NEW DETAILS EMERGE IN CRAIGSLIST HORROR..

There was a shocking crime reported yesterday by local stations in Colorado.. A grisly crime as well. Michelle Wilkins, 26, was seven months pregnant. She went to a home of a person she found on Craigslist who was selling baby clothes.. Instead, the woman, Dynel Lane, 34, cut the baby out of Wilkins' stomach. The baby died.. the woman was rushed to the hospital..

The TRIBUNE NEWS WIRE dispatches this graphic information:
Lane is accused of stabbing Wilkins and removing the fetus.

The fetus died, but the mother survived and has a “very optimistic” prognosis, authorities said Thursday.

Authorities’ version of events was unlike anything the local district attorney has seen in his 32 years practicing law.

‘I’m pregnant’

Stabbed in the stomach and bleeding, the victim called 911.

“She cut me,” she told the operator.

“Who cut you?” the operator asked.

“I don’t know,” the victim said.

Then came the revelation.

“She cut you in your stomach?” the operator asked.

“Uh-huh. I’m pregnant,” the victim said.

Even more, again graphic:
Searching the split-level home, police found several bloody towels being laundered in the washing machine.

David Ridley, the 35-year-old husband of Dynel Lane, told police he had returned home earlier after leaving work to meet his wife.

As the husband walked downstairs toward the basement, his wife walked around the corner “covered in blood,” the police report said.

“She told David she just miscarried and the baby was in the bathtub upstairs,” the police report said.

MORE:

After Ridley saw his bloody wife, he ran to the bathroom and found “a small baby lying in the bathtub,” the police report said.

“He rubbed the baby slightly then rolled it over to … see it take a gasping breath,” the report said.

Ridley wrapped the baby in a towel, and apparently unaware that its mother was still bleeding inside the house, drove the baby and his wife to the emergency room of Longmont United Hospital, police said.

There is more information.. grisly, graphic.. and disturbing. This is worse than a horror movie.. This is horror on a scale unseen in Colorado before.. Police are now asking for information from anyone else who may have traveled to "D's" house for baby clothes as a result of the Craigslist ad..

This website has said many times over, true horror is much worse than any works of fiction. The reality of this crime, this Craigslist shocker, is still sinking in..

Another thing worth noting--and let this sink in:
Under Colorado law, essentially, there’s no way murder charges can be brought if it’s not established that the fetus lived as a child outside the body of the mother for some period of time,” Garnett said during the media conference. “I don’t know yet whether that can be established, what our facts are here"

Let that sink in..
True horror hits Colorado. And it's a town that may never get over the shock of the Craigslist Killer.

 

TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART

Spring time comes later today.. Right now as I write this post, a snowstorm (yes, snow) is falling outside on my Pennsylvania USA sidewalk.. Meanwhile, there's a celestial event of epic proportions taking place in the NORTH ATLANTIC, the total eclipse of the sun is in progress at press time..

8000 visitors have voyaged to the Faroe islands to witness the amazing event..

CBC news reported it this way for the historical accounts:
People shouted, cheered and applauded as Longyearbyen, the main town in Svalbard, plunged into darkness. The skies were clear, offering a full view of the sun's corona — a faint ring of rays surrounding the moon — that is only visible during a total solar eclipse.

A few hundred people had gathered on a flat frozen valley overlooking the mountains, and people shouted and yelled as the sudden darkness came. A group of people opened bottles of champagne, saying it was in keeping with a total solar eclipse tradition.

People are 'blown away' by the event.. As the darkness shrouded the existence, eyes on the sky were perplexed and fixated on the rare event--so many times in history, human beings had the same reaction. Despite the time and place, we are always amazed when the source of life and light vanishes behind a cloak of darkness.. Many people, as we know, see it as a harbinger.. a time when darkness invades the land. That belief goes back a long way. But it still exists today as much as it did then, despite scientific explanations as to why and how solar eclipses happen in the first place. I think we are programmed through evolution and the development of the brain to be apprehensive of darkness.. and when our senses see dark skies on what should be a sunny day, it throws the mind for a loop.

