November 7th

BACK!!!  New world, new thoughts, new excitement........US!  If you haven't read my thoughts about the new President-Elect, racism here and in Germany (sect groups, crazy eyed petition leaders, etc.), click on the First Family link above and educate yourself.  The world has become a better place this last week with the exception of a few still on this planet.  Enjoy, thanks for the massive support in agreement on those who pretend to understand Gene Roddenberry's and Martin Luther King's ways and God Bless.

ANTHONY'S ROCKIN'!!!  My buddy Anthony Montgomery has put out a new cd.  I couldn't accept his invitation to attend his cd party out there in LA but I hope to see him soon.

Rod Roddenberry!!!  Hey Rod!  I know you visit this site so let me say again that I am sorry I could not attend your cool-looking HALLOWEEN PARTY last week.  It looked like you all had a blast!  Thanks for the invitation.

Lightspeed Charity Event!!!  The guest list looks awesome.  Looks like another great time in my 9th year hosting job.  We always have a great time.  Looking forward to it.  You can see the GUESTS LIST here.

BAHAMA BOUND!!!  My friends THE EDWARDS TWINS have invited me to watch their performance in the Bahamas before I see them in LA next month. They told me to bring no money and there is a room waiting for me.  I guess they plan to put me up in the Janitor's Closet.  They are a great pair of guys who perform some of the most startling celebrity impersonations I have ever seen.  will be good to see them twice this year.  Please visit there site.

September 12th

HOLY CONSTRUCT-MY-BUTT!!!  The CONSTRUCTI-CONS will be making an appearance in the sequel to the incredibly successful and amazingly produced TRANSFORMERS movie!  For those of you who have been having a ball this summer revisiting their youth (Batman, Hulk, Iron Man), I went absolutely bonkers in the theater over TRANSFORMERS.  I loved it, watched it 3 times and bought it!  Freakish?  So what!  LONG HAUL, just one of the members of the elite group of bad guys will combine while transforming to create a giant robot named DEVESTATOR.  This is gonna make me pee in my.....oops!  Too late!!  TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN will obviously center on getting back at the Autobots for kicking their butts in the last movie and turning Megatron into a giant schizophrenic terrets corpse who was eventually dropped into the cold deep ocean.  Perfect rescue scenario.  SUPERHEROHYPE.COM writes: TFW2005 has received word that the combiner Devastator will appear in the Michael Bay sequel Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The site says it has confirmed the following:
- Seven construction vehicles merge to form Devastator
- Devastator has lots of upper body strength, like a gorilla
- Not just green, some of the vehicles are red and yellow
- The previously Long Haul concept art by Josh Nizzi is legit

"Revenge of the Fallen" hits conventional theaters and IMAX on June 26, 2009. 

OHBOYOHBOYOHBOY!

September 11th

I made a deal with myself to not dwell on things we all have chosen as important to us in our lives.  It is not my job to make or remind people of painful issues.  They are more than capable of doing that themselves without my help.  On that note, I have but one simple statement.

GOD BLESS THOSE VICTIMS Of SEPTEMBER 11th, 2001

SARAH PALIN!!!  Not convinced.  Why would you?

Workout Mysteries!!!  OK, at my club (LA FITNESS), I sweat a lot.  Actually, I sweat buckets!  Now I've been brought up to be pretty considerate of others and I have succeeded 99% of the time.  When I work out on a machine (Nautiless, LifeFitness, etc.), I place a towel over the spot I intend on getting sweatty.  I think it's only fair that no one has to pick up my....droppings so I try to be as considerate as possible for the next person.  I saw this woman laid out on a leg machine, face down and butt pooped up in the air.  Now this woman looked, imho, as someone who...well....she didn't look...well, you know.  Anyway, while still on my machine, I watched her leave.  I looked at the bench she had just laid out on and saw a level of sweat I wouldn't mop up with a panda bear!  So what do I see next?  Another person lay flat out into that mess and proceed to work off her own frustrations.  Anybody see what I'm getting at?  Is it just me?

Men and Women!!!  Our differences!  A woman sent me this.  Men send each other porn!

Fedcon XVIII  WOW!!  Next year "may" top this year's.  If you've never been, you have no idea what you've been missing! More guest to come as the year moves along.

Fedcon is experimenting next year with its own brand of Olympics.  With help from the Wii gaming system, Fedcon's fans will be battling it out with teams consisting of actors for dominance over the video game empire.  I've been practicing myself and love the simple easy games we old people grew up with.  Remember PONG? The fans have been loving the idea, they've created teams such as TEAM BATTLESTAR, TEAM EUREKA, TEAM STAR TREK, and it should be incredible fun!

August 28th

AMAZING!!!  Never in my born years have I witnessed what I had witnessed tonight. With people in Times Square, in Pasadena, California, sitting in living rooms in Columbia, Maryland and in my own living room here in Florida, a member of my race, a race who was once treated as contraband, property, and slaves, accepted his political party’s nomination for the Presidency of the United States of America. It is happening in my lifetime, in my mother's lifetime and for the future of the youth who have come after me.  Never in my life have I seen a crowd of 80,000 Americans support any candidate for any purpose in such multitude.  As a tear followed the contours of my face to meet the corners of my lips extended as far as it could go, I saw history in the making.  If I had children to share this with, I would have explained to them why the differences between right and wrong is so clear when seeing a man named Barack Obama.  And he spoke those differences so well.

We have got to change. Take back what was a fantastic run 9 years ago. My experiences overseas has taught me that we are not alone on this planet and that foreign opinions are just as important as our own. Small mentalities to supposedly unimportant foreign issues is a ticket off the far side of the cliff and we have fallen over it since day one of the Bush Administration.

