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M.A.T.U. being the international workers union, Men Against Truck Unloading. Working throughout this nation to keep men from having to unload trucks.

Robert Anton Wilson needs our help

Via bOINGbOING, via Douglas Rushkoff:

Robert Anton Wilson is my favorite writer, and helped shape quite a bit of my worldview. At the very least he helped give me the tools to shape my own worldview.

I just picked up his book Cosmic Trigger a few days ago and started reading it again a few days ago, and he has come up a number of times in conversation between Roxanne and I recently and I found out about this today.

He had polio as a child, but was cured by an alternative treatment. Now complications from the polio are killing him.

Like many authors he is not fantastically wealthy, at least not so much as to cover his medical costs.

According to his friends he probably isn't going to be around terribly much longer and they'd like to make sure that he at least can go out peacefully. They are taking donations to accomplish this at his PayPal address olgaceline@gmail.com. You can also send a check to RAW c/o Futique Trust, P.O. Box 3561, Santa Cruz, Ca 95063.

Unlike many pleas on the net this is legitimate. You could also send some kind thoughts and or energy his way, or stop by his website and buy one of his books from there.

RAW is what I want to be when I grow up, smart, funny, open-minded and genuine. I can only hope that I can provide some small bit of aid to someone who has contributed so much to widening my reality tunnel and reminding me to make it the best, happiest, funniest and most interesting one that it can possibly be.

Various Links

Links to my existing NWA-TNA pictures at my old Anglefire site:

Dec. 18

Jan. 8

Jan. 15

Jan. 22

Jan. 29

Feb. 5

A whole assload of Tarot and card decks, all scanned and viewable.

The Bacon Wallet

Mauled by Dogs

Leave it to Stan Lee to add the best of all wrinkles ever put into reality television--Episode Two, the contestants are mauled by dogs.

I think this should be instituted on all reality tv.

You find out a lot about a person's character when they are trying to perform a task while being mauled by dogs.

Sure you give them the helmet and protective suit, but a mauling is a mauling.

I can see it now: Real-World/Road Rules Challenge, episode two, the Miz is mauled by dogs. Project Runway episode two Keith is mauled by dogs, etc.

They call it Stan Lee's Who Wants to be a Superhero?, I call it one of the most brilliant shows ever.

It is the best thing Stan Lee has been involved with since MallRats, and blends the perfect amount of cheeze with some drama.

I don't even care if it is mostly scripted. It works.

Major Victory is comedic gold. I think he'll probably win.



Though Fat Momma may give him a run for his money.



And Monkey Woman could be the shocker since she has the most drive and dedication.



I give this show my highest recommendation.

Make your own superhero at their site.

ECW II

After about a month of 'New ECW' shows from our friends at the WWE, I've decided that for now the experiment is a failure. I wanted it to work. I wanted it to be more than ECW Lite, but that's not what they've been giving me.

When there are seemingly more former ECW stars in TNA than there are in the new ECW, I have a bit of a problem. When ECW comes off looking and feeling like an episode of Raw, or better yet, Shotgun Saturday Night--I have a problem.

Big Show as champion--not desirable, but workable.

Big Show wrestling Undertaker in a match that goes to a D.Q. because of outside interference--big problem. This is ECW, traditionally matches in ECW did not end until Spike Dudley ran in and was then pinned by someone else who didn't start out in the match.

All matches in ECW should be contested under Extreme Rules, unless someone is being an ass like old-school Mick Foley playing up the anti-hardcore angle.

I'd like to see where they go with C.M. Punk, but I don't think it'll be anymore than a mid-card push for a guy who should be stealing the show.

I'd like to think that there is something in the works for the former Mordecai, now a vampire. A feud with Sandman would have been perfect.

I'd like to think that anyone had a plan for this debacle to save it.

But I don't.

I think the same people who flubbed the WCW invasion are at the helm here, and are quickly killing any good faith that 'the tribe of extreme' had for this revival.

Unless those riot guards behind Heyman turn out to be Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho and they set right this sinking ship, or New Jack invades and starts cutting folks up, I don't think I'll be watching.

I think the WWE just drove me back to TNA for my ECW style entertainment. At least there I get to see Rhino and the Dudley's, Raven and Shane Douglas.

They could really save it and make a unique product, but I don't think they will.

I think Vince is perfectly happy just having an extra hour for Raw, and the minimal ratings that will garner.

ECW

I have to say that the debut of ECW on Sci-Fi was more than a bit underwhelming. Do you really want the first match you air to be Sandman vs. The Zombie? Really? This is a good idea?

