Franken Appears To Have Stolen The Election

The Minnesota State Supreme Court ordered that Democrat Al Franken be certified as the winner of the long-disputed senate race.

The Court rejected a legal challenge from incumbent Norm Coleman. It appears that unless Coleman is successful in federal court, Franken successfully stole the election.

If Franken is seated, his vote along with two independent members (who usually side with Democrats) would be able to overcome Republican filibusters.

G-FEST XVI Music Video Contest Entries Received

G-FEST XVI Music Video Contest Entries Received

The day after tomorrow, I will be heading to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport for G-FEST XVI. To date, I have received the followng Music Video Entries from the following:

Chelsea Clark

Michael Yushasz

Michael Field*

John Drooney*

Adam Ramirez*

Scott Corsi*

Christopher Oglio*

Good luck to all of you and many thanks for participating! See you in Chicago!

*More than one entry.

Celebrities Dropping Like Flies

It seems that for the past several days celebrities are dropping like flies.

First it was Ed McMahon. (Not too surprising, given his age.)

Then it was Farrah Fawcett. (Her passing wasn't unexpected, unfortunately).

Next it was Michael Jackson. (He was only 50, but word had leaked out previously that he had drug addictions and other issues.)

Then word came that Sky Saxon of The Seeds unexpectedly passed away. (It appears to have been due to an internal infection.)

Shocking news came that TV pitchman Billy Mays was found dead at 50. (That truly was a shocker! He was so full-of-life in his ads.)

If those weren't enough, now comes word that actress Gale Storm also passed away. (She was about 87, so that's not so surprising either.)

Maybe we should start some "dead pools" and make some money!

Rise Of The O-Bots

The "Big Hollywood" blog has punctured the Democrats' and Obama's misuse of the English language with "Rise Of The O-Bots."

Check it out here.

Donovan "I Like You" From Cosmic Wheels

Skipping from 1967 to Spring, 1973 is a favorite by Donovan:

"The Yellow Balloon"

Which cast member of My Three Sons was in this band?

"The Yellow Balloon" by The Yellow Balloon from 1967.

Sunshine Company

More oldies (yes, thanks to Carl Glass, I've been perusing YouTube for 1967 music). These from the Sunshine Company:

"Sunshine Girl"

Since it is now summer, here's an oldie, but goodie from 1967...

"Sunshine Girl"

Jackson Family Seeks 2nd Autopsy

Shades of Helen Bessolo! It has been reported in the media that the Jackson Family has requested a second autopsy on the body of Michael Jackson.

It is unclear why this is being sought by the family. Perhaps they weren't completely satisfied over the results of the coroner's autopsy, which, by the way, is not complete until the toxicology results and report is in. And that won't be done until four to six weeks from now.

Why did I say "Shades of Helen Bessolo"? She was the mother of actor George Reeves and she wasn't satisfied with the first two autopsies on George (in some respects I agree with her, especially on the first one) and had a third one done in Cincinnati.

UPDATE (6/28/09): The second autopsy is completed. The media is reporting that such second autopsies aren't unusual.

Godzilla and the Monsters of Mass Destruction Postponed

It has been announced that "Godzilla and the Monsters of Mass Destruction" film festival in San Francisco featuring the original Godzilla, Haruo Nakajima, has been postponed.

According to event organizer August Ragone:

JUNE 27, 2009: Due to unforseeable scheduling conflicts, the GODZILLA & THE MASTERS OF MASS DESTRUCTION event slated for the Castro Theatre in San Francisco on August 21-23, has been postponed until further notice. When the event can be rescheduled, we will break the announcement here, and on our official website: shock-it-to-me.com. So, stay tuned!

We thank you for your interest and consideration and hope to see you in 2010!

Best Regards,
August Ragone
Organizer & Producer

Cap and Tax Bill Barely Passes House; Fight Moves To Senate

Obama and Pelosi's job-killing and highest tax hike in history, the Waxman-Markey Energy Tax/cap-and-trade bill, squeaked by in the House yesterday by a vote of 219 for and 212 against.

8 RINO Republicans (mainly from the northeast, but Mary Bono-Mack of Palm Springs also voted for it) joined the Democrats in voting for it. 44 Democrats joined (a thank-you to those Democrats!) the rest of the Republicans in voting against it.



My brain-dead congressman, Brad Sherman (left), also voted for it. No surprise there. But I plan to make his life miserable.

Now the fight goes over to the U.S. Senate. I doubt we'll make any headway in persuading California's two radical liberal senators, Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, to vote against it. Still, you must contact your U.S. senator and urge them to vote no. This is a bad piece of legislation, especially now that we are in this current economic mess.

Don't forget to vote against those who voted for this!

For the full tally of the votes, go here.

Sky Saxon of The Seeds Dies

Above, Sky Saxon (upper right) with his Seeds bandmates.

by Armand Vaquer

Last night I heard the news of the passing of The Seeds founder and lead singer Sky Saxon, on Jim Ladd's show on KLOS.

Saxon, who was born Richard Marsh, was hospitalized in Austin, Texas for an infection of the internal organs.

“Sky has passed over and YaHoWha is waiting for him at the gate. He will soon be home with his Father. I’m so sorry I couldn’t keep him here with us. More later. I’m sorry,” said his wife Sabrina on Facebook.

Saxon was the founder of The Seeds, one of the most successful garage bands of the 1960s.

The Seeds started in 1965 with Saxon and guitarist Jan Savage, keyboardist Daryl Hooper and drummer Rick Andridge. "Can’t Seem To Make You Mine" and "Pushin’ Too Hard" are ’60s classics.

In 1966, The Seeds performed at a dance in the Hawthorne (California) High School girls' gymnasium that I attended. This was the first live rock show of a big-name group I ever attended. I think the price was about a couple of bucks.

The Seeds disbanded in 1970.

Michael Jackson Dead At 50

Above, Michael Jackson at the White House in 1984 with Ronald and Nancy Reagan. Jackson died at a hospital named in honor of President Reagan.

Michael Jackson Dead At 50

by Armand Vaquer

Michael Jackson, the “King of Pop”, died today at age 50 at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood from an apparent heart attack.