Now I can understand supporting your political party. I can understand Republicans voting for their own and Independents looking for one of their own but to cut your nose to spite your face, and that face being THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is sheer idiocy. In all honesty if there was a Republican candidate for the Presidency that outshines my party’s candidate, that man gets my vote. There isn't.  I can see the differences between right and wrong and that is why I am voting for Barack. Not because he’s Black. Only an idiot would do or say that. I vote my conscious and it tells me if we go thru 4 more years of the last 8, I should be put down.

Tonight’s speech by a man who has conviction in his heart and not seven homes he can’t remember tells me that the future of a country that still is one of its kind, a leader amongst leaders, should place a symbol that signifies that and Barack is that leader.

To those of you who feel Barack’s lack of experience is what’s keeping you from making a solid decision, GIVE ME A BREAK. Look at the people surrounding George Bush and tell yourself if those decisions he made were purely his own? That’s why it’s called an administration. Get over your hesitancy and vote this man in office of our country. Take it back. Take our country back from 8 years of ridicule and shame.
 

August 27th

The Ladies Hit Homers!!!  Between Michelle Obama's heartfelt, patriotic speech on Monday night and Hillary Clinton's talk of reunification last night, I was overjoyed at the prospects of a future with a Democratic administration. "No way, no how, no McCain" was Hillary's rallying cry and the crowd ate it up.  She spoke of people voting for her rather than the party and she displayed a lecture that even her husband Bill enjoyed.  Now it's his turn tonight and he'd better watch his step.  He's been on the low end of my list lately.  As for the other fellas, well that Governor of Montana was hilarious!!  WOW!  And TED KENNEDY!  What can you say about a Kennedy without kneeling first?  What a man.  What a Senator. What a Democrat!

18 Shark Bites and Counting!!!  My local beach broke a record.  18 nips from sharks who happen to be waiting for their lunch and the surfers get in the way.  Oh well, I've been brushed in the water before.  Kinda got used to it.  Besides, you're not suppose to feed chocolate to fish anyway.  Or so I heard.

The Difficulty Of Our Language!!!

English Language Lessons! No wonder the English language is
so very difficult to learn:
 
We polish the Polish furniture.
 
He could lead if he would get the lead out.
 
A farm can produce produce.
 
The dump was so full it had to refuse refuse.
 
The soldier decided to desert in the desert.
 
The present is a good time to present the present.
 
The dove dove into the bushes.
 
I did not object to the object.
 
The insurance for the invalid was invalid.
 
The bandage was wound around the wound.
 
They were too close to the door to close it.
 
The buck does funny things when the does are present.
 
I shed a tear when I saw the tear in my clothes.

(Now you wonder why I won't attempt another language.)

My Apologies To The Blonde Population!!!

August 23rd

OBAMA/BIDEN!!!  FANTASTIC!!!  Joe Biden is a well respected Senator who knows foreign policy and has on at least one instance, educated his fellow Senators including Joe Lieberman, on issues concerning Eastern Europe.  This is a fantastic choice and the fact that Joe Biden speaks his mind exactly like I do, shows that he'll appeal more to those who want honesty rather than covert lies.  Joe Biden doesn't hold back and has the experience to back it up!  I think that's what the McCain knuckleheads were looking for in this Democratic ticket.  Well here 'ya go guys.  Attack THIS guy!  The Obama/Biden ticket is incredible.

UPDATE: I watched the Springfield, Illinois announcement of Biden as running mate and boy can this guy talk!  I actually got chills listening to his words and his honesty on that podium was dead on.  This Irish-Catholic kid is ok in my book.  I died laughing when he mentioned John McCain's "seven" kitchen tables to discuss his money woes.  It was awesome! (For those that don't have a clue, McCain was asked how many houses he owned and he conveniently said he'd have to ask one of his aides.  Come to find out, he owns seven, while the housing market and the average American are trying to hold onto one.  Good job John.)  This guy has humor to temper his anger at 8 years of Bush.  I delayed my Thursday night appearance at Dragon*Con this week to support my party at the Democratic Convention.  It was a good choice on my part.

August 22nd

Chinese Women (?) Gymnasts!!!  OK.  I understand that it's not fair for people to advance by breaking the rules.  Rules are put into place to govern most organized operations.  They are there for a reason and they are generally accepted by most civilizations.  The Chinese government obviously lied about the ages of their gymnasts and they, the Chinese Olympic Committees, are backing their government up with more lies.  We all know this.  We expected this.  It's CHINA for gawd's sake.  They are a communist country who have violated so many human rights issues that the truth would be a little difficult for them to practice right now.  Even in this situation.  But here's my point about all of this.  It doesn't matter how old a gymnast is when it comes to competition.  They kicked our butts.  yep!  Our team got beat by a bunch of preemies.  I wouldn't want to bring a lot of attention to that if I were the U.S. Team (which I doubt they actually are).  Talented children beat the tar out of our talented older folks.  Of course we got them back in a few events but the youth won out on this one and there's no sense crying about it.  Let them have their gold but I suggest the IOC better find another way to check id's at the door.  I here there's a lot of beer binging going on over there too.

August 21st

OK WE GIVE UP!!!  Sheesh!  Talk about a woman scorned.  My mother called and I told her I'm fine.  She worries too much so it's best to exaggerate the truth to your mother.  In all actuality, WE'RE GETTING SLAMMED!!!  Tropical storms can sometimes be worse than hurricanes.  Most hurricanes move at a pretty quick pace across it's intended target and the damage is quick but this FAY person seems to want to hang around to continue the argument.  She's parked smack dab on top of the state and as she rotates, she's flooding us with wind gusts and continuous rain!  4 days and counting now.  Not a dry cloud in the sky.  So, the official word (as if they ever know what they are talking about) is that we have to endure this for another 10-20 hours before we just get the typical mild rainstorm.  In the meantime, neighborhoods are flooded, I have downed trees in my block and I could have sworn I saw a fin cruising down my block!  One of the big problems they are reporting is that the creature highway has expanded.  Seems the gators and snakes have found a shortcut across the former dry lands and are out for a little walk.  So, instead of staying out of their territory, they seem to be invading ours.  It's bad enough that we have a ton of bears around here, now we gotta watch out for crocodile dundee and the creeps from the house of slytherin!  This has got to let up sometime soon.  I'm growing gills and I smell like fish!  Maybe I oughta take a shower.

