Aloha Daze

Another topic suggested by Ken.

From the AP in New York:

Years after she first emerged from the Batcave, Batwoman is coming out of the closet. DC Comics is resurrecting the classic comic book character as a lesbian, unveiling the new Batwoman in July as part of an ongoing weekly series that began this year.

The 5-foot-10 superhero comes with flowing red hair, knee-high red boots with spiked heels, and a form-fitting black outfit.

“We decided to give her a different point of view,” explained Dan DiDio, vice president and executive editor at DC. “We wanted to make her a more unique personality than others in the Bat-family. That’s one of the reasons we went in this direction.”

…

“It’s kind of weird,” [DiDio] said. “We had a feeling it would attract some attention, but we’re a little surprised it did this much.”

You can’t change a comic icon, and not expect attention for doing so.

I’m not sure if I necessarily agree with their logic. Gay. Straight. Whatever: to each their own. But I was under the impression that sexual orientation isn’t supposed to matter in regards to being a productive member of society. Obviously it would matter to a significant other… but isn’t that supposed to be personal?

Having said that, isn’t it California that is changing [or trying to change] their school’s history books to reflect who was gay in history, because gay students need heroes too?

Huh? Aren’t heroes from the pages of history heroes already? Do they need to be listed as gay or straight before they’re allowed to be heroes in future publications of history books? Should anyone that’s a hero in today’s society be pulled aside, and asked if they’re gay, before their story hits the pages of the news, or is recorded in history books?

I wish DC Comics the best… but I still question their motives. I think it’s less about “being with the times,” and more about simple shock value. (”What? She’s a lesbian?! I have to see this.”)

Read the entire article.

RLR

You know, I never intended this column to become all about Britney Spears. Usually a single dose is all that’s really needed.

But this girl is just trouble.

In what is now becoming known as Seanprestonism, Britney stepped out of a store on Thursday, and… (more…)

Previously I mentioned that Britney Spears, that brainless, clueless mom wannabe was running around town with her baby in her lap as she drove.

She claimed at the time that the situation was caused because she was trying to avoid the paparazzi.

Well… later she apologized for her mistake. How nice. That’s makes it all better.

Then a few weeks ago child services checked her out because her baby received a hairline fracture in the skull. Fell out of a baby chair, you see. So, they took baby Sean to the hospital because he was sleeping longer than usual… a week after the incident. Oh, hey, no big deal. Just a little blood clog and a hairline fracture on the skull.

Guess what? She’s done it again. Britney was caught driving with an improperly installed child seat… and an improperly installed brain:

I can hear child services making yet another house call.

What’s better than all this? Britney is pregnant.

Oh joy. Another child to place in the capable hands of bubble-headed Britney.

RLR

Taken from National Geographic News:

Photo in the News: Housefly Gets Glasses Made With Lasers

March 28, 2006—Pampering pets with designer goods isn’t so unusual—and now even your houseflies can get outfitted in style.

I want to meet the doctor that fitted the lenses. Wow!

RLR

There are a number of resorts and hotels here Oahu, as one might imagine.

About 95% of them are located either at Honolulu International Airport or Waikiki. Another 3% can be found at the growing location on the Leeward side of the island called Ko’Olina (the “next Waikiki,” if the developer and owners have their way.) The other hotels and resorts are spread across the three corners of the island: Windward, North Shore, and the far-Leeward side of the island.

For some visitors/tourists, it’s all about Waikiki: shows, beaches, sun, surf, food and fun. For others, it’s about “getting away from it all” but still enjoying everything that Oahu has to offer. For the rest, it’s about really getting away from it all.

But with most of the tourist traffic heading to Waikiki, it’s up to the hotels on the other three corners to offer world, and shoot for the moon, to get tourists to their remote locations.

On the North Shore of Oahu, that hotel is Turtle Bay. It’s a beautiful location, with some amazing meeting rooms, restaurants, and various other [in my opinion] untapped potential.

Not a new idea, the owners (Oaktree Capital) want to continue their plans to greatly increase the size of the resort. These plans have been on the table for several years now.

This is a tough one. I’m not one to bite the hand that feeds me, and I’m certainly not trying to do so here, but I think this is worth mentioning.

Turtle Bay has a fantastic potential, but has some … issues … regarding the Local 5 Union. I won’t try and address the issues here; I’m not involved.