At around 12:21 PM, paramedics were called to his residence and found Jackson non-responsive and in full cardiac arrest. It is rumored that he had an injection of Demerol or other drugs just prior to the attack.



He was rushed by ambulance (above) to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center where doctors tried to revive him for about an hour, but couldn’t, according to his older brother Jermaine Jackson.

When news got out of Jackson’s passing, throngs of people gathered at the medical center and at Jackson’s home. The only comparable events of a celebrity’s passing of Jackson’s magnitude were John Lennon’s murder in December 1980 and Elvis Presley’s death in 1977. Media trucks from U.S. media outlets along with those of Australia, Japan, France, England and others gathered at the medical center or at the Jackson residence.

As with Presley’s and Lennon’s deaths, radio stations began to play Jackson’s music. Fans continued to gather at his home and at the hospital. All subsequent events received non-stop coverage. Television cameras tracked the helicopter bearing Jackson’s body from Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s facilities on North Mission Road, northeast of downtown L.A.

The news of Jackson’s sudden death eclipsed the news earlier in the day of actress Farrah Fawcett’s passing. Her death was not unexpected. Jackson’s was. He was about to embark on a 50-concert tour “comeback” within weeks.

It cannot be denied that Michael Jackson had talent. He began his career with four of his brothers as the “Jackson Five” in the 1960s. He decided to go solo in the 1980s. His “Thriller” album is still the biggest-selling album of all time. He moonwalked his way to the top. Musically, the 1980s were Jackson’s.

In the mid-1990s, Jackson showed up at a monster convention dressed as Nosferatu. Nobody knew that it was him. It was allegedly arranged by "Thriller" video director John Landis.

Somewhere along the way, something happened to Jackson. He began to act eccentric and reclusive. He morphed into what the tabloids called “Wacko Jacko.” He underwent plastic surgery on his face. His skin inexplicably turned lighter. He wanted to buy the “Elephant Man’s” skeleton. He married Elvis Presley’s daughter Lisa (that lasted about 19 months). He gave a bizarre interview in which he said he liked to share his bed with little boys. He had to settle a child molestation suit for millions of dollars out of court. He was charged by another child to be a child molester and had to undergo a trial that turned into a bizarre media circus. Jackson showed up to court one day in pajamas. Although he was acquitted of the charges, the damage was done.

Jackson fled the United States and his “Neverland Ranch” to live abroad. But he felt the pressure to rebuild his musical career (he was also heavily in debt) and was rehearsing his act for a tour. A new album would also be released.

Whether or not the molestation charges were true and despite his bizarre behavior in his later years, Jackson will be forever immortalized by his music. It is too bad that things went awry personally for him. Maybe now he found peace. It is too bad that he had to die to get it.

UPDATE (6/26/09): I was heading home from work at 11:00 tonight in the San Fernando Valley and noticed helicopters hovering over Encino, the location of the Michael Jackson's parents' home. As I approached Ventura Blvd. and Hayvenhurst Ave., I saw that Havenhurst was barricaded by traffic control officers. The Jackson's residence is only a few yards south of Ventura Blvd. I grabbed a quick video with my cell phone (after all, this is history) of the location. The video is below. You can't see a whole lot as it was dark and I was moving.



UPDATE (6/26/09): Reports are circulating that authorities are looking for a doctor, allegedly his personal physician who lived with Jackson, to question him on injecting Jackson with Demerol about an hour before Jackson suffered a full cardiac arrest. A vehicle, purporting to belong to this physician, was seen towed from Jackson's residence. The doctor has not been found. This is sounding like a "Dr. Nick" (George Nichopoulos) who fed Elvis Presley with drugs, all over again.

Farrah Fawcett, 1947 - 2009

Above, the famous poster that sold 12 million copies.

Actress and Hollywood icon Farrah Fawcett has passed away from cancer at age 62.

According to the Washington Post:

Farrah Fawcett, 62, golden-haired sex symbol of the late 1970s most remembered for her appearance on bedroom posters and the detective series "Charlie's Angels" and who later found a niche portraying troubled women in made-for-television dramas, died today from cancer.

Ms. Fawcett was a Texas-born college dropout who parlayed success as a model for toiletries such as Ultra Brite toothpaste and Wella Balsam shampoo into a viable acting career.

Still a relative unknown, she achieved two iconic roles at the same time in 1976. On Wednesday nights, she was Jill Munroe, the blond Angel on the ABC detective drama produced by Aaron Spelling. The rest of the week, she was the star attraction on a poster that sold a record 12 million copies.

Mary Farrah Leni Fawcett was born Feb. 2, 1947, in Corpus Christi, where her father started a pipeline construction company. She was an art major at the University of Texas at Austin and began modeling for a local clothing store. She was voted one of the 10 most beautiful women on campus, and Hollywood publicist David Mirisch urged her to quit school for a career in show business.

Fawcett was once married to actor Lee Majors but that marriage ended when she took up with Ryan O'Neal.

It is sad to see her go, but it is a blessing that she's no longer suffering.

Sony's Toho Collection

The final artwork for the Sony's Toho Collection DVD set has been announced.

To quote former President Lyndon B. Johnson on a portrait of himself he didn't like: "That's the ugliest thing I ever saw!" Here it is without text:



It appears the actors on the cover aren't impressed with it either. They seem to be looking at something more interesting.

The synopsis for the DVD's features has also been revealed on Sony's website. Here it is:

Synopsis

Mothra: Members of a Japanese expedition to a heavily-radiated island find two tiny, beautiful girls and take them home for observation. When the girls are taken off the island, a mysterious egg hatches, producing a gargantuan moth which destroys everything in its path as it searches for the girls. H-Man: The Tokyo sewer system is an oozing mess after a radioactive liquid turns people into slimy blobs that float down the drains following a rainstorm. To add to the havoc, the gelatinous masses then begin to reproduce. The blobs are ultimately destroyed in a fire that lights up the city. Battle in Outer Space: A series of mysterious catastrophes sweep the globe, causing world's scientists to conclude that beings from another planet are attacking earth. Two earth space ships damage attackers, giving the world time to prepare for gigantic battle in outer space.

DVD Features
Commentary with Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski
DVD Details
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
CC: English (US)
Sub: English (US)
Color/B&W: Color

Who the hell wrote those? The "two tiny girls" weren't "taken home for observation," they were kidnapped by the villain so he could exploit them in his Tokyo nightclub! Yeesh!