Coming later on top of the darkness, a blood moon at night. Spring, too.. the equinox to remember.

A few weeks ago, I had a dream that was bizarre.. In the night terror, it was 4am and it was sunny. People were confused as to why the sun had risen so early, and it was as bright as noon at 4am.. People were waking early to come out from their comfort zone and look to the a frightening sky..  It reminded me a bit of the MIDNIGHT SUN Twilight Zone episode..

And that is why eclipses rattle us. They make the unexpected occur.. They turn off the lights.. they let the darkness enter. And the fear begins..

Happy viewing to those who see it.
Happy shoveling to anyone else getting the snow today.
Happy spring to all who are reading.

SUGAR WINS!? MAKING THE HEART GROW OLD

Katie Couric’s newest documentary called FED UP had a profound effect on my.. I was left ringing my hands in anger, checking all of the products in my home, and becoming astounded at just how much hidden sugar was in stuff I was heating. Healthy stuff, at that.. things I never suspected.. I told all my friends, co-workers, and family to download the COURIC hit, and I promised, their lives would change to..

So you’d imagine my face after reading the secrets of a 104-year-old woman’s key to living past the century mark: Dr. Pepper..

Forth Worth’s CBS’ Kaley O’Kelley profiled Elizabeth Sullivan as she turned 104.. The local story running on the CBS website shows the party.. interviews Sullivan. And the keys to life, the secrets of longevity, were revealed:
“People try to give me coffee for breakfast. Well, I’d rather have a Dr. Pepper.” Sullivan fell in love with the soft drink’s trademark “23 flavors” when she was in her 60’s. “I started drinking them about 40 years ago. Three a day. Every doctor that sees me says they’ll kill you, but they die and I don’t. So there must be a mistake somewhere.”

For her birthday she got a very big surprise. A beautiful cake shaped like what else, Dr. Pepper.

Commenting on her special day she said, “When you live to be 104 and still can talk to nice people, you deserve some Dr. Pepper, but I never expected this.”

I think, right now, the fine corporate suits at Dr. Pepper better get on the ball and trademark these statements.. They should get this woman into a Super Bowl commercial for 2016.. They need to strike while the iron is hot..

Who needs Katie Couric and her warnings that sugar is slowly killing all of us!? We have someone who’s been drinking Dr. Pepper for over 50 years and is still going strong.. even asking for me.

But the real secret?
She was asked if she has a secret for living past 100. She said she really doesn’t, other than, “you just keep living”.

And that may be the point..

How often do you see younger people–younger as in the early to mid 60s and retiring–just dwindle and rescind all bits of fun and frivolity? How many times did you know of someone or heard the story of someone else who retired, and immediately afterwards die or succumb to some horrid disease or affliction that prevented them from enjoying the years after work..

While I do not believe someone should be defined by the work they do wholly, there is something to be said for working. For doing something, something anything. For having a daily mission, or a profound reason for being..

I am striving to find answers to the meaning of life. I am desiring ‘signs’ or mile markets from the gods, God, or aliens that created us.. and I am attempting my best–so far a futile exercise–to find the reason for existence. Maybe it’s quite simple.

Maybe it’s Dr. Pepper.
Or better yet, maybe you just keep living.
And never start dying.

Happy birthday Elizabeth Sullivan. May carbonated beverage be cold and strong.

Dr_Pepper_modern.svg

The sky is falling in Idaho

Avian cholera is suspected in the deaths of at least 2,000 snow geese that fell dead from the sky in Idaho while migrating to nesting grounds on the northern coast of Alaska, wildlife managers said Monday.