THE OLYMPICS!!!  There have been some serious upsets with the USA in the Olympics.  Dropped batons in the Men and Women's 4x100 relays, Japan upsetting our softball girls and a silver in women's water polo.  Not to mention our gymnastics presence, soccer successes and volleyball dominance which all have turned out to be cool wins but overall, I think we could have done better during these games.  I'm still glued to the tube for these events and I feel that our representation there has been tremendous.  With Michael Phelps being a dang-right superhero (Aquaman), the good 'ole USA has still proven to the world that we belong here.  Not only as leaders of the free world but as sportsman displaying the meaning of sportsmanship in the face of defeat and disappointment.  We lead by example and as long as we can show those other countries that humility and friendliness, assistance and caring rules our inner being, as we were brought up to display, than hope for the future still burns bright within me.

Are We THAT Stupid!!!  How can McCain be gaining ground on Obama.  How stupid can Hillary supporters be to want to vote for McCain because they can't have her?  Why do I constantly have to defend my country to Europeans about why we got Bush in for two terms?  Are we THAT stupid?  I've voted across party lines many times before in a general election.  Mostly for state offices.  I have friends who are the R-word.  I just don't talk politics with them.  Heck!  I even liked Reagan but for the Republican party to dislike Bush's terms in office only to stay party affiliated with McCain running is just plain in-breeding.  I thought it was only THAT party that had idiots in it but now I see Democrats can be just as stupid as "those" in-bred dorks!

Oh don't misunderstand me.  I strongly dislike the Republican Party.  Most of them are racist, homophobic, greedy bastards who's main opinion about the world is "screw you".  They want to keep what they have even if they have enough to go around 20 times.  How dare we tax them more because they're rich.  They don't have to help the world.  Why should they.  Oh, and the Black ones....well....they're actually....hmm...let me think..OH YEAH!  They're actually from Zimbabwe!  Yeah..that's it.  They don't belong to us.  They're one of yours.  I still can't understand how some Star Trek fans are Republicans?  They go against everything ST stands for.  I've studied and know enough of them to be right on with my conclusions but the funny thing about Republicans is that they will cut off their noses to spite their face.  Eight years of ignorance and stupidity and that's just from the Executive Branch of our country. 

Republicans would love to see slavery back in practice and they prefer another Republican to be running the country like crap rather than those dang Democrats ruining it for the rest of them.  How stupid do you have to be?  Here, I'll tell you.  The thought that Obama is not experienced enough to handle a 3am call is sheer idiocy.  Who exactly do these know-it-all think run the country? The President?  Jeez!  A government is run by advisors.  Both military and civil.  They include Congress, the House and even the Supreme Court.  No decision is made without their approval and for Bush and Cheney, I'm sure they twisted a few arms to let them invade the country that attacked us.  OOPS!  My bad!  That was the OTHER country.  I bet Regan would have had Bin Laden by now.

People who know more about a specific subject than any one man is called in for advice and education.  If you think the President weighs the odds on his own, smack that head against a brick wall please.  The President of the United States is advised and guided into making the right choices, as we have seen in the Bush Administration <insert irony here>.  To think that Obama is too green to run this country is halfway correct.  The part you got wrong is that he will have help and probably more and better than Bush had because there will be enough people biting at the bit to offer the help needed to run THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA back into first place where it belongs.  Obama cannot do worse.  Why don't you let him try?  So Republicans. Get off your high horse and pull that corn cob out of your butts and stop looking at your sister that way because if you think McCain won't follow the examples of the last 8 years, then please move to Russia because you're part of this country's problems and I want them solved.  You're standing in the way.

August 18th

Who Invited The Chick?!!!  As of this evening, I'm not worried.  I'm not concerned, bothered or knackered (stupid British term).  I haven't really prepared and I'm still tuning into THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW right now because it's my favorite other than all of the news specials about the impending danger on other stations.  Four years ago, I did my Gilligan's Island impersonation and hung out sideways from a palm tree in the high winds.  That was Hurricane Charley and along with the other two weather events within a 2 week span, I got hit with three hurricanes.  So that makes me a professional now.  I stood outside during Charley only to experience my body being sand blasted (no kiddin') and attempting to stay on my feet.  That was cool.  The house got a bit wet, I was out of power for 8 days, moved into my downtown office for the time being and cried over all the frozen food I had lost.  I keep the freezer practically bare since then.  At least during that time, I had warning as to the wind speeds and compared to what's coming tomorrow until late Wednesday, this ain't nothing! Bring it on Fay!!!  At least leave me some power so I can work and catch up with ANDY GRIFFITH around 7pm if you don't mind?

One Word: PHELPS?!!!  'NUFF SAID.

August 14th

Back and Ready For Work!!!  Thank God that the work keeps coming.  Lots of cool projects going on and after I returned, the emails and voicemails were stacked up.  Time to get back into the groove of things after a long time not posting here.  Well, I'M BACK!!

Homegrown Aquaman!!!  I can talk day about the Olympics!  Watching it wherever I can, I am most amazed at the prowess of Baltimore-born and bred MICHAEL PHELPS.  My hometown produces a lot of athletes and it's nice to know that the biggest Olympian ever made is from my home town.  KEEP GOING MIKE!!!

