 
> .   Bank: "The account was never closed and the late fees and 
charges still apply."
> 
> .   Family Member: "Maybe, you should turn it over to collections."
> 
> .   Bank: "Since it is two months past due, it already has been."
> 
> .   Family Member: So, what will they do when they find out she is 
dead?"
> 
> .   Bank: "Either report her account to the frauds division or 
report her to the credit bureau, maybe both!"
> 
> .   Family Member: "Do you think God will be mad at her?"
> 
> .   Bank: "Excuse me?"
> 
> .   Family Member: "Did you just get what I was telling you - the 
part about her being dead?"
> 
> .   Bank: "Sir, you'll have to speak to my supervisor."
> 
> Supervisor gets on the phone:
> 
> o  Family Member: "I'm calling to tell you, she died in January."
> 
> o  Bank: "The account was never closed and the late fees and 
charges still apply."
> 
> o  Family Member: "You mean you want to collect from her estate?"
> 
> o  Bank: (Stammer) "Are you her lawyer?"
> 
> o  Family Member: "No, I'm her great nephew." (Lawyer info given) 
o  Bank: "Could you fax us a certificate of death?"
> 
> o  Family Member: "Sure." (fax number is given) After they get the 
fax:
> 
> .  Bank: "Our system just isn't set-up for death. I don't know what 
more I can do to help."
> 
> .  Family Member: "Well, if you figure it out, great! If not, you 
could just keep billing her. I don't think she will care."
> 
> .  Bank: "Well, the late fees and charges do still apply."
> 
> .  Family Member: "Would you like her new billing address?"
> 
> .  Bank: "That might help."
> 
> .  Family Member: "Odessa Memorial Cemetery , Highway 129, Plot 
Number 69."
> 
> .  Bank: "Sir, that's a cemetery!" !
> 
> .  Family Member: "What do you do with dead people on your planet?"
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

[scifinoir2] Roger "The Rocket" Clemens Holiday SOng

[g123curious]

You've heard his denials. Now see the holiday song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc36pX10kE4

Enjoy!

George
http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com

[scifinoir2] Re: Who is Your Favorite Joker?

[g123curious]

> I saw this poll on Scifi. I wanted to know what you guys thought.
> 
> With Batman Returns about to premier, i wanted to know, Who is Your 
> Favorite Joker?
> 
> The Original - Cesar Romero
> Jack Nicholson
> The Cartoon Joker - Mark Hamil
> The New Joker - Heath Ledger

My favorite Joker has gone by the nicknames "Chimpy McFlight-suit" 
and "Dubya".

George
http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com

[scifinoir2] Various sci-fi entertainment

[g123curious]

FYI:

Death Star Help Desk
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/geekend/?p=1028


56 Species of Geek: Which Are You?
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/geekend/?p=1041&tag=nl.e138


The New KITT Is a Mustang
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/geekend/?p=1029&tag=rbxccnbtr1


Trekkies Gone Wrong
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/geekend/?p=998&tag=nl.e138


Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and happy New Year!

George
http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com

[scifinoir2] Re: OT: Where I've Been

[g123curious]

Thanks to everyone for the well wishes.

It's been realy interesting watching my street react to this driveby 
event. Some white and asian folks make the effort to distinguish 
between the knuckleheads (who happen to be African American) and 
other African Americans on the street. Others just lump us all 
together and avoid us.

My street is really diverse. We have about equal parts of:
- Whites (Irish or German)
- Cape Verdean
- Vietnamese
- African American (US and Caribbean)
- Hispanic (Puerto Rican and Dominican)

So, on any given data, there are about 5 different languages spoken 
on my street: English, Spanish, French, German, Vietnamese, and 
French. The Vietnamese seem to avoid everyone else and many don't 
speak English. So we'll have to print Crime Watch posters in 3 
languages.

My life is rarely dull.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Martin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> I second that.
> 
> Brent Wodehouse <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:  George, mate, 
take care of yourself. Let's hope those unruly neighbours
> exit sooner rather than later!
> 
> Brent
> 
> "g123curious" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
> 
> >Tracey had written to me off-list via e-mail asking how I am. I 
> >thought that I'd send out a general note. Bottomline: I've been
> busy with my work and my blog. At work, I have 2 web site
> re-designs which are launching Oct. 16, 2007. So, I'll be flat
> out 'til then with long hours in the office. After then, I'll post
> to SciFiNoir2.
> >
> >In other news...
> >
> >I woke last Thursday night at 3:25 am to the sounds of gun-fire 
> >outside my first-floor bedroom window. Boston Police arrived at
> >3:35 am. Street outside the house next door was littered with
> >shell casings. Car in front of next door had several bullet holes
> >and shell casing on it.

[scifinoir2] OT: Where I've Been

[g123curious]

Tracey had written to me off-list via e-mail asking how I am. I 
thought that I'd send out a general note. Bottomline: I've been busy 
with my work and my blog. At work, I have 2 web site re-designs which 
are launching Oct. 16, 2007. So, I'll be flat out 'til then with long 
hours in the office. After then, I'll post to SciFiNoir2.

In other news...

I woke last Thursday night at 3:25 am to the sounds of gun-fire 
outside my first-floor bedroom window. Boston Police arrived at 3:35 
am. Street outside the house next door was littered with shell 
casings. Car in front of next door had several bullet holes and shell 
casing on it.

Street was taped off and CSI:Boston arrived shortly thereafter and 
stayed 'til ~5:15 am. To make a long story short, there was a drive-
by next door probably involving the knuckleheads who live next door. 
At least 2 guns were involved and a 9mm slug found its way thru our 
living room window and came to rest on the floor in front of my 
wife's computer desk. MOre shell casing found by the side door of the 
house next door.

Obviously, we are working with neighbors and police to get the 
knuckleheads next door out and/or in jail... whichever we can effect 
first. Bottomline: my wife and I are okay. No injuries.

CSI:Boston uses little numbered cones just like they do on TV. So we 
had some little numbered cones in our condo, too. All of CSI reps 
looked like Gil Grissom clones. NONE of them looked like Sarah Sidle, 
Catherine Willows, or Sofia Curtis. They wouldn't let us take photos.

As of last night, one person was arrested next door and this person 
didn't live next door. Arrested with drug possession with intent to 
distribute. Up until this event, our street had been very quiet. A 
state rep's/politician's family lives across the street.

George

[scifinoir2] Re: OT: Six arrested, charged in woman's weeklong torture

[g123curious]

It'll be interesting to see if this gets more coverage in the news 
media than the dogs M. Vick and friends killed. 9/11 coverage may 
have pushed this story aside earlier this week.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Martin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Has anyone else caught more than a *blurb* about this in the 
mainstream media? I think I saw a thirty-second clip on a nationally-
syndicated morning show. I hate to be the one to play the race card 
(because, IMO, it makes you the racist), but brand me. Had this been 
a pretty blonde girl with blue eyes...
> 
> "Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
wrote:   More on this story...
>  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?
storyId=14307118&sc=emaf
>  
> /BIG CREEK, W.Va./ September 12, 2007, 11:23 p.m. ET ·
> Authorities decided Wednesday not to pursue hate crime charges in
> the kidnapping and weeklong torture of a black woman, instead going
> after the suspects, who are white, on state charges that carry
> stiffer penalties.

[scifinoir2] Re: OT: Six arrested, charged in woman's weeklong torture

[g123curious]

Thanks. I hadn't heard about this. This reminds me of the group of 
thugs in Jasper Texas that chained a black man to the back of a 
pickup truck and dragged him around town until his body came apart. 
Lifetime in jail sounds good to me.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Martin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Has anyone else caught more than a *blurb* about this in the 
mainstream media? I think I saw a thirty-second clip on a nationally-
syndicated morning show. I hate to be the one to play the race card 
(because, IMO, it makes you the racist), but brand me. Had this been 
a pretty blonde girl with blue eyes...
> 
> "Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
wrote:   More on this story...
>  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?
storyId=14307118&sc=emaf
>  
> /BIG CREEK, W.Va./ September 12, 2007, 11:23 p.m. ET
> Authorities decided Wednesday not to pursue hate crime charges in
> the kidnapping and weeklong torture of a black woman, instead going
> after the suspects, who are white, on state charges that carry
> stiffer penalties.
>  
> While federal civil rights or state hate crime charges remain an
> option, a state kidnapping count that carries a sentence of up to
> life in prison will provide the best chance for successful
> prosecution, officials said.

[scifinoir2] Re: Homeland Security Adviser Dismisses bin Laden as "virtually impotent"

[g123curious]

When one is truly incompetent and knows it, sometimes the only 
protection from getting fired (or impeached) is a thin blue line (or 
party-loyalists you can easily hire and blame later).

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> Unfortunately, true. He reminds me of the Thin Blue Line with the 
police.  I always am amazed at how some cops feel that other cops 
need to back them up when they do wrong. I get the whole idea of 
trust, being able to put your life in your partner's hands if need 
be. But sometimes cops forget that their primary goal is to serve the 
*people*, and that a cop who's violated our trust isn't worthy of 
protection. Same with Bush. He and his gang are our servants, not the 
other way around, and he should be surrounded by people who remind 
him to do what's right by us, not by his narrow definition of right 
and wrong.
> 
> -- Original message -- 
> From: "g123curious" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
> In 6+ years, what I see is W doesn't hire deep thinkers or the 
> brightest folks. W hires party-loyalists who are either connected 
or 
> have given money to said campaign... folks who "drank and continue 
to 
> drink the cool-ade." People who follow the party ideology blindly 
> until they get impaled on a fence while wondering, 'where did that 
> fence come from?' Only then do they change course, and only then 
> reluctantly while blaming the Dems, Clinton, and everyone else.
> 
> George
> 
> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, KeithBJohnson@ wrote:
>
> Jesus Christ, where does Bush keep finding these idiots?? I don't 
> care if bin Laden was *only* capable of putting forth a few tapes a 
> year, he's still an ideological danger. Don't care if he's tied to
> a dialysis machine 24/7, if he can't set foot outside his cave (or 
> compound, more likely), he can still rally the faithful who
> subscribe to his beliefs. Doesn't this idiot lady get the root
> causes of 9/11 and so much of the hatred America faces in the
> world? Does she not get that pure military might is the least of
> the obstacles we face in the world. Absolutely amazing she can make
> such a dumba** statement 
> 
> *
> 
>> Homeland Security Adviser Dismisses bin Laden as "virtually 
>> impotent"
>>
>> WASHINGTON - Seemingly taunting Osama bin Laden, President Bush's 
>> homeland security adviser said Sunday the fugitive al-Qaida leader 
>> is "virtually impotent" beyond his ability to hide away and spread 
>> anti-American propaganda.
>>
>> The provocative characterization came just days after bin Laden 
>> attracted international attention with the release of a video in 
>> which he ridicules President Bush about the Iraq war and reminds
>> the world that he not been captured.
>>
>> Ahead of the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist strikes, 
>> White House aide Frances Fragos Townsend made a clear attempt to 
>> diminish the influence _ or the perception _ of the man who 
>> masterminded those attacks.
>>
>> "This is about the best he can do," Townsend said of bin 
>> Laden. "This is a man on a run, from a cave, who's virtually
>> impotent other than these tapes."
> 
> 

[scifinoir2] Re: My Take - "3:10 to Yuma"

[g123curious]

Thanks for the plot summary. The plot sounds like the reverse of 
_High Noon_ (1952 with Gary Cooper in the lead)... getting the bad 
guy to the train instead of the bad guy getting off the train.

Is this film truly the best western since Eastwood's _Unforgiven_?

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> Summary: Down-on-his-luck Rancher Dan Evans undertakes a dangerous 
mission, joining a group of men taking outlaw Ben Wade to prison. 
They must survive Indians, others out to get Wade, and Wade's own 
gang in order to get him on the 3:10 train to Yuma.
> 
> My Quick Take: This is a fun, exciting movie in the tradition of 
old Westerns. There are bad guys, good (or not-so-bad) guys, and lots 
of action.  Plenty of chases and gunfights, even a few explosions. 
Russell Crowe as always is a captivating presence, dominating the 
screen and the scene. Christian Bale--almost a chameleon of an actor--
gets into his role as the desperate rancher. Good supporting cast, 
great cinematography and camera work, pulse-pounding music. Did I 
mention the gunfights? And the horse chases?  Really enjoyed this 
pic.  
> 
> My Full Take: At its core, the Western is a morality tale, the 
story of a basically good man struggling against sinister forces 
while remaining true to what's right. What those forces are—evil land 
barons, gunfighters, Mother Nature—is less important than the 
struggle the hero undertakes to overcome them.  When others abandon 
him—even when he doubts himself—the hero stands alone, fighting to 
the end.  
>  
> Rancher Dan Evans (Christian Bale) is such a man. Dan can barely 
hold his family together, battling drought, his younger son's 
tuberculosis, a land owner to whom he's heavily in debt, and his own 
physical limitations (having lost part of a leg in the Civil War). 
Dan can't even muster the energy to rebuke his oldest son's 
increasingly critical and disrespectful remarks, because they echo 
his own self-doubts. Dan feels his wife slowly slipping away from 
him, which only feeds his own growing desperation. Things get worse 
when the land owner's men burn down his barn and drive his cattle 
away as a warning to pay up or get out. 
>  
> As Dan and his boys later go to fetch the herd, they see in the 
distance a heist in progress. The infamous Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) 
and his gang are attacking a stagecoach. A real menace, Wade has 
committed over twenty heists, costing hundreds of thousands of 
dollars and the lives of dozens of men. In short order, Wade's gang 
has killed everyone and stolen the money. The sequence is thrilling, 
full of hyperkinetic energy as pursuers and the pursued engage in a 
desperate chase, horses galloping like mad, grizzled, hard-looking 
men cursing and yelling as they release a barrage of bullets. The 
whole scene is shot with frenetic close ups and gorgeous long pans, 
and driven by a musical score that heightens the action.  Who needs a 
car chase?
>  
> Later, when Wade is captured, Dan agrees to accompany the party 
taking Wade to catch the 3:10 train to Yuma prison—a desperate move 
motivated by the money he'll receive for the job.  The journey is 
rife with danger: Indians, other men hungry for vengeance on Wade, 
Wade's own pursuing gang, and worst of all, Wade himself.  
>  
> Crowe's Ben Wade is the kind of smooth villain who does pencil 
drawings during a holdup, uses his wits as much as his gun, reads the 
Bible, and treats women with charm and respect. He doesn't kill for 
sport: Wade spares Dan after the holdup even though his men want to 
kill him (a decision he later comes to regret). But this is not a bad 
guy with a good heart. He remains a cold-blooded killer, or as he 
says, "I'm rotten to the core".
>  
> It's Wade's dual nature that Dan must battle, as he fights to 
remember why he's risking all to turn in someone who's actually done 
him no personal harm. "Why don't you take the money and go home to 
your pretty wife?" Wade asks Dan. "What are you trying to prove?"
>  
> It's a good question, especially seeing that some of Dan's partners 
are almost as bad as Wade himself. But Dan is driven by his need for 
money and security. And, increasingly, the need to save the soul of 
his oldest son William, who starts to admire Wade as a kind of hero, 
strong where his father is weak.  Crazed by his need to do 
something "good for once", Dan pushes on past the point of reason.
>  
> "3:10 to Yuma" gets the Western mythos right. It's full of larger-
than-life characters. Dangers lurk behind every rock and bush. There 
are plenty of chases, fights, gun battles, explosions—enough for even 
modern tastes. The actors are good across the board. Russell Crowe is 
great as Wade, at times charming, at times chilling, always 
commanding. Christian Bale inhabits the role of the thin, bedraggled 
Dan Evans, a hero not by nature, but by need. The supporting cast is 
likewise good, especially Peter Fonda in a memorable but too-brief 
s

[scifinoir2] Re: Homeland Security Adviser Dismisses bin Laden as "virtually impotent"

[g123curious]

In 6+ years, what I see is W doesn't hire deep thinkers or the 
brightest folks. W hires party-loyalists who are either connected or 
have given money to said campaign... folks who "drank and continue to 
drink the cool-ade." People who follow the party ideology blindly 
until they get impaled on a fence while wondering, 'where did that 
fence come from?' Only then do they change course, and only then 
reluctantly while blaming the Dems, Clinton, and everyone else.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> Jesus Christ, where does Bush keep finding these idiots?? I don't 
care if bin Laden was *only* capable of putting forth a few tapes a 
year, he's still an ideological danger. Don't care if he's tied to a 
dialysis machine 24/7, if he can't set foot outside his cave (or 
compound, more likely), he can still rally the faithful who subscribe 
to his beliefs.  Doesn't this idiot lady get the root causes of 9/11 
and so much of the hatred America faces in the world? Does she not 
get that pure military might is the least of the obstacles we face in 
the world. Absolutely amazing she can make such a dumba** 
statement  
> 
> *
> 
> Homeland Security Adviser Dismisses bin Laden as "virtually 
impotent"
>
> WASHINGTON - Seemingly taunting Osama bin Laden, President Bush's 
homeland security adviser said Sunday the fugitive al-Qaida leader 
is "virtually impotent" beyond his ability to hide away and spread 
anti-American propaganda.
>
> The provocative characterization came just days after bin Laden 
attracted international attention with the release of a video in 
which he ridicules President Bush about the Iraq war and reminds the 
world that he not been captured.
>
> Ahead of the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist strikes, 
White House aide Frances Fragos Townsend made a clear attempt to 
diminish the influence _ or the perception _ of the man who 
masterminded those attacks.
>
> "This is about the best he can do," Townsend said of bin 
Laden. "This is a man on a run, from a cave, who's virtually impotent 
other than these tapes."