Danny Tokarz on the Monster Zero message board said it best about the synopsis:

Jeez, a kid at G-Fest could have written a better synopsis for these films than what Sony just did.

And Sony could've had the services of August Ragone for virtually nothing! Mind-boggling!

Cap and Tax

The Looney Left Report

The Wall Street Journal has an article today on the cap-and-trade bill (Waxman-Markey) the Democrats are trying to ram (or Rahm) through congress. It is the biggest tax hike in history. The Democrat leftist loons are hell-bent on bankrupting everyone.

The article states, in part:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has put cap-and-trade legislation on a forced march through the House, and the bill may get a full vote as early as Friday. It looks as if the Democrats will have to destroy the discipline of economics to get it done.

When the Heritage Foundation did its analysis of Waxman-Markey, it broadly compared the economy with and without the carbon tax. Under this more comprehensive scenario, it found Waxman-Markey would cost the economy $161 billion in 2020, which is $1,870 for a family of four. As the bill's restrictions kick in, that number rises to $6,800 for a family of four by 2035.

Even as Democrats have promised that this cap-and-trade legislation won't pinch wallets, behind the scenes they've acknowledged the energy price tsunami that is coming. During the brief few days in which the bill was debated in the House Energy Committee, Republicans offered three amendments: one to suspend the program if gas hit $5 a gallon; one to suspend the program if electricity prices rose 10% over 2009; and one to suspend the program if unemployment rates hit 15%. Democrats defeated all of them.

Americans should know that those Members who vote for this climate bill are voting for what is likely to be the biggest tax in American history. Even Democrats can't repeal that reality.

To read the full article, go here.

If this bill passes, you will have to pay much more for utilities, gasoline, heating oil, food and everything else that relies on transportation.

Contact your congress member today and tell him/her to not vote for this ridiculous bill!

An Iranian Woman Cries For Help

"Iran has executed its Tiananmen Square. Baharestan Square has become synonymous with barbarity, cruelty, massacre and inhumanity." - Mark Levin.

An anonymous Iranian woman reports on the savage violence perpetrated against protesters in Tehran and cries for help.

Meanwhile, Obama and the United Nations do nothing.



This graphic video shows the murder of Neda Agha-Soltan:



What kind of regime would brutally murder its own people? Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his Islamo-Nazis need to be eliminated! Some "holy man"!

It has also been reported that the family of Neda Agha-Soltan were thrown out of their home by Iranian authorities (i.e., thugs).

According to The Guardian (U.K.):

Neighbours said that her family no longer lives in the four-floor apartment building on Meshkini Street, in eastern Tehran, having been forced to move since she was killed. The police did not hand the body back to her family, her funeral was cancelled, she was buried without letting her family know and the government banned mourning ceremonies at mosques, the neighbors said.

"We just know that they [the family] were forced to leave their flat," a neighbour said. The Guardian was unable to contact the family directly to confirm if they had been forced to leave.

Warren Buffett and the "Banking Queen"

Billionaire Warren Buffett told CNBC in an interview that he sees no signs of a recovery in the economy:

BUFFETT: Well, it's been pretty flat. I get figures on 70-odd businesses, a lot of them daily. Everything that I see about the economy is that we've had no bounce. The financial system was really where the crisis was last September and October, and that's been surmounted and that's enormously important.

Buffett also criticized Obama's cap-and-trade energy tax scheme as a "huge, regressive tax."

He is basically saying that the stimulous/porkulous bills failed (i.e., Obama failed). All they accomplished was to saddle the country with four times the national debt we had previously.

Speaking of the economy, one of the architects of the current meltdown, Congressman Barney Frank is at it again (it seems the "Banking Queen" hasn't learned his lesson):

Two U.S. Democratic lawmakers (Representatives Barney Frank, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, and Anthony Weiner) want Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to relax recently tightened standards for mortgages on new condominiums, saying they could threaten the viability of some developments and slow the housing-market recovery.

Source: Reuters.

I'll go out on a limb and make a prediction: the economy will get worse and this, along with the Democrats' tax and spending schemes will cause them to lose both majorities in congress and will threaten the very existence of the Democrat Party.

"Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris" Saturday On UTB

The Los Angeles-area UTB television Japanese network will be showing Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris this coming Saturday afternoon.

From the station's website:

June 27th（SAT） 3pm - 5pm

GAMERA 3 Revenge of Iris

I’ll never forgive Gamera. The end of the century. The supermutant Gyaos appear all over the world and finally emerge in Shibuya. Gamera chases Gyaos to Tokyo. Shibuya is destroyed by the battle of the two monsters. Meanwhile, a young girl named Ayana, whose parents were killed in the monsters’ battle four years ago, begins to raise a mysterious creature she calls Iris in hopes that it will kill Gamera.

Daiei's (now Kadokawa Pictures) Gamera 3 is considered by many Japanese science-fiction/kaiju fans as the high point in Japanese special effects. It was shown at G-FEST '99 in Hollywood to a packed house at the Egyptian Theater. It was directed by Shusuke Kaneko, with special effects directed by Shinji Higuchi.

Stop The Energy Tax!

Above, a new video ad called "The Breaking Point!"

Stop The Energy Tax!

Sign the petition to stop the energy tax!

Drill here. Drill now. Pay less.

Key House leaders or undecideds to call:

Rep. Collin Peterson (Ag Committee Chair): 202-225-2165
(Peterson just caved and is now supporting the bill)

Rep. Brad Sherman (CA) 202-225-5911

Rep. Tim Holden (Ag Cmmtte Vice Chair): 202-225-5546

Rep. Tim Walz (MN) 202-225-2472

Rep. Mike McIntyre (NC): 202-225-2731

Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX): 202-225-1640

Rep. David Scott (GA): 202-225-2939

Talking Points:

1. I oppose the cap-and-trade Carbon Tax. This is an outrageous
power grab by the federal government that will greatly
expand government control and increase energy costs for
my family.

2. This system of "allocations" has failed in Europe and
will politicize America's energy policy.

3. Especially in these difficult economic times, Congress must
not pass this tax on the American people!

Neda Agha-Soltan, Martyr of Iran

Above, Neda Agha-Soltan. AP photo.