Reuters reports more

THE FUTURE OF FEELING

Sirius founder envisions world of cyber clones, tech med »



Oh but there’s so much more than just robots taking out the trash.. try this:
At the keynote, Rothblatt described how the inevitable emergence of cyber consciousness – when machines act with a sophistication and thought level equal to that of humans – will not be overnight but a more subtle evolution.
"Every company will try to out-Siri Siri until we have consciousness," she said, referring to the Apple/iOS application that works as a personal assistant and navigator. "It will be like water that rises and rises and rises and, before we know it, we’re in an ocean of cyber consciousness."

And then what?
Lots of choices are coming for humanity. Lots of choices will not have to be made—and actually a lot of misery and heartache may occur as advancements become cruel to people trying to live out out their lives.

Progress.. The future. It’s all good. Until it goes bad.. Until one of those thinking machines thinks too much..

And I wonder, sometime about 1000 years from now, will robots ponder ‘who created me? Why am I here? What happens when I turn off?”   We do. And we think. Or so we are told we think..

Rick Jervis in USA TODAY goes on to report:
Artificial intelligence and robotics have been key – and controversial – themes at this year’s SXSW. A slew of panel discussions and keynote speeches on the topic have drawn thousands of attendees, while films screening at the film festival portion of SXSW, such as Ex Machina and Creative Control, have addressed it in their plot lines.
The themes have also prompted protests outside the conference warning of an over-reliance on artificial intelligence to the detriment of humans. In one, a group of protestors held signs reading “Stop the Robots” while chanting “A-I Say Goodbye!”
Rothblatt said robots and humans don’t have to choose sides – such as in the plotlines seen in popular Hollywood movies – but will live in a peaceful co-existence that will make them virtually indistinguishable from one another.
"It’s not us versus cyberspace," she said. "We’re merging together."
She added: “We don’t want to create a new slave-versus-free motif. I’m all for merging everyone together. On the level of consciousness, we’re all one.”

We are all one.
Skin and bones. Gear and bytes.. We are the world.

We are the future..

THE MYSTERIOUS REAPPEARING VLADIMIR PUTIN ..#PutinIsNOTdead

All the world's a stage.. Vladimir Putin may have just payed the entire world..

After being gone from the scene for ten days, and internet rage took over Twitter with #putinIsDead tags and rumors that Vlad was either abducted by aliens or a coup was taking place and new leadership was on the way.. Near hysteria took over last night when, for a bit, UVB-76 went down..

But today, as planned (and as reported by Russian state TV on Friday by accident when a script reader ill-timed the reading of news that wouldn't take place for three days), Putin emerged..

It was official business and a photo op worth a great caption: The meeting with the leader of Kyrgyzstan was Putin's first public outing since a March 5 press conference with the Italian prime minister...

Putin even made light of the rumors, saying that things would be 'boring' without gossip..And things are never boring with Vladimir Putin..

He is alive and well.
Vlad living to impale another day.

Blue skies are falling

A Blue 'Meteor' Over Switzerland and Austria »


MORE:



This is the video of the long lasting blue meteor over Austria and Switzerland..

The numberless numbers station?

I received reports earlier Sunday that the famed UVB-76 numbers station was down. Various people were also reporting they were not able to hear the live feed..

..then..

Broadcasting again: The UVB-76 Live Stream Blog »



I think the buzzer is buzzing again. I am able to hear UVB-76 again on the live feed page.. It’s back to ‘normal,’ whatever that normal may be.

Meanwhile, I am on the Earthcam Moscow site. Traffic is moving as normal. I think.. “normal,” again..

I got a message earlier from someone asking why it would even matter if UVB-76 was down, or up, or broadcasting eerie messages. You can read some background from this January story on the HUFFINGTON POST UK page..

I also wrote a few bits about the numbers station and my intrigue and love for them during the history of this site.. one four months ago, another here showcasing one of the creepier numbers stations broadcasts I have ever heard, one a year ago when I celebrated the Clyde Lewis show where he played recordings of creepy media hijacks..

However, the best article I may have ever read on the UVB-76 story was by James Cook in THE KERNEL..