[scifinoir2] Re: Madeleine L’Engle, Children’s Writer, Is Dead

[g123curious]

_A Wrinkle In Time_ was the first sci-fi I ever read. I was maybe 6 
or 7. That hooked me then! Thanks for the notice.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Brent Wodehouse" 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/08/books/07cnd-lengle.html
> Madeleine L'Engle, Children's Writer, Is Dead
> By DOUGLAS MARTIN
> Published: September 8, 2007
> 
> Madeleine L'Engle, who in writing more than 60 books, including
> childhood fables, religious meditations and science fiction, weaved
> emotional tapestries transcending genre and generation, died
> Thursday in Connecticut. She was 88.
> 
> Her death, of natural causes, was announced today by her publisher,
> Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
> 
> Ms. L'Engle (pronounced LENG-el) was best known for her children's
> classic, "A Wrinkle in Time," which won the John Newbery Award as
> the best children's book of 1963. By 2004, it had sold more than 6
> million copies, was in its 67th printing and was still selling
> 15,000 copies a year.
> 
> Her works — poetry, plays, autobiography and books on prayer — were
> deeply, quixotically personal. But it was in her vivid children's
> characters that readers most clearly glimpsed her passionate search
> for the questions that mattered most. She sometimes spoke of her
> writing as if she were taking dictation from her subconscious.
> 
> "Of course I'm Meg," Ms. L'Engle said about the beloved protagonist
> of "A Wrinkle in Time."
> 
> The "St. James Guide to Children's Writers" called Ms. L'Engle "one
> of the truly important writers of juvenile fiction in recent
> decades." Such accolades did not come from pulling
> punches: "Wrinkle" is one of the most banned books because of its
> treatment of the deity.
> 
> "It was a dark and stormy night," it begins, repeating the line of
> a 19th-century novelist Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, and presaging
> the immortal sentence that Snoopy, the inspiration-challenged
> beagle of the Peanuts cartoon, would type again and again. After
> the opening, "Wrinkle," quite literally, takes off. Meg Murray,
> with help from her psychic baby brother, uses time travel and
> extrasensory perception to rescue her father, a gifted scientist,
> from a planet controlled by the Dark Thing. She does so through the
> power of love.
 

[scifinoir2] Re: OT: Bush Confesses to Crying a Great Deal

[g123curious]

Keith:

Yours is a well-written reply below. Chimpy McFlight-suit is full of 
it and so full of himself. He lied about going into Iraq and now he 
lies about going into Iran. What's the sayinig? "Fool me once, shame 
on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> So, the Prez is an iron man with a heart of gold, eh?  Huh, I bet 
you won't hear Cheney saying that!
> 
> Ptooey!! I cry too, Mr. Prez: I cry everytime I realize I have to 
suffer your botched leadership for another year. Just realizing that 
you come from my home state makes the tears run like I was cutting up 
onions. The truth that so many Americans bought your line of bull 
about being a good Christian makes me wanna sob.  The lies and 
manipulations you told to put us at "war" with Iraq--and knowing so 
many Americans fell for that bull too--wrack me with grief.  Knowing 
we'll be stuck fixing the mess you made in Iraq for at least a 
generation brings the water like a faucet. Watching your henchmen and 
sycophants make gay marriage and immigration more important than 
poverty, health care, and education makes me wail in despair.  Seeing 
the devastated wasteland that was New Orleans, and remembering how 
you flew *over* that city without stopping, makes me wanna scream 
with sorrow. 
> 
> "I've got God's shoulder to cry on"--yeah, I feel you Mr. 
Bush, 'cause I'm being moved to tears right now, but I can't take my 
frustrations out by bombing anyone!
> 
> **
> 
> Bush tells biographer: 'I do tears' 
> By CALVIN WOODWARD, Associated Press WriterTue Sep 4, 6:45 PM ET 
> Under that famously self-confident exterior is a president who 
weeps — a lot.

[scifinoir2] Re: See what 50 years will do...

[g123curious]

This sounds  like something written by an 50+ AWM (Angry White Male). 
I know several.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Reece Jennings" 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> 
>  
> See what 50 years will do... 
> 
> 
> Scenario: Jack pulls into school parking lot with rifle in gun
> rack. 
> 
> 1956 - Vice Principal comes over, takes a look at Jack's rifle,
> goes to his car and gets his, to show Jack. 
> 
> 2006 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to
> jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in
> for traumatized students and teachers. 
> 
> + 
> 
> Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school. 
> 
> 1956 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and
> end up best friends. Nobody goes to jail, nobody arrested, nobody
> expelled. 
> 
> 2006 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark.
> Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started
> it. 
> 
> + 
> 
> Scenario: Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students. 
> 
> 1956 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by
> Principal. Sits still in class. 
> 
> 2006 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie.
> School gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a
> disability. 
> 
> + 
> 
> Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his father's car and his Dad
> gives him a whipping. 
> 
> 1956 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to
> college, and becomes a successful businessman. 
> 
> 2006 - Billy's Dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to
> foster care and joins a gang. Billy's sister is told by state
> psychologist that she remembers being abused herself and their Dad
> goes to prison. Billy's Mom has affair with psychologist. 
> 
> + 
> 
> Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some headache medicine to
> school. 
> 
> 1956 - Mark shares headache medicine with Principal out on the
> smoking dock.
> 
> 
> 2006 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug
> violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons. 
>   
> + 
> 
> Scenario: Pedro fails high school English. 
> 
> 1956 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to
> college. 
> 
> 2006 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state Democratic party.
> Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching
> English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class
> action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro's English
> teacher. English banned from core curriculum. Pedro given diploma
> anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he can't speak
> English. 
> 
> + 
> 
> Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the 4th of
> July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red
> ant bed. 
> 
> 1956 - Ants die. 
> 
> 2006 - BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Johnny charged with
> domestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents, siblings removed from
> home, computers confiscated, Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch
> list and is never allowed to fly again.   
> 
>  + 
> 
> Scenario: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his
> knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to
> comfort him. 
> 
> 1956 - In a short time Johnny feels better and goes on playing. 
> 
> 2006 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her
> job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. 
> 
> 
> + 
> 

[scifinoir2] Re: OT: American Banker interview

[g123curious]

Here's the link to the American Banker article about my blog. You can 
view it online at the AB site, but you have to sign up for either a 
free 2-week trial or subscribe to the magazine:

http://www.americanbanker.com/article.html?
id=20070830NAJNMXL5&from=technology
American Banker Online
The Tech Scene: As Data Breaches Increase, Questions on Firms' Duties 
From: American Banker
Friday, August 31, 2007
By Daniel Wolfe


Have a safe, enjoyable holiday weekend,
 
George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "g123curious" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
wrote:
>
> Many of you know that I write a blog about identity theft and
> corporate responsibility. This morning, I was interviewed by a
> journalist from the American Banker magazine
> ( http://www.americanbanker.com )for an article about what
> companies do after a data breach. The typical company response has
> been to offer the affected employees and former employees one year
> of free credit monitoring services. The news article is supposed to
> run tomorrow (Friday) in both the print and online versions. When
> the reporter sends the link for the article, I'll pass it along.
> 
> My blog post which triggered the news story:
> 
> http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/08/facts-about-
kro.html
> Kroll's Offering From IBM Deserves Scrutiny
> 
> Have a nice holiday weekend!
> 
> George
>

[scifinoir2] OT: American Banker interview

[g123curious]

Many of you know that I write a blog about identity theft and corporate
responsibility. This morning, I was interviewed by a journalist from
the American Banker magazine ( http://www.americanbanker.com )for an
article about what companies do after a data breach. The typical 
company response has been to offer the affected employees and former 
employees one year of free credit monitoring services. The news
article is supposed to run tomorrow (Friday) in both the print and
online versions. When the reporter sends the link for the article, I'll
pass it along.

My blog post which triggered the news story:

http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/08/facts-about-kro.html
Kroll's Offering From IBM Deserves Scrutiny

Have a nice holiday weekend!

George

[scifinoir2] Re: Just checking in to say 'Hi"

[g123curious]

I resigned as prez effective june 30th. The USS Ronald E. McNair sci-
fi club in Boston still meets monthly. The members seem happy to 
operate without a prez or VP. I was ready to move on, as the title of 
the last TNG television episode foreshadowed, "All Good Things..."

Since the Trek TV shows ended, we usually discuss other sci-fi 
topics. Lately, we've discussed some economic issues facing the 
nation, regarding both the huge, growing national debt and the 
housing/mortgage problems and how both will affect us all. I go to 
the club meetings but less frequently.

Obviously, for me my blog has consumed a lot of my time. Which is a 
good thing, I think. I've learned a lot and I think that the blog is 
raising awareness about some issues. Writing feels productive to 
me... better than just being angry about IBM's data breach. Maybe 
some good will come of it, yet.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella (formerly 
Tracey L. Minor)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Welcome back. Your resignation marks the end of an era. Will you
> still be participating with your group? Godd luck with the Blog.
> It looks good.
> 

[scifinoir2] Little Mosque on the Prairie

[g123curious]

http://www.cbc.ca/littlemosque/

A comedy, going into it's 2nd season. It sounds like "Picket Fences" 
but with a Muslim slant. Who knows. Comedy is so subjective.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey 
L. Minor)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> The other night, while watching Dr. Who on some Canadian cable
> at my Mom's hotel, I saw a promo for Little Mosque on The Prairie.
> ( I kid you not)  Has anyone heard about or seen it?
> 
> Tracey

[scifinoir2] Re: The 50 best movie robots

[g123curious]

Thankfully, I never saw #33. And, IMO, #13 should have been #1.

Did I read this correctly and none of the robots in Minority Report 
made the list?

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Brent Wodehouse" 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> 
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/a
rticle2133609.ece
>

[scifinoir2] Just checking in to say 'Hi"

[g123curious]

I haven't posted lately. Wanted y'all to know that I haven't 
forgotten about SciFiNoir2. I've just been very busy in my life, so 
busy I resigned as president of my local sci-fi club (USS Ronald E. 
Mcnair in Boston). Anyway, what I've been up to:

- My employer got bought in January by a French company. Lots of 
changes in the office, notably more new business but not enough new 
staff, so we are over-worked.

- My daughter, son-in-law, and my grandson visited for a couple 
weeks. My grandson is 15 months young. I am enjoying my new grandpa 
status

- I started bloggin on identity theft... chronicles of my dealing 
with IBM's data breach, it's impact on my life, and highlighting 
corporate (ir)responsibility issues. Here's how a blogger described 
my blog:

"Say for instance, a past employer (Lotus) gets bought out by another 
company (IBM) and the company that you never even worked for (IBM) 
keeps your employment records but manages to lose them 16 years after 
you stopped working for the company they acquired (Lotus).  Sound far 
fetched? It's not.  This is the exact scenario that happened to I've 
Been Mugged:"

www.ivebeenmugged.typepad.com

Feel free to read my blog and to share the URL with friends, family, 
and peers.

George

[scifinoir2] Re: Boston Globe reporter looking for local black fantasy/sci-fi fans]

[g123curious]

Tracey:

Thanks for posting this. I'll forward this to my Boston area sci-fi 
club and see if anyone's interested. I've been swamped with work at 
my job, missed this post, and Brent called my attention to this.

George
Captain
USS Ronald E. McNair (Boston)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ussmcnair/


--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella (formerly 
Tracey L. Minor)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>  Original Message 
> Subject:  [SciFiNoir Lit] Boston Globe reporter looking for 
local black 
> fantasy/sci-fi fans
> Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2007 21:17:42 -
> From: jonesglobe <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> To:   [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 
> 
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I'm a feature writer in the Living/Arts section of the Boston Globe
> working on a story about the growing number of black sci-fi/fantasy
> writers and the people who are reading their work. The story was
> inspired by the recent release of such books as "Acacia" by David
> Anthony Durham and a host of writers such as Steven Barnes, 
Tananarive
> Due and even Walter Mosley, who are dabbling in the genre.
> 
> I'd love to speak to people of color in the New England area (MA, 
CT,
> RI, NH, VT) who are fans of sci-fi fantasy and can talk about not 
only
> how you've developed a love of this genre, but what the importance 
is
> of having black people write in this genre.
> 
> Please email me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
> 
> Thanks.
>

[scifinoir2] "I Got a Crush...On Obama" By Obama Girl

[g123curious]

FYI:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=wKsoXHYICqU

Enjoy!

George

[scifinoir2] Re: Cars pick their drivers

[g123curious]

If you liked this, then you'll also want to visit 
http://www.killer3.com . We built that site, too.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "g123curious" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
wrote:
>
> FYI:
> 
> http://www.autobotsrollout.com
> 
> My employer was hired to bild this site. Currently, there are several 
> trailers, but updates and content will be added thru June.
> 
> George
>

[scifinoir2] Cars pick their drivers

[g123curious]

FYI:

http://www.autobotsrollout.com

My employer was hired to bild this site. Currently, there are several 
trailers, but updates and content will be added thru June.

George

[scifinoir2] OT: do we african americans all look alike?

[g123curious]

FYI:

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/#53124
Fox News' Bigotry Exposed Again [VIDEO]

http://diversityinc.com/public/1957.cfm
Do They All Look Alike? FOX News Shows Wrong Black Congressman 
Indicted


Fair and balanced? Ha!

Oh, their *new* slogan is "We Report. You decide." Well I have 
decided. We consumers are the deciders. Their reporting is 
unbalanced, right-slanted, and untrustworthy. A reminder from July 
2001:

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1067
The Most Biased Name in News

George

[scifinoir2] Re: Atlantan quarantined with deadly TB strain

[g123curious]

Should any of the people he infected get seriously sick and/or die, 
he probably will be sued and held liable in a civil suit. Hence, you 
hear the guy's lawyer father and in-law saying what you heard them 
say. The father was also blaming the media for inaccurate 
descriptions of the events.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Bosco Bosco <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Turns out the guys is a lawyer and his father in law works at the
> CDC, studying diseases like TB. How awesome is that? I am now
> definitely thinking he may not be being entirely truthful about what
> he knew and what he was told. 
> 
> 
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070531/ap_on_re_us/tuberculosis_infection
> 
> As the tard population continues to increase exponentially, I am
> becoming more of the opinion that some people just need to be
> euthanized for the good of the many. Color my mood facist.
> 
> Bosco
> --- g123curious <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> 
> > The guy's doctor advised him NOT to fly.
> > 
> > He decided to fly anyway.
> > 
> > He flew twice.
> > 
> > He didn't bother to buy travel insurance (which would have
> > reimbursed 
> > him for the TOTAL of his trip: air, hotel, wedding, everything.)
> > 
> > Some folks refuse to accept personal responsibility.
> > 
> > Hence, I have no problem with him being locked up.
> > 
> > IMHO, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one... 
> > especially when there's the risk of of a highly contagious TB 
> > infecting a lot of people. Many people have weak immune systems 
> > (e.g., the elderly, children, etc.).
> > 
> > I travel a lot on cruise ships. It is standard procedure now 
> > ships will not let you board if you are sick. They'll give you a 
> > voucher to travel later. If you get sick while onboard, they'll 
> > quarantine you (and your spouse/family) in your cabin.
> > 
> > It's a (brave) new world and people have to learn to adjust to it.
> > 
> > Some choose to learn the hard way... and get locked up.
> > 
> > George
> > 
> > 
> > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, KeithBJohnson@ wrote:
> > >
> > > This is wild. Every day, I drive by the hospital
> > > where "Typhoid Martin" is being held. The confusion here stems
> > > around what the CDC

[scifinoir2] Re: Sci-fi writers join war on terror

[g123curious]

This is probably a good idea as long as they don't go over the edge 
into full-blown paranoia.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Brent Wodehouse" 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2007-05-29-deviant-thinkers-
security_N.htm?csp=34
> 
> Sci-fi writers join war on terror
> 
> By Mimi Hall, USA TODAY
> 
> 
> Looking to prevent the next terrorist attack, the Homeland Security
> Department is tapping into the wild imaginations of a group of
> self-described "deviant" thinkers: science-fiction writers.


 

[scifinoir2] Re: Atlantan quarantined with deadly TB strain

[g123curious]

The guy's doctor advised him NOT to fly.

He decided to fly anyway.

He flew twice.

He didn't bother to buy travel insurance (which would have reimbursed 
him for the TOTAL of his trip: air, hotel, wedding, everything.)

Some folks refuse to accept personal responsibility.

Hence, I have no problem with him being locked up.

IMHO, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one... 
especially when there's the risk of of a highly contagious TB 
infecting a lot of people. Many people have weak immune systems 
(e.g., the elderly, children, etc.).