Neda Soltan, 26, became the "Joan of Ark" of Iran when she was killed during the uprising over the sham election that was held a week ago. She was an innocent bystander when she was shot. She was described as interested in music, not politics.

Above, people trying in vain to assist Neda Soltan after she was shot. FoxNews.

The Los Angeles Times reports:

Hamid Panahi, her friend and music teacher, told the Los Angeles Times how Miss Soltan was shot as they and two others were making their way to a demonstration in Freedom Square in central Tehran. Their car became stuck in traffic on Karegar Street and they got out for some air.

Mr. Panahi said that he heard a distant crack and saw Miss Soltan instantly collapse to the ground.

"We were stuck in traffic and we got out and stood to watch and, without her throwing a rock or anything, they shot her," he said. "It was just one bullet."

He later heard other witnesses claiming that the gunman was not a police officer but one of a group of plainclothes officials or Basiji militia.

He recalled watching in horror as blood came out of her chest and then began to bubble from her nose and mouth - footage that bystanders captured on their mobile phones and posted on the internet, where she has become a global phenomenon.

You Tube photo.

Iranian authorities are trying to prevent Soltan from becoming a martyr by demanding that her family remove black mourning banners from their home and not allowing a funeral service in a mosque. Posters of Neda Soltan's face have appeared all over Iran.

All mosques were given a direct order from the government barring them from holding any memorial services for Neda, and her family was threatened with grave consequences if anyone gathered to mourn her, according to FoxNews.

A regime who would kill innocent citizens should be overthown.

Ed McMahon, R.I.P.

Ed McMahon, the longtime sidekick to Johnny Carson on NBC's The Tonight Show shortly after midnight this morning at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.

I once ran into McMahon at a Studio City Ralphs Market in 1993.

Digital Broadcasting Opens Door To Japanese TV

One great discovery (for me, at least) now that the transition to digital broadcasting has been completed, I can receive a television station with 24-hour Japanese programming.

UTB (United Television Broadcasting), now has a spot on Channel 18.2 in Los Angeles, where viewers can tune to Japanese or Japanese-related programs, including a large portion of English-language content from Japan’s public broadcaster, NHK.

Although I watch very little television these days, I am finding myself tuning in at UTB to watch some anime and other Japanese programs. Thankfully, many of them are captioned in English.

As I am writing this, an ad for the station came up which included a clip from Gamera 3, indicating the kinds of movies they show. Their website indicates that Gamera, Guardian of the Universe is scheduled to be broadcast on June 25.

If you enjoy Japanese culture, kaiju or get a kick out of Japanese television, you may want to take a good look at UTB.

The Rafu Shimpo, a Japanese newspaper in Los Angeles, has an article on UTB.

Pink Godzilla Games Forced To Make Name Change

It was inevitable, so it should come as no surprise the Seattle's retro and import video game retailer Pink Godzilla Games is now in the process changing their name.

It had been reported earlier this year that Godzilla's parent company, Toho Co., Ltd. went to court to put the kibosh on the retailer's name through their attorneys claiming that it infringes on Toho's Godzilla trademark and copyright. The case is titled Toho Co., Ltd. v. Pink Gozilla LLC, CV 09-0830 FMC (C.D. Cal. 2009), and was filed in Federal District Court in Los Angeles.

It is actually amazing that the name has lasted as long as it has or that the owners dared to even use that name. I recall a sushi bar in the Little Tokyo section of Los Angeles used either Godzilla or Gojira (can't remember which) in the restaurant's name, but Toho clamped down on them too.

I can't blame Toho, for Godzilla is their property. I also find it amazing that many day care businesses dare to use images of Micky Mouse, Donald Duck, etc. at their places of business. The Walt Disney Company also guards the use of their trademarked/copyrighted characters. They have been known to send out Cease and Desist letters to these businesses and, if necessary, take them to court.

Anyone who uses trademarked/copyrighted characters has to be stupid for doing so and are only asking for trouble.

Solidarity With Iran Freedom Fighters

In solidarity with the freedom fighters in Iran, I have changed the color of this blog's topic titles to green.

Obama Gets Off His Butt On Iran

FoxNews.com is reporting that President Obama has finally issued a statement on Iran:

"The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights," Obama said in a written statement.

Obama referenced his speech this month to the Muslim world, saying "suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. The Iranian people will ultimately judge the actions of their own government. If the Iranian government seeks the respect of the international community, it must respect the dignity of its own people and govern through consent, not coercion."

Obama also cited the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s, famous quote: "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."

"I believe that," Obama said. "The international community believes that. And right now, we are bearing witness to the Iranian peoples' belief in that truth, and we will continue to bear witness."

The uprising over the sham Iranian elections has been going on for days, but up to now, Obama has only made timid comments on the situation fearing that he'd be seen as "meddling."

Although a little late to the party, it is about time Obama got off his butt to say something in support of the Iranian people, even though he had to be pressured to do so.

Godzilla In "Japan's Cold War"

"Godzilla" copyright 1954, Toho Co., Ltd.

The Wall Street Journal has a review of a new book, Japan's Cold War: Media, Literature and the Law by Ann Sherif (Columbia University Press, 304 pages, $50). In the article (and, I presume, in the book), Godzilla gets a good mention:

Yet, in spite of these shortcomings, Ms. Sherif's volume is successful in other ways, especially when it comes to identifying the main themes that creators explored during this period. One of the most significant of these was the fear of nuclear annihilation.

More than six decades after Hiroshima, it is easy to forget outside of Japan how pervasive this fear was and how deeply it affected cultural productions, even the most popular ones. While "Godzilla" Director Ishiro Honda could have cast his monster as yet another alien landing from outer space or the simple creation of an ambitious scientist gone mad, he did not. Instead, he consciously chose hydrogen-bomb testing, then being conducted by the United States in the South Pacific, as the means to awaken Godzilla from its long period of undersea slumber.

Further anchoring the film within the political debates of the day, the very first scene of the movie, in which a fishing boat is exposed to what appears to be the brilliant flash of a nuclear explosion, was inspired by a real incident which had taken place in March 1954, several months before the release of "Godzilla," when a Japanese trawler, Lucky Dragon No. 5*, had sailed too close to a test site in the Marshall Islands and had been exposed to nuclear fallout. Today, few would be able to connect the film's opening scene with this incident, but back in the mid-1950s, everybody did.