Lots of reading to do.. Lots of weird beeps and buzzing, oddities and frequencies.. Strange frequencies during the night. While you sleep, the numbers stations don’t.. And isn’t that the creepy part? Trying to relax while these strange messages beam around the planet?

THE JINX

HBO dropped a bombshell on viewers--and Robert Durst was arrested because of it..

Durst is a millionaire eccentric, and has been linked to two murders fifteen years ago. On Sunday, just before an HBO finale about his life, he was arrested.. The ASSOCIATED PRESS reports in dispatches tonight:
Durst was arrested on a murder warrant just before Sunday evening's finale of an HBO serial documentary about his links to three sensational killings.

In the finale, Durst was asked about similarities in handwriting in a letter he wrote and another linked to one of the killings. Later, filmmakers said Durst wore his microphone into the bathroom.

What followed was a bizarre rambling in which Durst said, apparently to himself, "There it is. You're caught" and "What the hell did I do? Killed them all of course."

The show ended, and it wasn't clear whether producers confronted Durst about the secretly recorded words, or what Durst meant by them.

But the FBI swooped in and he was arrested in New Orleans.. Durst left his Houston town house for New Orleans to escape unwanted attention since the documentary's second-to-last episode aired. The Durst family is worth more than $4 billion..

Weekend Report: 'Cinderella' Shines, 'IT Follows' the little horror that could

.. The family film secured $70 mil this weekend.. the audiences were primary women and primary families--66% for each category, respectively..

The horror film IT FOLLOWS got $40,000 or so per theater.. the tiny release will expand experts don't see it expanding past 200 theaters but with this little film that could, who knows

Families and horror fans both happy with a weekend box..
Notbbad, Hollywood.. March madness.

THE POOTIE VANISHING ACT GROWS WEIRDER

Footage of Vladimir Putin raises speculation of whereabouts »


The events in the Kremlin are being explained this way: A big concert on the anniversary of Crimea’s annexation..

Meanwhile, the Kremlin is getting angry at REUTERS reporting calling asking where Vladimir Putin is. One comment said it wasn’t funny anymore to be asked so many times.

The next public appearance is set for Monday. Although Russian state TV already said on Friday what happened on Monday, I suppose time is going to be on someone’s side here.

The wild rumors .. the facts.

In propaganda wars, there are no facts. Always remember that. The victors of war and battle simply write the history book..

The fiery sun fires again

A long duration C9 eruption around sunspot 2297 hurled a coronal mass ejection (CME) into space and may have a small Earth directed component...

This comes after the X class solar flare emitted from the sun late last week, that one was also earth directed.

The newest flare certainly is not as strong as the X class beast that fired, but each flare is different. And each flare should be watched for its effects on the earth's magnetic safety net and radio signals and other terrestrial satellites in orbit..

The glancing blows seem to be getting repetitious. Either something big is constantly being averted and luck will run out, or that magnetic field is being controlled by a greater force that is protecting Earth..

One day, as we know and have been warned, luck will run out.

The day after Pam

Much-needed aid arrives in cyclone-devastated Vanuatu »


The situation on the island is dire—food and water and shelter are all gone for a population quickly ravaged by the storm.  Ten are reported dead.. there are hints and suggestions that the number will rise as time goes on.  One pilot who was forced to land in Tanna described pure devastation, with entire communities simply flattened.

Many officials and also world citizens are relying heavily on social media to see just how bad things are—the world has been reading Tweets and other citizen reporting from the ground where the storm struck.. One Tweet described a 21-year-old sheltering a 1 week old baby even as the roof was ripped off by Cyclone PAM..

And that is how natural disasters work. They come quick, they leave fast. They leave misery in the wake.. And deaths. Injuries, but also little quips and anecdotes of miracles that seem to keep humanity hopeful just enough to clean up until the next disaster..

The Phantom (pooper) strikes at night

Ohio has a problem. This man you see here, is the phantom pooper.. the night owl defectator.. the silent shitter..