Comedy I understand. There is a fine tradition of that in ECW.

Is Sci-Fi making demands on the WWE to have elements that they think the Sci-Fi viewers want? Is that what the random Matt-Hardy-Looking-Vampire guy was for? If so, Sci-Fi needs to stop making demands. The movie that lead into it "Immortal" looked like a graphic novel adaptation. I only caught the last few minutes, but it seemed pretty but vacant.

Was that the best lead in?

I like the decision to go with Hellraiser after the show, but Sci-Fi needs to program around ECW just as much as ECW needs to make nods to Sci-Fi.

Also, the tapings from WWE shows must end as soon as possible. My wife was commenting on the fact that it looked like a WWE show. It looked like Raw. ECW must be different to survive. One Night Stand worked because of the Hammerstein Ballroom and the rabid ass-world cup style crowd.

One Night Stand was almost a WWE pay-per-view, but they pulled it off because of the atmosphere.

The atmosphere on Sci-Fi is the wrong one. Cena can not be cheered on an ECW show. They need to stop with the crossovers as soon as possible.

I know there is also a tradition of the pointless TNA on ECW, but the half-assed strip-tease had no place on the show. Give me wrestling on my wrestling show. If there is TNA make it involved in a story somehow. Couldn't Trinity or Francine come out and decimate the chick? Or Jazz?

Did Justin Credible evaporate half his body weight since the last time he was on TV? He looked like Dwayne Gill impersonating Justin Credible.

It is not good when the best match on a show that should be determined by great matches is Kurt Angle squashing Justin Credible, and your second best match is a re-play from the PPV of Taz choking out Jerry Lawler.

Not good.

The battle royal should have been about twenty minutes. The show should have been taped and edited in ECW style. Next week should be a taped show from the first few ECW house shows where there will be paying ECW fans, with no little kids in Chain Gang shirts leaning in behind the announce crew.

And for Godssake WWE pay for the rights to Enter Sandman, or just use the damn version that Motorhead recorded for ECW. Sandman was weakened in TNA with the generic music and he is weakened here. The intro is the character.

I felt that the PPV was 85% in the good, but this show was a major step backward.

The PPV had strong outings from all except Balls and Masato. (If they wanted to keep the WWE v. ECW vibe they should have had Tanaka v. Tatanka, that is a money feud right there) I even like the Angle/Orton match. I thought it showcased intense Kurt well and jobbed the hell out of Orton. The only thing I would have dropped from ONS was the Bradshaw segment, unless he was going to get laid out by say, New Jack.

ECW doesn't need to invade Raw, they need to strengthen their own borders first and lay down a legitimate foundation that doesn't make them look second tier. The PPV did that, but the first episode on Sci-Fi came off as WWE circa five or six years ago, not ECW.

Can You Hear It?

Here's a link to the sound that supposedly people over the age of 30 have difficulty hearing. It was designed as a deterrent to teenagers who would be the only ones who could hear it, but now they are using it as a ringtone on phones that parents and teachers can't hear.

Hurts my ears. Reminds me of the high pitched sound that I used to hear every time I went into a Sears store in a mall. Every time I'd ask anyone if they heard it they'd say they didn't. My wife heard the same sound when she was a kid.

My teeth still feel like they're vibrating from this.

Today's Funny For Tommy

From The Riddler's Riddle Book:

Batman found a suspect working in a candy store. The man is six feet tall and wears size 12 shoes. What does he weigh?
Candy!

Gatlinburg Sketch

Here is a charicature that was done of Roxanne and myself in the mall in Gatlinburg the last time we were there.

See No Evil

This movie surprised me by being better than it had any real right to be. I think that lots of reviewers who are unnecessarily harsh to this film are letting their opinions of the WWE and Vince MacMahon cloud their vision.

In terms of quality this film is comparable to the Dark Castle films such as Ghost Ship, House on Haunted Hill, and 13 Ghosts. It is a cliche genre film, but that isn't a bad thing. All of the cliche's are well played, and even if it isn't terribly inventive it is a solid horror film and isn't afraid of its gore.

The WWE's first (released) foray into motion pictures stars Glen "Kane" Jacobs as Jacob Goodnight, a character who is pretty much the psycho Kane character he played during the Lita marriage angle. That's fine, because the Goodnight character is generic monster in the vein of Michael Myers or Jason, just like Kane.

