Del Monroe, Kowalski of "Voyage To the Bottom of the Sea," Dies

Actor Del Monroe, who played seaman Kowalski in television's Voyage To The Bottom of the Sea of the 1960s, passed away on Friday, June 5, 2009. He also appeared in the movie version of Voyage.

Monroe was born on April 7, 1936 in Santa Barbara, California.

Monroe also appeared in other television shows such as the Linda Carter Wonder Woman series of the 1970s. He also appeared in 1999's Speedway Junky.

Book Reading Time!

It's book-reading time (at least it is for me)!

This is the time of the year when I get in a mood to kick back and read some books. I ordered a couple from Amazon.com.

The first one is Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto by talk radio host Mark R. Levin.



Liberty and Tyranny takes a look at the conservative philosophy and how the left is currently trying re-make the United States into a European socialist (or, as Levin calls it, a statist) country. It has been the New York Times number one best seller for several weeks.

The second one just came out, and it is called Flights of Fantasy: The Unauthorized Biography of Radio and Television's Adventures of Superman by Michael J. Hayde.



Flights of Fantasy takes a look at the adventures of Superman of the Bud Collyer radio shows of the 1940s and television's Adventures of Superman starring George Reeves of the 1950s.

These are two titles that you should consider picking up. I am looking forward to a couple of good reads!

Obama Beach

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown made a major slip today during D-Day ceremonies at Omaha Beach, France.

He said, "So next to Obama Beach we join President Obama..."

To see a video of this flub:

The First Daily Planet Building

The First Daily Planet Building

by Armand Vaquer

The first Daily Planet Building in the Adventures of Superman televison show (1951-1957) was the E. Clem Wilson Building at the northeast corner of Wilshire Blvd. and La Brea Avenue.

Left, the Wilson Building as the Daily Planet, 1951.

The building was designed by Meyer and Holler (of Grauman's Chinese and Egyptian Theatre fame), the Streamline Moderne and ZigZag tower is the tallest of the three 1920s high-rises on the Miracle Mile. At one time, it was the tallest commercial building in Los Angeles. It also had a dirigible mast at the top, but Mutual of Omaha removed the mast when the insurance company owned the building.

In 1951, the Wilson Building was used as The Daily Planet Building in the Adventures of Superman television show starring George Reeves, Phyllis Coates, Jack Larson, John Hamilton and Robert Shayne.

Above, the Wilson Building adorned with an advertising sign is shown from an early opening of "Dragnet."
 Michael Hayde, a noted Superman historian, dates this photo at early 1952 (see link at bottom of this article).
 This provides proof that the building was rendered unusable for the Superman producers.

The top of the Wilson Building was designed for the placement of advertising signs, and when one was added (above), the Superman show producers were forced to find another building to be the Daily Planet. They settled on the Los Angeles City Hall when the 1953 shows were filmed. Along with a new Daily Planet Building, 1953 saw Noel Neill replace Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane when Coates opted to do another television show.

Efforts are currently in progress to place a sign at the building's location commemorating its history and its association with the Adventures of Superman.

Above, the Wilson Building today.

Additional info: A Great Metropolitan Newspaper

UPDATE(6/7/09):

I received this nice note from Superman: Serial To Cereal author Gary Grossman on this blog two days ago:

Armand,

Loved the story. I drive by the building almost every day. It always brings heartfelt memories to mind. Also, there's the area in Culver City my family calls "Superman Mountain," where "The Mind Machine" (runaway bus scene) and other episodes were filmed. It's right across where my kids went to school and still do gymnastics!

Hope all is well with you. Keep 'em coming.

Sad anniversary coming on in another 11 days. 50 years. Amazing.
Best,
Gary

David Carradine Found Dead

One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
Not much between despair and ecstasy
One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Can't be too careful with your company
I can feel the devil walking next to me

by Armand Vaquer

The news is buzzing with word that another bizarre Hollywood death has occurred.

Actor David Carradine was found dead in his hotel suite's wardrobe closet at the Swissotel Nai Lert Park in Bangkok, Thailand by a maid. He was 72.

Carradine was in Thailand making a movie when a maid found his body with a rope around his neck.

Carradine gained fame in the television series, Kung Fu in the 1970s as Kwai Chang Caine. His father, John Carradine, was an actor who starred in many movies including House of Frankenstein and House of Dracula as Count Dracula.