I travel a lot on cruise ships. It is standard procedure now 
ships will not let you board if you are sick. They'll give you a 
voucher to travel later. If you get sick while onboard, they'll 
quarantine you (and your spouse/family) in your cabin.

It's a (brave) new world and people have to learn to adjust to it.

Some choose to learn the hard way... and get locked up.

George


--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> This is wild. Every day,  I drive by the hospital where "Typhoid 
Martin" is being held. The confusion here stems around what the CDC 
and county health officials say they told him, versus what *he* says 
they told him. I'm trying to understand why, if he's been diagnosed 
since January, the agencies just now found out he had XDR TB. Not 
understanding why, even with the less-virulent strains, the health 
officials only "suggested" he stay in the States, instead of making 
it an order. But then, the officials seem to be saying they ordered 
him to stay here. Also not getting why--assuming he's telling the 
truth--the CDC didn't make arrangements to fly him from Italy on a 
CDC jet. I have to assume they would have done something like that, 
since they'd want him cured to avoid an epidemic.
> 
> Either way, while I get his fearing ineffectual treatment in Italy, 
I'm having a hard time with this man jumping on a trans-Atlantic 
flight,  driving from Canada to the States while knowing he had the 
XDR version.  At that point, he could have been extremely contagious. 
We could have been looking at a chain-reaction of infections if 
people on that plane, in the terminal, or at the car rental location 
had been infected by him. Hasn't he seen "Twelve Monkeys"?!
> 
> Last year I participated in a seminar sponsored by the CDC here in 
Atlanta to come up with procedures for dealing with the next deadly 
worldwide flu pandemic. (And if you want nightmares, read about the 
flu pandemic of 1918).  One of our major concerns was how health 
officials could track and warn infected people in this world of 
international travel. Scenarios exactly like this were discussed, 
where stubborn or fearful people defy orders and do their own thing. 
How far does the medical community go to issue quarantines to prevent 
epidemic? When do personal freedosm get abridged for the common good? 
This is exactly what we meant. Something broke down here. And just 
imagine if this guy had been infected with a deadly new mutation of 
influenza. Then we really could have been talking about an pandemic.  
That's scary...
> 
> *** 
> 
> Atlantan quarantined with deadly TB strain
> CDC issues rare isolation order; air passengers warned
> 
> By ALISON YOUNG
> The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
> Published on: 05/30/07 
> An Atlanta-area man — infected with a rare, potentially deadly type 
of tuberculosis — is under federal quarantine at Grady Memorial 
Hospital with an armed sheriff's deputy outside his door following 
his odyssey on international flights, including some to smuggle 
himself back into the country.
> The globe-trotting tale of the man, his fiancee, their wedding and 
honeymoon abroad — and conflicting recollections of what he was told 
about his disease and whether he could travel — culminated Tuesday 
with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issuing an 
international health alert.

[scifinoir2] OT: Native vs. immigrant: Issue resonates for blacks

[g123curious]

FYI, in case you hadn't read this. In my experience, this trend 
parallels what's going on in corporations... you see more and more 
asians and latinos, and fewer black americans. It's somewhat sad, but 
at least there's some diversity being maintained.

George
- - - - - - - - -
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18390590/
Associated Press
Updated: 6:12 p.m. ET April 30, 2007
Native vs. immigrant: Issue resonates for blacks
High number of black immigrants at U.S. colleges raises diversity 
questions
 

NEW YORK - Something in the crowd made Shirley Wilcher wonder. As a 
college graduate in the early 1970s, her black classmates were like 
herself — born in the United States, to American parents. But at an 
alumni reunion at Mount Holyoke College last year, she saw something 
different and asked for admissions data to prove it.

"My suspicions were confirmed," said Wilcher, now the executive 
director of the American Association for Affirmative Action. She 
found a rise in the number of black students from Africa and the 
Caribbean, and a downturn in admissions of native black Americans 
like her.

A study released this year put numbers on the trend. Among students 
at 28 top U.S. universities, the representation of black students of 
first- and second-generation immigrant origin (27 percent) was about 
twice their representation in the national population of blacks their 
age (13 percent). Within the Ivy League, immigrant-origin students 
made up 41 percent of black freshmen.

Wilcher would like to know why. She asks if her cause has lost its 
way on U.S. campuses, with the goal of correcting American racial 
injustices replaced by a softer ideal of diversity — as if any black 
student will do.

The study, published in the American Journal of Education, found no 
definitive answer as to why the change is happening. However, "folks 
I know personally who have worked in admissions have told me that 
they weren't surprised," said Camille Charles, a University of 
Pennsylvania professor who wrote the study with three Princeton
University professors.

The researchers looked at data from a national survey of 1,028 
freshmen at 28 top colleges and universities in 1999. The eight-year-
old material was used because it was specially designed to help find 
reasons for underachievement by minorities at colleges and 
universities.

A matter of perception?

In terms of student background, it found few differences, noting only 
that far more black immigrant students had fathers with college or 
advanced degrees than did other black students.

But the authors suggested that the reason for high proportion of 
immigrant students may lie in how the students are perceived.

"To white observers, black immigrants seem more polite, less hostile, 
more  solicitous, and 'easier to get along with,'" the study 
said. "Native blacks are perceived in precisely the opposite fashion."

That idea immediately found detractors. "I can't speak for white 
people, but that's crazy," said Adoma Adjei-Brenyah, a Columbia 
University student with college-educated parents from Ghana.

The director of public policy for the National Association for 
College Admission Counseling agreed. "I reject the notion that 
admissions officers are somehow deliberately doing this," David 
Hawkins said.

For expert, variety of perspectives is key

One legal expert explained the bump in black immigrants by saying 
that now, decades since the civil rights movement's peak, college 
diversity is aimed less at correcting American racial injustices and 
more at creating a variety of perspectives on campus.

Besides, "how many colleges and universities are looking to stand up 
and say, 'I'm continuing not to cure the problems of the past?'" said 
Arthur Coleman, a lawyer who co-wrote "Admissions and Diversity After 
Michigan: The Next Generation of Legal and Policy Issues."

Students agreed the subject of native vs. immigrant background 
remains sensitive.

Last month, a Harvard Black Students Association message board 
asked, "When we use the term 'black community,' who is included in 
this description?" A lively debate ensued, with some posters 
complaining that African students were getting an admissions boost 
without having faced the historical suffering of U.S. blacks.

Jason Lee, the Harvard group's president, echoed another thought in 
the discussion. "There's a historical sense that black Americans are 
disrespected by immigrants," he said. "Parents don't want their kids 
to play with them, don't want bad habits rubbing off on them. There's 
a bit of tension there."

But Adjei-Brenyah, the president of the African Students Association 
at Columbia, argued that drawing an admissions distinction based on 
suffering under slavery is false. "If you're going to make a slavery 
case, people from the Caribbean were also displaced and enslaved. How 
do you begin to differentiate?" he said.

An issue at Harvard

The issue of native vs. immigrant black Americans took hold at 

[scifinoir2] Re: [Fwd: Terminator Will Be Back, Without Arnold]

[g123curious]

I'll bet that one of these future films will be a WWF Smackdown 
featuring T3 and T2 vs. Alien and Predator.

More silliness and a waste of $$$ indeed... enough with the prequels, 
already!

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Martin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> (applause)
> 
> Daryle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote: Someone forward this to George Lucas, with the following
> note:
> 
> G:
> THIS, my friend, is silly.
> sincerely,
> the people who actually PAY to see movies.
> 
> How about we stop with the prequels and finish telling a story. The 
> comic book movies are the only ones moving FORWARD.
> 
> On May 10, 2007, at 3:38 PM, Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. 
> Minor) wrote:
> 
> >  Original Message 
> > Subject: Terminator Will Be Back, Without Arnold
> > Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 14:20:30 -0400
> > From: Gabriel, Dexter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >
> >
> > *Terminator Will Be Back, Without Arnold *
> > by Gina SerpeThu May 10, 5:44 AM ET
> > The Terminator is making good on its coming-back word. The
> > Governator, not so much. The Halcyon Company has announced plans
> > to revive the cyborg-battling movie series with at least three
> > more films, after the production company purchased all rights to
> > the dormant franchise for an undisclosed, though likely
> > eight-figure, sum.

[scifinoir2] Re: George Lucas Calls 'Spider-Man 3' Silly

[g123curious]

Jar Jar Binks is not silly? Ewoks are not silly? Lucas needs to shut 
his pie-hole on this topic of silliness.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella (formerly 
Tracey L. Minor)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> I first saw it as a kid ad really liked it , but never knew why
> everyone was freaking out over it.  When I watch them now as an
> adult, I find the acting stiff, the script cookie cutter and
> unimaginative...and those are the good ones. There is no way this
> man can believe that the mess he made of the Star Wars franchise is
> less "silly than the Spiderman.  Even with the flaws, I think the
> Spiderman franchise is fantastic. I think Lucas is jealous
> 
> Tracey
> 
> Martin wrote:
> >
> > Myself, I never got the initial thrill of it.
> >
> > "B. Smith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > 
> > wrote: If I were Raimi and Co. I wouldn't lose any sleep
> > considering it's coming from the man that delivered three tepid
> > prequels, Gungans, Ewoks, etc. Silly indeed.
> >
> > I just have never understood the reverence for Star Wars or Lucas.
> >
> > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> > , "Tracey de Morsella 
(formerly Tracey L. Minor)"  wrote:
> > >
> > > While I'm a big fan of Star Wars and it seems like Spiderman
> > > has a few problems (like so many undeveloped storylines in one
> > > movie) but I do not think Stars Wars never really delved into
> > > character development like the Spiderman series has done.
> > >
> > > =
> > >
> > > Lucas is currently preparing "Indiana Jones 4" with Harrison
> > > Ford, Blanchett and Shia LaBoeuf. The latter plays Ford's son,
> > > which means his mother was possibly the character Karen Allen
> > > played in "Raiders of the Lost Ark."

[scifinoir2] Re: OT: Edward F. Boyd Dies at 92; Marketed Pepsi to Blacks - Fought Stereotypes

[g123curious]

Thank you very, very much for posting this. It's always good to read 
about our history.

While I did not know this Pepsi story, I do like the link to the 
pullman rail cars. My Dad was a Pullman porter for many years after 
WW2. He traveled a lot and saw a lot of cities that I would later 
visit by air. There is a good movie about the pullman porters 
experience, titled _10,000 black men named george_ which I encourage 
folks to see, if you haven't. My dad was a strong supporter of A. 
Philip Randolph.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "ravenadal" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/06/business/06boyd.html?
> _r=1&oref=slogin
> 
> May 6, 2007
> 
> Edward F. Boyd Dies at 92; Marketed Pepsi to Blacks 
> 
> By DOUGLAS MARTIN
> 
> Edward F. Boyd, who as a young sales executive parlayed his 
> assignment to promote Pepsi-Cola to fellow blacks into a war
> against white racism and black stereotypes, meanwhile selling
> oceans more soda, died on April 30 in Los Angeles, PepsiCo
> announced. He was 92.


 

[scifinoir2] Re: ABC details final three "Lost" seasons

[g123curious]

Funny how an end point of 100 eps is just long enough for syndication 
(= ).

Does Heroes have an end date? If not, it should. So too should 
Desparate Housewives.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "ravenadal" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> 
http://tv.yahoo.com/news/article/urn:newsml:tv.reuters.com:20070507:lo
> st_dc__ER:1
> 
> ABC details final three "Lost" seasons
> By Nellie Andreeva Today at 12:16 am 
> ABC has set an end date for "Lost."
> 
> The Emmy-winning adventure series will run for 48 more episodes
> over three seasons. Each season will consist of 16 episodes, which
> will air uninterrupted.
> 
> "Lost" executive producers/showrunners Damon Lindelof and Carlton 
> Cuse, who have been vocal about setting up an endgame for the show, 
> have signed on to stay for the remainder of the series' run. Their 
> separate new eight-figure deals with "Lost" producer ABC TV Studio 
> include their services on the show as well as multiyear development 
> pacts set to kick in when "Lost" bows out during the 2009-10 season.
> 
> "Due to the unique nature of 'Lost,' we knew it would require an
> end date to keep the integrity and strength of the show consistent 
> throughout and to give the audience the payoff they deserve," ABC 
> Entertainment president Stephen McPherson said.
> 
> Lindelof said having the end point in sight was "incredibly 
> liberating. Like we've been running a marathon and we actually know 
> where the finish line is for the first time."
> 
> Lindelof and Cuse said they've had "a road map for the series with 
> all the major mythological milestones and the ending in place" for
> a while.
> 
> "What we didn't know was how long we had to play the story out,"
> Cuse said. "By defining the endpoint we can now really map out the
> rest of the series in confidence."
> 
> There will be some puzzle play, too.
> 
> "We sort of view "Lost" as a mosaic," Cuse said. "Now there are
> only 48 more tiles that go into that mosaic, and we're figuring
> out, along with all the other writers, exactly where they all go."
> 
> In January, Lindelof and Cuse said that they envisioned the
> endpoint for "Lost" around episode 100. The agreement with ABC will
> bring the total number of episodes to 120.
> 
> Lindelof wrote the pilot for "Lost" with fellow executive producer 
> J.J. Abrams, and Cuse joined the series in October 2004 shortly
> after the show debuted to big numbers.
> 
> In addition to its instant commercial success and large 
> following, "Lost" has enjoyed strong critical acclaim, capped by a 
> best drama series Emmy in 2005 and best drama series Golden Globe
> in 2006.
> 
> While the show's ratings have softened this season -- it is
> averaging 15.1 million viewers to date -- it is the most recorded
> show on TV, gaining 18% more viewers through DVR viewing. It is
> also a popular draw for streaming replays on ABC.com, iTunes
> downloads and DVDs.
> 
> Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
>

[scifinoir2] Re: OT: Paris Hilton Going to Jail for 45 Days--Who Cares?

[g123curious]

Yes it is sad that crap like this gets a lot of press while folks are 
dying in the Middle East and others in DC outright lie about a failed 
foreign policy.

BTW, PH couldn't hire a driver? Talk about your spoiled rich girl 
feeling entitled.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> Good point! I can say one thing for the series "Enterprise". Its 
point that the Vulcans intentionally tried to keep humans from deep 
space after 90 years almost makes sense at times.
> 
> -- Original message -- 
> From: Martin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
> I hear you, Keith. And I hope they're not considering orbital 
bombardment...
> 
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Sorry to destroy some of your brain cells 
with this, but the ludicrous nature of all the coverage over Hilton's 
dumb a$$ going to jail is pathetic and funny at the same time. I love 
the statements from her mother and lawyer who say she was singled out 
for punishment because of who she is. With all the issues over Iraq, 
New Orleans' continued sorry state, global warming, etc., what the 
heck do I care about a spoiled, untalented rich girl breaking the 
law? I can still here those Vulcans out in orbit. I doubt even 
creating warp drive will be enough to convince them we're worth 
contacting any time soon...
> 
> ** 
> 
> Paris Hilton Going to Jail for 45 Days
> By SANDY COHEN, AP Entertainment Writer
> 
> LOS ANGELES - A judge sentenced Paris Hilton to 45 days in county 
jail Friday for violating her probation, putting the brakes on the 
hotel heiress' famous high life. Hilton, who parlayed her name and 
relentless partying into worldwide notoriety, must go to jail by June 
5 and she will not be allowed any work release, furloughs, use of an 
alternative jail or electronic monitoring in lieu of jail, Superior 
Court Judge Michael T. Sauer ruled after a hearing.
> 
> The judge, saying "there's no doubt she knew her license had been 
suspended," ruled that she was in violation of the terms of her 
probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case.
> 
> "I'm very sorry and from now on I'm going to pay complete attention 
to everything. I'm sorry and I did not do it on purpose at all," she 
told the judge before he announced the sentence.
> 
> She was then ordered to report to a women's jail in suburban 
Lynwood by the set date or face 90 days behind bars. The judge's 
ruling excluded her from paying to serve time in a jail of her 
choice, as some are allowed. Hilton was among a series of witnesses 
who took the stand during the hearing. She testified she believed her 
license was initially suspended for 30 days and that she was allowed 
to drive for work purposes during the next 90 days. She said that 
when an officer who stopped her in January made her sign a document 
stating her license was suspended, she thought he was mistaken and 
did not actually look at the document.
> 
> Also called to the stand was Hilton's spokesman, Elliot Mintz. 
Hilton and her attorneys characterized Mintz as a liaison between 
Hilton and her lawyers.Mintz testified that to his knowledge Hilton 
did not drive during the 30-day period. He said he then advised her 
that he believed her license was no longer suspended.
> The judge called Mintz's testimony worthless and expressed 
disbelief at Hilton's lawyers.
> 
> "I can't believe that either attorney did not tell her that the 
suspension had been upheld," the judge said. "She wanted to disregard 
everything that was said and continue to drive no matter what."
> 
> As a city prosecutor said during closing arguments that Hilton 
deserved jail time, Hilton's mother, Kathy, laughed. When the judge 
ruled, Kathy Hilton then blurted out: "May I have your autograph?"
> 
> Paris Hilton looked forward and didn't speak to news media as she 
left court. Her mother looked upset.
> When a reporter asked what she thought of the judge's decision, a 
visibly angry Kathy Hilton responded: "What do you think? This is 
pathetic and disgusting, a waste of taxpayer money with all this 
nonsense. This is a joke."
> 
> Defense attorney Howard Weitzman said he would appeal.
> 
> "I'm shocked, I'm surprised and really disheartened in the system 
that I've worked in for close to 40 years," Weitzman said.
> 
> He said the sentence was "uncalled for, inappropriate and bordered 
on the ludicrous."
> 
> "I think she's singled out because of who she is," Weitzman said...
> 
> What Paris Can Expect Behind Bars
> 
> LOS ANGELES - Paris Hilton better like chicken. The hotel heiress 
was sentenced Friday to 45 days at the Century Regional Detention 
Center, Los Angeles County's jailhouse for women just south of 
downtown in Lynwood. Inmates get three low-sodium meals a day, with 
dinner the only hot meal. Beef and pork aren't permitted _ "it's all 
poultry-based," said Capt. Alice Scott, who oversees the 2,200-inmate 
facility she describes as "a very nice place."
> 
> Like othe

[scifinoir2] Re: When She Graduates as He]

[g123curious]

Thanks for sharing this. I have a friend who had gender reassignment 
surgery, was married many years, and is now a widow. So, I have a 
little experience with this as my friend and I have discussed her 
situation regarding her reentry into the dating scene.