Olympic Opening Ceremonies!!!  It was so cool to see the world come together for athletic competition.  I watch the O.C. of every Olympics as far back as I can remember and this has been the most fantastic display of artistic presentations I have ever seen.  The $300 million spent to produce such an amazingly lavish show was well worth it.  China should be at least proud about this........but about those tiny Gold Medal winning gymnast?  If any of them are 16 then I'm a white man!

Olympic Goulash!!!  Beach volleyball, water polo, gymnastics, cycling, handball and a hell of a lot of other events!  I'm watching them all!  ALL!!!!!!!!!!!  And in High Definition which makes the sweat hit you thru the screen.  The beach volleyball has been most thrilling as the tiny bikinis these girls these girls wear causes my cold beer to boil.  the best looking team in the outfits? The Cubans!  Looking forward to the Track and Field events.

The Atlantis Hotel in the Bahamas!!!  A very popular entertainment act has invited me to stay a weekend at THE ATLANTIS HOTEL AND CASINO in the Bahamas during their one year contract with the hotel.  There voicemail message that they left at my home was hilarious!  I hope to stay there in November since I only have available dates then.  I love that hotel and look forward to going after hurricane season is officially over.

Bernie Mac AND Isaac Hayes???!!!  "Who is the man who would risk his neck for his brother man? SHAFT?!  Right on!!  Wow......Bernie succumbs to pneumonia and Isaac suffers a stroke at the treadmill.  Legends of both comedy and music slips away and all we can do is thank them for the thrills.  Gonna miss 'ya Bernie and Isaac, I still have SHAFT on my ZUNE.

July 26th

A Purpose For Obama's Visit!!! 

Keep it up Obama.  I gotcha back! 

15 Shark Bites!!!  My local beach has experienced 15 Shark bites so far this year.  Seems there's been a lot of bait fish in the area and sharks have been having a good time feeding on everything especially toes and heels.  It's totally the surfers that have been getting nicked.  I'll be more watchful while out in the water but then again, I always have.  Check out the video report here:  Video.

July 24th

Proud To Be an Obamaican!!!  Barack Obama spoke in front of an unbelievably huge crowd in Berlin, Germany today.  I watched the speech while working and listened to the crowd chant his name over and over again.  There were young and old and all colors of the rainbow out there.  The crowd seemed mesmerized by his use of words and facts and the camera panned around a crowd that had more interracial-ness amongst it that would have been impossible 60 years ago there.  That was one of the things I found refreshing about my frequent travels to Germany over the dozen or more years.  They ARE a very diversified nation.  Barack gave a great speech in front of crowd not American.....and they loved him.  Let's face it.  The world loves Obama and I think for good reason. 

July 19th

Bearing Witness To Sheer Genius!!!  THE DARK KNIGHT!  THE DARK KNIGHT!!  THE DARK KNIGHT!!!  I bore witness to the execution of sheer genius while sitting in a movie theater at 9:15am, Friday June 18th.  Typically people can be blinded by illogic when recognizing the abilities of actors simply because they are dead. The guilt and sympathy pains guide their reasoning causing them to recite in unison "OSCAR! OSCAR!" Heath Ledger's performance in THE DARK KNIGHT sets aside that line of thinking by showing us genuine brilliance from a sheer genius who had been taken from us. I was astounded at the range this actor portrayed. Pay attention to his lip licking performance and you may notice a few inside jokes and acts that only geniuses can insert in their work. Not only does Mr. Ledger deserve a statue for his work, we the fans (not of Ledger, but of motion picture performances) DEMAND IT! Kudos to all involved in the execution of THE DARK KNIGHT and especially to the standout performances by others such as CHRISTIAN BALE, GARY OLDMAN and AARON ECKHART. This was a thinking man's movie and thank the gods for finally giving us one. It's been way too long.

July 12th

The Truth About FEDCONUSA!!!  With all the shenanigans concerning the failure of FEDCON USA in Dallas and the confusion as to who to believe in this misaligned planning, Dirk Bartholoma, my boss and best friend has finally told his side of the story on the VADERCAST podcast.  I personally thought he was a little too nice about all of this but he told it his way and enough has been said.  Pan down a bit in the listings and Listen to Dirk's dead on and honest answers to why FEDCONUSA did not work.

Ring*Con 2008!!!  With all the psychotic fan behavior, unscrupulous email posters and dictator-like groups out there, it's always nice to know that some of the highest quality of fans come to Germany every year to attend RING*CON and then later on at it's sister convention FEDCON.  The farther we get away from the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy movies, the harder it is to maintain it as the only thing R*C was originally created for.  Thus for the second year we share the stage with two other fantasy oriented movies: HARRY POTTER and PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN.  This year's list of guests look especially yummy with a few more to be added later.

Paula's Funny Bone!!!  Paula Rhule, my good friend up North, keeps bugging me with these silly jokes.  I usually move to delete them before reading them but as the friend that I am to her, I always giver her a chance to make me chuckle.  She always succeeds.  Nuts!

One day my housework-challenged husband decided to wash his Sweat-shirt. Seconds after he stepped into the laundry room, he shouted to me, "What setting do I use on the washing machine?"

"It depends," I replied. "What does it say on your shirt?"

He yelled back, " University of Oklahoma "

And they say blondes are dumb...

July 5th

The Brits Got Their Butts Kicked!!!  We didn't like their music so we kicked them out of our country.  That's how I saw it 232 years ago when America decided that England had to go.  Oh well, that's history now and we're friends.  I think I've seen more fireworks on the 3rd and the 4th to last a lifetime.  Now it's time to ride a few coasters today or tomorrow.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

July 3rd

Ain't That The Truth!!!  Thanks a lot Paula Rhule.  Maybe we can use their corn.