Carradine won a Saturn Award for best supporting actor for his role in Kill Bill: Vol. 2.

The BBC is reporting that Thai police said a hotel maid found Carradine sitting in the closet with a cord around his neck and other parts of his body in what looks to be a suicide.

Or was it? It is not uncommon for people to have accidentally killed themselves with self-asphixiation via auto-erotic activities. It is also possible that he was murdered but it was made to look like suicide. It will be interesting to see what the investigation reveals.

UPDATE (6/5/09):

ABC News is reporting:

Carradine, 72, best known for his role in the 1970s television drama "Kung Fu," was found by a chamber maid at Bangkok's Park Nai Lert Hotel naked and dead, slumped in a closet with cords bound and connecting his neck and his genitals, Bangkok police said.

Retracing Dad's Footsteps In Japan

by Armand Vaquer

As Father's Day is just around the corner this month, I thought I'd post an article on a visit to where my dad was once stationed in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. My dad passed away of cancer on December 15, 1999.

In the early 1950s, my dad was in the 40th Division of the U.S. National Guard in Los Angeles, California. Harry S Truman was president at the time.

When the Korean War broke out in June 1950, under the auspices of the United Nations, my dad's national guard division was called up to active duty and was sent to South Korea.

From Wikipedia:

The conflict arose from the attempts of the two Korean powers to re-unify Korea under their respective governments. The period immediately before the war was marked by escalating border conflicts at the 38th Parallel and attempts to negotiate elections for the entirety of Korea. These negotiations ended when the North Korean Army invaded the South on June 25, 1950. Under the aegis of the United Nations, nations allied with the United States intervened on behalf of South Korea. After rapid advances in a South Korean counterattack, North-allied Chinese forces intervened on behalf of North Korea, shifting the balance of the war and ultimately leading to an armistice that approximately restored the original boundaries between North and South Korea.

My dad, as an activated member of the U.S. Army, was a military policeman (MP) (he had wanted a career as a policeman, but he didn't meet the height requirements of the day). He was first sent to Sendai, Japan. Japan was still an occupied nation at the time of the start of the Korean War, and the U.S. had a big military base in Sendai.

The coastal town of Matsushima is only minutes away from Sendai by train. While stationed in Sendai, he and his army buddies visited surrounding areas, includng Matsushima. The photo below is of my dad in his MP uniform in front of the 400-year-old Godaido temple while on duty. [See note at bottom.]



In April 2006, I took a vacation trip to Japan and some of the places I wanted to see were Sendai and Matsushima. Sendai is a beautiful city whose avenues are tree-lined. I took a Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo to Sendai. Sendai is about 200 miles north of Tokyo and it took about an hour and a half to get there.

I arrived at Sendai Station (below) and took a taxi to my ryokan (Japanese inn). Sendai's subway system is not as extensive as Tokyo's, so it made a taxi ride necessary.

Above, Sendai Station was featured in "Gamera 2: Advent of Legion."

After settling into my room at the ryokan, I explored around the city of Sendai, which included a visit to the site of Sendai Castle. The next day, I returned to Sendai Station to catch a local commuter train to Matsushima. It took about 25 minutes to get to the station at Matsushima.

Matsushima is a beautiful seaside town with many tiny offshore islands. Visitors can take tour boats to see the islands. Before doing so, I located the Godaido temple that my dad had his photo taken in front of. I had one of the locals take one of me at almost the same spot as the one of my dad (below) fifty-five years earlier.



After this, I took one of the tour boats to see the offshore islands. Immediately after departing the dock, hundreds of seagulls flocked around the boat begging for food (below).

Above, the Matsushima seagulls knew where they can get food.

The tour boat took a meandering tour around the many islands (below). We also passed areas where oysters were being caught. The boat tour was about an hour or so long.



After we got back to the dock, I headed up toward the Zuigan-ji temple. The walkway (below) was beautifully lined with trees.



After returning to my ryokan after the day's excursion, I treated myself to a onsen bath and a sumptious meal that was prepared by the ryokan staff. The next day, I returned to Tokyo for more fun, which included the premiere of Gamera The Brave. I'll write on that in another post in the future.

It was a moving, personal experience to visit a place where my dad was once located about 55 years previously and retrace some of his footsteps. While all my trips to Japan have been enjoyable, this trip has to rank at the top for me.