But I think it’s important to work out such issues before trying to grow. A building needs a solid foundation. A business is no different. And whether the Union is at fault, or Turtle Bay, it’s important to work out the differences either way. I’ve not seen that from either side. It’s up to the management group at Turtle Bay to resolve the issue. They do, after all, represent the owners. Not to mention that it’s good business to make sure everyone is as enthusiastic about future growth for the Resort as the owners seem to be.

Now the owners recently finished spending some $60 million upgrading and updating the hotel. But when I recently walked around the resort, I saw several unfinished parts and pieces. Some were amazingly large unfinished issues. For example, I watched a woman, in her wedding dress, walk across broken rocks and busted sidewalks to get to her wedding on the beach. That sidewalk should have been fixed a long time ago, and with a budget of $60 million, they should have spent a measly few hundred dollars to do it.

I might be wrong. For some other reason I’m not familiar with, that sidewalk might have been busted up for any number of reasons. But that’s just an example. There were other projects that should have been finished and fixed up. I doubt that an excuse can be placed on all of the unfinished projects. And herein lies my point.

Jerry Doyle, actor and now talk show host, says often on his program that you should “question everything.” That’s what I think Oaktree Capital should do. They need to find out why their investment, Turtle Bay, is still having issues with the Local 5 Union. They need to find out why there are still portions of their investment that haven’t been fixed, improved or installed. Oaktree Capital needs to question everybody. The management group they hired [Benchmark Hospitality] to run Turtle Bay. The Local 5 Union. The local community that has reservations about Turtle Bay’s growth. Everything.

What can I say? For $60 million, I’d want answers and solutions. Not more problems and questions.

For more, see the most recent article from the Honolulu Star Bulletin titled “Proposed development at Turtle Bay bothers residents.”

RLR

Here in Hawaii, we’re not at all unfamiliar with rain. We get our fair share and, depending on which island, you can practically set your watch to the regular small showers that we get in Waikiki and Downtown Honolulu.

However, in the last week or two, we’re getting more than our fair share. A great deal more. Kaua’i - known as the Garden Island - is getting flooded, right along with O’ahu (the island known as the Gathering Place) and Hawai’i (the Big Island).

Here on Oahu, the Windward side of the island is taking the full force of the flooding. Although it is an island, those that have never been here would be amazed at the climate differences between one side of the island and another. On most average days, the South Shore [Waikiki] is sunny with the occasional light shower. Windward [Kaneohe] can look like something out of the movie Jurassic Park - extremely tropical with usually strong tradewinds and showers more often than the other parts of the island. North Shore, popular in name due to the fantastic surf conditions that have made it the most popular surfing location on the planet, and host to the popular show Lost, gets a little of everything… sunny conditions, rainy conditions, and windy conditions. In fact, it’s likely that this combination is what makes the surf location what it is today. Finally there is the Leeward side (Waianae) of the island, which enjoys if not sunny, then at least dry conditions most of the time. It is said that, if it rains in the Leeward side [Makaha Valley in particular], then that usually means that the entire Hawaiian island chain is getting rain.

Such is certainly true now. From the Honolulu Star Bulletin:

Nearly a foot of muddy rainwater rushed down Hauula Homestead Road and into at least five homes last night as heavy showers stalled over parts of Windward Oahu still recovering from last week’s flooding.

For a little reference, here is the island of Oahu, with Windward and Leeward sides highlighted. The blue dot indicates Makaha Valley.

RLR

Alright. I admit it. For the first time in years I sat down and watched the Oscars. Why? One reason, really.

I’m a conservative that posts his political opinions in a column read by who knows how many hundreds [of search engines]. With a chance for the Democratic party [cleverly disguised as Hollywood] to make a political statement, I feel it’s important I watch for that. (Gee, where is Michael Moore when you need him?)

As a result, though, I did expect to see some politics involved in the choices for winners. Happily, when real talent was on the line, most of the time it was rewarded.

Until… they got to the category “Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song).”

They’d had musical numbers from the nominees all night. Dolly Parton for “Travelin’ Thru.” Kathleen “Bird” York for “In The Deep.” (Which I thought was a fantastic song. Good stuff. Great vocal talent!) And then there was the last nominee… and the winner.

Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman and Paul Beauregard for “It’s Hard Out Here For A Pimp.”

First, I think the song stinks. The production number they had for it was just horrible compared to the other two nominees that sang earlier in the show. This song was just terrible.

Jon Stewart, host of the Oscars this year, mentioned how excited that the winners were to have won. Well no kidding. Really? I’d be excited too, if my dredge of a song won against real singers that had real talent. I’d be giddy, too.