There are lots of naughty teenagers for Goodnight to kill, and they are all locked in an 'abandoned' hotel that I think they were implying was built by an occultist in the 30's much like the setting of The Toolbox Murders or Ghostbusters.
Now it is trashed and the top few floors are burned out and a group of attractive, well dressed teens from a juvenile hall are sent in with two chaperones for a weekend to begin cleaning it up to turn it into a homeless shelter.

This movie is quite a bit better than Tobe Hopper's Toolbox. The production design and set seems to be the outlet for most of the budget, and it shows on screen.

There is also some other backstory with a cop that shot Goodnight in the head and lost an arm in return.

As in these types of films the story isn't really much more than a setup, but it is at least better thought through than many slasher films.

The direction and music in the film are quality, and the acting didn't piss me off. I don't have any real gripes about this other than a couple of minor quibbles over the timing of some of the killings.

I enjoyed the movie. I think if people would ignore the WWE connection they wouldn't quite be so hard on it.

Congratulations Graduate

Results of Predictions

So, I went 7 for 10 with Cena, Mysterio, Michaels, Mickie James, Boogieman, Undertaker and RVD picking up the wins, and Foley, Benoit and Carlito/Masters losing.

Not too shabby.

Wrestlemania

I haven't made that many posts, wrestling or otherwise related in awhile, but I thought I'd lay down my Wrestlemania 22 predictions, what since it's happening tonight.

John Cena d. HHH-I think the feud that hasn't been much of one continues and H takes one for the team.

Rey Mysterio d. Kurt Angle and Randall Orton-Give Rey the title and then bring Batista back to take it from him.

Mick Foley d. Edge-I'm not sold that it will happen, but let Mick have the victory I says.

RVD wins Money in the Bank-I'm not sold on this being a classic match with some of the people involved, It gets difficult to have a ladder match with this many people and make it convincing. I would have made Shannon Moore the mystery man from Smackdown and had him help Hardy win, but what the hell.

Shawn Michaels d. Vince McMahon-If no interferance from the Hitman, then I'd just have Austin do the run in and Stun Vince, but then in the after match celebration when he goes to stun Michaels, have Shawn give him the Chin Music.

Benoit d. JBL-Next.

Carlito and The New Total Package d. Kane and Big Show-It's time to re-start the tag division with matches, and Kane needs to be in a big singles program with his movie coming out.

Mickie James d. Trish Stratus-Trish has had the belt a loong time, and she needs to have a dominant enemy for awhile.

Undertaker d. Marcus Henry-I don't see Sexual Chocolate being the one to end the unbeaten streak.

Boogie Man d. Booker T/Sharmell-Why can't Booker catch a break?

It doesn't matter who wins the Pillow fight

Those are my predictions.

Boxing Jesus Prints

I saw one of these paintings on television while the Mrs. and I were on our honeymoon in Gatlingburg.

Please-oh-please if anyone out there loves me you will get me a print (or original) of one of Stephen Sawyer's paintings of Jesus, such as:

Undefeated (boxing Jesus)
No Appointment Necessary (tattooed Jesus)
Joy to the World (Laughing Jesus)
Lover of My Soul (Married Jesus)

I want any, or all of them, but especially the boxing one. Because when I think of the prince of peace, I think of the Sweet Science.

Webster

I realize as I grow older that I owe a lot to Emmanuel Lewis. Webster taught me about the dangers of bullies, burglars, child molesters and Patrick Ewing and how to deal with each.

The biggest thing I owe to him, however, is his influence to keep me from smoking.

I didn't need the truth beating me over the head with 'smoking is bad' messages, I had the angel Emmanuel.

The thing that is most impressive is that the show that made sure that I would never smoke wasn't even about the dangers of smoking, and I never have seen the episode in question!

I remember vividly plopping myself down in front of the television, anxiously awaiting my weekly E.L. fix. The way I remember it (and these memories are admittedly spotty), the show started without it's familiar beginning, and featured people I had never seen before in the introductions. Some tomfoolery was afoot, could it be April 1?

Then the show begins and it is revealed that Webster, Ma'am and George no longer live in their luxurious high rise apartment the likes of which many a Jefferson had dreamed.

Now they were ensconced in a large house with labyrinthine secret passageways and a couple of people who were probably swingers.

But all that is neither here nor there.

As this curiosity continued I turned and asked my mother (Webster night was family night), "What the beeswax is going on here?"

She then said the words that would forever doom me from experiencing nic-fits, "Webster played with matches and burned their house down."

Zounds!

I was devastated and barely was able to follow the episode that week.