[*See G-FAN #80 for more on the Lucky Dragon.]

To read the full article, go here.

Gaviscon Ad From South Africa

This from a South African commercial for Gaviscon, an antacid.

It illustrates what can go wrong when someone who is ESL (English as a second language) writes the punch line for the advertisement:

(Click on picture to enlarge)

Monsterland

Above, Joerg Buttgereit with a Godzilla '64 foam rubber sculpture by Chris Scalf at G-FEST.

If you are unable to attend G-FEST XVI next month in Chicago, you will have another opportunity to view Monsterland, the latest documentary on kaiju by Joerg Buttgereit.

"Monsterland will also be shown at the San Diego Comic Con at the 24th of July 2009. I will be there to do a Q & A," says Buttgereit.

He also reports that a review of Monsterland will be in the next issue of G-FAN.

G-FORUM

Godzilla fan Ryan Clark (Mistystuffer) has started a new forum, G-FORUM, The Unoffical G-FAN & G-FEST Discussion Forum.

Clark says, "I know there's already numerous Godzilla and daikaiju forums out there, many of which are great as they are. But I wanted to come up with one that focused on the G-FAN magazine and G-FEST convention. I sought the approval of J.D. Lees for the okay to create an unofficial G-FAN forum, and he allowed me to."

To join, go here.

This Is 'Faith'

I received this in an email tonight:

This Is 'Faith'

This dog was born on Christmas Eve in the year 2002. He
was born with 3 legs -



2 healthy hind legs and 1 abnormal front leg which had to be amputated.

He of course could not walk when he was born. Even his mother did not want him.



His first owner also did not think that
he could survive and he was thinking of 'putting him to sleep'.
But then, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow, met him and wanted to
take care of him.

She became determined to teach and train this little dog to walk by
himself.

She named him 'Faith'.



In the beginning, she put Faith on a
surfboard to let him feel the movement.

Later she used peanut butter on a spoon as a lure and reward

for him for standing up and jumping around.

Even the other dog at home encouraged him to walk.

Amazingly, only after 6 months, like a miracle,

Faith learned to balance on his hind legs and to jump to move forward.

After further training in the snow, he could now walk like a human being.



Faith loves to walk around now.

No matter where he goes, he attracts people to him.

He is fast becoming famous on the international scene and

has appeared on various newspapers and TV shows.

There is now a book entitled 'With a
Little Faith' being published about him.

He was even considered to appear in one of Harry
Potter movies.



His present owner Jude Stringfellew
has given up her teaching post and plans to take him around the world
to preach that even without a perfect body, one can have a perfect
soul'.





In life there are always undesirable
things, so in order to feel better

you just need to look at life from another direction.

I hope this message will bring fresh
new ways of thinking to everyone

and that everyone will appreciate and be thankful for each beautiful day.

Faith is the continual demonstration of the strength and wonder of life

George Reeves, A Final Thought

Above, George Reeves and Noel Neill on the set of "The Girl Who Hired Superman."

While it was a sad anniversary to commemorate, it was good that the mainstream media (to some extent) did manage to write about the 50th anniversary of the death of George Reeves.

The Associated Press's Today In History took note of the anniversary:

In 1959, actor George Reeves, TV's "Superman," was found dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound in the bedroom of his Beverly Hills, Calif., home; he was 45.

Yesterday, the Los Angeles Times published this:

Look past the bright spotlights and you'll notice that Hollywood history is drenched in scandal and haunted by heartbreak. Take the case of George Reeves, who died of a gunshot to the head 50 years ago today at his home in Benedict Canyon.

Other media outlets published the Reeves anniversary story, mostly using the article from Newsday.

It was asked on an Adventures of Superman fan message board, "Will there be half as much attention paid in 2014 to the 100th anniversary of his birth as there will be tomorrow on the 50th anniversary of his death?" I responded, "Only if WE make it so." Many other fans agreed. His 100th birthday will be January 5, 2014.

Knowing how devoted George's fans are, you can bet your last dollar that the 100th anniversary of his birth will be celebrated. They'll make it so!

To read the Times article, go here.

G-FAN Travel Guide To Kaiju Japan Progress Report

G-FAN Travel Guide To Kaiju Japan progress report.

We didn't exactly meet our May deadline to get the layouts done for the G-FAN Travel Guide To Kaiju Japan, but J. D. Lees reports that he is 3/4 completed. Between getting G-FAN out, getting G-FEST organized as well as numerous family obligations, it is actually amazing that we have gotten this far.

Hopefully, we can get it finished before Fall, since there are a number of travel shows and Japan Expo to offer it to.

G-FAN 2010 Calendar

Daikaiju Enterprises, Ltd., the folks who bring you G-FAN, North America's journal of everything Godzilla, Gamera and Japanese science-fiction, is offering a 2010 calendar.

Each month features a full-color kaiju masterpiece by renowned fantasy artist Jolyon Yates, as well as tons of trivia every fan of the genre will enjoy.

The scheduled release date is July 1 (just in the nick of time for G-FEST XVI).

Suggested retail price: $9.95

Here is one dealer offering the calendar.

Book Review: Flights of Fantasy

Book Review

"Flights of Fantasy" by Michael J. Hayde (Bear Manor Media), ISBN 1-59393-344-4

Illustrated. 539 pages.

Suggested Retail: $29.95 (Softcover)

Cover by Randy Garrett.

There are two kinds of people who like to read about movies, television shows and music. The first group would rather read a good overview with background stories and gossip. The second prefers to read all about the minute details of the production with background on the performers and the behind-the scenes workings. I fall somewhere in-between the two groups with leanings toward the latter.

If you're like me, then you will enjoy Michael J. Hayde's "Flights of Fantasy: The Unauthorized But True Story of Radio & TV's Adventures of Superman."

Michael Hayde has put together a book chock-full of technical details, script changes (including deleted/changed scenes that are found in the original scripts) , photographs and a detailed episode guide to both Adventures of Superman programs.