I don't have any experience with the transman situation, but I'm not 
surprised. Every generation pushes the boundaries from previoius 
generations. And the advancing speed of technologies probably adds to 
this new trend.

I suspect the (radical) religious right will have huge problems with 
all of this, and not distinguish between the 2 situations (e.g., 
transgender vs. transman). The pace of change often happens faster 
than people can comprehend. People forget too easily and too quickly 
that we all are people. None of us are subhuman.

There was a news story recently about a man who sued his ex-wife 
claiming he shouldn't have to pay alimony since his ex-wife was now a 
man. Ultimately, all of this will get decided in the courts where it 
should, since we Americans are so timid when it comes to anything 
relating to sex. I don't see any Congress (red or blue dominated)
acting on this proactively. Even though gender roles and gender 
changes has been written about a lot in sci-fi, the larger society is 
often resistent to change.

Be careful with this thread. It may get SciFiNoir2 banned again from 
YahooGroups.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> Wow, this is fascinating. I won't pretend to understand the 
culture. My experience with transgender is extremely limited. I do, 
however, have some experience with young gays and lesbians. One thing 
I have noticed among some young women--not all, but some--is that 
they turn to lesbianism not because they're inately that way, but as 
a reaction to life pressures and problems. I've seen young women 
who've been sexually molested and raped turn away from men and toward 
women, an obvious inability to deal with the male gender. What I 
believe is a reaction that's not "real", (that is, they weren't born 
gay) can, after years of living the life, become almost 
indistinguishable.  I know someone now who's going through that. His 
daughter was molested, and before that was hetereo. Over the last 
five years or so, she's sworn off men, and has markedly changed her 
clothign, her hair, her speech, her walk, all to look more masculine. 
I worry that one day she'll reach a point where she'll never even
>  attempt to be with a man again, having found a type of safety in 
women.  I also think some young girls play with lesbianism almost as 
an expected or accepted thing to do. Witness a culture in which 
Madonna french kisses Britany Spears on TV, something I thought was 
unnecessary. Or how some stars like Anne Heche jumping back and forth 
over the fence.  I do wonder if some youngsters don't see it as 
something trendy to play with for a while, or as a previously 
unavailable avenue to deal with loneliness and rejection from boys. 
> 
> That being said, I wonder how many young people would go the 
transgender route--either the dressing up or the medicine/surgery--
unless they truly, deeply, felt they were in the wrong body? Maybe I 
can see the dress up/playacting thing, but when it comes to changing 
the body itself, I wonder if they weren't born with an internal 
conflict that wasn't caused by societal pressures?
> 
> -- Original message -- 
> From: "Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
> 
> > --- Original Message  
> > Subject: [Blackfolks] When She Graduates as He 
> > Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2007 22:52:42 -0400 
> > From: The Village Idiot 
> > Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
> > Organization: Village Idiot Productions 
> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
> > 
> > When She Graduates as He 
> > 
> > There's a battle brewing at the Seven Sisters over the growing 
> > population of transgender students. The question at its core:
> > What kind of women's college awards diplomas to men? 
> > 
> > By Adrian Brune | April 8, 2007 
> > 
> > Though born a girl, raised a girl, and now attending a women's
> > college, Isaiah Bartlett didn't feel quite right being female.
> > Old pictures show a very feminine, rosy-cheeked Allison Bartlett
> > with chin-length dark brown hair. Yet every time her mother
> > coaxed her into a dress for one of those photographs, Allison's
> > skin would crawl and her mind would race with insecurities. Even
> > coming out as a butch lesbian in her freshman year at Mt. Holyoke
> > College – and getting rid of those dresses for good – didn't seem
> > to solve the problem. 

[scifinoir2] French train goes 357+ mph

[g123curious]

FYI:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070403/ap_on_re_eu/france_fast_train_record

I dream of having something like this for travel between Boston and New 
York city.

George

[scifinoir2] OT: Time to start gardening

[g123curious]

Fellas: it's time to start gardening. It seems that men all around the 
UK have suddenly become interested in gardening:
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/article2411405.ece

(smile)

George

[scifinoir2] Re: OT: Frontline Series "News War"

[g123curious]

Thanks for posting this. I've been watching it. It is good, as it 
usually is. You can watch/read Al Jazeera via the Internet. IF you 
want access, you'll have to write to your cable provider and 
congressional reps.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> This series from "Frontline" is powerful and, I think, a must-see.  
I know we send a lot of e-mails around, and I know many of us rant 
and rave about all sorts of issues. Truth, it must be hard somedays 
to decide what latest issue is worth worrying about, which cause 
warrants our attention. But the following is worth a look. It's a 
four-part series about media and how perceptions are shaped in the 
newest Information Age. When you think about it, just about 
everything we think and feel is influenced by someone else: whether 
it's Madison Avenue telling us who's beautiful or what kind of car is 
hip, American Idol pushing no-talents off as singers, rappers telling 
us what it is to be "real", Hollywood pushing the myth of half-naked 
Spartans fighting an army of degenerates, or the President 
influencing our thoughts on everything from religion to social 
issues, we're bombarded with sights and sounds and slogans that 
say "This is good" or "This is bad".  Nowhere has this been in more 
evidence recently than the ideological battle of America vs. the 
Middle East, and America vs.--America, where soundbites, controlled 
messages, and subtle manipulations have been used to sway the public 
and pit us against each other. Indeed, I wonder how many of us--even 
those who think of ourselves as "free thinkers"--realize how much our 
minds are influenced by the media, and just how partisan and 
subjective that media has become nowadays.  
> 
> I watched the  fourth part of the series, "War of Ideas", last 
night. It focuses on how Arab and Middle Eastern TV is fast 
approaching the sophistication of American TV, technologically, and, 
especially, psychologically. One guy compared an Arab station to Fox, 
with the same slickly packaged pandering-to-the-crowd format. It 
touches on Al-Jazeera and its influence, and the regrettable (in my 
opinion) decision made by all major content providers in the US not 
to carry Al-Jazeera English, the new entity aimed at brining a Middle 
Eastern viewpoint to the English-speaking world.  Chilling that our 
government has basically made a decision for us on what we can watch, 
especially given how many respected *American* reporters have signed 
on with Al-Jazeera English. Not to mention, the audience of Arab-
focused cable and TV outlets is *huge*, and how can Americans make 
informed decisions about American Mid-East policy if we don't even 
know what the hell the Middle Easterners are thinking? Perhaps if 
we'd had some more knowledge taht up front, no one would have been 
foolish enough to think "Shock and Awe" would result in a cowed-but-
grateful Iraqi populace greeting our troops with open arms.
> 
> The entire series can be viewed online at the following address  
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/newswar/
> A brief quote from the synopsis:
> 
> ...Drawing on more than 80 interviews with key figures in the 
print, broadcast and electronic media, and with unequaled, behind-the-
scenes access to some of today's most important news organizations, 
FRONTLINE correspondent Lowell Bergman examines the challenges facing 
the mainstream news media, and the media's reaction, in "News War," a 
special four-part series. 
> Bergman traces the recent history of American journalism, from the 
Nixon administration's attacks on the media and the post-Watergate 
popularity of the press to new obstacles presented by the war on 
terror and changing economics in the media business and the Internet. 
The topic has special resonance for Bergman, whose career as a 
journalist for FRONTLINE, The New York Times, ABC News and 60 Minutes 
has included reporting on the issues that are critical to the current 
controversies. "There has been a perfect storm brewing in the world 
of news," says Bergman. "Not since the Nixon administration has there 
been this level of hostility leveled at news organizations. … [But] 
unlike the confrontations of 35 or more years ago, today's news war 
sees the very economic foundations of the business shifting."...
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

[scifinoir2] Re: OT: New Orleans Residents Arming Themselves

[g123curious]

Thanks for posting this article and your rant. Both were an 
interesting read. I agree with another poster's comment that this is 
yet another item to add to the list of articles of impeachment.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> This is so sad, I don't have the words. The disgust I feel turns my 
stomach. That damn criminally incompetent administration is spending 
hundreds of billions of dollars trying to keep Iraq from the fires of 
chaos it unleashed, costing the lives of thousands of soldiers and 
civilians, all the while telling us that doing so will keep America 
safe. Meanwhile, their own citizens are living in what might as well 
be a third-world country in their own back yard. That the citizens of 
New Orleans are arming themselves as if under siege is inexecusable! 
But what the hell else can you expect from a "leader" who didn't 
mention New Orleans once in his State of the Union, but who famously 
said, "You're doing a good job, Brownie", and, (Circling the Katrina-
devastated city from the safety of his plane) "As bad as things look 
from up here, I bet it's twice as bad down there".  
> 
> And this is an administration guided by Christ's principles? 
Doesn't that include loving your neighbour and helping him when he's 
in need?
> 
> *
> 
> New Orleans Residents Arming Themselves
> By MARY FOSTER, Associated Press Writer
> NEW ORLEANS - Sixty-four-year-old Vivian Westerman rode out 
Hurricane Katrina in her 19th-century house. So terrible was the 
experience that she wanted two things before the 2006 season arrived: 
a backup power source and a gun. "I got a 6,000-watt generator and 
the cutest little Smith & Wesson, snub-nose .38 you ever saw," she 
boasted. "I've never been more confident." People across New Orleans 
are arming themselves _ not only against the possibility of another 
storm bringing anarchy, but against the violence that has engulfed 
the metropolitan area in the 19 months since Katrina, making New 
Orleans the nation's murder capital.

[scifinoir2] Re: OT: 50 Cent: Publisher - Black books everywhere; not a thing to read

[g123curious]

Thanks for posting this. I was mostly unaware of this new genre and 
can say that I definitely do not plan to read it. I am hoping it 
doesn't kill of more scholarly works. I guess with the popularity of 
items like Grand Theft Auto and music from 50 pennies, this was bound 
to happen.

It definitely is another "shining example" of capitalism... anything 
to make a buck.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "ravenadal" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> "Water, water everywhere, not a drop to drink." - Coleridge's 
Ancient
> Mariner
> 
> http://www.calendarlive.com/books/la-ca-
gunit18mar18,0,6477447.story?coll=cl-books-top-right
> 
> 50 Cent's rap meets pulp
> 
> With G-Unit Books, 50 Cent has become hip-hop's first book 
publishing
> magnate.
> 
> By Chris Lee
> Times Staff Writer
> 
> March 18, 2007
> 
> YOU'D be forgiven for judging the paperback novella "The Ski Mask
> Way" by its cover.
> 
> The book's jacket artwork depicts a muscle-bound thug stripped to
> the waist to reveal a tapestry of tattoos: a skull, a spider and
> the word "Un Broken" etched across his pectorals in gothic font.
> Flanked by the silhouette of prison bars, he clutches a woolen
> balaclava, leaving little doubt as to the shoot'em-up literature
> within.
> 
> "Let's get that money the fast way — the ski mask way," one
> character says to another, handing him a sawed-off shotgun.

[scifinoir2] Re: Iranians Angered at Negative Portrayal in "300"

[g123curious]

In my experience, usually when folks get very upset and angry.. and are 
unable to discuss in a calm, civilized manner the original event which 
caused their complain, it's a clear sign that the original event was 
probably accurate.

And I'm inclined to view the complaints with a high degree of 
skepticism since the folks complaining also deny the Holocaust.

George
- - - - - - - -
> Iranian official lashes out at Hollywood movie "300" for insulting 
Persian civilization
>   
> 
> 
> An Iranian official on Sunday lashed out at the Hollywood
> movie "300" for insulting the Persian civilization, local
> Fars News Agency reported.

[scifinoir2] Re: Did Bush and Cheney Kill Captain America?

[g123curious]

Or, Captain America was stupid enough to go hunting with Chainsaw.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "ravenadal" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ari-emanuel/did-bush-and-cheney-kill-
_b_42967.html
> 
> So they killed Captain America. On paper he was offed by a sniper's
> bullet. But in reality it was the toxic state of Bush and Cheney's
> America. It's hard to be a star-spangled Super Soldier these days.
> Given the lip-service-only support this administration gives our
> troops, the patriotic hero would have to fight evil with a substandard
> red, white, and blue shield, and be stop-lossed into an endless tour
> of duty.
> The only upside to the good Captain's death? If he had survived his
> wounds, he might have been sent to Walter Reed.
>

[scifinoir2] Re: [Fwd: [Blackfolks] Priests to purify site after Bush visit]

[g123curious]

Hopefully, Mass. Governor Deval Patrick purified the State House when 
he took over the governorship after flip-flop-mmeister Mitt "slick 
hair and plastic face" Romney left to run for the White House.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella (formerly 
Tracey L. Minor)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>  Original Message 
> Subject:  [Blackfolks] Priests to purify site after Bush visit
> Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2007 10:28:16 -0500
> From: The Village Idiot <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 
>   
> 
> 
> Priests to purify site after Bush visit
> 
> By Juan Carlos Llorca, Associated Press Writer  |  March 9, 2007
> 
> GUATEMALA CITY --Mayan priests will purify a sacred archaeological
> site toeliminate "bad spirits" after President Bush visits next
> week, an official with close ties to the group said Thursday.
> 
> "That a person like (Bush), with the persecution of our migrant
> brothers in the United States, with the wars he has provoked, is
> going to walk in our sacred lands, is an offense for the Mayan
> people and their culture," Juan Tiney, the director of a Mayan
> nongovernmental organization with close ties to Mayan religious and
> political leaders, said Thursday.

[scifinoir2] Re: ...Eddie Murphy to Star in Fantasy Island

[g123curious]

Hey! This remake just might work. (Grimacing) As long as Murphy gets 
that short (obnoxious) brother from 'Different Strokes' as Tattoo in 
the remake with him. They can both yell, "da plane, sucker!" or "what 
you talkin' 'bout" as the guests arrive. I assume that the resort 
will be somewhere in Jamaica. LOL!

Me? I'll pass on watching any of this no matter who they cast in this 
misadventure.

N!

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella (formerly 
Tracey L. Minor)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> emake of the "Fantasy Island!"
> Written by Robert Sanchez
> Wednesday, 07 March 2007
> 
> Eddie Murphy is set to star in a fresh new big screeen remake of
> the "Fantasy Island" made famous in the 70's and early 80's by
> Ricardo Montalban and Herve Villechaize.
> 
> Image
> Norbit writers, Jay Scherick and David Ronn, have been brought
> aboard for a re-write and Eddie Murphy is expected to play several
> roles in the film a la Nutty Proffesor and Norbit. No word on a
> director or any other cast members at this time.
> 
> Prior to the long-running original series, Fantasy Island was
> introduced to viewers in 1977 through two highly-rated made-for-
> television films in which Mr. Roarke and Tattoo played relatively
> minor roles. Airing from 1978 to 1984, the original series starred
> Ricardo Montalban as Mr. Roarke, the enigmatic overseer of a
> mysterious island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean (presumably near
> Hawaii) where people from all walks of life could come and live out
> their fantasies â€" for a price.

[scifinoir2] Re: Crazy Lady Moving to Seattle

[g123curious]

Tracey:

Welcome back to the planet's newest and largest 3rd world country!