July 1st

The Gate Is Open, Don!!!  DON S. DAVIS, known for his roles in TWIN PEAKS and most recently, STARGATE SG-1, has passed on.  He was living in Vancouver where the STARGATE series are filmed.  He was 65 and suffered a massive heart attack.  I'll miss him.

Walk on Dara Lee!!!  On Sunday in Baltimore, I attended the funeral of my lovely first cousin Dara who died last week of an asthma attack.  She was dear and wonderful to all of us and she will be missed tremendously.  Hold a seat up there for me Dara baby.

June 27th

WALL*E!!!!  On a score between 1 and 10 (10 being the best), I gave WALL*E a 15.  What an incredibly fantastic flick!!!  Oh...and the pre-movie, something PIXAR typically does before the feature is sheer genius as well.  It's called PRESTO and is a wonderful short about a magician and his rabbit during a performance.  WOW!

Why Stress Out?!!!!  With all the stress in the world and no signs of it getting better, and if you haven't seen WALL*E yet, thanks to my gal Mim, there's only one way out of this.  One thing you can do to make the blue skies come back and the bad governments go away: DANCE!!!

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

If this doesn't give you a sense of hope for our planet, then you're basically dead inside.  If so, go outside and DANCE!!!

June 14th

So.........Where's Goldilocks!!!!  Three bears in a tree near my home today.  News crews everywhere.  They won't come down until people leave.  I've actually witnessed the momma taking a dump from 60 feet up.  That's what I call "talent".  Click on the sights. Here's one local news stations pics.  Then click on my personal video below.

More to come......

My Friend is Getting Married!!!!  STAR TREK'S George Takei was my first ST celebrity friend.  I met and jogged with him in Boston over 23 years ago and have seen him off and on since then.  Well George and his partner Brad, who I have known for a long time also, will take advantage of California's marriage laws and I have nothing but congratulations to give them.  I'm sure if I had been invited to the wedding I would hop a flight and head on out.  CONGRATS BRAD!!  CONGRATS GEORGE!!!  Now who gets to throw the bouquet???

June 14th

THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE!!!!  For the past few days, I have been fielding phone calls from actors, agents and fans.  there concern was whether FEDCONUSA was legitimate or what.  Well, once I maintained constant surveillance of things that were currently happening, I surmised that a bigger problem was about to surface........and so it did.  After one day of being open, FEDCONUSA canceled its convention today (Saturday) at around 11:15am.  Now I can go on ranting and raving about this shrewd behavior but I suggest you catch up on what transpired here.

FEDCONUSA is dead and indeed lessons have been learned.

June 13th

TIM RUSSERT DEAD!!!!  HOLY SMOKES!!!  This guy brought back the interest of politics to the American public.  He was a FORCE OF NATURE.  He died of a heart attack while at work today.  Tim Russert had me glued to the tube during the 2004 elections.  His battle cry of FLORIDA FLORIDA FLORIDA resonated in the ears of many who thought his prediction of our fair state as the determining factor a farce.  We were wrong and he was ALWAYS right!!  My god this guy was who I was depending on the most to help me decipher all of the political crap expected this November.  I regarded him as the ONLY credible source for election information around.  I trusted his words just like I would JFK's or a Martin Luther King, Jr.  If anyone needed a "elementary" explanation of what was going on in politics, THIS was the man to listen to.  I actually recognized no one else.  Tim Russert was managing editor and host of MEET THE PRESS!!  he knew his stuff and now I'm seriously loss during the most important election season of my life!!!  My GOD!!!  Tim Russert dead?  No frakkin' way!!!!

June 8th

BRAIN CELLS IN MOTION!!!!  It's really not worth my time to concentrate on the minds of others.  It's worth more of my time to honor those individuals who have sent lovely pms and emails thanking me for being who I am.  They recognize others that they prefer not to be and I congratulate them and above all else, THANK THEM.  You are a credit to fandom, Fedcon, Germany and most definitely Gene Roddenberry. Rock On!!!

HILLARY CLINTON!!!!  What can I say?  She "suspended" her candidacy. 

VISITORS!!!!  I've had a lot of visitors over the past month and they're still coming.  German FEDCON/RINGCON friends and a few Brits have been through my doors and it looks as if our almighty dollar is what's doing it to them.  Once we bounce back, and we WILL bounce back, I suspect they will be returning the favor.  Seems no one is traveling to Europe from here these days and we are the largest supplier of European Travel economies so I guess all in all it's good that their money is coming to us.  See, I cheered up my fellow Americans already.  Yippee.  Gotta go now.  My bike needs air in it's tires.

HARRY POTTER!!!!  I saw the construction site for the new HARRY POTTER attraction coming to UNIVERSAL STUDIOS next year.  Looks to be a big structure from what I can tell.  I hope to get a private tour of the job site some time in the future.  HARRY POTTER COMES TO ORLANDO.

June 3rd

An Historic Moment!!!!  Barack Obama won the nomination for Democratic candidate for the Presidency.  I've waited a long time to say that and an even longer time to attach it to an African-American.  This is an historic moment in the history of a country with its numerous problems.  At a time when we were hunted down and hung from trees, it would have been in the farthest area of a young Black man's mind to ever imagine such a thing as what has happened today.  Of course there are those select groups who would still prefer to see us still hanging from those trees, but that is a faction long condemned by those of religious and intelligent fortitudes.  slavery and the overacts of racism that has taken the lives of so many promising African-American men have during many occasions, been swept under the rug as unfortunate incidents.  Only a select few of those murders have stood out as either horrific or symbolic.  Now we have a long way to go.  We have to defeat a man who's values parallel those of our worst President in United States history and we cannot allow this man to hold office, only to continue with the deaths and the economy that has so symbolized a Bush Presidency.  As for an Obama running mate, Hillary would seem the logical choice but her campaign left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.  It's almost as if during the dawn of defeat, she is demanding to be put on the ticket.  I understand that this is about the party, about the people, but who exactely will be running this Presidencey?  Obama, Hillary or Bill?  I am torn between wanting to see the right thing done.  i hope the right choice is made, for the sake of this country and the world who is watching and hoping that America can maintain it's leadership.  My fingers are crossed and my heart is to the heavens for a brighter future.