He focuses first on the radio Superman show with Bud Collyer as Clark Kent/Superman that debuted in 1942. Robert Maxwell produced the radio show and went on to produce the George Reeves (as Clark Kent/Superman) television series in 1951. After Kellogg's signed on as sponsor, the television series debuted in 1952 (or 1953, depending upon the location).

Tidbits of Superman trivia are sprinkled throughout the book (kryptonite made its first appearance in the radio show) along with humorous stories. One such story was of actor Dabbs Greer looking for a western costume for his role as Mr. Pebble in the "Superman Silver Mine" (1957) episode and finding that the one selected contained some curious stains. Obviously, the wearer (a famous western singing star) never wore underwear.

Hayde does discuss the death of George Reeves (which occurred 50 years ago today), but doesn't dwell on it.

With a book so loaded with details (as Hayde painstakingly provides), it is inevitable that some errors would be made. One such error is the statement that the Superman Museum in Metropolis, Illinois is the only place the public can view a George Reeves Superman costume. Not so. One is on display at the Experience Music/Science Fiction Museums in Seattle, Washington along with an Adam West Batman costume and a Burt Ward Robin costume. But such errors are relatively minor and don't detract from the book. I haven't yet seen "the perfect book" and I doubt that I ever will.

One really great thing about "Flights of Fantasy" is that Hayde provides details on all of his sources (I noticed that he referenced my G-FAN interview with Robert Shayne's daughter Stephanie). Not too many authors would go to the lengths Hayde does in providing his sources, except in a cursory way. There was nothing "cursory" about Hayde's approach, which is one of the big strengths of the book.

If you are a Superman fan or a fan of the golden ages of radio shows and television, this book is for you. It is a welcome addition to the library.

My grade: ***** out of *****.

George Reeves - 50 Years Since June 16, 1959

Fifty years ago tomorrow television's first Superman, George Reeves, died from a gunshot wound to the head. Allegedly self-inflicted.

The Adventures Continue website is calling for a world-wide moment of silence in honor of George:

Please also join in for a Global Moment of Silence.

June 16, 2009 - 9:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (6:00 Pacific)

I may go to the cemetery tomorrow to George's urn. To visit George's Findagrave.com memorial, go here.

Obama's Healthcare Lies Exposed

President Obama says that he has no plans for a single-payer health insurance system. He lied.

This video exposes the deception and outright lies that Obama and his leftist cronies have been feeding the American people on healthcare reform. Watch this video and pass it on to your friends and family.

George Reeves Newsday Article

Newsday.com has a splended tribute article on George Reeves, the television Superman of the baby-boomer era. The article's title is "It's 50 Years Since 'Superman' George Reeves Died." It is dated June 13, 2009.

In it, writer Jerry Zezima wrote:

The stage-trained Reeves, who was involved in charitable causes, reportedly had an impish sense of humor and a genuine affection for his young "Superman" fans.

In a post at the Adventures of Superman Message Board, Zezima wrote:

Like all of you nice folks, I am a baby boomer and a lifelong "Adventures of Superman" fan who also thinks George deserves far more credit as an actor and as a man than what he has received from many people, especially those in the mainstream media. Fans like Lou and everyone else on this board help keep his memory alive.

I'd also like to add my thanks to Jerry Zezima for his article.

To read the article, go here.

North Korea and A Tale of Two Cities

North Korea and A Tale of Two Cities

Text and photos by Armand Vaquer

Breitbart.com is reporting that North Korea is threatening to weaponize plutonium which brought an angry protest from Hiroshima, Japan's mayor:

The mayor of Hiroshima -- one of the two Japanese cities obliterated by US atom bombs during World War II -- on Sunday denounced North Korea for threatening to build more nuclear weapons, a report said.

"I am furious, with them (North Korea) for defying strong protests from the international community, including Hiroshima, the city attacked in an atomic bombing," mayor Tadatoshi Akiba said in a statement, as reported by Jiji Press.

Mayor Akiba's protest is very understandable and the Japanese are sensitive to the nuclear issue.

Five years ago this coming August, G-TOUR visited Hiroshima. While there, the G-tourists visited the Peace Memorial Park and Museum. At the museum, we saw artifacts of the destruction of the city by a U.S. atomic bomb in August 1945. The two atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki hastened the end of World War II.

In April 2007, I visited Nagasaki, the second Japanese city to be destroyed by an atomic bomb. Nagasaki also has a museum as well as a peace park. Additionally, Nagasaki has a park built at the hypocenter of the bomb blast.

This video, called "Tale of Two Cities" documents the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki:




Here, is a stark reminder of the power of the atomic bomb that was dropped over Hiroshima. This is the Atomic Dome, which is now part of Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park.



Below, these dioramas from Hiroshima's Peace Museum shows the effects of the atom bomb on Hiroshima. They depict Hiroshima before and after the bombing.



Today, Nagasaki is a thriving city with virtually no evidence that it was obliterated by an atomic bomb in August 1945. The photo below was from my trip in April 2007.



Below, Hypocenter Park marks the point where the atomic bomb was detonated over Nagasaki.



The protest came after North Korea announced that it was going to build more nuclear bombs and to start enriching uranium for a new nuclear weapons program. This came after the UN Security Council called for tougher sanctions over North Korea's nuclear test.

The Great Digital TV Switchover

Well, we've finally made the "great switchover" to digital television. It seems to have gone off pretty well.

This was supposed to have taken place months ago, but due to the usual ineptness of the government (they ran out of discount vouchers) and a lot of knuckleheaded people, the switchover was delayed to June 12.

For me, since I really don't watch that much television, I don't bother subscribing to either cable or satellite television (if I had do, I'd go with satellite). My television set is a little older, so I needed to get a converter box. As I got my voucher in early December, before the government ran out of them, I got my converter box in early January and it just sat on a shelf until yesterday.

While having my usual Saturday brunch at my local Crazy Tokyo Sushi restaurant, I overheard another patron talking about the problems with his converter box. He had trouble scanning for channels and the coaxial cable broke on the end that plugs into the box and he couldn't get it off to return the converter to the dealer. I thought, "I hope I don't have the same problems as he did."