BTW, my wife and I will be in Seattle on or about August 10, 2007 for 
a cruise to Alaska. Maybe we can get together for dinner or drinks? 
We're staying in a downtown hotel a couple nights before the ship 
sails on August 12.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella (formerly 
Tracey L. Minor)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Hey SciFiNoir Fam:
> 
> Just letting you know that I'm moving back to the States.  Seattle 
is 
> where we are landing  (Chris is a software C++, ASP.NET guy.  We 
are 
> leaving on Tuesday.  We decided with both of us being sick, it is 
hard 
> to take advantage of the benefits that we moved to Mexico for.  I'm 
> going to be real sick for at least another six month and it will 
take an 
> additional year to get completely healed.  Since you guys have been 
so 
> supportive, I wanted you to know.
> 
> I m so excited becuase I have missed so much scifi and the schedule 
is 
> so behind, that sometimes I have to avoid reading your posts.  Now 
I 
> will able to join in.
> 
> Anyone on the list in Seattle?
> 
> Tracey
>

[scifinoir2] Re: OT: Coulter Criticized for Anti-Gay Slur Towards Edwards

[g123curious]

FYI. This article explains Coulter and her ilk quite completely:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-blumenthal/cpacs-gay-porn-star-
hono_b_42842.html

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> I agree. Some of these people may be doing the PT Barnum thing and 
giving a show, but their core is still full of hatred and contempt.
> 
> -- Original message -- 
> From: Martin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
> Yokozuna, I wish I could believe that. There's an absence in her 
eyes that, IMO, gives something of veracity to the invective she 
spews.
> 
> The Yokozuna Of Soul <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Coulter is in show 
business. She no more believes any of the 
> nonsense she says or writes than Lou Costello was an idiot. This 
> entire issue is fluff and we can expect more avoidance of the 
issues 
> as we get closer to 2008.
> 
> On Mar 5, 2007, at 5:57 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> 
> > Don't you just *love* the American political system? If you go to 
> > John Edwards' website, you can see the video clip for yourself. 
> > There, you also have the option to click a link to 
donate "Coulter 
> > Cash", which is a way of saying you can defeat people like 
Coulter 
> > by donating money to Edwards.https://johnedwards.com/action/ 
> > contribute/coulter
> >
> > Politics has got to be the dirtiest, bloodiest game in the world, 
> > but I guess you can't fault the Edwards camp for taking advantage 
> > of it in this way. I still say that I'm amazed that with all the 
> > things Edwards is saying--such as a recent interview in which he 
> > said Jesus would be "ashamed" of America, or the interview 
on "Meet 
> > the Press" where he said homosexuality is *not* a sin--he's 
getting 
> > such little press. Again, i wonder, if the media covered him as 
> > incessantly as it did Clinton and Obama, would his numbers be 
higher?
> >
> > All that aside, can someone explain to me what the hell is wrong 
> > with Coulter? She regularly spouts virulent hatred I'm only used 
to 
> > hearing from white men like Limbaugh or David Duke. What is wrong 
> > with her, what's her past? I've never been able to stomach 
> > watching, listening to, or reading about her, so have never done 
> > the research myself
> >
> > *
> >
> > http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/04/coulter.edwards/index.html
> >
> > Coulter Under Fire for Anti-Gay Slur
> > WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Prominent politicians from both parties and a 
> > gay-rights group on Saturday condemned right-wing commentator Ann 
> > Coulter for her reference Friday to Democratic presidential 
> > candidate John Edwards as a "faggot."
> > "Ann Coulter's use of an anti-gay slur yesterday was un-American 
> > and indefensible," Edwards said in a posting on his Web site, 
> > www.johnedwards.com.
> > "In America, we strive for equality and embrace diversity. The 
kind 
> > of hateful language she used has no place in political debate or 
> > our society at large.
> > "I believe it is our moral responsibility to speak out against 
that 
> > kind of bigotry and prejudice every time we encounter it."
> > Edwards' campaign posted the video on their Web site, and asked 
> > readers to help them "raise $100,000 in 'Coulter Cash' this week 
to 
> > keep this campaign charging ahead and fight back against the 
> > politics of bigotry."
> > Coulter made her comment in Washington during an address to the 
> > 34th annual meeting of the Conservative Political Action 
> > Conference, during which she gave her opinions about the 
Democrats' 
> > slate of presidential hopefuls.
> > "I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic 
> > presidential candidate, John Edwards, but it turns out that you 
> > have to go into rehab if you use the word 'faggot,' so I'm - so, 
> > kind of at an impasse, can't really talk about Edwards, so I 
think 
> > I'll just conclude here and take your questions," said Coulter, 
> > whose comment was followed by applause.
> > CNN has reached out to Coulter's representative, and received no 
> > response.
> > But the New York Times reported that she responded, in an e-mail, 
> > "C'mon, it was a joke. I would never insult gays by suggesting 
that 
> > they are like John Edwards. That would be mean."
> > A spokesman for Sen. John McCain, a Republican presidential 
> > candidate, called Coulter's comments to the conservative group 
> > "wildly inappropriate."
> > In a written statement, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, 
said, 
> > "Ann Coulter's words of hate have no place in the public sphere 
> > much less our political discourse. Not only should she apologize 
> > but those who participated in the conference with her should 
> > denounce her shameful and divisive actions."
> > "Ann Coulter's use of this anti-gay slur is vile and 
unacceptable," 
> > said Neil G. Giuliano, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance 
> > Against Defamation, "and the applause from her audience is an

[scifinoir2] Re: OT: Coulter Criticized for Anti-Gay Slur Towards Edwards

[g123curious]

FYI:

Ann Coulter Fights Back
http://diversityinc.com/public/1541.cfm

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, The Yokozuna Of Soul 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Coulter  is in show business.  She no more believes any of the  
> nonsense she says or writes than Lou Costello was an idiot. This  
> entire issue is fluff and we can expect more avoidance of the 
issues  
> as we get  closer to  2008.
> 
> 
> On Mar 5, 2007, at 5:57 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> 
> > Don't you just *love* the American political system? If you go 
to  
> > John Edwards' website, you can see the video clip for yourself.  
> > There, you also have the option to click a link to 
donate "Coulter  
> > Cash", which is a way of saying you can defeat people like 
Coulter  
> > by donating money to Edwards.https://johnedwards.com/action/ 
> > contribute/coulter
> >
> > Politics has got to be the dirtiest, bloodiest game in the 
world,  
> > but I guess you can't fault the Edwards camp for taking 
advantage  
> > of it in this way. I still say that I'm amazed that with all the  
> > things Edwards is saying--such as a recent interview in which he  
> > said Jesus would be "ashamed" of America, or the interview 
on "Meet  
> > the Press" where he said homosexuality is *not* a sin--he's 
getting  
> > such little press. Again, i wonder, if the media covered him as  
> > incessantly as it did Clinton and Obama, would his numbers be 
higher?
> >
> > All that aside, can someone explain to me what the hell is wrong  
> > with Coulter? She regularly spouts virulent hatred I'm only used 
to  
> > hearing from white men like Limbaugh or David Duke. What is 
wrong  
> > with her, what's her past? I've never been able to stomach  
> > watching, listening to, or reading about her, so have never done  
> > the research myself
> >
> > *
> >
> > http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/04/coulter.edwards/index.html
> >
> > Coulter Under Fire for Anti-Gay Slur
> > WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Prominent politicians from both parties and 
a  
> > gay-rights group on Saturday condemned right-wing commentator 
Ann  
> > Coulter for her reference Friday to Democratic presidential  
> > candidate John Edwards as a "faggot."
> > "Ann Coulter's use of an anti-gay slur yesterday was un-American  
> > and indefensible," Edwards said in a posting on his Web site,  
> > www.johnedwards.com.
> > "In America, we strive for equality and embrace diversity. The 
kind  
> > of hateful language she used has no place in political debate or  
> > our society at large.
> > "I believe it is our moral responsibility to speak out against 
that  
> > kind of bigotry and prejudice every time we encounter it."
> > Edwards' campaign posted the video on their Web site, and asked  
> > readers to help them "raise $100,000 in 'Coulter Cash' this week 
to  
> > keep this campaign charging ahead and fight back against the  
> > politics of bigotry."
> > Coulter made her comment in Washington during an address to the  
> > 34th annual meeting of the Conservative Political Action  
> > Conference, during which she gave her opinions about the 
Democrats'  
> > slate of presidential hopefuls.
> > "I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic  
> > presidential candidate, John Edwards, but it turns out that you  
> > have to go into rehab if you use the word 'faggot,' so I'm - so,  
> > kind of at an impasse, can't really talk about Edwards, so I 
think  
> > I'll just conclude here and take your questions," said Coulter,  
> > whose comment was followed by applause.
> > CNN has reached out to Coulter's representative, and received no  
> > response.
> > But the New York Times reported that she responded, in an e-
mail,  
> > "C'mon, it was a joke. I would never insult gays by suggesting 
that  
> > they are like John Edwards. That would be mean."
> > A spokesman for Sen. John McCain, a Republican presidential  
> > candidate, called Coulter's comments to the conservative group  
> > "wildly inappropriate."
> > In a written statement, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, 
said,  
> > "Ann Coulter's words of hate have no place in the public sphere  
> > much less our political discourse. Not only should she apologize  
> > but those who participated in the conference with her should  
> > denounce her shameful and divisive actions."
> > "Ann Coulter's use of this anti-gay slur is vile and 
unacceptable,"  
> > said Neil G. Giuliano, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance  
> > Against Defamation, "and the applause from her audience is an  
> > important reminder that Coulter's ugly brand of bigotry is at 
the  
> > root of the discriminatory policies being promoted at this 
gathering."
> > In a written statement, Democratic National Committee Chairman  
> > Howard Dean called on Republicans to denounce her 
remarks. "There  
> > is no place in political discourse for this kind of hate-filled 
and  
> > bigoted comments," he said.
> > During a questi

[scifinoir2] Re: [Fwd: [MCP] Racism and College Republicans]

[g123curious]

Yep. Folks forget that the underground railroad ran in both 
directions. A lot of folks in and around Philly made a lot of money 
capturing "runaway slaves."

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella (formerly 
Tracey L. Minor)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> 
> 
> *Subject:* Workers.org article: 
> http://www.workers.org/2007/editorials/campus-0308/
> 
> EDITORIAL
> 
> 
>   Stop campus racism
> 
> Published Mar 2, 2007 11:15 PM
> 
> The more than 300 students and activists who confronted vicious 
> anti-immigrant organizing by the New York University (NYU) College 
> Republicans deserve a cheer for their act of solidarity. They
> turned out to protest a white supremacist "contest" offensively
> named "Catch the Illegal Immigrant."

[scifinoir2] Re: Interesting Matrix Factoid

[g123curious]

Who is Jean Reno and why should I care?

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey 
L. Minor)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> I was watching the Professional AKA Leon today with Jean Reno  ... 
> Leon, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, and Danny Aiello.   Anyway, I 
found 
> out that Jean Reno was supposed to be agent Smith and turned it down 
to 
> appear in Godzilla.
> 
> Had to tell somebody
>

[scifinoir2] Re: OT: White Supremacist Gang Gains Clout

[g123curious]

If this really bothers you, donate your time, money, and energy to 
the Southern Poverty Law Center ( www.splcenter.org/ ). They 
regularly fight and prosecute hate crimes including these types of 
criminals.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> Huh, the late, lamented tv seris "The O.C" never dealt with this!  
Dang, this is scary. And they're recruting bored middle-class white 
kids, huh? Like Momma always loves  to quote, "An idle mind is the 
Devil's workshop".  I know that many kids get into serious trouble 
out of boredom and a need for some type of leadership, and I know 
that all sins are equal and all. But in my gut it just feels somehow 
more *wrong* for kids with money and comfort to turn into racist 
thugs. At least people struggling in the inner city warzones I can 
see. But no matter the source, once these kids stay in long enough, 
their playing around turns deadly serious.
> 
> What troubles me is that these types of gangs are on the rise 
again. Everytime you think America's halfway working through its 
racial problems, you realize that ain't the case. Now the scapegoats 
are illegal immigrants (mostly Latinoes) and Arabs (all would-be 
terrorists). And let's not forget the oldie-but-goodie: Black folk...
> 
> There's a cable special on the Aryan Brotherhood, airing this week 
I believe. Can't remmber if it'll be on A&E or The History Channel.  
Reading and watching this stuff almost makes the special on the Dark 
Ages I watched last night seem tame!
> 
> **
> White Supremacist Gang Gains Clout
> By GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press Writer
> 4 hours ago
> BUENA PARK, Calif. - The white supremacist gang Public Enemy No. 1 
began two decades ago as a group of teenage punk-rock fans from upper-
middle class bedroom communities in Southern California.
> Now, the violent gang that deals in drugs, guns and identity theft 
is gaining clout across the West after forging an alliance with the 
notorious Aryan Brotherhood, authorities say.
> Police say the gang has compiled a "hit list" targeting five 
officers and a gang prosecutor _ a sign of just how brazen Public 
Enemy has become.
> "They make police officers very, very nervous," said Cpl. Nate 
Booth, a gang detective with the Buena Park Police Department in 
Orange County.
> Law enforcement officials trace the gang's rise to shifts in the 
power structure inside prisons.
> The Aryan Brotherhood has long been the dominant white supremacist 
gang behind bars, with the Nazi Low Riders acting as its foot 
soldiers on the outside for drug dealing and identity theft.
> In 2000, officials reclassified the Low Riders as a prison-based 
gang and began sending its members to solitary confinement as soon as 
they were imprisoned.
> The crackdown hurt the gang's ability to interact with the Aryan 
Brotherhood, which turned to Public Enemy, authorities say. The 
alliance was cemented in 2005 when Donald Reed "Popeye" Mazza, an 
alleged leader of Public Enemy, was inducted into the Aryan 
Brotherhood.
> The pact has increased Public Enemy's wealth and recruiting power, 
said Steve Slaten, a special agent for the California Department of 
Corrections.
> In the past three years, its ranks have doubled to at least 400, 
but authorities suspect there could be hundreds of other members 
operating under the radar. They said heavy recruiting is taking place 
throughout California and Arizona, and members have been picked up by 
police in Nevada and Idaho.
> "They move around. We find them everywhere," said Lowell Smith of 
the Orange County Probation Department.
> The gang traces its roots to the punk rock subculture in Long Beach 
in the 1980s. It soon shifted its base to nearby Orange County and in 
the 1990s began recruiting what police call "bored latchkey kids" _ 
white teenagers from upper-middle class neighborhoods.
> Public Enemy is now involved in identity theft. Booth said the gang 
has gone from swiping personal information from mailboxes and trash 
to stealing entire credit profiles with the help of girlfriends and 
wives who take jobs at banks, mortgage companies and even state motor 
vehicle departments.
> Money from those operations is used to fuel its methamphetamine 
business, he said.
> Two months ago, police agencies in Orange County arrested 67 
suspected members after learning about the hit list against officers 
in Anaheim, Buena Park and Costa Mesa. Those arrested in the raid 
were charged with conspiracy to commit murder, possession of illegal 
weapons and identity theft, among other things. Police have not 
released their names or further details because the investigation is 
continuing.
> Booth recalled another case in which a member of the gang fired 
dozens of rounds at police from a car driven by his girlfriend during 
a high-speed freeway pursuit. After being arrested, the man was taken 
to an emergency room, where he grabbed a scalpel and tried to slash a 
deputy

[scifinoir2] Re: (fwd): Star Wars vs. Star Trek - Funny!

[g123curious]

Haha! Good one. One trivia point... the Death Star's 400 giga-watts of 
power isn't much more than the 21 gigawatts Dr. Emmet Brown used to 
propel his car back to the future.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Brent Wodehouse" 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> http://www.geekarmy.com/funny/Star-Wars-vs-Star-Trek.html
>

[scifinoir2] Re: OT: Coulter Criticized for Anti-Gay Slur Towards Edwards

[g123curious]

IMHO, there are 3 aspects to Coulter that one needs to remember:

First, she's selling her books. She's a capitalist and she knows that 
the more books she sells, the more political clout she (hopes) to 
wield. Only difference between her and Limbaugh, one uses radio. The 
other uses print. Both distort the truth. Her outrageous comments get 
people, like you, to wonder who she is and to buy her books to find 
out. (Think of it this way: afte Bull Connor sicked dogs and fire 
hoses on civil rights protesters, did you need to read his book to 
understand who he was?)

Second, Coulter's rants energize her base. Like Limbaugh and 
O'Reilly, she is entertainment... an entertaining commentator... 
someone to hear and make you feel good after you're plunked down 
$1,000 per plate at a GOP fundraiser. For Coulter's audience, they 
consider her a balancing force against folks like Michael Moore and 
Al Franken. (Moore's films pissed off conservatives much more than we 
progressives realize; as did Gore's film.) For conservatives, 
anything and anyone that energizes their base to vote, is a good 
thing. For conservatives, Coulter also combats the supposed "left-
leaning media" -- the usual target is the NY Times.

Third, Coulter provides cover for many Repubs. She says what they 
want to say but don't. It's cowardly, but it is what it is. IMHO, 
this definitely includes Chainsaw and Dubya. They can stay above the 
fray while their designated attack dogs (Coulter, Limbaugh) do the 
dirty work. (Remember how W used PACs to attack Kerry, so he didn't 
have to.) The trap is attacking her instead of focusing on the issues 
and attacking the conservatives running for office.

I have every confidence that Coulter will get her "due." Payback will 
be a b---h and her's is coming. I am sure that Olbermann is working 
on something relevant... one aspect of her "due."