I mean, c’mon people. Tell me that this wasn’t polically motivated somehow. All I can figure is that, because the movie that the song is from is about a pimp that makes it as a rap singer, we must be polically correct and agree with it. Here’s to the pimp that makes it as a singer! Yeah! Gimme a friggin’ break.

On the other hand, it looks like an upset for best picture. “Brokeback Mountain” lost to winner “Crash.” No, I don’t have a problem with a gay movie. It’s not on my watch list [and likely never will be]. So what is my problem?

You can’t sit there and tell me that, because of the two- or three-hundred people that went and watched “Mountain,” it should receive such acclaim. I think it’s more politics than genuine quality or interest that drives the Oscars. I always have believed that, and I still do.

However, overall I saw movies that were deserving of awards actually receive them. “Wallace and Gromit” winning Best Animated Feature Film of the Year. “March of the Penguins” for Best Documentary Feature. Peter Jackson’s “King Kong” for Achievement in Visual Effects.

As for politics… there was a quick quip from Jon Stewart in the beginning about Bjork putting on a dress, and VP Dick Cheney accidently shooting her. But that was pretty much all the quips in regards to partisan politics from Stewart.

Not wanting to miss a chance to prove just how much better they are than everyone else, George “Looney” Clooney said, in his acceptance speech:

“I would say that, you know, we are a little bit out of touch in Hollywood every once in a while. I think it’s probably a good thing. We’re the ones who talk about AIDS when it was just being whispered, and we talked about civil rights when it wasn’t really popular. And we, you know, we bring up subjects. This Academy, this group of people gave Hattie McDaniel an Oscar in 1939 when blacks were still sitting in the backs of theaters. I’m proud to be a part of this Academy. Proud to be part of this community, and proud to be out of touch.”

So, he’s really proud to part of a group that did great things back in the day. ?? So? What has that got to do with current events? That and $2 gets you a bag of chips and a cup of coffee. I guess it’s because Hollywood is always fighting for the little guy. Yep. That’s Hollywood.

I did think it was a nifty idea to have Chicken Little deliver the nominee presentation for animated picture. That was good.

On the other hand, Ben Stiller putting on a green suit (leotard, really) was a one-off joke that was old almost the moment he did it. (For those that missed it, Stiller believed he was a floating head via green-screen special effects, when in fact there were no effects and he was simply dressed in a green leotard.) That joke was old immediately, but was salvaged best when Stiller said “this is blowing Spielberg’s mind!”… and the camera cut to Steven Spielberg who - even without a microphone - clearly said “No, it’s not.”

Overall, it was a big waste of time. Which means it was business as usual at the Oscars.

RLR

According to an article over at FoxNews:

The widely-believed notion that low-fat diets are good for your health went “poof” this week … Low-fat diets didn’t reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer or invasive breast cancer, according to three large studies published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

So, basically, low-fat is high-bull.

That’s it. I’m going out and buying myself a gallon of Cookies and Cream. I’m drowning my low-fat tears [yeah right] with a spoon!

RLR

Those that know me know that I love the show Babylon 5. It defined science fiction for television.

The beloved actor Andreas Katsulas, who brought to life the character of G’Kar, has died from lung cancer. He was 59.

I’d never met the man, but if the rest of the cast that I’ve been honored to have met is any indication, then he must have been a great person to have known.

For me, there is very little I can say except that he’ll be missed. Instead, I’ll reproduce what Joe Straczynski, creator, writer, and producer of Babylon 5 has said:

Just over a year ago, Andreas Katsulas — who loved smoking with a passion that cannot be described — was diagnosed with lung cancer, which by then had already spread to other areas. He quit smoking atonce and went on a healthy diet and vitamin program, but there was little hope of a good resolution even though the new regimen was very good for him. When we spoke about it, he laughed, and said, “Now that I’m dying I’ve never felt better!”

His spirits were always up and positive, putting everyone at ease about his condition, because…well, that’s the kind of person he was.

A couple of months ago, he and his wife convened a dinner with me, Doug, and Peter Jurasik, which was filled with laughter and stories and good food. He wanted to know all the stories we never told him because, as he said, “Who am I going to tell?” So we did. Because we knew we were saying goodbye, and there would not be a second chance.

Last night, in the company of his wife and family, Andreas closed his eyes and went away.