June 2nd

Shuttle Launch!!!!  I split up my beach weekend to add a trip out to the Space Coast for the shuttle launch.  Got there early and enjoyed the company of the people I met, including a German and Dutch couple in my country for vacation.  The shuttle shot up under a cloud of smoke that was truly awesome.  A lot better view of it close to the pad than from my front door in Orlando.  What a great view.  Glad to go and happy that it was flawless.  Won't be in town for the next launch so this was a good choice on my part.

The Democratic Process!!!!  I sat in my local STARBUCKS recently and was close enough to overhear a conversation of "obviously" Republicans who laughed at the "circus (as said by them) that the Democrats were going through to pick a candidate.  I wanted to get up and say to them that if they knew anything of our country's history, and the processes needed to obtain a fair and just solution to sometimes fair and unjust occurrences they would have understood why we do what we do and by doing so, build a country, a constitution and not to mention the Declaration of Independence.  To ridicule a political procedure in the face of a current failed administration is hypocritical by a party I never had a lot of respect for and have caused more damage to the country than Charles Manson has done to a household.  Ignorance couples stupidity and I've seen and heard from more blatant Republicans trying to shield the failed and stupidly elected administration currently seated in Washington.  I welcome this level of democratic process each and every time it is initiated if it will maintain the values we all demand especially if Washington disagrees.  I disagreed with Bush's first process to steal that office but I lived with it.  This is America!!!

The World's Largest Swimming Pool!!!!  If you like doing laps in the swimming pool, you might want to stock up on the energy drinks before diving in to this one.  It is more than 1,000 yards long, covers 20 acres, had a 115ft deep end and holds 66 million gallons of water.  Yesterday the Guinness Book of Records named the vast pool beside the sea in Chile as the biggest in the world.  But if you fancy splashing out on one of your own - and you have the space to accommodate it - then beware: This one took five years to build, cost nearly 1billion and the annual maintenance bill will be 2million.



The man-made saltwater lagoon has been attracting huge crowds to the San Alfonso del Mar resort at Algarrobo, on Chile 's southern coast, since it opened last month.  Its turquoise waters are so crystal clear that you can see the bottom even in the deep end.  It dwarfs the world's second biggest pool, the Orthlieb - nicknamed the Big Splash - in Morocco , which is a mere 150 yards long and 100 yards wide.  An Olympic size pool measures some 50 yards by 25 yards.

Chile's monster pool uses a computer- controlled suction and ;filtration system to keep fresh seawater in permanent circulation, drawing it in from the ocean at one end and pumping it out at the other.  The sun warms the water to 26c, nine degrees warmer than the adjoining sea.

Chilean biochemist Fernando Fischmann, whose Crystal Lagoons Corporation designed the pool, said advanced engineering meant his company could build 'an impressive artificial paradise' even in inhospitable areas.'As long as we have access to unlimited seawater, we can make it work, and it causes no damage to the ocean.

 



All I can say is WOW!

Thanks to my friend Paula for submitting this.  Love 'ya!!
 

May 28th

STAND UP TO CANCER!!!!  In an unprecedented collaboration, all three major television networks will donate one hour of simultaneous commercial-free primetime this fall in an effort to raise money for cancer research.  For over 7 years, I have done my part in two states and will continue to do so this September and December.  The broadcast, "Stand Up To Cancer," will air on Sept. 5 on ABC, CBS and NBC and will feature live performances by recording artists and movie and film stars who will, along with the evening news anchors from each of the networks, deliver information about potentially life-saving cancer research.  While the three networks have engaged in similar collaborations in the past - including after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina - the one-hour, commercial-free benefit they will stage on Sept. 5 is the first such effort in recent memory that will not follow a natural catastrophe.

My annual contribution will be first in Atlanta, Georgia in September and then in Laguna Hills, California in December where I will serve as auctioneer for both events.  There is an incredibly huge star-studded event planned around next year in California again that I was asked to host.  I toured the facility a few weeks ago and was blown away.  This will be a huge affair and include many from the Hollywood community.  I look forward to it and will keep you up to date on it.

Having lost relatives and friends to this deadly disease, it should be everyone's responsibility to prevent it from happening to one of yours.  STAND UP TO CANCER.

Website: STANDUP2CANCER.ORG

MOMMY! Let Me In! I Gotta Go!!  ONE TOILET?!  The International Space Station has one freaking toilet?!!  OK...this thing was designed by a single guy who lives in a cave. The sheer thought that being hundreds of miles in space on an orbital SPACE STATION, away from the wife, away from the kids, away from the office and you still have to wait your turn in front of the only crapper miles around, AND IT'S BROKE, is the most ludicrous idea I have ever heard of.  I think they should have planned space on that thing for a giant oak too.  That way we guys can just mosey on over to that big tree and lift our leg.  No no no.  The OTHER leg!  Funny huh?  I keep getting this vision of a mission specialist stooping down to find out what the problem is, only to expose the rest of the crew to BUTT CRACK!  Stupid NASA designers.

Whistling Maestro!!!!  The guy who created the theme music for such shows as THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW and THE MOD SQUAD has died.  He was probably best known for writing and whistling the theme music to one of my favorite shows, THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW.  Earle Hagen died Monday at his home in Rancho Mirage, Calif. He was 88 and still whistling his way home.