As for your comment below about Edwards' web site, Edwards is doing 
what is appropriate... using Coulter's own words against her... to 
energize his base. Yes, all of this is pretty brutal politics. I say 
better this than outright civil war... remember that politics is a 
surrogate for actual fighting. And, we haven't seen pols hand 
fighting (yet) in the house, like they have in other countries... or 
back in the 1800's.

Last, Edwards is one of the few arguing for the poor. I see nobody 
doing that amongst the GOP prez candidates. They argue for funding 
for churches (instead of FEMA; or privatization instead of WRAH) to 
help the poor and suffering... a lazyman's excuse, IMHO, but it 
appeals to their base.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> Don't you just *love* the American political system? If you go to 
John Edwards' website, you can see the video clip for yourself. 
There, you also have the option to click a link to donate "Coulter 
Cash", which is a way of saying  you can defeat people like Coulter 
by donating money to Edwards. 
https://johnedwards.com/action/contribute/coulter   
> 
> Politics has got to be the dirtiest, bloodiest game in the world, 
but I guess you can't fault the Edwards camp for taking advantage of 
it in this way. I still say that I'm amazed that with all the things 
Edwards is saying--such as a recent interview in which he said Jesus 
would be "ashamed" of America, or the interview on "Meet the Press" 
where he said homosexuality is *not* a sin--he's getting such little 
press. Again,  i wonder,  if the media covered him as incessantly as 
it did Clinton and Obama, would his numbers be higher?
> 
> All that aside, can someone explain to me what the hell is wrong 
with Coulter? She regularly spouts virulent hatred I'm only used to 
hearing from white men like Limbaugh or David Duke. What is wrong 
with her, what's her past? I've never been able to stomach watching, 
listening to, or reading about her, so have never done the research 
myself
> 
> *
> 
> http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/04/coulter.edwards/index.html
>  
> Coulter Under Fire for Anti-Gay Slur
> WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Prominent politicians from both parties and a 
gay-rights group on Saturday condemned right-wing commentator Ann 
Coulter for her reference Friday to Democratic presidential candidate 
John Edwards as a "faggot."
> "Ann Coulter's use of an anti-gay slur yesterday was un-American 
and indefensible," Edwards said in a posting on his Web site, 
www.johnedwards.com. 

[scifinoir2] Re: OT: Thurmond's daughter says Sharpton overreacted

[g123curious]

The parent-child bond is not to be underestimated. People will often 
cling to it when all logic and facts say otherwise.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> I absolutely respect her ability to handle her past with such 
calm, 'cause I'd still be pissed about it.  But I'm surprised she so 
quickly commented publicly about Sharpton. Here's a man who's spent 
his life fighting for civil rights, getting the confirmation none of 
us wants: that his ancestors were owned and sold like cattle.  Given 
Thurmond's segrationist past and secret trip to the slave quarters 
(so to speak), of course Sharpton is reeling.  Miss Washington-
Williams made a big point of remaining silent about her own heritage 
for decades, only coming forward reluctantly when her kids pushed 
her. So why is she criticizing Sharpton?  If she wanted to comment, 
I wish she'd reached out to Sharpton with understanding and perhaps 
an offer to meet and talk about things with him. Or give him the 
same respect she gave her racist  father, and just keep her feelings 
to herself.  I felt this when she first came out a few years ago, 
and I may be wrong, but I think she's a sad example of how
>  the slaves' minds could be warped to love and respect their 
masters.  For her to be able to say Thurmond was a "good father" in 
many ways? Sure, he just impregnated an underage Negro woman in a 
decidedly unfair (possibly coercive) relationship, hid the fact, and 
then spent decades keeping her people down.  Do "all the good things 
he did for Black people" make up for all the damage he did to us by 
setting up institutions whose ill effects are still felt in South 
Carolina? So I'm to respect the fact that he gave her money? Please. 
> Wonder what she'll say about Sharpton's comments on the Tom Joyner 
Morning Show this morning? He said that if DNA tests confirm that he 
is related to the Thurmonds, he'll definitely be looking into legal 
recourse to get back some of the ill-gotten wealth they obtained 
from the illegal and immoral ownership of his family. 
> **
> Thurmond's daughter says Sharpton overreacted
> By Austin Fenner and Jose Martinez
> New York Daily News
> (MCT)
> NEW YORK - The biracial daughter of the late Sen. Strom Thurmond 
defended the segregationist Tuesday and criticized the Rev. Al 
Sharpton for "overreacting" when he learned his ancestors had been 
enslaved by Thurmond's relatives.
> "His reaction, to me, was overbearing. He seemed too upset," said 
Essie Mae Washington-Williams, who revealed shortly after Thurmond's 
death in 2003 that she was his illegitimate daughter.
> "In spite of being a segregationist, he did many wonderful things 
for black people," Washington-Williams, 81, said of her father. "I 
kind of feel that there was a little bit of an overreaction here."
> Ancestry.com genealogists discovered the link between Sharpton and 
Thurmond after an intensive two-week search unearthed an 1861 slave 
contract. The document showed that the reverend's great-grandfather, 
Coleman Sharpton Sr., was enslaved by Julia Ann Thurmond Sharpton, a 
distant relative of the late senator.
> As the New York Daily News broke the story Sunday, Sharpton 
said, "It was probably the most shocking thing in my life."
> But Washington-Williams said Sharpton should try to make peace 
with his family's link to the white slave owners. "If it had been 
any other family, maybe he wouldn't have reacted the way he did," 
she said Tuesday.
> Strom Thurmond fathered his biracial daughter when he was 22, and 
her mother, a black maid for the Thurmond family, was 16.
> But even as he ran for President on a segregationist platform in 
1948, Thurmond did not shy away from his duties as a dad, Washington-
Williams said.
> He put her through college and visited her often, she said.
> "We had a 62-year relationship," she said. "He's done many 
wonderful things for my family."
> Thurmond's other children - whom Washington-Williams referred to 
as her brothers and sister - have not publicly commented on their 
family tree.
> "They have always been very quiet," said Washington-Williams, 
adding that she maintains a "good relationship" with the Thurmond 
family.
> Washington-Williams, a retired educator who lives in California, 
was in South Carolina to sign copies of her book, "Dear Senator," 
which chronicles her once-hidden relationship with Thurmond.
> "I'm not sure that Rev. Sharpton is aware of the many things Strom 
Thurmond has done for South Carolina," she said. "He just knows 
about the things said about segregation."
> When told of Washington-Williams' comments, Sharpton said his 
situation was different than hers.
> "I was given specific accounting about my great-grandfather as 
chattel property and used against their will for profit in two 
different states," Sharpton told The News from Miami. "No one should 
minimize how their family was considered property and less than 
human."
> Sharpto

[scifinoir2] Re: OT: Asian paper's 'I Hate Blacks' column assailed

[g123curious]

Is this really surprising? I found this very interesting, and not 
entirely a surprise, for two reasons:

1. Former NBA player Tim Hardaway's comments:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2766213

2. The explosive growth of niche publishing via cable TV, am talk 
radio, blogs, and the internet allows people with narrow views to 
reach narrow audiences. This allows people to maintain narrow news 
sources and not benefit from the perspectives of others. Only 
occassionally do narrow views (like Eng's) reach broader, mainstream 
media. I hope that everyone on this list is watching the PBS 
Frontline series on 'News War" as it explores this and other related 
problems. See:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/newswar/

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, James Landrith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> There are no words.  Well, there are three.
> 
> Foot.  Up.  Ass.
> 
> ___
> James A. Landrith, Jr.
> 703-593-2065 cell
> 760-875-8547 fax
> http://www.jameslandrith.com
> 
> .. Original Message ...
> 
> >[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: San Francisco Chronicle
> >Asian paper's 'I Hate Blacks' column assailed
> >Leslie Fulbright, Chronicle Staff Writer
> >Tuesday, February 27, 2007
> >A San Francisco weekly newspaper that bills itself as "The Voice
> >of Asian America" is facing harsh criticism from that very
> >community for publishing a column Friday titled "Why I Hate
> >Blacks."

[scifinoir2] Political humor: role plays

[g123curious]

http://www.glumbert.com/media/roleplay

Warning: adult situations.

George

[scifinoir2] Licensed to pill

[g123curious]

Be sure to turn on sound:

http://www.cafeoflifepikespeak.com/Videos/Licensed%20To%20Pill.swf

Enjoy!

George

[scifinoir2] Re: White and Nerdy

[g123curious]

Did you find all of the Star Wars references in this vid? There are at 
least 4 Star Wars references and 2 Star Trek references.

Geo

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "g123curious" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
wrote:
>
> This is too d--- funny:
> 
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xEzGIuY7kw
> 
> George
> Captain
> The USS Ronald E. McNair (Boston)
>

[scifinoir2] Re: Ousted Pastor ‘Compl etely Heterosexual

[g123curious]

Haggard is as "cured" as Rush Limbaugh is sober. Set your RSS feed 
for these two clowns. There's more to come from both, for sure.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Martin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
wrote:
>
> Oh, ja, ja...
> 
> Reece Jennings <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:  (tongue firmly 
in cheek, folks!)
> 
> Uhhh...this WAS Freudian, right? LOLLOL!
> 
> 
> _ 
> 
> From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Martin
> Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 4:43 PM
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Ousted Pastor ‘Completely 
Heterosexual
> 
> Anyone find it odd that on this day, as the Right reverend Haggard 
announces himself free of homosexuality, a former NBA player, John 
Amaeichi, comes out of the closet? Maybe Haggard's onto something? 
(tongue firmly in cheek, folks!)
> 
> "Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor)" 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]  
aladvantage.com> wrote: Especially not in three weeks. I think the 
most they could accomplish 
> is that they would make them turned off to sex entirely. 
> 
> Tracey
> 
> Bosco Bosco wrote:
> >
> > I know a lot of gay people who don't feel
> > they could just switch teams given the right set of 
circumstances.
> >
> > Bosco
> > --- KeithBJohnson@  
comcast.net  wrote:
> >
> > > Is it the same therapy used on Gibson, Richards, and 
Washington? I
> > > think I posted an e-mail a couple of weeks ago joking that 
there
> > > ought to be a treatment facility divided into wings for 
differing
> > > types of phobias and prejudices.
> > >
> > > What do you think? Is homosexuality an illness or behavioural 
issue
> > > that can be "cured"? I'm not convinced that all homosexuality 
is
> > > genetic or brain-mandated as some feel. (You're either born 
gay or
> > > not, they say). Look at all the ancient societies where
> > > homosexuality--or bi-sexuality, I should say--was practiced:
> > > Sparta, Rome, others. Surely not every soldier and citizen who
> > > engaged in that behaviour was born gay? I think the lifestyle 
and
> > > cultural mores might have done that to them.
> > >
> > > Are some people born gay, and others simply become such due to
> > > environment?
> > >
> > > -- Original message --
> > > From: "ravenadal" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]  com >
> > > There was a great bit on "The View" today. The women mentioned 
that
> > > parents sometimes make a child caught smoking smoke a whole 
pack of
> > > cigarettes as a form of aversion therapy. They pondered what 
sort
> > > of
> > > "aversion therapy" had been employed to make Haggard change his
> > > orientation in just three weeks...
> > >
> > > ~rave!
> > >
> > > --- In [EMAIL PROTECTED]  ups.com 
> > , "Tracey de Morsella 
(formerly
> > > Tracey L. Minor)"  wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Forced by a gay sex scandal to resign as president of the
> > > National
> > > > Association of Evangelicals, the Rev. Ted Haggard now feels 
that
> > > after
> > > > three weeks of intensive counseling, he is â€Å
“completely
> > > heterosexual,”
> > > > says an overseer of the megachurch Mr. Haggard once led.
> > > >
> > > > The church official, the Rev. Tim Ralph, said in an interview
> > > published
> > > > yesterday by The Denver Post that Mr. Haggard had also told 
the
> > > board of
> > > > overseers that his only sexual relationship involving 
another man
> > > had
> > > > been with Michael Jones, the onetime Denver prostitute who
> > > exposed that
> > > > three-year affair last fall. Mr. Jones said then that he was
> > > making it
> > > > public because Mr. Haggard had acted hypocritically in 
promoting
> > > a
> > > > constitutional amendment to bar same-sex marriage.
> > > >
> > > > Mr. Haggard, who as a result of the scandal was ousted by the
> > > overseers
> > > > in November as senior pastor of New Life Church in Colorado
> > > Springs,
> > > > broke a three-month silence over the weekend when he 
contacted
> > > members
> > > > of the church by e-mail to tell them that he was healing.
> > > >
> > > > His three weeks of counseling, in Phoenix, felt like ââ
‚¬Å“three
> > > years’ worth
> > > > of analysis and treatment,” but now ââ
‚¬Å“Jesus is starting to put
> > > me
> > > back
> > > > together,” Mr. Haggard wrote in the e-mail 
message, which was
> > > published
> > > > in The Colorado Springs Gazette on Monday.
> > > >
> > > > “I have spent so much time in repentance, 
brokenness, hurt and
> > > sorrow
> > > > for the things I’ve done and the negative 
impact my actions
> > > have
> > > had on
> > > > others,” he said.
> > > >
> > > > Mr. Hag

[scifinoir2] Re: Star Wars gangsta rap

[g123curious]

Glad that y'all enjoyed it. So did I. It's good, but not as good 
as 'White and Nerdy."

Geo

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Amy Harlib" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> 
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> OW!  That was a hoot!  But it cut off rather too abruptly.
> ROTFL!
> Amy
> > 
> > In a message dated 2/8/07 2:44:04 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> > 
> > 
> >> WARNING! Contains explicit language like most gangsta rap:
> >> 
> >> http://www.glumbert.com/media/starwars
> >> 
> >> LoL!
> >> 
> >> George
> >> 
> > 
> > Oboy.   Lucas, what have you sparked.   :D
> > 
> > -GTW

[scifinoir2] Re: [Fwd: [Blackfolks] Is this what a future Oscar winner looks like?]

[g123curious]

Oscar has nothing to do with it. Period.

I have no interest in films that make fun of overweight black woman 
or overweight women. This includes Murphy's latest film, but also 
includes 2 films by Martin Lawrence (Big Mama's house or something 
titled like that), and the stage play/film by the other black guy 
who's name I can't remember. A trend of poor taste. There's so much 
else that's funny and funnier.

BTW, the tv series 'Ugly Betty' is really good. It has much more 
positive messages in it, for people of all backgrounds.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Martin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
wrote:
>
> "Academy Award chances" After *hearing* about "Norbit", I 
may never watch a movie with him in it again.
> 
> "Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
wrote:  --- Original Message 
> Subject: [Blackfolks] Is this what a future Oscar winner looks 
like?
> Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2007 17:38:38 -0600
> From: Mel Cragwell, II 
> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 
> 
> 
> http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-wk- 
> norbit8feb08,1,2603410.story?coll=la-headlines-entnews
> 
> Is this what a future Oscar winner looks like?
> 
> Some fear 'Norbit' could hurt Murphy's Academy Award chances.
> By Greg Braxton and Robert W. Welkos
> Times Staff Writers
> 
> February 8, 2007
> 
> EDDIE Murphy's on the verge of an awards season trifecta — his 
> charismatic portrayal of a tragic R&B singer in "Dreamgirls" has 
> already nabbed him a Screen Actors Guild award and a Golden Globe, 
and 
> he's considered a front-runner for a best supporting Oscar.
> 
> But the most high-profile image of Murphy these days — while Oscar 
> ballots are still out — is on billboards and in movie trailers 
wearing 
> a fat suit, garish eye shadow and little else.
> 
> The tagline for his new comedy, "Norbit," poses the 
question: "Have you 
> ever made a really big mistake?"
> 
> Some Oscar observers are questioning the timing of the movie's 
Friday 
> arrival, and whether it may unintentionally put off potential 
academy 
> voters, while some black activists are taking Murphy to task for 
> engaging in what they say are demeaning racial stereotypes.
> 
> "Every time I pass that billboard, it makes me sick," said one 
veteran 
> Oscar consultant, who declined to be identified and is not 
involved in 
> a rival campaign. "I think his performance in 'Dreamgirls' is so 
> fabulous" and deserves to win the Academy Award. But, he added, 
> Murphy's latest comedy offering "doesn't help."
> 
> Award season aside, Murphy and "Norbit" are under fire from some 
black 
> activists who say the film is just the latest to build a movie 
around a 
> black man dressing up as an unsophisticated, overweight black 
woman. 
> Adding fuel to their anger is the movie's release during Black 
History 
> Month.
> 
> "For Eddie to follow what he did with 'Dreamgirls' with this just 
> doesn't make sense," said Robert M. Entman, author of "The Black 
Image 
> in the White Mind: Media and Race in America." "There's no excuse 
for 
> him to lend his prestige to something like this…. There has to be 
a 
> point where African American stars of his stature have to take 
some 
> responsibility for their actions and just say no."
> 
> Murphy's stunning turn as James "Thunder" Early in "Dreamgirls" 
has 
> earned him rave reviews and renewed respect for a performer who 
has had 
> one of Hollywood's most up-and-down careers. He's had his share of 
hits 
> ("48 Hrs.," "Beverly Hills Cop," "Trading Places" and the "Shrek" 
> movies) and flops ("The Adventures of Pluto Nash," "The Haunted 
> Mansion.")
> 
> Now, Murphy is in contention for the industry's top honors, which 
will 
> be handed out Feb. 25. Ballots are due back Feb. 20.
> 
> "Norbit" could end up working in Murphy's favor, the creative 
forces 
> behind it say, because the comedy demonstrates Murphy's range and 
> ability to morph into multiple characters. It's an approach the 
actor 
> has used to great success in "Coming to America" and the two "The 
Nutty 
> Professor" films. "Norbit," about a wimpy man trapped in a 
horrible 
> relationship with a woman (also played by Murphy), was co-written 
by 
> Murphy and his brother Charles Murphy, and produced by the actor's 
> production company.
> 
> Murphy, who has shunned print interviews for years, declined to 
comment.
> 
> The comedy has done well with focus groups, said Stacey Snider, 
> co-chairwoman of DreamWorks: "Audiences have always loved it."
> 
> She added that she was "confident" that "Norbit" would have no 
> influence on academy members' evaluation of Murphy's work in 
> "Dreamgirls." "People can separate the performance in 'Dreamgirls' 
for 
> the career-defining role that it was…. They accept this movie for 
the 
> comedy that it is…. I think people are wise enough and savvy 
enough to 
> understand the spirit that was intended. They know not to read too 
much 
> into it."