Well, I hooked everything up (one must follow the directions to avoid problems) and everything went quite well. The converter scanned as it was supposed to and all the channels came through crystal-clear (I did notice the usual pixelations here and there that's inherent to digital broadcasts). And, the converter box came with batteries for the remote! (Great. Now I have another friggin' remote to deal with as I already have one for my home theater system, one for my TV, one for my VCR and one for my DVD player.)

While flipping through the stations to see what new ones are now available, I came across one called "This" (I'm surprised there's not another channel called "That"). It was in the middle of an old 1950s sci-fi flick, "The Monster That Challenged The World" featuring Hans Conried (of "Fractured Flickers" fame of the 1960s). It seems to specialize in horror and sci-fi movies from what I can tell (I saw no listings for "This" anywhere) as I later took another look and another horror movie was on (don't know what it was). The other stations seemed to be a slew of ethnic-oriented stations: Latin, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, etc. (Welcome to the great melting pot!) There was also added a weather channel for local weather reports. At least that's useful!

Ah, well. Welcome to the 21st Century of digital television.

UPDATE: It was pointed out to me (correctly) that the converter box does not provide HD to analog televisions, but instead allows analog television sets to receive and show digital broadcasts. There is a lot of confusion over this, and since I really didn't pay too much attention to it, I also had the terms wrong. Also, the converter box and its instruction manual also says "Digital To Analog TV Signal Converter" and, also, it says "Access HD." I made the changes above accordingly.

G-FEST XVI Flier

Jeff Horne, who is working with me on publicizing G-FEST XVI, has created the official G-FEST XVI flier that will be distributed to Chicago-area comic shops, etc. Nice job, Jeff!




Click on it to see it full size.

Lunatic Judge Rules Padilla Can Sue Over Alleged Torture

Above, convicted terrorist Jose Padilla.

The lunatics are running the asylum.

FoxNews.com is reporting:

A federal judge says that a convicted terrorist can sue a former Bush administration lawyer for drafting the legal theories that led to his alleged torture.

The order by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White of San Francisco is the first time an administration lawyer has been held potentially liable for the abuse of detainees.

This is the case involving Jose Padilla. According to Wikipedia:

José Padilla (born October 18, 1970), also known as Abdullah al-Muhajir or Muhajir Abdullah, is a United States citizen convicted of aiding terrorists.

Padilla is claiming that he was tortured while being held nearly four years as a suspected terrorist.

Judge White refused to dismiss Padilla's lawsuit against former senior Justice Department attorney John Yoo Friday. Yoo wrote internal legal opinion memos of interrogation, detention and presidential powers for the department's Office of Legal Counsel from 2001 to 2003.

Padilla was arrested in Chicago in 2002 and was accused of conspiring with the al-Qaida terrorist network to detonate a radioactive "dirty bomb" in the United States.

The lunatics are running the asylum.

Democrats' Socialistic Healthcare Carries Hefty Price Tag

Democrats' healthcare "reform" bill will carry a hefty price tag.

According to Bloomberg.com:

June 12 (Bloomberg) -- Health-care overhaul legislation being drafted by House Democrats will include $600 billion in tax increases and $400 billion in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel said.

Democrats will work on the bill’s details next week as they struggle through “what kind of heartburn” it will cause to agree on how to pay for revamping the health-care system, Rangel, a New York Democrat, said today. The measure’s cost is reaching well beyond the $634 billion President Barack Obama proposed in his budget request to Congress as a 10-year down payment for the policy changes.

Asked whether the cost of a health-care overhaul would be more than $1 trillion over a decade, Rangel said, “the answer is yes.” Some Senate Republicans, including Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, say the costs will likely exceed $1.5 trillion.

At this rate, the Obama administration and the Democrats will spend the United States into oblivion.

To read the full article, go here.

Dracula Knighted By The Queen

He was a Count in Transylvania. He was also known as the "King of the Vampires." Now Count Dracula has been knighted by the Queen of England.

The Associated Press reports:

LONDON — The Lord of the Undead is now a knight of the British Empire.

Christopher Lee, whose sonorous voice and burning black eyes made him a memorable arch-villain in films from "Dracula" to "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith," was given one of Britain's highest honors Saturday by Queen Elizabeth II.

Lee, 87, who made his name in Britain's low-budget Hammer Studios horror films, is one of cinema's consummate bad-guys, appearing as everything from Bond villain Scaramanga in "The Man With the Golden Gun" to the disreputable Russian mystic in "Rasputin, the Mad Monk."

Monster X Strikes Back Added To G-FEST XVI

An additional movie has been added to G-FEST XVI's movie line-up:

MONSTER X STRIKES BACK: ATTACK THE G8 SUMMIT! will be shown Saturday, July 4 at the Pickwick Theater. Go to G-FAN.com for details.

Chuck Harter On His George Reeves Timeline Project

Many have asked (in different chat rooms and emails) about Chuck Harter's George Reeves timeline that he has put together. I asked Chuck to provide a statement on his timeline project and he has sent the following:

June 10, 2009


From: Chuck Harter, Hollywood, California



Dear fans of George Reeves…

In a short time it will be the 50th anniversary of the tragic passing of actor George Reeves.

His premature death has been a source of both interest and controversy for many years.

There have been books (“Hollywood Kryptonite” “Speeding Bullet”), many TV shows and a feature film (“Hollywoodland”) on this subject.

Each one attempted to give the reasons for Reeves’ mysterious death.

I have been researching George Reeves and the Adventures of Superman TV series for over 20 years and have amassed a great deal of material.

Much of that material is of an exclusive nature.

My many attempts to get the ultimate visual coffee table type book on the TV series published have unfortunately proved unsuccessful.

I am still pursuing options on that book and will continue to do so until it is finally published.

It was never my intention to delve into the mystery of his death when I began this journey…

However, as I worked through the years, much information on his passing came into my possession.

Late last year, I began organizing the material into a timeline in an attempt to clarify and explain events that led up to the fateful night of June 16, 1959.

The shooting and immediate aftermath have also been organized and documented.

I shared this material with a few long time fans of George Reeves and was encouraged by their favorable responses.

Very recently I showed the material that I have currently compiled to Armand Vaquer and was appreciative of his very favorable reaction.

As a result of the meeting I am now and will continue to work diligently at finishing a book on this tragic mystery.