The Price Hike!!!!  Memorial Day had many people doing a "STAY-CATION this year and for obvious reasons.  The oil that we gained from Iraq, a fantasy, the high prices on ribs and rib-eye steaks, useless, and the bargain matinees and $5.00 first show movies are becoming increasingly popular.  To see a theater full at 10am on a Saturday is unnerving.  I typically go to early shows to avoid rude movie-goers but now they are even encroaching on my personal movie time.  What is going on?  Needless to say the record profits the oil companies have raked in for many years now seems to be going towards their pursuits for alternative fuels.  NOT!

Vaughn Armstrong!!!!  Vaughn called me today and we had an amazing chat.  He was returning my call and we chatted about his return from a convention in Italy.  It was his first there and raved about the fans over there.  I told him our friend Lolita emailed me yesterday to tell me she was off to Greece with Conner and Dom.  Told Vaughn he should have got in that deal too.  His opinions and ability to "see thru the crap" is refreshing because I thought I was the only one who could do that.  We revisited our EBB discussion I had with him earlier and he had some interesting thoughts.  Vaughn gave me some great advice and we both laughed at the things we have to go through with people sometimes.  We're scheduled to talk again and it's always good when we do.  Call me anytime Vaughn and hello to your lovely wife.  I remember her well.

GUESTBOOK Abuse!!!!  I've deleted two signings without opening to read them today.  Seems the wackos have emerged from under their rocks so if you plan to sign the book, email me first and I'll open it to read it.  If I already did to one of the two today, please tell me when you do it again.  Eventually the sickos will get a clue.  On another note, thanks again from the impressive amount of solidarity mail received lately.  I still think you should confront the ones you have a problem with. I basically am having a good time laughing and ignoring it all.  Either way, I respect your reasoning.  Thanks for the mail.  It's not necessary but it's nice to know you care.  Cheers.

Brian Burgess!!!!  One of the best things about THE WOLF BROTHERS is Brian Burgess.  An American transplant on German soil, Brian's association with this troupe has been exemplary.  With his son Kenny (my main man) and cute daughter Jessie, they make an awesome family.  I hope Brian makes it to RC this year and I hope THE WOLF BROTHERS can appear as well.  Miss you guys.  Maybe we'll hook up at Disney in California in August.

Beach Blast!!!!  Heading over to the left coast for a Beach Blast weekend.  I love the sunsets there and I haven't been over there in a few months.  Time to say my hellos.  waverunners and boats and my laptop.  Now that's what I call relaxing.

WATCHMEN!!!!  On of the first graphic novels I had the pleasure of reading was called WATCHMEN.  Wikipedia says this better than I could so read up:  Watchmen is a twelve-issue comic book limited series written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons. Originally published by DC Comics as a monthly limited series from 1986 to 1987, it was later republished as a trade paperback, which popularized the "graphic novel" format. To date, Watchmen remains the only graphic novel to win a Hugo Award, and is also the only graphic novel to appear on Time Magazine's 2005 list of "the 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to the present."

Watchmen is set in 1985, in an alternative history United States where costumed adventurers are real and the country is edging closer to a nuclear war with the Soviet Union (the Doomsday Clock is at five minutes to midnight). It tells the story of a group of past and present superheroes and the events surrounding the mysterious murder of one of their own. Watchmen depicts superheroes as real people who must confront ethical and personal issues, who struggle with neuroses and failings, and who - with one notable exception - lack anything recognizable as super powers. Watchmen's deconstruction of the conventional superhero archetype, combined with its innovative adaptation of cinematic techniques and heavy use of symbolism, multi-layered dialogue, and metafiction, has influenced both comics and film.

AINTITCOOLNEWS.com released a photo of the WATCHMEN when they were known as MINUTEMEN 45 years before the movie's 1985 date.  It's impressive as it depicts  a superhero movie with actual heroes in tights and capes.  Today's standard has been leather (san SPIDER-MAN) but this image says a lot.

WATCHMEN is due in theaters next March and I have an interesting feeling about it's progress so far.  Much like the one I had for the first MATRIX movie and the TRANSFORMERS.  We'll see.

May 27th

This Will Amaze You!!!!  Guess which group: NBA, NHL or NFL?

36 have been accused of spousal abuse, 7 have been arrested for fraud, 19 have been accused of writing bad checks , 117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses, 3 have done time for assault, 71, repeat 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit, 14 have been arrested on drug-related charges, 8 have been arrested for shoplifting, 21 currently are defendants in lawsuits and 84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year

Can you guess which organization this is?

NBA, NHL or NFL ?

Give
up yet? . . .
 

Neither,

it's the 535 members of the United States Congress. The same group of idiots that crank out hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in line.

AND THEY JUST VOTED THEMSELVES A $15,000 PER MONTH PENSION FOR LIFE AFTER SERVING ONLY ONE TERM IN CONGRESS !!!

NOW, don't forget to vote!

 

May 26th

WHOO-HOO!!!!  I've opened a new company that will have an interesting bearing on my other activities.  Of course there's no money in it yet but I expect that to change drastically come September.  Now I need to get my notary's license.  I don't want to have to hire a puncher for legal documents.

300 Million Worldwide!!!!  INDIANA JONES kicked butt as I predicted it would at FEDCON.  Didn't hurt that there was virtually no competition and it opened on an economy-poor Memorial Day weekend (including Thursday).  Even if the script was a bit lacking with unbelievable scenes and dialog, it still rated a 7 out of 10 for me.  Now talk is another one with Shia LeBouf as the lead.  Bad idea.  Leave well enough alone George!  Leave well enough alone.

MARS!!!!  NASA's MARS PHOENIX LANDER has landed and are shooting pictures of the surface back to Earth.  After many failed attempts, these guys finally got it right.  Great job guys!!!  I think I watched that launch last year.  Can't wait to see more images.