[scifinoir2] Star Wars gangsta rap

[g123curious]

WARNING! Contains explicit language like most gangsta rap:

http://www.glumbert.com/media/starwars

LoL!

George

[scifinoir2] Re: Ousted Pastor ‘Completely Heterosexual

[g123curious]

IMHO, Haggard is about as "cured" as Rush Limbaugh is sober. The 
test of time will tell for both.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Martin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
wrote:
>
> I'm thinking it was non-stop viewing of the entire "Debbie Does 
Dallas" Collection.
> 
> ravenadal <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> There was a great bit on "The View" today. The women mentioned that
> parents sometimes make a child caught smoking smoke a whole pack of
> cigarettes as a form of aversion therapy. They pondered what sort
> of "aversion therapy" had been employed to make Haggard change his
> orientation in just three weeks...
> 
> ~rave!
> 
> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella (formerly
> Tracey L. Minor)"  wrote:
> >
> > Forced by a gay sex scandal to resign as president of the
> > National Association of Evangelicals, the Rev. Ted Haggard now
> > feels that after three weeks of intensive counseling, he is
> > "completely heterosexual," says an overseer of the megachurch
> > Mr. Haggard once led.
> > 
> > The church official, the Rev. Tim Ralph, said in an interview
> > published yesterday by The Denver Post that Mr. Haggard had also
> > told the board of overseers that his only sexual relationship
> > involving another man had been with Michael Jones, the onetime
> > Denver prostitute who exposed that three-year affair last fall.
> > Mr. Jones said then that he was making it public because Mr.
> > Haggard had acted hypocritically in promoting a constitutional
> > amendment to bar same-sex marriage.
> > 
> > Mr. Haggard, who as a result of the scandal was ousted by the
> > overseers in November as senior pastor of New Life Church in
> > Colorado Springs, broke a three-month silence over the weekend
> > when he contacted members of the church by e-mail to tell them
> > that he was healing.
> > 
> > His three weeks of counseling, in Phoenix, felt like "three
> > years worth of analysis and treatment," but now "Jesus is
> > starting to put me back together," Mr. Haggard wrote in the
> > e-mail message, which was published in The Colorado Springs
> > Gazette on Monday.
> > 
> > "I have spent so much time in repentance, brokenness, hurt and
> > sorrow for the things I've done and the negative impact my
> > actions have had on others," he said.
> > 
> > Mr. Haggard could not be reached for comment yesterday. Mr.
> > Ralph declined through a spokeswoman to comment, and there was
> > no response to telephone calls and e-mail to another overseer or
> > to a New Life spokesman. But Mr. Ralph told The Denver Post that
> > Mr. Haggard had come out of the counseling convinced of his
> > heterosexuality.
> > 
> > "He is completely heterosexual," Mr. Ralph told The Post, adding
> > that Mr. Haggard's homosexual activity had not been "a constant
> > thing."
> > 
> > Dr. Jack Drescher, a New York psychiatrist who is an expert on
> > issues of gender and sexuality, said that while it was people's
> > prerogative to identify their sexual orientation as they wanted,
> > the notion of being able to change that orientation was "not
> > consistent with clinical presentations, but totally consistent
> > with theological belief."
> > 
> > "Some people in the community that Mr. Haggard comes from
> > believe homosexuality is a form of behavior, a sinful form of
> > behavior based on certain things in the Bible, and they don't
> > believe you can create a healthy identity based on sinful
> > behavior," Dr. Drescher said. "So they define it as a behavior
> > that can be changed, and there is this thinking that if you
> > control those behaviors enough, heterosexual attractions 
> > will follow."
> > 
> > Mr. Haggard said in his message to New Life members that he and
> > his wife were taking online courses to get master's degrees in
> > psychology, and Mr. Ralph told The Post that the oversight board
> > had recommended to Mr. Haggard that he take up secular work.
> > 
> >
> http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/07/us/07haggard.html?
ex=1171515600&en=59d2a4127cfb1bfb&ei=5070&emc=eta1

[scifinoir2] Re: Astronaut Arrested for Assaulting Supposed Rival

[g123curious]

One question: what "qualities" did Oefelein see in Nowak? Obviously, 
he must have been diddling her to get the type of response from 
Nowak which the article outlined. I assume that Nowak's husband will 
have something to say to Oefelein.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella (formerly 
Tracey L. Minor)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Sorry Keith.  I missed this.
> 
> Tracey
> 
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> >
> > From the Shameless Gossip category. This is the wildest story 
I've 
> > heard all month! This lady is a career military person, has 
become the 
> > best-of-the-best as an astronaut, flew on the Space Shuttle--and 
is a 
> > complete loon! Married with children, Nowak nonetheless drove 
*900 
> > miles* to confront a lady who she thought was having an affair 
with a 
> > male astronaut Nowak loved. And check it: Nowak wore *diapers* 
so she 
> > didn't have to stop for restroom breaks! She says she "just 
wanted to 
> > talk"? Uh-huh: you need a mallet, knife, rubber tubing, pepper 
spray, 
> > and garbage bags to to have a conversation? And like something 
from a 
> > bad movie or novel, she started crying before attacking Shipman.
> >
> > Years ago I saw a crappy TV movie called something like "Murder 
on 
> > Space Station 12". It was a soap-opera type affair about an 
astronaut 
> > who murders another in space. Man, if things had proceeded, that 
might 
> > have happened. Can you imagine if Nowak had been in space with 
Mr. 
> > Oefelein and decided he'd "betrayed" her? She might have jacked 
him up 
> > with that robotic arm, or grabbed the controls on re-entry, 
screaming 
> > "If I can't have you, nobody can!" Now what? NASA gonna have to 
screen 
> > flight crews to make sure they don't have hidden personal issues?
> >
> > I guess even rocket scientists can lose their minds...
> >
> > **
> >
> > Astronaut Charged With Kidnap Attempt
> > ORLANDO, Fla. - An astronaut drove 900 miles and donned a 
disguise to 
> > confront a woman she believed was her rival for the affections 
of a 
> > space shuttle pilot, police said. She was arrested Monday and 
charged 
> > with attempted kidnapping and other counts.
> > U.S. Navy Capt. Lisa Nowak, 43, who flew last July on a shuttle 
> > mission to the international space station, was also charged 
with 
> > attempted vehicle burglary with battery, destruction of evidence 
and 
> > battery. She was denied bail and is scheduled to make a court 
> > appearance Tuesday.
> > Police said Nowak drove from her home in Houston to the Orlando 
> > International Airport to confront Colleen Shipman.
> > Nowak believed Shipman was romantically involved with Navy Cmdr. 
> > William Oefelein, a pilot during space shuttle Discovery's trip 
to the 
> > space station last December, police said.
> > Nowak told police that her relationship with Oefelein was "more 
than a 
> > working relationship but less than a romantic relationship," 
according 
> > to an arrest affidavit. Police officers recovered a love letter 
to 
> > Oefelein in her car.
> > NASA spokesman James Hartsfield in Houston said that, as of 
Monday, 
> > Nowak's status with the astronaut corps remained unchanged.
> > "What will happen beyond that, I will not speculate," he said.
> > Hartsfield said he couldn't recall the last time an astronaut 
was 
> > arrested and said there were no rules against fraternizing among 
> > astronauts.
> > When she found out that Shipman was flying to Orlando from 
Houston, 
> > Nowak decided to confront her, according to the arrest 
affidavit. 
> > Nowak raced from Houston to Orlando wearing diapers so she 
wouldn't 
> > have to stop to urinate, authorities said.
> > Astronauts wear diapers during launch and re-entry.
> > Dressed in a wig and a trench coat, Nowak boarded an airport bus 
that 
> > Shipman took to her car in an airport parking lot. Shipman told 
police 
> > she noticed someone following her, hurried inside the car and 
locked 
> > the doors, according to the arrest affidavit.
> > Nowak rapped on the window, tried to open the car door and asked 
for a 
> > ride. Shipman refused but rolled down the car window a few 
inches when 
> > Nowak started crying. Nowak then sprayed a chemical into 
Shipman's 
> > car, the affidavit said.
> > Shipman drove to the parking lot booth, and the police were 
called.
> > During a check of the parking lot, an officer followed Nowak and 
> > watched her throw away a bag containing the wig and BB gun. They 
also 
> > found a steel mallet, a 4-inch folding knife, rubber tubing, 
$600 and 
> > garbage bags inside a bag Nowak was carrying when she was 
arrested, 
> > authorities said.
> > Inside Nowak's vehicle, which was parked at a nearby motel, 
> > authorities uncovered a pepper spray package, an unused BB-gun 
> > cartridge, latex gloves and e-mails between Shipman and 
Oefelein. They 
> > also found a letter "that indicated how much Mrs. Nowak loved 
Mr.

[scifinoir2] Re: "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" Stunt Results in Terrorist Scare

[g123curious]

Feel free to forward my comments and please add this one:

Yesterday on the news, many of the supporters of the 2 guys arrested 
described them as "kids." Both are grown men aged 28 and 29. They 
are not kids. They are adults (at least physically and some would 
argue they aren't adults mentally/emotionally). Sometimes, the level 
of codependency in society is simply staggering.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> George,
> 
> Do you mind if I copy this response and e-mail it to some other 
folks? In another chain about this I started, one guy said it was 
just "stupid white folks over-reacting". I'd like to present your 
point of view as something for him to consider.
> 
> Keith
> 
> ------ Original message -- 
> From: "g123curious" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
> I live and work in Boston. This has been all over the news here.
> Our government incurred a large expense with the bomb disposal
> squads, police overtime to stop traffic; and for a time the
> subways were shut down.
> 
> IMHO, the marketers definitely had an obligation to do 2 things:
> a) notify local law enforcement about their intent to put these 
> devices, and b) ask the permission of the private property owners 
> upon whose property they placed the devices. They didn't do
> either. I don't know what you've read, but devices were hung on
> both private and public property here in Boston.
> 
> Regarding the youth that support this "guerilla marketing", their 
> approach to any physical space is the same as their approach to 
> content on the Internet... anything and any space is fair game for 
> their purposes. They don't seem to understand (or don't care) that 
> placing the devices on people's private property without their 
> permission is the same as defacing walls with graffitti... not
> that graffitti is acceptable anywhere.
> 
> People, especially the youth, need to remember that this is the
> town where 2 planes took off from our airport that crashed into
> buildings on 9-11. So the heightened state of vigilance here is
> understandable and appropriate. IMHO, the people that yell today
> about our local government's supposed "over reaction" would likely
> be the same people yelling if the government didn't respond and it
> was a true terrorist attack.
> 
> It is unclear if the devices were up for 3 weeks here. They were
> up longer in other cities, but most people here say they weren't
> up long here.
> 
> People need to remember that there is already some unease in
> Boston. There are 2 nuclear reactors within a 1.5 hour drive of
> the city; plus several biochemical facilities within city limits,
> and one of the 4 larges LNG terminals is across Boston harbor in
> Chelsea. With all of those high-value targets nearby, a heightened
> state of vigilence is very appropriate, IMHO.
> 
> I definitely believe that the Turner Network and the Cartoon
> Network should reimburse my city for their expenses. I don't want
> to pay those expenses thru higher taxes, to fund their
> self-interested marketing stunt. If they don't pay, you can bet
> I'll work hard for a boycott of their cable channels.
> 
> George
> Captain
> USS Ronald E. McNair (Boston)
> 
> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, KeithBJohnson@ wrote:
> >
> > I'm not sure what to say about this publicity stunt. Seeing as 
> how the devices aren't small, and they are lighted advertisements, 
> didn't the marketers have some kind of obligation to get 
permission 
> to put them out? This was a little more than nailing a sign to a 
> telephone pole, after all. If nothing else, I'd have obtained some 
> type of permission from the city before dumping several dozen 
> electronic devices on bridges and stuff. They might have been 
simply 
> destroyed at best. And, I have to say, this marketing campaign 
> wasn't all that effective if the things sat unnoticed for three 
> weeks. I live in Atlanta, spend all my time in the city where this 
> campaign should be most noticeable. Most of all, I drive by the 
> Cartoon Network headquarters at least ten times a week, and I 
> *never* saw a one-foot cartoon character giving me the finger!
> > 
> > Did any of you in Austin, San Fran, Chi-Town, or NYC notice 
these 
> things?
> > 
> > **
> > 
> > 2 Men Held on Bond in Boston Hoax Case
> > By JAY LINDSAY, Associated Press Writer
> > 3 hours ago
> > BOSTON - Two men who authorities say placed electronic 
advertising 
> devices around the city were released from jail Thursday, 
apparently 
> amused with the publicity stunt that stirred fears of terrorism 
and 
> shut down parts of the city.
> 
> 
> 
> 
>  
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

[scifinoir2] Re: "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" Stunt Results in Terrorist Scare

[g123curious]

I live and work in Boston. This has been all over the news here. Our 
government incurred a large expense with the bomb disposal squads, 
police overtime to stop traffic; and for a time the subways were 
shut down.

IMHO, the marketers definitely had an obligation to do 2 things: a) 
notify local law enforcement about their intent to put these 
devices, and b) ask the permission of the private property owners 
upon whose property they placed the devices. They didn't do either. 
I don't know what you've read, but devices were hung on both private 
and public property here in Boston.

Regarding the youth that support this "guerilla marketing", their 
approach to any physical space is the same as their approach to 
content on the Internet... anything and any space is fair game for 
their purposes. They don't seem to understand (or don't care) that 
placing the devices on people's private property without their 
permission is the same as defacing walls with graffitti... not that 
graffitti is acceptable anywhere.

People, especially the youth, need to remember that this is the town 
where 2 planes took off from our airport that crashed into buildings 
on 9-11. So the heightened state of vigilance here is understandable 
and appropriate. IMHO, the people that yell today about our local 
government's supposed "over reaction" would likely be the same 
people yelling if the government didn't respond and it was a true 
terrorist attack.

It is unclear if the devices were up for 3 weeks here. They were up 
longer in other cities, but most people here say they weren't up 
long here.

People need to remember that there is already some unease in Boston. 
There are 2 nuclear reactors within a 1.5 hour drive of the city; 
plus several biochemical facilities within city limits, and one of 
the 4 larges LNG terminals is across Boston harbor in Chelsea. With 
all of those high-value targets nearby, a heightened state of 
vigilence is very appropriate, IMHO.

I definitely believe that the Turner Network and the Cartoon Network 
should reimburse my city for their expenses. I don't want to pay 
those expenses thru higher taxes, to fund their self-interested 
marketing stunt. If they don't pay, you can bet I'll work hard for a 
boycott of their cable channels.

George
Captain
USS Ronald E. McNair (Boston)

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> I'm not sure what to say about this publicity stunt.  Seeing as 
how the devices aren't small, and they are lighted advertisements, 
didn't the marketers have some kind of obligation to get permission 
to put them out? This was a little more than nailing a sign to a 
telephone pole, after all. If nothing else, I'd have obtained some 
type of permission from the city before dumping several dozen 
electronic devices on bridges and stuff. They might have been simply 
destroyed at best. And, I have to say, this marketing campaign 
wasn't all that effective if the things sat unnoticed for three 
weeks. I live in Atlanta, spend all my time in the city where this 
campaign should be most noticeable. Most of all, I drive by the 
Cartoon Network headquarters at least ten times a week, and I 
*never* saw a one-foot cartoon character giving me the finger!
> 
> Did any of you in Austin, San Fran, Chi-Town, or NYC notice these 
things?
> 
> **
> 
> 2 Men Held on Bond in Boston Hoax Case
> By JAY LINDSAY, Associated Press Writer
> 3 hours ago
> BOSTON - Two men who authorities say placed electronic advertising 
devices around the city were released from jail Thursday, apparently 
amused with the publicity stunt that stirred fears of terrorism and 
shut down parts of the city.