NOTE (6/4/09): I pulled out the original photo of my dad at Matsushima and he wrote a note on the back that reads:

10/6/51

Took this picture while on duty in Matsushima. The temple in the background is supposed to be 1,000 years old. You can rent the boats for 50 cents, two hours.

The present Godaido temple (in both photos) was built around 1604 as a reconstruction ordered by the Date clan. Prior structures date back to 807 A.D.

G-FEST XVI News

Here's the latest news on G-FEST XVI:

June 2, 2009


News Release


For Immediate Release

North American Godzilla fans will be gathering July 3-5, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza O'Hare International in Rosemont, IL for G-FEST XVI. The special guests for G-FEST XVI are Kenji Sahara, who has appeared in more Godzilla films than any other actor, including the classics: King Kong vs. Godzilla, Mothra vs. Godzilla, and Destroy All Monsters; Robert Scott Field, who appeared in Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah as android M-11; and August Ragone, one of the most authoritative historians of Japanese science-fiction and fantasy films.

G-FEST XVI will feature panel discussions with Kenji Sahara, August Ragone and Robert Scott Field along with fan movie historians. There will also be a giant dealers room, video game contests, video contests, art contest, modeling contest, costume contest & parade, special programming for young fans and more. Movie screenings will be held at the Pickwick Theater in Park Ridge, Illinois. This year Godzilla, Mothra & King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-out Attack, The Mysterians and Godzilla vs. The Thing (Mothra vs. Godzilla) will be screened.

Weekend admission tickets are $40.00 for adults, $20 for youth (12 and under). Daily admission (at the door) is $25.00 for adults, $10.00 for youths. Children 5 and under are admitted FREE. For more information, log onto www.g-fan.com.

-30-

Obama Signs Bill Establishing Reagan Centennial Celebration

With former First Lady Nancy Reagan at his side, President Obama signed a bill creating a commission to plan events celebrating President Ronald Reagan's 100th birthday.

Obama signed the bill in the Diplomatic Room of the White House.

"President Reagan helped as much as any president to restore a sense of optimism in our country, a spirit that transcended politics -- that transcended even the most heated arguments of the day," Obama said. "It was this optimism that the American people sorely needed during a difficult period -- a period of economic and global challenges that tested us in unprecedented ways."

Mrs. Reagan recently suffered a fractured hip and had to use a cane.

Villaraigosa Dating Another TV Reporter

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio ("El Pollo Antonio") Villaraigosa is dating another television reporter, according to a story at FoxNews.com:

The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday that Lu Parker, a KTLA-TV reporter and anchor in Los Angeles and a former Miss U.S.A, has been dating Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa since March 2009.

Parker anchored a newscast Sunday during which she announced Villaraigosa's prospects of running for governor in 2010.

Station executives, however, insist that her relationship with the mayor does not present a conflict of interest.

"Now that we're aware of the relationship, she will no longer be covering local politics," KTLA-TV news director Jason Ball told the newspaper. "I have the utmost faith in Lu Parker's abilities."

For the full story, go here.

The last time Villaraigosa dated a television reporter, it led to him being divorced by his wife.

Oil Is Trending Upward Again

Oil prices are trending higher. Right now, the price per barrel is around $67/barrel. Last year, as you recall, the price per barrel was around $130+. This caused the price of gasoline to go to over $4.00 per gallon. Right now, the average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.65/gallon.

This was one big ingredient that caused this current recession. People seem to forget that. This was also a primary cause for the downturn in the automotive industry.

Of course, the liberals in congress and President Obama won't allow us to drill offshore, allow any new drilling in Alaska, build new refineries or build nuclear power plants. This will continue to put us at the mercy of OPEC.

Don't be surprised if gasoline skyrockets to over $3.00/gallon by the end of summer.

Hold on to your wallets!

GM: Now Government Motors

General Motors, once the dominant automobile manufacturing company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy early this morning. This was a move that they should have done a year or two ago, and it wouldn't have required a bailout of over $26 billion of taxpayer money. They stand to receive another $30 billion of taxpayer money on top of that. Welcome to Government Motors!

According to the Wall Street Journal.com:

In bankruptcy, the auto maker will split apart into two companies: a leaner new GM and a so-called old GM, which will include the pieces that will be wound down. GM intends to accomplish the split through a Section 363 sale, which would transfer the new GM assets to an entity owned by the U.S. and Canadian governments, the United Auto Workers union and the company's unsecured creditors.