I know now looking back that episode was the reason that I, to this day cannot use, nor play with, matches. In addition I am barely functional with lighters of any kind. It is my solemn hope that at no point in our post-apocalyptic future that it will be left to me to start the cookfire, or light the torches to keep the zombie hordes at bay.

For I knew that Webster merely wished to partake of one of George's cigars. Who would not, as Ma'am's husband was always prattling on about the qualities of a good smoke, the hearty aroma and lessening of stress.

I imagine that it was very stressful to be Webster.

He probably needed two cigars.

I shall never know, unless they someday release Webster on DVD and I can confront this echo from my past.

Next time I shall explain to you how and why Nia Peeples is responsible for my never drinking coffee.

WTF of the night

I didn't know this until hearing it in passing on A&E tonight:

Mariska Magdolina Hargitay was born on January 23, 1964, in Los Angeles, California. Her parents are Mickey Hargitay and Jayne Mansfield. She is the youngest of their three children. In June 1967, Mariska and her brothers Zoltan and Mickey Jr. were in the back seat of a car when it was involved in the fatal accident which killed her mother. The children escaped with minor injuries.

Late Political Blogging

Is it wrong of me to wish for someone to die? I have no knowledge of the man that VP Cheney shot, and wish him no ill will, but what if he had (or does)died of complications from the gunshot. Say that heart attack killed him, or another one later.

Would Cheney be brought up on manslaughter charges? Shouldn't he be held as accountable as a kid who accidentally shoots a friend?

One of the guys at work was talking about one of the pundits on FauxNews playing devil's advocate and wondering if maybe the Veep was drunk at the time of the shooting and if that wasn't the reason that police and paramedics weren't let in right away.

Wouldn't that make him just as accountable as a drunk driver who runs someone over?

Also, I imagine that even if you are good friends with someone, if that somebody shot you in the face and chest with a shotgun there would be at least a little bit of animosity from there on.

What if he presses charges for assault (he won't). Wouldn't that be assault with a deadly weapon, and wouldn't the keeping out of the sheriff be impeding an officer of the law?

Just some questions. I know, I realize that King George and Grand Vizier Cheney are above our mortal laws, but, you know.

Katamari flash game

Katamari damacy flash based game

Combat4Christ

I saw Combat4Christ.com on a sign on a chain link fence going into Cleveland last night, and when I went and looked, lo-and-behold we have our very own para-military, Christian Youth training facility right near by.

I would make fun, but I might end up on their bad side, AND in hell.

SVU Valentines

For Katy:

Law and Order SVU Valentines.

Just Make Sure to Wear a Grin

Anyone out there know where I can get some good, old-fashioned Bibbibabkas? I'm tired of this store bought stuff, and there just isn't anywhere to get traditional ones since Twinkacetti's closed.

Site Stats

I was just trolling through my sites stats for the first time in quite some time and I thought I'd share some fun facts with the couple of you that are still out there with me.

Here are the top 20 search strings that have found this site:

1 alexis laree
2 jake roberts
3 house of a thousand corpses
4 newsfilter drudge
5 hulk hogan
6 mashup
7 tajiri
8 wolverine
9 wwe edge
10 homoerotic
11 tripping on acid
12 cloogey
13 cory haim
14 peep
15 rapture timeline
16 sid haig
17 acid tripping
18 shark boy costume
19 sound
20 tall midgets

I am your source for homoerotic, acid tripping tall midgets in shark boy costumes. And of course Corey Haim.

1.35% of my traffic is from Canada. .38% from Mexico. Let's work on that guys.

Over half of people coming here use some version of Firefox.

Someone, somewhere has a directlink to one of the flash game files that I used to have in the sidebar on their site.

There are still people reading my TNA-Thoughts blog that I haven't updated in many many moons. (Probably just for the Alexis Laree 'Mickie James' pictures). People also still vote in my poll there about Hogan coming into TNA.

Now I shall stop boring you.

Celebrity Fit Club III

I hope with all my heart that Danny Bonaduce gets fat very soon and can be on a future installment of Fit Club, because Jeff Conaway's poor man's Gary Busey is just pathetic. If Conaway really is on drugs and acting like that I am unsure whether or not that makes him more or less pathetic than if he's faking it for the cameras.

But a roided up, overweight Bonaduce wigging out on the personal trainer guy until he gets squashed would be priceless.

I think they also need Steve from the Jerry Springer show, or perhaps Ken Shamrock to stand in at the weigh ins to crush anyone who causes a scene.

Conaway is no Busey.