[scifinoir2] Re: Fwd:convictions start for Ohio's 2004 Stolen Election - Officials say Recount Was Rigged]

[g123curious]

It's about time. Too late though, buat the crooks still need to be 
punished... all the way up the "food chain." All of us citizens will 
be "paying" for decades for BushCo's arrogance and mistakes.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella (formerly 
Tracey L. Minor)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> First criminal convictions from Ohio's stolen 2004 election
> confirm recount was rigged
> */Columbus Free Press/*
> *by /Bob Fitrakis & Harvey Wasserman/
> January 27, 2007*
> 
> The first felony convictions of two Cleveland poll workers
> stemming from Ohio's stolen 2004 election confirm that the
> official recount in that contested vote was, in the words of
> county prosecutors, *"rigged."* The question now is whether
> further prosecutions will reach higher up in the ranks of
> officials who may have been involved in illegalities throughout
> the rest of the state.

[scifinoir2] Re: [OT] Murphy, Rock, Tucker To Swim In New Ocean

[g123curious]

> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I wanna see an all-Black martial arts 
> flick. Something that blends the action of "Kill Bill Volume 1"
> with the cool of "Shaft" (the real one with Richard Roundtree).
> I'd pay to see a  crazy punch-and-kick fest with the likes of
> Gabriel Union, even Vivica A Fox, maybe Blair Underwood for a
> serious addition. Can someone get on that? Oh yeah, and can we
> please *not* cast Will Smith in it?!

All black martial arts film? One was made and it starred Bruce Leroy. 
LOL! See:

The Last Dragon
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089461/

[scifinoir2] Re: [Fwd: Instant viewing -- Netflix delivers over the Web]

[g123curious]

I with you. I can't see the logic in watching a movie (or a tv show) 
on my cellphone. Definitely can't watch a foreign film, with 
subtitles, on a cellphone either. Can't read the print. A former 
coworker watches BG on his video iPod. I don't see the sense in 
that, either, but this guy swears by it. He watches an ep on the 
commuter train.

The only application I can think of where I *might* watch a film on 
my phone is inflight on an airplane (train or bus) where I a) don't 
want to watch the airline's canned and edited film, and b) don't 
have a portable DVD player (with its larger screen) with me. But 
this situation is so infrequent, it doesn't justify the expense.

Cellphone cameras are good at catching stuff that needs to be 
caught. Michael Richards' rant and Saddam's final exit are two 
examples of that.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Martin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
wrote:
>
> Does anyone even relish this idea, watching a movie on your phone? 
I can't get myself around the notion of being able to see a movie 
while I'm at a restaurant or on the train or anything like this. I 
see lots of folks doing just this here in Atlanta on MARTA. Me, I 
don't even like going to the theater anymore. Inceasingly, I find 
myself waiting until a movie hits DVD, then deciding whether 'tis 
nobler to drop the $20 for ownership or $4 for a day's enjoyment, 
all in the confines of my bedroom, where I can react to it as I 
choose.
> 
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Good point, but I think that's 
coming anyway. There's a lot of movie development for cell phones 
going on in Asia, and now picking up here. There's lots of 
possibilities that movies will be produced especially for iPods. So 
I think the development of little mini-films tailored for small 
screens and shorter viewing times is here to stay. Since it is, we 
have to really, really hope the suits will try to develop some good 
content. Personally I think the You Tubes and other distribution 
methods coming into vogue will produce a type of permanent class of 
developers who'll create content for these new methods of viewing.
> 
> -- Original message -- 
> From: Martin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
> Suggest deployment of umbrellas...
> 
> I can see one problem with that. If this paradigm does shift to 
the point where we can get movies faster online, then expect H'Wood 
to shift its own paradigm by pushing out more movies. 
> 
> Did I leave out the word "crappy"?
> 
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> Fascinating. Every week, it seems Comcast and AT&T (formerly 
BellSouth)--the two major broadband carriers in Atlanta--promise 
faster and faster download speeds. I think I get about 5 mbps on 
average from Comcast, and I heard a promise of six recently. Couple 
that increasing speed--which still lags far behind the average speed 
in most other industrialized nations--with more realization of the 
Net's usage, and we may see that paradigm shift sooner rather than 
later. Already I understand the Nielsen folks are pullilng out their 
hair trying to capture true ratings when people often forego first-
run broadcasts of shows on TV in favor of DVR, reruns on 
broadcaster's websites, and iTunes purchases.
> Exciting
> 
> -- Original message -- 
> From: "Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor)" 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
> 
> >  Original Message  
> > Subject: [Blackfolks] Instant viewing -- Netflix delivers over 
the Web 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > *Instant viewing -- Netflix delivers over the Web* 
> > POSTED: 10:04 a.m. EST, January 16, 2007 
> > 
> > 
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/internet/01/16/instant.netflix.ap/index.
html 
> > 
> > LOS GATOS, California (AP) -- Netflix Inc. will start showing 
movies and 
> > TV episodes over the Internet this week, providing its 
subscribers with 
> > more instant gratification as the DVD-by-mail service prepares 
for a 
> > looming technology shift threatening its survival. 
> > 
> > The Los Gatos-based company plans to unveil the new "Watch Now" 
feature 
> > Tuesday, but only a small number of its more than 6 million 
subscribers 
> > will get immediate access to the service, which is being offered 
at no 
> > additional charge. 
> > 
> > Netflix expects to introduce the instant viewing system to about 
250,000 
> > more subscribers each week through June to ensure its computers 
can cope 
> > with the increased demand. 
> > 
> > After accepting a computer applet that takes less than a minute 
to 
> > install, subscribers will be able to watch anywhere from six 
hours to 48 
> > hours of material per month on an Internet streaming service 
that is 
> > supposed to prevent piracy. 
> > 
> > The allotted viewing time will be tied to how much customers 
already pay 
> > for their DVD rentals. Under Netflix's most popular $17.99 
monthly 
> > package, subscribers will receive 18 hours of Internet viewing 
time. 
> > 
> > T

[scifinoir2] Why we should watch Battlestar Galactica and don't

[g123curious]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-kelly/china-is-shooting-down-
sa_b_39194.html

The commentary is a reminder, IMHO, that the best sci-fi is sci-fi 
that challenges us about issues that are important and which we don't 
immediately recognize their importance.

George
Captain
The USS Ronald E. MCNair (Boston)

[scifinoir2] Colbert vs. O'Reilly

[g123curious]

FYI, in case you hadn't seen this:

http://www.ifilm.com/video/2815044

This is s good.

George

[scifinoir2] Re: 'Lost' looks to find an end

[g123curious]

How freakin' hard could it be to "find" an ending for this show?

Geez.

Try this one: Iran decides to test fire one of their new nukes and 
picks both islands not knowing they are inhabited by the Others and 
the crash survivors.

There. Ending solved.

I gave up on this series long ago when it plodded along like a 
daytime soap where nothing ever really gets resolved. That's 
insincere story-telling... which Desparate Housewives also suffers 
from. But I understand that the drive for $$$ encourages this kind 
of story-telling.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Brent Wodehouse" 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> 
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/entertainment/television/1
6469720.htm
> 
> Posted on Tue, Jan. 16, 2007
> 
> 'Lost' looks to find an end
> By David Bianculli
> New York Daily News
> 
> (MCT)
> 
> 
> PASADENA, Calif. - ABC's "Lost" will return to some of the
> storytelling methods that made the mystery-laden series popular in
> the past, the producers said Sunday.
> 
> For instance, the rest of the season will be more like the show's
> first year, focusing on relationships among the familiar (but, in
> this season's first six episodes, largely missing) characters, the
> producers told members of the Television Critics Association.
> 
> Jack (Matthew Fox) and Juliet (Elizabeth Mitchell) will be
> prominent, as will Charlie (Dominic Monaghan) and Claire (Emilie
> de Ravin). Jack, Sawyer (Josh Holloway) and Kate (Evangeline
> Lilly) will escape from the other island - and, perhaps most
> intriguing of all, the producers are in discussion with ABC to
> decide when to end the series, so they can plan accordingly and
> intentionally.
> 
> "It's time for us to find an end point to the show," executive
> producer Carlton Cuse said, comparing it to J.K. Rowling's
> decision to announce well in advance that "Harry Potter" would
> stop after seven novels.
> 
> The decision to revert to tried-and-true methods comes as the show
> has faced stiffer competition in the Nielsen department and lost
> some of its earlier buzz.
> 
> Cuse also referred to "The X-Files," calling it "a great show that
> probably went two seasons too long."
> 
> The answers to the show's biggest questions, he and series
> co-creator Damon Lindelof said, would be held until the end, but
> they don't want to stretch "Lost" thin just to keep going.
> 
> "None of us want to be doing the show that is the stalling show,"
> Lindelof said. "You know: `We're building sand castles this
> week!' "
> 
> To those judging the entire current series of "Lost" based on six
> episodes shown in the fall, Cuse warns against making premature
> assessments.
> 
> "If we only showed you the first six episodes of last year," he
> said, "you'd probably think, `What? Has the show just become about
> the tail section people?' And those characters are basically now
> all dead.
> 
> "By time we got on through the entire season last year, we feel
> like we covered everyone's stories. And I think the same will be
> true when you see the third season in its totality. You'll have a
> much better sense of what everybody's been doing."
> 
> ---
> 
> © 2007, New York Daily News.
>

[scifinoir2] Re: FDA Approves Weight Control Pill for Dogs

[g123curious]

Question is: how many dog owners will take the pills 
themselves 'cause they are overweight, too. Remember all of the poor 
senior citizens (on fixed incomes) who ate dog food 'cause the they 
couldn't afford regular food.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> I don't even know what to say about this.  Talk about a 
superficial society that's focusing on the wrong things! Bad enough 
humans cram down pills to offset self-inflicted health problems. Now 
we're creating drugs to deal with our obese pets???  Man, when i was 
young and my family's dogs seemed to be getting a little sluggish, 
I'd take 'em for long walks, which included quite a bit of running 
too.  Of course, my mom forbade animals in the house, so all our 
pets lived in the backyard, meaning they got lots of exercise just 
running around, playing, chasing squirrels and birds and whatnot.  
Not that this is always the case, but I bet a lot of owners who turn 
to this have house-only dogs that rarely get to spend significant 
time outside, and the owners obviously don't walk 'em a great bit. 
> 
> Personally I'd be embarrassed with myself if I were so self-
indulgent and lazy that I couldn't find a natural way to keep my dog 
or cat at the weight nature intended. 
> 
> Sheesh! And I thought city dwellers who spent a lot of money 
hiring people to walk their dogs for them were lazy...
> 
> 
> Doggie diet drug a new solution for pudgy pooches
> 
> By ELIZABETH LEE
> The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
> Published on: 01/06/07
>  
> Pudgy pooches have a new weapon in the battle of the bulge: the 
first diet drug for dogs. Like two-legged Americans, dogs have 
gotten heavier. About 40 percent are overweight, the American 
Veterinary Medical Association says. Many owners have trouble 
keeping their dogs on a diet or exercising them.

[scifinoir2] Captain Kirk never had this gadget!

[g123curious]

http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/09/the-apple-iphone/ 
iPhone

George
Captain
USS Ronald E. McNair (Boston)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ussmcnair/

[scifinoir2] Re: OT: The History of Oil

[g123curious]

Thanks for posting this. I haven't watched all of it since it is very 
long. I like how 1953 was summarized... an event few Americans (and 
obvioiusly, few Britains either) know anything about and something the 
news media seems never to mention. I've forwarded this to a few folks 
who, ideology-wise, sit on "both sides of the isle."

George
- - - - - - - -
> I'm posting this link because I can't control my enthusiasm for this
> piece. Although, I confess the most skiffy aspect are the theater
> lights powered by a bicyclist.
> 
> http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7374585792978336967
> 
> Tell me what you think.

[scifinoir2] Re: NBC ready to bring back 'Bionic Woman'

[g123curious]

There's no need for a new "Bionic Woman" TV series when we can watch 
Joan Rivers on the TV Guide channel run her bionic mouth. (smile) 
Many parts of her are artifical replacements, too.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Brent Wodehouse" 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> 
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/03/television.nbc.reut/index.ht
ml
> 
> NBC ready to bring back 'Bionic Woman'
> 
> January 3, 2007
> 
> 
> LOS ANGELES, California (Hollywood Reporter) - The pilot pickup
> season began in earnest Tuesday, with NBC greenlighting three
> one-hour projects, including a new take on "The Bionic Woman."
> 
> The original series, a spin-off from "The Six Million Dollar Man,"
> starred Lindsay Wagner as a woman whose body is mechanically
> enhanced to save her life. It ran on ABC and then NBC for three
> seasons in the mid-1970s. NBC's order is contingent on casting.
> 
> The other pilots in NBC's order are a cop show and a spy
> comedy-drama.

[scifinoir2] Re: Fantastic Four / Silver Surfer Preview

[g123curious]

Try this:

www.apple.com/trailers/fox/fantasticfourriseofthesilversurfer/

George


--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Astromancer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> the link won't work for me
>   
> 
> Said Kakese Dibinga <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>   (http://www.apple. com/trailers/ fox/fantasticfou 
rriseofthesilver surfer/large. html) 
> 
> http://blog.thebayindogroup.com/
> 
> 
> __
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
> http://mail.yahoo.com 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 
> 
> 
>  
> 
> 
> "La'V' is always watching...Be careful who you talk to." - The 
Side Street Chonicles by C.W. Badie
>  __
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
> http://mail.yahoo.com 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

[scifinoir2] Re:Film Review: Curse of the Golden Flower

[g123curious]

> Thanks for the review, question:
> 
> Is it worth mantinee or full price?

Addendum: a coworker of mine, who was born in China, is very anxious 
to see the film. He said that the film's director is one of the VERY 
FEW Chinese directors who are allowed to film inside The Forbidden 
City. He also said that several scenes are the real deal... inside 
the real Imperial Palace, since he saw them before he left China.

Having learned this, I'm even more glad that I saw it on the big 
screen. You get a sense of the huge size of the palace.

One personal goal I have is to practice T'ai Chi Ch'uan there.

Learn more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_City
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/beijing/forbidden.htm

George

[scifinoir2] Re: Legendary singer James Brown dies at 73

[g123curious]

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Said Kakese Dibinga wrote:
> Legendary singer James Brown dies at 73 
> By GREG BLUESTEIN, Associated Press Writer 20 minutes ago 
>
> James Brown, the dynamic, pompadoured "Godfather of Soul," whose
> rasping vocals and revolutionary rhythms made him a founder of
> rap, funk and disco as well, died early Monday, his agent said.
> He was 73.



Yeah, he surely will be missed. During the 1960's, he lived a couple 
blocks from my cousins in the St. Albans section of Queens, NY. I 
remember his gray castle-looking house and when he used to hand 
out $1 bills with his 45 rpm records. I was lucky enough to see him 
live at the Apollo and in Akron, Ohio.

On the funny side, Eddie Murphy does James Brown. This is hysterical:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ly_CGin6QS8

And a comment on JB's literate song-writing style:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51-FcNSDGKw&mode=related&search=

George
Captain
The USS Ronald E. McNair (Boston)

[scifinoir2] Re:Film Review: Curse of the Golden Flower

[g123curious]

> Thanks for the review, question:
> 
> Is it worth mantinee or full price?

IMHO, full price. Funny thing... my wife and I were the only non-
Asians in the cinema here in Boston. We caught a 2 pm showing on a 
Saturday. Cinema was ~ 50% full. It may go to video/cable quickly.

George

[scifinoir2] White and Nerdy

[g123curious]

This is too d--- funny:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xEzGIuY7kw

George
Captain
The USS Ronald E. McNair (Boston)

[scifinoir2] Get on the bandwagon!

[g123curious]

FYI... Even though this is OT, I thought that you'd enjoy this since 
the playoffs are almost here:
 
http://playoffs.nfl.com/bandwagon/
 
I thought that this site was fun. The only question left is this one: 
is there a similar site to root for NFL cheerleader teams? Haha! LOL!

Best wishes and happy New Year!

George "rootin' for the Patriots" Jenkins
Captain
The USS Ronald E. McNair (Boston)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ussmcnair/

[scifinoir2] Film Review: Curse of the Golden Flower

[g123curious]

Anybody else seen this film?

Curse of the Golden Flower
http://www.boston.com/movies/display?display=movie&id=9491

And:
http://www.sonyclassics.com/curseofthegoldenflower/

My wife and I went to see it Sunday. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The 
plot was thick with intrigue... it kept the audience wondering who 
the good guys were, who the bad guys were, who was conspiring with 
whom, who had betrayed whom, and who would win the final "showdown." 
The visuals were absolutely stunning!! You must see this on the big 
screen and NOT on the small screen.

I almost didn't recognize Chow Yun-Fat! The attention to detail in 
the Imperial Palace sets and choreography of actors made me feel 
like I was really there. Of course there were some martial arts 
fight scenes, but they didn't dominate the plot and sub-plots. 
Without revealing too much, the clean-up scene before the 
Chrysanthemum Festival was more impressive than the pre-festival 
fight.

I highly recommend this film.

George
Captain
USS Ronald E. McNair (Boston)