Loved The Original Better on Not, The Remake Is Hot

Jaden Smith is the top attraction, tops Jackie Chan in a Kungfu movie? The flick is called 'Karate Kid,' but the martial arts is all kungfu and the location is China, and the star is eleven years old, ten years old when the film was shot, and the teen and pre-teens on the Internet are saying, 'he's cute." That translates into being box office hot.

Justin Bieber, the hot teen idol himself, who appears at the end of the flick singing his hit single, "Never Say Never," as the credits roll, was on Twitter on opening day, this past Friday, telling his zillion of girl fans -- "Everyone go check out my lil bro Jaden Smith's new movie KARATE KID. OPENS 2nite!! "  And did his fans respond! The flick grabbed the hog share of Friday box office and is expected to be this weekend's run away hit.

Bieber fans aren't alone in filling the seats. Jaden Smith is kungfu-ing the weekend competition because he is a talented young actor, at ease before the camera. The camera loves him. From the comments on the Internet, some folks went to support the film because Will Smith's kid is in it, and became fans of Jaden Smith. The kid's got talent. He has a very bright future in film.

Survived the Sea

Teen sailor, Abby Sunderland, has been rescued by a fishing vessel a day after she set off distress signals after her boat, Wild Eyes, was damaged by the crazy seas.  "She's bumped and bruised but doesn't have anything obivous or major wrong," Abby Sunderland's mother, Marianna, told reporters Saturday.  By all accounts she did everything right, she just got hit by a bit of bad luck.  Some critics have taken aim at her and her family for her attempt to sail around the world alone, but it's unwarranted, at best.  She set out to achieve a goal and break a record her brother set, and was half-way towards that goal when Mother Nature took over.  Many of the critics would be silent if she would have succeeded, but it just wasn't meant to be.  Obviously the family has incredible sailing talent, and one has to believe her attempt will be a great lesson for the youth of the United States.  Sometimes when a person sets out to accomplish something, it doesn't work out, but doesn't mean it's not worth the effort, and doesn't mean the dream is over. 

I'm sure Sunderland will be taking to the seas again, and hopefully be able to complete what she orginally set out to do.

Distressed at Sea

An all out rescue is heading toward the sailboat of Abby Sunderland, 16, as she made various distress calls while on her attempt to sail, alone, around the world.  The hard part, however, is the fact that a helicopter does not have the fuel capacity to fly round trip and a boat would take two days.  Grindtv.com reports that, "a crew aboard an airplane from Australia hopes to arrive at the position issued via her EPIRB satellite positioning device at daybreak (she's 11 hours ahead of Pacific Daylight Time)," and also reported that "It stated that the EPIRB unit issuing a signal was one that has to be activated manually. Presumably this is the unit attached to her survival suit. Another signal had come from a hand-held Personal Locator Beacon, or PLB. The water-activated EPIRB unit did not activate, which might mean her 40-foot vessel, Wild Eyes, is afloat and upright."

Sunderland's family issued a statement through their website saying, ""Abby has all of the equipment on board to survive a crisis situation like this.  She has a dry suit, survival suit, life raft, and ditch bag with emergency supplies. If she can keep warm and hang on, help will be there as soon as possible."

Aircraft and boats are on their way.  Hopefully it'll be a successful rescue.

Scum of the Earth Award: Joran van der Sloot

There are a lot of bad people on this earth, but the most recent Scum of the Earth award goes to Joran Van der Sloot.  The laundry list of his horrendous actions is long.  He was arrested twice in connection with the disappearance of American Natalee Holloway, was recently being investigated for trying to extort money from Holloway's mother to tell her where her daughter's remains are, and now has been arrested for the murder of Peruvian Stephany Flores.  Reports have said that Van der Sloot became enraged with Flores was going through his computer, and may have found some information on Holloway, which resulted in her getting beaten very badly and suffering a broken neck.

CNN reports that, "Van der Sloot confessed Monday night after a seven-hour interrogation to killing Flores, a source with direct knowledge of the investigation told CNN."  This confession is important in that it enables a lesser sentence in Peru.  If a person confesses to a murder the maximum sentence is 35 years in prison, as Peru doesn't have the death penatly or life in prison.  This is a travesty in this case because this guys doesn't deserve to see the light of day.  Most signs have him in connection with the disappearance of Holloway and he's now killed again.

One can only hope justice is served, that the families can find some kind of closure, and that Van der Sloot is never able to kill again. 

Elton John Sells Soul at Rush Limbaugh's 4th Wedding

It is all beyond baffling.  First, who in the world would marry Rush Limbaugh?  The unbelievable answer is four.  You'd think the second wife would have gotten the hint.  Second, what is his newly fourth wife, Kathryn Rogers thinking?  The answer is she must not think too much.  Most importantly, however, is why Elton John, why?  Why would you sing at Rush Limbaugh's wedding?  You don't need the reported $1 million dollars he paid you, and the man represents everything you're against.  You sold your soul, and sold it to Rush Limbaugh.  It doesn't make much sense.