14 GM assembly plants will close by 2011. Those are jobs lost, not jobs saved!

Basically, the government now owns over 60% of GM. Welcome to Government Motors.

Craig T. Nelson Is Mad As Hell

"Coach" Craig T. Nelson is hopping mad. He was on the Glenn Beck Show on the Fox News Channel May 28 and said this:

NELSON: No, we are a republic. And that means that we need to be represented. We're not being represented.

Listen, I'm not going to pay any more money. What these people are asking me to do —

BECK: You're seriously saying you won't?

NELSON: No, I'm asking Glenn Beck to promote this. I'm saying it personally. But I'm asking you...

BECK: Are you are saying you personally won't pay income tax anymore?

NELSON: I'm really thinking about it, Glenn, because as a fiscally responsible grandfather, there are programs that they're asking me to fund that I refuse to fund.

Wow! I didn't know Nelson's a conservative! (Well, maybe he wasn't until Schwarzenegger and the Sacramento Democrats made a mess out of the state.)

To read the full (rush) transcript, go here.

Burbank Marriott Hotel & Convention Center

Above, Frankenstein's Monster and Count Dracula seemed to like the Marriott. I heard no complaints from them.

One more comment on Monsterpalooza, and it really isn't about Monsterpalooza.

The subject here is the venue, the Burbank Marriott Hotel & Convention Center. My first visit to this facility was back in 1999 for G-FEST '99. At that time, the hotel was part of the Hilton Hotels chain and it was the Burbank Hilton. The facility was (and is) a great one for conventions of this type. The hotel is nice and the convention center facility is top-notch.

At the time of G-FEST '99, the hotel seemed to be "in the middle of nowhere" although it is situated next to the Burbank (Bob Hope) Airport. There were no handy fast-food outlets nearby and we were at the mercy of the hotel's restaurant prices. One night at G-FEST, a bunch of us pooled our money together and sent someone out to a Kentucky Fried Chicken to get dinner. That was inconvenient.

Since then, a new shopping center with many fast-food outlets sprung up across the street. This makes the hotel more of an ideal place to hold a convention or show.

Since G-FEST '99, I've been to a few other conventions and shows there. TV Land Convention, Hollywood Collectors Show and the 2008 Dark Shadows Festival immediately come to mind.

If I have to give one critique on the venue, I'd say the Convention Center could be a bit larger. It seemed that Monsterpalooza was a little bit cramped in there.

Dick Morris: The Incredible Shrinking Clintons

Former Clinton advisor Dick Morris has an interesting article on "The Incredible Shrinking Clintons."

I thought it was a mistake for Hillary Clinton to take the Secretary of State position in the Obama administration. It seems that she has been, predictably, marginalized. She has no real power. Morris likens her to William Rogers, who was Nixon's first Secretary of State. Rogers was also marginalized, with the real foreign policy power in the hands of Henry Kissinger.

Bill Clinton has also been effectively muzzled.

To read Morris's article, go here.

Assassination Ad Puts Egg On Newspaper's Face

The sorry state of journalism or the staff's lack of basic knowledge of history reared its ugly head this week at a Pennsylvania newspaper when they had to apologize for running a classified ad calling for the assassination of President Obama.

According to Philly.com:

Warren Times Observer Publisher John Elchert says the ad appeared Thursday. It read, "May Obama follow in the steps of Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley and Kennedy!" The four presidents were all assassinated.

The Elchert said that the staff failed to make the "historical connection." The Secret Service is investigating the person who placed the ad. The paper published a note that said, "apologies for the oversight."

If that wasn't bad enough, the person who placed the ad failed to recognize that assassinating Obama wouldn't solve anything. Vice-President Joe Biden, a goofball if there ever was one, would become president. Then you'd have House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a real mental midget, next in line until a vice-president is appointed.

We're just going to have to tough it out until the 2010 elections.

"American Capitalism Gone With A Whimper" - Pravda

This item could be called "From The They Should Know Department."

Russian newspaper Pravda's English website has an article entitled, "American Capitalism Gone With A Whimper" in which they say:

It must be said, that like the breaking of a great dam, the American decent into Marxism is happening with breath taking speed, against the back drop of a passive, hapless sheeple, excuse me dear reader, I meant people.