He lived an amazing life…full of travel and wonder and good work…was part of the world renowned Peter Brook company…he saw the planet, loved and was loved, ate at great restaurants, smoked too many cigarettes…he lived a life some people would die for.

And, sadly, due to the last part of that equation…he did.

Memorial arrangements are still being worked out, but will doubtless be private.

Andreas is gone…and G’Kar with him, because no one else can ever play that role, or ever will.

I will miss him terribly.

-J. Michael Straczynski

Peter David, who wrote a couple of episodes of Babylon 5, as well as several novelizations, had this to say:

He was a consumate professional. I once had the chance to observe him on the B5 set between takes. He would sit in a chair and just meditate, thoroughly in character as G’Kar. Cast and crew knew better than to come over and chat with him or make small talk. They respected his space and thorough preparation. And when he was out of make-up, he was approachable, polite, surprisingly soft-spoken and caring. (Kath will tell you her own encounter with him at a Maryland convention.) By the way, for those who don’t know, he also played the one-armed man in the Harrison Ford “The Fugitive.”

Kathleen David, Peter’s wife, has a beautiful story to tell as well:

Fast forward to a number of years later. Peter had told Andreas that Peter and I had gotten engaged. I had been introduced before that to him as Peter’s girlfriend. It might have been Farpoint or I-Con but it was 2001 and I am pretty sure it was Farpoint. Peter and I went to say Hi to Andreas. He was signing stuff but there was a lull. He saw us and rumbled to me “So you and Peter are to be married?” I told him yes that it was set for May. He said, “I need to talk to you.” He asked the people starting to line up for his autograph to give him a minute. He got up and we stepped away from the signing tables just him and me.

He told me that he considered Peter a friend and Andreas was concerned for his welfare since Peter is such a special guy. He asked if I loved Peter. I said of course. He asked me about how Peter and I met and a number of other questions.
Then he asked, “Does he make you laugh?”
“Yes. All the time. It is one of the reasons I love him.” I replied.
“Do you make him laugh?”
“I try.”
“Then you have my blessing. Be good to him.”
I promised I would and we returned to the signing table.

I am grateful that I met Andreas.

Bill Mumy, the actor that portrayed Lennier in Babylon 5, said:

Yesterday, Andreas Katsulas lost his battle with cancer and passed away.

Andreas was a wonderful actor, always grateful to be where he was. A quiet man with an acerbic sense of humor who always delivered the punchline perfectly.

He was a father and a husband and a friend. Even though he put himself down, his soulful blues vocals on “The Be Five” album we made together always were, and always will be my favorites. “How Was I to Know It Would End This Way?”

He will be missed.

–Bill Mumy 2/14

Thank you, Andreas, for G’Kar. We’ll Always Have Babylon.

RLR

Hat Tips: JMS News, Peter David, Kathleen David, Bill Mumy, Babylon Podcast

Britney Spears. Driving. With baby.

NITWIT BRIT ENDANGERS
HER BABY

By BILL HOFFMANN
——————————————————————————–
February 7, 2006 — Oh, baby! Britney Spears is taking her son’s life in her hands.
The blond pop tart cruised down the Pacific Coast Highway yesterday in her SUV with 16-week-old Sean on her lap.

That’s a no-no in California, whose law says kids “must be secured in an appropriate child-passenger restraint [a safety or booster seat] until they are at least 6 years old or weigh at least 60 pounds.”

(Get the whole article at the New York Post’s online site.)

I just hate stupid people.

From BBC News:

Pop star Britney Spears has defended photos of her holding her baby son on her lap while driving, saying she was trying to escape the paparazzi.
…
“I instinctively took measures to get my baby and me out of harm’s way, but the paparazzi continued to stalk us, and took photos of us which were sold to the media.
…
“I love my child and would do anything to protect him.”

Bullchips.

From FoxNews.com:

The agency that snapped the photos, X17, had a different account.

“These pictures were taken in a very peaceful context, in which photographers exhibited no aggressive behavior,” the agency said in a statement released to “Access Hollywood.” “We believe that the pictures speak for themselves.”

I can think of few moms that would toss a child in the front seat with them while they’re driving, but nevermind that.. I see a bodyguard talking on the cell phone in the passenger seat. A bodyguard! Give him the baby, and put them both in the back seat, if you’re pressed for time.

Otherwise, all moms I’ve met would take the time to put that baby in a childseat, in the backseat, before driving off. And certainly, never in their lap.

I just hate it when stupid people make stupid statements.

RLR