THE SIMPSON RIDE!!!!  Had a chance to ride THE SIMPSON RIDE (your stuff is coming Batch) and I have to honestly say that it was........pretty good.  The ride is in the same building as the old BACK TO THE FUTURE ride and follows the same technology as that former ride but with obvious improvements.  You sit in a car like BTTF and your propelled through a 3-D sort of chase through Krusty's park and Springfield.  Bumps and rolls and dips just like the former ride are present in this one.  All in all, I give it a 8 out of 10.  Go check it out.

HURRICANE SEASON!!!!  It begins June 1st.  The predictions are bit higher if not the same as last year's but they were wrong then as well.  so, let's hope we get a break from all the freakin' sunshine and get some thunder in here!

Thanks For The Support!!!!  It's absolutely mind boggling how much mail I have received concerning recent developments.  I only wish you would say them out loud but honestly, it means more to me that you feel the same way I do and tell me privately then make yourselves a target for these people.  It's pretty sad but funny in the same respect.  Surprising mail from G7 people and others who read but never post.  Nice to have such great alliances and I hope we can talk when I see you all again.  It's all about the fans and at least you had the guts to ask questions and not believe everything you read from these types of individuals.  Thank your parents for me.  They did a good job and I really appreciate your point of view from those who had interesting opinions.  I'll keep them in mind.  Some of them are illegal tho. <lol>. 

May 24th

RECOUNT!!!!  If you didn't see HBO's cable movie RECOUNT, you should.  It is well written, well executed and incredibly cast.  Laura Dern should win an Emmy for her portrayal of KATHERINE HARRIS who was Florida's Secretary of State.  As someone who voted in that election and followed the circus throughout the 5 weeks before the wrong guy got into office, I was riveted to my television set, reliving the names and terminology (hanging chad) used in this program.  It was awesome to receive yet more information that I had already received first hand as a resident of Florida. Regardless of whether this fiction based on fact, if any of it was inflammatory or downright incorrect, the opposing side would be all of the media.  Guess what?  They weren't.  Florida is so backwards in their thinking on issues that I couldn't begin to bore you with but when it came to an issue that involved the entire world, we were center stage during that time.  Bush stole the Presidency and the majority of the world, not the country and not the State of Florida, but the world.  20,000 people who's names "sounded similar" to convicted felons were turned away from the polls in Florida and half of them were African Americans.  8 years later and it still stings and we still got that guy in office.  Now look what we are paying for.  The guy that was suppose to have one received a Nobel Peace Prize and an Academy Award and the guy that occupies his office still can't spell.  With consideration of putting another Republican in office after what we've been thru for 8 years still floats thru your mind, I'd rather YOU go there than any other Republican knucklehead.  Time to regain our honor folks.

May 20th

RING*CON 2008!!!!  Well, our concentration is now focused on next October's event.  Guests we have signed so far are the following:

  John Rhys-Davies (LORD OF THE RINGS Gimli), Chris Rankin (HARRY POTTER's Percy Weasley) Brad        Dourif  (LORD OF THE RINGS Grima Wormtounge), Lee Arenberg  (PIRATES OF THE CARRIBBEAN's Pintel, Paul Norell (LORD OF THE RINGS King of the Dead) Shane Rangi ( LORD OF THE RINGS/NARNIA) Jed Brophy (LORD OF THE RINGS) and Mark Ferguson (LORD OF THE RINGS Gil-Galad).  More to come.

Space Launches!!!!  Well, my research on my invited gigs in the Marshall Islands and New Mexico has been extensive.  40+ hours of flight time is definitely unappealing going to the South Pacific.  I'm still deciding whether I need to be there at all.  I do agree that the ashes of these special people should be honored in the best way possible but fail to see how my services could elevate that to an already established level.  God Speed and let's hope I can get a flight out.

MEMORIAL DAY!!!!  Many friends have invited me to this and there but I have a long standing tradition of never traveling on holidays.  Everyone else is already out there moving at 10 miles an hour on the freeways, looking for that bare patch of sand on the beaches and crowding the movie theater parking lots.  Why the heck would I want to join that?  I find joy of taking my date to the beach during the week and driving in off peak hours.  I never follow the crowd so I'll celebrate MEMORIAL DAY honoring our soldiers in front of a tube or at a backyard barbecue with my buddies.  The rest of you can have the parks and the traffic.

Robert Asprin passes!!!!  Seems to be the week for sci-fi passings.  They say it comes in threes and this is the second bit of news I found on my machine when I came in today.  I met Robert over the years at various cons and he was to speak at MARCON this weekend.  From Wikipedia: Robert Lynn Asprin (born June 28, 1946 – died May 22, 2008) was an American science fiction and fantasy author best known for his humorous MythAdventures series. Asprin began to chronicle the comic adventures of Skeeve and Aahz in the "MythAdventures" series. Originally illustrated by Frank Kelly Freas, and later by Phil Foglio, the highly pun-driven books follow a "demon" magician who has lost his powers and his inexperienced human apprentice as they travel through a variety of worlds in pursuit of wealth and glory. Some of the early "Myth" novels were later adapted as comic books by Foglio and others. You can read more on his life and his death here.

They're Still Talking About......!!!!  FEDCON 17!!  An event that people are still bringing to the forefront.  I know it makes others angry.  Others who were banned from attending for crimes against humanity.  This "join our sect" mentality has been ignored by the handful of people who hilariously visit the "evil board" to listen to the racist and angry jargon they spew. Complaining is in their blood and if you are not with them, then you are against them....or so they preach.   Luckily, the intelligent ones email me to tell me they don't join in or listen to such Manson-mentality.  Good for them!!! True fans of the sci-fi genre recognize the humanity of science fiction and what it tries to teach us.  True fandom has embraced those who want a better world and not self-identification li