True, the situation has been well prepared on and off for the past century, especially the past twenty years. The initial testing grounds was conducted upon our Holy Russia and a bloody test it was. But we Russians would not just roll over and give up our freedoms and our souls, no matter how much money Wall Street poured into the fists of the Marxists.

A population who experienced the "joys" of Marxism would be the best people to recognize what is happening to the United States under Barack Obama.

Yes, unless people wake up to what is happening, our capitalist system will be gone with a whimper.

To read the full article, go here.

I never thought I'd see the day that I would quote or even agree with something out of Pravda.

Is Godzilla 3D Back On Track?

Above, director Yoshimitsu Banno announces his Godzilla in 3D/Imax project to G-TOUR.

Back in August 2004, J. D. Lees led 60 Godzilla fans to Japan to celebrate Godzilla's 50th anniversary with G-TOUR. While G-TOUR was in Tokyo, a dinner party was held at the Roppongi, Tokyo TGI Friday's restaurant. One of the guests at the dinner was Godzilla vs. Hedorah director Yoshimitsu Banno.

Banno gave a talk to the assembled fans and disclosed that he was given the green light to produce a 3D/Imax feature featuring Godzilla by Toho Co., Ltd. The feature was entitled Godzilla: 3D to the Max. This was to be an independent production financed by Banno's group. That year, Toho announced that they were putting Godzilla on a ten-year vacation due to slumping ticket sales.

Ever since, rumors have been floating around on who would be involved, whether or not financing for the project was obtained and what monsters will be in the movie.

Reports of the comings and goings of different entities have been reported on the Internet in the ensuing years.

A few weeks ago, Ken Hulsey at Monster Island News* reported on some news of the project. This was, understandably, met with skepticism.

This week, Hulsey found this little tidbit:

This 2004 movie was directed by Keith Melton who also made a four-minute motion simulator ride film about James Bond, "Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man" and is working on "Godzilla 3D."

That little nugget was found here.

The questions Godzilla fans are wondering about are: Is the Godzilla: 3D to the Max project really back on track? Is it in pre-production or is it actually, really now being produced?

It appears that the evidence is starting to show that the on-again, off-again Godzilla: 3D to the Max project may be on-again. We'll see.

All one can say at present is stay tuned!

*I am a contributor to Monster Island News.

UPDATE: Ken Hulsey pulled his post that was posted this week on the project containing the link to the article on Keith Melton's alleged involvement. Meanwhile, Brett Homenick sent a query to Kenji Okuhira, the film's producer, on May 19 on whether or not the project is on and he specifically asked if Melton was involved, to which he replied the same day, "Thanks for your inquiry. It is not true, I am afraid. I hope this helps." I sent Keith Melton a query this morning on the article that Hulsey found. If I receive a reply worth noting, I'll advise. Looks like this is another dead-end.

UPDATE (6/2/09): Cleve Hall posted at the Classic Horror Film Board saying that the Godzilla 3D project is "sorta back on track" but without Yoshimitsu Banno or his company. It is to be filmed in the U.S. and the principals are "acquiring financing" now. I don't know how accurate this is, just reporting it.

G-FEST XVI Movie Line-up

J.D. Lees has announced the movie line-up for this year's G-FEST XVI:

GODZILLA, MOTHRA, KING GHIDORAH:
GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK
The twenty fifth Godzilla movie in the series, with direction by Shūsuke Kaneko following his highly acclaimed Gamera trilogy. This 2001 release saw Godzilla take on a truly evil role, being a more powerful and dangerous threat than ever before.

Thursday evening, July 2nd
Time: 10:30 PM

***

THE MYSTERIANS (EARTH DEFENSE FORCE)
A Toho classic, combining the alien invasion and kaiju sub-genres by the golden-age team of Honda, Tsuburaya, and Ifukube. The Mysterians was the first Tokusatsu to be filmed in TohoScope. Our feature is to be introduced by the star, and our guest of honor, Mr. Kenji Sahara.

Friday evening, July 3rd
Time: 10:30 PM

***


GODZILLA VS. THE THING (MOTHRA VS. GODZILLA)
(With bonus “Best of G-FEST Video Contest” features)
Considered the best in the series by many fans, Godzilla vs. the Thing is nearly perfect on all fronts: direction, special effects, and score. This would be Godzilla’s last role of a serious villain until he was resurrected in the 1980s.