His fourth wife, according to the NY Daily News said, "I grew up so differently, traveling around the world, that I'm sometimes not able to relate to the average person my age. Rush has such amazing experience."  The statement is beyond comical, for she essentially said she's 'a super-cool world traveler who is better than everyone her age and likes Rush Limbaugh's experience.'  Hopefully she didn't mean experience as in marriage experience, for he's been through three, and they haven't turned out so hot.  She's number four, will probably hit the way side as those previous, and another real-winner chick will be lucky number five.  It seems his role as husband is about as good as his radio show.

As for Elton John the only word is disappointment.  His talent should not grace a wedding of an anti-gay commentator.  It is just puzzling.  One can only hope the huge sum of money he got for singing at the wedding will be donated to one of the good causes that Limbaugh is against.

As for Rush, well good luck.  The third time wasn't a charm, but maybe the fourth is, or maybe the fifth, or even the sixth.  I'm sure these women were swept off their feet with your elegant words of fear mongering and lies.  I could see it now, with Rush on bended knee, not once, but four times saying, "You'll need to marry me, honey, because if you don't then you're not patriotic and probably a terrorist."  Oh, how sweet love is.


 

 

Will Micronations be the Next Little Big Thing in the US

Our friends down-under have been writing, studying, and speaking quite a bit about an amazing little phenomenon known as micronations but are these states in the making seeing such acceptance and success in the good Ol' US of A?

Micronations, often referred to as New Country Projects or Model States, range from the wacky and bizarre such as the British TV show spoof, The Kingdom of Lovely to regal and sophisticated nations in search of a homeland such as The Socialist Kingdom of Zandrovia or the Kingdom of Ruritania to long time projects that have caught international attention on some scale such as the Principality of Seborga, the Republic of Lavalon, and The Empire of Atlantium. In fact micronations come in every size, shape, and philosophical color including those who seek to restore some historical glory of days gone by like the Byzantium Novum  or The Emperial Kingdom of New Camelot or those who simply seek to build a nation based on a common value like The Northern Forest Archipelago.

But, what exactly is a micronation, you might ask? They are many things to many people, but perhaps they are best described as nations awaiting their birth into the world of political powers much like the cosmos prepare for the birth of a new star. A micronation is the dream of its creators, leaders, and “citizens” who, feeling that their needs are no longer being met by their current political system, join together to create a new community, a new state ruled by their common values and beliefs.

These self declared states seem to be widely accepted in Australia and other parts of the world as evident by the recent conference and micronations repeated mention in major and minor new outlets including The Smithsonian Magazine and The Telegraph. But  up until now, the the number of some rather impressive efforts in the United States to create micronations have received little support from the American public.  This may soon be changing.

As the current political fall out, declining economy, and environmental disasters spiral out of control in the US, now seems like the right time for many to turn to smaller scaled community sized nations, like the communes of the 60's and 70's. So, could micronations be the next (little) big thing in the US? Could anything be more inspiring, or more American, than a group of people coming together to form their own government, in search of freedom and a homeland to call their own? After all, was this not the very sentiment that once began a very young nation now known as one of the world's power houses?

Although in years past, the very concept of creating free and independent communities or new nation projects have been met with less than a positive response in the US, the time may be soon approaching when more and more people join these would be states to build a nation of their own making, in the image of their own ideologies and shared values. From efforts to spread petitions for recognition, to groups of micronations working together for the “Advancement of Micronationalism” there seems to be an ever growing interest in growing and supporting the micronational movement in the US.

Will US micronations ever see the same acceptance and success that they do in Australia and the UK or could micronational citizenship become the newest trend in American pop culture? Time will only tell.... (and while you are awaiting, why not join a micronation and help make this dream a reality?)



Find our more about micronations with the following resources:

The Fifth World: Micronationalism on Steroids

Society For the Advancement of Micronationalism

Micronations Forum

List of Micronations

Lonely Planet's Guide to Home-Made Nations

 

More Smart Phones Available with Pre-Paid Phone Plans

I’ve been angry with AT & T for some time now, so was happy to see that more Smart data phones will now be available on pre-paid phone plans. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, it has to be a really good phone plan before I’ll sign my life away for two-years ever again just for the privilege of using a phone carrier’s service.

From what I could see here, it seems that most of the phone companies are vying for customers and will be offering more pre-paid phone plans that now include data plans- the notable exceptions are of course, Verizon and AT & T who are presumably betting on their stellar reputations as leaders in the industry to keep customers. I’m not a telecommunications expert, but I think more and more consumers will be trying to get cheaper phone plans that don’t lock them in for the rest of their lives.