For years I believed that there could only be one explanation of Reeves’ death by gunshot wound.

I even went on several TV shows and explained my position.

However, after compiling this time line from various sources and using logical supposition beyond a reasonable doubt…

I feel that I have been able to provide the most convincing portrayal of the passing of George Reeves and the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate event.

It is my intention to finish writing the timeline and then to make a book form of this material available…

As of now, my target date for availability is December of 2009…

The forthcoming book will explain many things including…

1. George Reeves’ mental and physical health at the time of the tragic shooting

2. The many events that occurred during his last few years that contributed to the final night.

3. Lenore Lemmon’s prediction of Reeves’ final moments before the shot was heard.

4. The mysterious 55 minute delay in calling the police.

5. and much more…

I will also dispel many myths that have been established over the years from various articles, books and TV shows.

George Reeves was a hero and inspiration to me as a boy and I have always held him in much esteem and always will.

This book is not an attempt to besmirch my childhood “friend” but will show that a good man had several personal flaws.

These foibles, combined with a series of truly unfortunate and overpowering events, caused his tragic end which is still of interest to the present day.

I have asked Armand to deliver this statement and will keep him informed of progress as it occurs.

In closing, I’d like to reaffirm my love and appreciation for George Reeves and the truly classic “Adventures of Superman” TV series.

His passing of 50 years ago is a true Hollywood mystery and it is my goal to provide an explanation.


Chuck Harter

P.S. Make sure you get a copy of Michael J. Hayde’s great new book “Flights of Fancy” (Bear Manor Media). It is very well done.

UPDATE (6/21/09): Chuck Harter told me today that he's now up to 65 pages and has unearthed more information on George Reeves's final eight months.

Adventures of Superman 1953 Preview

Adventures of Superman 1953 Preview:

Looney Left Report: Miranda Rights For Terrorists

Looney Left Report

Just when you think you've heard it all, now comes a report that "high-value detainees" in Afganistan are being read their "Miranda Rights" as ordered by the Obama Justice Department.

The Weekly Standard reports:

For, the Obama Justice Department has quietly ordered FBI agents to read Miranda rights to high value detainees captured and held at U.S. detention facilities in Afghanistan, according a senior Republican on the House Intelligence Committee. “The administration has decided to change the focus to law enforcement. Here’s the problem. You have foreign fighters who are targeting US troops today – foreign fighters who go to another country to kill Americans. We capture them…and they’re reading them their rights – Mirandizing these foreign fighters,” says Representative Mike Rogers, who recently met with military, intelligence and law enforcement officials on a fact-finding trip to Afghanistan.

It has also been reported that congress hasn't been informed of this policy move. Remember Sarah Palin's comment on reading terrorists their rights during her speech at the GOP National Convention last year? Remember the howls of protest from the Democrats?

More lunacy! Yeesh!

Status On The Daily Planet Building

I contacted Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge's office to see about getting a sign erected at the E. Clem Wilson Building, the original Daily Planet Building in the Adventures of Superman, noting its historical significance in television history.

I received the following message from Councilman LaBonge's office:

Mr. Vaquer,

Thanks for the info you've provided via emails. After talking with Councilmember LaBonge, we thought it might be difficult to get signage since the building isn't locally designated. But the Councilmember came up with an even better idea. We think the building should be part of the Angels Walk LA program (www.angelswalkla.org). They have a mapped route marked by street stanchions that go down Wilshire from basically Westlake to Fairfax. I have forwarded your emails and contact info to the executive director of the program, Deanna Molloy. You can get in contact with her at dmolloy@angelswalkla.org.

Thank you for the info and it was interesting learning a little more of the history of this building.

Best,

Doug Mensman
Assistant Director of Planning
Councilmember Tom LaBonge

While it is not a sign, this may be a good way to go. Another possibility is to find out how much a sign costs and we chip in to get one made to the city's specifications. But still, I do like the stanchions.

What do you think? Your input is appreciated.

Christine Nguyen Interviewed

Photo courtesy of Christine Nguyen.

Along with contributing to G-FAN magazine, I am also a contributor to the Monster Island News blog and I recently conducted an interview with actress/model Christine Nguyen.

The interview is now posted. Please feel free to go over to read it.

An Interview With Christine Nguyen

Bar Wisdom

Luke ''The Drifter'' says:

"We Americans got so tired of being thought of as dumb by the rest of the world that we went to the polls last November and removed all doubt."

Chuck Harter's Last 8 Months of George Reeves

Chuck Harter's Last 8 Months of George Reeves

by Armand Vaquer

I spent an interesting afternoon with Adventures of Superman/George Reeves historian Chuck Harter today.

Chuck came over to "La Casa Vaquer" with a 41-page notebook of notes, along with reproductions of the full June 16, 1959 Los Angeles Herald-Express front page and an 8 x 10" (the one at top of this blog) photo of George on his front porch taken just three days before his death.

Chuck has put together a timeline of the last eight months of George Reeves's life and it gives a clearer perspective on the downward spiral that Reeves's life took after he met Lenore Lemmon and broke up with Toni Mannix. Chuck pulled together all known facts and events from public and private documents and puts approximate times and dates to them. He also did extensive cross-referencing of all his sources. He also used notes from Reeves's friend/manager Art Weissman's notebook (it appears that Weissman took extensive notes) and interviews with Rip Van Ronkle, the husband of Carol Van Ronkle. To my knowledge, Van Ronkle's information was barely, if ever, touched upon in previous biographies and television documentaries on George Reeves. It is obvious that Reeves had a close friendship with Rip Van Ronkle and "let his hair down" to him.

It is also interesting to note that Weissman was virtually "banished" from the world of Reeves by Lenore Lemmon from the time she moved into the house in Benedict Canyon in February 1959 to Reeves's death on June 16, 1959.

From reading Chuck's timeline, a lot of "facts" used in prior books and television documentaries are just flat-out wrong!

I told Chuck that, if fully developed, his work can read like the famous books by Jim Bishop: The Day Lincoln Was Shot and The Day Kennedy Was Shot. His notes can easily be transformed into The Day George Reeves Was Shot. They're that good!

Further development of this eight-month timeline should be encouraged. This timeline will tell you what really happened that fateful night.