Saturday evening, July 4th
Time: 10:30 PM

For more information, go to www.g-fan.com

Opposition Grows To National Sales Tax Trial Balloon

LOONEY LEFT REPORT

The prospect of a national sales tax looms in Washington, but opposition is growing.

FoxNews.com wrote:

As lawmakers toy with the idea of an across-the-board sales tax on just about everything, tax reform advocates are starting to drum up opposition with the same fervor they employed during last month's anti-tax tea parties.

The idea of a national sales tax was once unlikely. But now that the federal government is doling out billions in stimulus spending and bailouts, and looking for billions more for health care reform, the prospect could be gaining some traction.

Correction: The federal government is doling out trillions.

Let's see. We are paying local, city and sales taxes. We are paying taxes and fees in water, electric, gas, telephone and trash bills. We are paying fuel taxes. We are paying automotive taxes. We are paying state sales taxes. We are paying state income taxes (well, some people are lucky to live in states without income taxes). We are paying federal income taxes. We are paying Medicare taxes. We are paying Social Security taxes. (Did I leave any out?) Now they want to possibly add a federal sales tax?!

To you Obama "hope & change" dumb-asses who voted Democrat last year: Is this the hope & change you wanted? (Just asking.)

To see the full article, go here.

Mercy General Hospital In “Adventures of Superman”

Mercy General Hospital In “Adventures of Superman”

By Armand Vaquer

Location shoots in the “Adventures of Superman” were rare occurrences due to the limited budgets, especially during the color years (1954-1957).

Fans have been able to find some of the locations used for the show. The downtown Los Angeles area around Seventh Street and San Pedro Street was used in “The Machine That Could Plot Crimes” and the Wilbur Avenue and Linnett Street area was used in “The Man Who Could Read Minds.” Both of these were from the second season in 1953. The 1953 season was filmed in black & white.

Also in 1953, some episodes would show a hospital building and then transition to a sign that read “Mercy General Hospital.” This was the case in the episode “The Face and The Voice” in which an injured Boulder (with Superman’s face via plastic surgery and played by George Reeves) lamented, “It takes more than a face and a voice. There’s only one Superman.”

Seeing the hospital building shot in this and other episodes in 1953, I often thought it looked familiar. It should look familiar; it is actually the Hospital of the Good Samaritan (or Good Samaritan Hospital) in Los Angeles on Wilshire Blvd. near downtown.

Good Samaritan Hospital gained notoriety fifteen years later in June 1968 when Sirhan Sirhan shot Senator Robert F. Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel after Kennedy won the California Primary for the Democratic presidential nomination. Kennedy was first rushed to Central Receiving Hospital (which no longer exists today), but they did not have the facilities necessary to treat Kennedy’s head wound. He was then transferred to Good Samaritan Hospital where he underwent surgery to remove the bullet and fragments from his brain. He did not recover and died the next night. His body was taken to the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles for an autopsy. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s facilities were located in the basement of the Hall of Justice. George Reeves was also autopsied at this facility in 1959.

Good Samaritan Hospital looked pretty much the same in 1968 as it did in 1953. Today, while the original building still stands, it is partially hidden behind new hospital buildings.

The view at top is of the old building looking north. The view of the hospital used in the Superman episodes was looking west. Most likely, it was stock footage that the show's producers obtained.

Can you name the other "Adventures of Superman" episodes that showed Good Samaritan Hospital as "Mercy General Hospital"?

North Korea Threatening War

After Barack Obama said that he will bring diplomacy back to foreign policy during the campaign, North Korea is now threatening to attack U.S. and South Korean warships.

My Way News is reporting:

North Korea threatened military action Wednesday against U.S. and South Korean warships plying the waters near the Koreas' disputed maritime border, raising the specter of a naval clash just days after the regime's underground nuclear test.

Pyongyang, reacting angrily to Seoul's decision to join an international program to intercept ships suspected of aiding nuclear proliferation, called the move tantamount to a declaration of war.

"Those who provoke [North Korea] once will not be able to escape its unimaginable and merciless punishment," North Korea's official news agency said.

Reuters is reporting that Russia fears that a conflict with North Korea could go nuclear:

Russia is taking security measures as a precaution against the possibility tension over North Korea could escalate into nuclear war, news agencies quoted officials as saying on Wednesday.