Most of the phones that are available with no pre-paid phones are Blackberries and the prices are mostly around the $300 mark. T-Mobile offers a larger choice in Smart phones with their entire stock available, but most of their phones cost around $400. The plans for most of the pre-paid phones are still relatively more inexpensive than the usual  monthly plans with the prices ranging from $50-70 per month for 500-1000 minutes and usually unlimited texting and data. Plus, the idea of not being locked into a single plan has got to appeal to more people out there than just me.

Sprint’s Boost Mobile was one of the first (if not the first) of the mobile phone companies to offer better options in the pre-paid phone market- their emergence in the mobile phone market set the bar a little higher for the larger mobile phone carriers in terms of service agreements and pre-paid plans and it will be interesting to see if AT & T or Verizon follow suit with the other carriers by offering some alternative rate plans to customers.

Today, the CEO of AT &T Wireless said that the future of the mobile phone industry lies “in data plan growth, and not in prepaid voice service”. While I agree with him to a certain degree, companies like AT & T are going to have to do more service-wise to keep their current employees satisfied.

Palin's Daughter, Now a Mother, to Speak on Abstinence...

Children of politicians are usually off-limits when it comes to the press, but when they demand $15,000 to $30,000 in fees to speak at national conferences, fundraisers and special events, then all bets are off.  The Associated Press reports that Bristol Palin, daughter of Sarah Palin, has signed with Single Source Speakers, and can speak on topics including:  women, youth, abstinence, pro-life programs, experiences on the campaign trail, parenting approach, and her outlook on life.

It appears that Bristol is following in her mother's footsteps by getting a speaking deal for being famous, and they can thank John McCain for that, for he picked Sarah out of left field in a futile attempt to get votes.  The media bombarded the unknown family, Sarah attempted to rile up the conservative base, it went well for a bit, then the campaign took a turn for the worse, and Barack Obama and Joe Biden routed them in the 2008 election.  Sarah then went to Alaska, did a bit of governing, and then quit, knowing she could make a whole lot more money speaking to the intellects of the Tea Party and conservative base.

Her daughter, Bristol, now has the same idea. She, however, one must be reminded, is the daughter of a woman who recites bumper stickers in her speeches, and preaches abstinence.  She preaches abstinence, most likely taught that to her daughter, and look at the result.  It got her pregnant, and got her thrust into the media spotlight as a pregnant teen during her mother's unsuccessful campaign for the vice president in 2008.

How does someone who obviously didn't practice abstinence go out and speak about it?  Wouldn't a better example be had by having her speak on safe sex practices?  Abstinence-only education is hurting adolescents by not giving them what they need to know in this world, the world of 2010.  The Palin's political stance, however, won't let that happen, so once again, politics will trump logic and reason for the Palin family. 

Bristol will tour the country, much like her mother, depriving the listeners of information and knowledge, while making a whole bunch of money.  The old saying rings true, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

30th Anniversary of Mount St. Helens' Eruption, so what?

Being from the Pacific Northwest you hear about this thing every year. Seriously, we get it! It sucked that all those people died-- even though they had been warned to get the hell off the mountain because it could blow at any moment! And even if they weren't told, from the footage I've seen of the thing, it was pretty fraking obvious it was ready for an eruption. Anyway, here in Seattle it's all you hear about. May 18, 1980, such a tragic day in our history. Boo-fraking--hoo! A volcano blew it's top and now every year for the rest of eternity all the local channels play their old videos of when they sent a reporter to report on the thing and they almost died. From last year's anniversary, here is our very own Dave Crockett from KOMO-TV recalling that fateful day that Mount St. Helens erupted-- and yep, he almost died.

Surprise: Pretty Girls Get Judged

 

A pretty girl wins a beauty pageant and people are up in arms.  One has to love the madness of America.  24-year-old, Rima Fakih, of Michigan won Donald's Trump's Miss USA pageant last night, and sure enough the critics were out in full force today.  Fakih is a Lebanese immigrant, and may be one of the first Arab-Americans to win the contest, and the feat should be celebrated.  It is a great showcase of diversity, and overrides the majority of negative stereotypes of the Arab world, especially with the anti-immigrant stance of so many in our country right now, but some feel the need to criticize.

Jocelyn Noveck, of the Associated Press, writes, "Meanwhile, some harsh critics wondered if Trump's Miss USA organization was trying to send a message, sniping that the victory amounted to "affirmative action," or implying the first runner-up, Miss Oklahoma USA , suffered unfairly because of an answer she gave supporting Arizona's new immigration law."

Did someone say "Affirmative Action' in the same sentence as a beauty pageant?  Come on, people, get a grip.  And in response to Miss Oklahoma possibly getting judged for her answer, well honey, that's the nature of the competition.  If you want to have controversial views, that is fine, but don't go crying to your mother if you lose a Miss USA pageant for it.   

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