North Korea has responded to international condemnation of its nuclear test and a threat of new U.N. sanctions by saying it is no longer bound by an armistice signed with South Korea at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

It looks like Obama's diplomacy is working out well. Talking to North Korea's leaders is tantamount to talking sense to a mad dog.

UPDATE: The Japan Times is reporting:

The [Japanese] government Tuesday welcomed the U.N. Security Council's quick opposition to North Korea's nuclear test but continued to scramble for a fresh response to Pyongyang's latest provocation.

Prime Minister Taro Aso and U.S. President Barack Obama agreed during a phone conference in the morning that Pyongyang's nuclear test was "a serious threat to the peace and stability of Northeast Asia and the international community," and that a swift adoption of a U.N. resolution against the reclusive state is necessary.

They also confirmed that Japan, the U.S. and South Korea will cooperate more closely over North Korea and stressed the importance of coordinating with China and Russia.

Jane Randolph Dies At 93

Above, Charles Bradstreet, Lou Costello, Jane Randolph and Bud Abbott in "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein."

Actress Jane Randolph, who played insurance investigator Joan Raymond in the comedy classic Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), passed away due to complications after suffering a fractured hip in Switzerland on May 4. She was 93.

Randolph also appeared in Cat People and Curse of the Cat People. She was a RKO contract player.

According to the Hollywood Reporter:

After "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" (1948), Randolph largely retired from acting. In 1949, she married movie producer and Southern California businessman Jaime del Amo -- the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance, Calif., was built on his family's land -- and moved to Spain.

Monster Madhouse's Karlos Borloff To Return To G-FEST

Above, Karlos Borloff met Haruo Nakajima at G-FEST XV last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Monster Madhouse's Karlos Borloff To Return To G-FEST

I received this message from TV horror host Karlos Borloff on G-FEST XVI:

I WILL BE THERE !!!!!!!!! OUR TV FANS REALLY LOVED THE G-FEST COVERAGE FROM LAST YEAR, HOPING TO GET LOTS MORE GREAT FOOTAGE & INTERVIEWS W/ FANS & FIENDS ALIKE !!

For more information, go to http://www.monstermadhouse.com/

G-FEST XVI Is Around The Corner

G-FEST XVI Is Around The Corner

G-FEST XVI is a little over a month away. If you haven't registered or made your room reservations at the special G-FEST rate, now's the time to get a-crackin'!

North American Godzilla fans will be gathering July 3-5, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza O'Hare International in Rosemont, IL for G-FEST XVI. The special guests for G-FEST XV are Kenji Sahara, who has appeared in more Godzilla films than any other actor, including the classics: King Kong vs. Godzilla, Mothra vs. Godzilla, and Destroy All Monsters; and Robert Scott Field, who appeared in Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah as android M-11.

G-FEST XVI will feature panel discussions with Kenji Sahara and Robert Scott Field along with fan movie historians. August Ragone, "the living encyclopedia of kaiju", plans to be on hand at the convention. There will also be a giant dealers room, video game contests, video contests, art contest, modeling contest, costume contest & parade, special programming for young fans and more.

Movie screenings will be held at the Pickwick Theater in Park Ridge, Illinois. The movies to be shown will be announced shortly.

Weekend admission tickets are $40.00 for adults, $20 for youth (12 and under). Daily admission (at the door) is $25.00 for adults, $10.00 for youths. Children 5 and under are admitted FREE. For more information, log onto www.g-fan.com.

CA Supreme Court Upholds Same-Sex Marriage Ban

The Associated Press is reporting that the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriages:

The California Supreme Court has upheld a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, but it also decided that the estimated 18,000 gay couples who tied the knot before the law took effect will stay wed.

The decision Tuesday rejected an argument by gay rights activists that the ban revised the California constitution's equal protection clause to such a dramatic degree that it first needed the Legislature's approval.

NO On Sotomayor!

President Barack Obama selected Federal Appeals Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be his nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court to replace the retiring Justice David Souter.

Sotomayor, a Latina, rose up during the Reagan and George H. W. Bush administrations. However, she is radical enough to do Obama's bidding (or dirty work) on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Sotomayor has made some controversial comments during her career:

“I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.”

“Whether born from experience or inherent physiological or cultural differences, our gender and national origins may and will make a difference in our judging.” She was referring to non-white, female judges.

Additionally, a 2005 video surfaced of Sotomayor speaking with potential law clerks, saying that a “court of appeals is where policy is made.” She also laughed and said, “And I know — I know this is on tape, and I should never say that because we don’t make law. I know. O.K. I know. I’m not promoting it. I’m not advocating it...”

See video:



She has also been overturned in the Supreme Court on four cases where she wrote the opinion. Also, she has been rebuked in writing several times by a senior judge for not being on point on the constitution.

She is also not a defender of an individual's right to keep and bear arms. She is one of only three federal appellate judges in America to issue a court opinion saying that the Second Amendment does not apply to states.

Senator Orrin Hatch said, “I'll tell you one thing, I'm not very happy about judges who will substitute their own policy preferences for what the law really is; who think that they can run the country from the bench when they actually have a limited role. And that role is to interpret the laws made by those who have to stand for reelection."

In other words, Sotomayor would legislate from the bench. A bad choice. Chances are, Republicans won't be able to stop her confirmation, but they use her nomination to point out the radicalism of Obama.

King Kong vs. Godzilla Credit

Bloomberg.com has an interesting article written by John F. Wasik on the economy with a King Kong vs. Godzilla scenario.

The article states:

The fallout that has irradiated highly leveraged Western economies has started a King Kong versus Godzilla battle.

To avoid getting trampled, you will need to finesse your credit options and hedge against inflation.

The monster characterization comes courtesy of Niall Ferguson. Viewed through a lens of history, the Harvard professor and author of “The Ascent of Money” (Penguin, $29.95), sees deflation in the short term followed by inflation.

King Kong, in Ferguson’s parlance, represents the kind of deflation going on now. Economies from Japan to the U.K., in his estimation, will continue to shrink this year. The lone exceptions are China, India and Brazil. Godzilla is the wave of liquidity “pouring like a jet hose from central banks.”

To read the full article, go here.

Colin Powell, A RINO Phoney

Gen. Colin Powell claims that he's a Republican. Yet he supported neo-Marxist Barack Obama for president.

Powell says that the GOP needs to be a "big tent." Powell claims the reason he supported Barack Obama for president last year was that he believed Obama was "best-qualified" to lead.

What do you think of "hope and change" now, General? Obama quadrupled the national debt; essentially took over the auto and banking industries; is dismantling the safeguards that the Bush Administration set up that protected this country from terror attacks for seven years; and now he wants to nationalize health care (that will usher in rationing).

John McCain was a moderate Republican presidential candidate that was tailor-made for the Colin Powell/Nelson Rockefeller/Hugh Scott/Gerald Ford/John Rhodes wing of the Republican Party. Yet he abandoned McCain and supported Obama. Powell essentially pissed on the grave of Ronald Reagan, who he brown-nosed his way to the top through.

Reagan appealed to moderates, independents and Democrats without sacrificing principle. Reagan welcomed those who didn't agree with him on everything. He always said, "Part of a loaf is better than no loaf at all." He won them over on his terms. The moderates of today have no principles. You can call them RINO (Republican In Name Only) or "Democrat Lite". What do they stand for? They embraced the socialist policies of Obama. They would prefer that the march towards socialism go at a slower pace, but they still embrace it.

Look how successful the moderate wing of the GOP has been. They can't win elections. If it is a choice between a "Democrat Lite" and the real thing, Democrats and some independents will vote for the real thing. Get a strong articulate conservative as a nominee, the liberals will have their clocked cleaned.

As for Powell's "big tent", a poster at the American Spectator said it best:

If you think it's okay to kill babies, get out of my tent.

If you think that gay marriage is anything other than an abrogation of natural law, get out of my tent.

If you think that persons entering this country in defiance of its laws should be granted amnesty, financial assistance, or the right to vote, get out of my tent.

If you offer aid, comfort and compromise to the sworn enemies of our country, get out of my tent.

If you think that the Constitution is an archaic document that can be ignored at the whim of a political agenda, get out of my tent.

If you think it's fiscally responsible to bankrupt our country, get out of my tent.

If you think the community organizer-in-chief has a clue about national security, economics, democracy, business or morality, get out of my tent.

I don't care if I'm the only person left in my tent, at least I can cling to my guns, my Holy Bible and my Constitution.