You pick your own term. Either way, he’s going around various parts of the city of Akron, Ohio. It’s been going on for years, the suspicion now is that the Bowel Movement Bandit has defecated on over 19 cars. 

The poopetrator even hit one woman’s car 7 times..

He’s been getting busy with his business. But now cops want him to cut the crap.

This story is just asking for bad puns, and regardless of the source, people are making them. But just imagine waking up one day to find a large load on the cook of your car.. The horror of that scene would be unimaginable..

Either way, with his image now blasting across the internet--the image of him in action--there may be 'movement' on the case.. For the sake of Akron, we certainly hope so.

Where's Pootie? Mystery at the Kremlin

UK DAILY MAIL: Vladimir Putin has been 'neutralised' by a stealthy coup as rumours about his health and well-being continue to flourish

It's going to be a wild night of news, as this UK DAILY MAIL headline showcases..

There are some interesting developments in Moscow even as US media blackout on it continues.. Reports of tanks rolling into the city and power being out in several places..

Propaganda on all sides is evident in the a Tweets and news reports coming from Russia.. Only rumors at this point and no hard reporting.. Few facts. Only a deepening mystery in the nation .. And for that matter , the world.

When nostalgia meets the present

The family took a voyage to the movie theater today.. the HORROR REPORT family didn't see anything filled with fright--no IT FOLLOWS for me, it's not in a theater nearby.. Instead it was SPONGEBOB.. A sponge out of water. Funny parts, good laughs--though the 'out of water' business only took up the last 20 minutes or so of the movie, which was a disappointment. The real story here is that Ayden Morris, now 4, was at his first movie theater experience.

This was a big day for me--huge as a matter of fact.. It's not the movie choice that mattered, but just that he wanted to attend a theater showing. And he loved it.. he was stunned a bit at how loud certain parts were, he cringed during the return to JURASSIC PARK trailer, and he heartily laughed at the humor of Spongebob. So did I, and my wife..

There was one more proud pappa moment for me, too.. After the film, we perused a much emptier mall than it ever was before. My local shopping sensation of yesteryear is suffering through the same downtown as many other brick and mortar shopping plazas.. But there's a thrift shop--a place where old antiques and relics of yesterday are still bought and paid for by collectors and modern internet people. My son came across a bulk batch of HE-MAN action figures. He knew them since he plays with the few older broken ones I still possess. After today, we are adding three new (old) HE-MAN characters to the family, including HORDAK, who hasn't been in my presence since 1990.

A full circle kind of day.. Beginning with drenching rain, dour as could be. But the light of family brightening the mood.. a modern movie in a cool theater with my 4-year-old eating up every moment.. and then a dad, at the age of 34, buying toys that I bought at the age of 4 in the same mall that I bought them in 20 years ago. So different in ways, but so similar in others.

Full circle.
Another moment of parenting..

The fleeting moments of today are gone tomorrow.. So forgive me for writing about it. But it's my way of making amazing little things last just a little bit longer than the short span of time they inhabit..

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CYCLONE PAM DEVASTATION

This was an image of Cyclone Pam before as it slammed into Vanuatu.. category 4 winds.. monster storm. Untold destruction.. those on the scene report pure devastation..

MORE HERE ..

Red Cross workers report “unbelievable destruction” after Tropical Cyclone Pam hit Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu.


This is a developing story..

IT FOLLOWS review roundup and theater locations

The movie is being released in a limited capacity today.. but that doesn't matter to reviewers and fans of horror. The film has attracted untold amounts of attention through intelligent social media buzz and positive reviews--the film is boasting a near 100% rating on ROTTEN TOMATOES. Those types of things don't happen too often..



Here's a wrap of some of the reviews for the film that seem readable:

A VOX review is calling it the scariest movie in years.. "This is a movie you need to see right now."

A THE WEEK review calls it a mesmerizing 'coming of age' movie"  "The sense of unease is buoyed by Rich Vreeland's terrific, pulsing score, which recalls John Carpenter's unforgettable work for Halloween"

SALON: An instant horror classic about the dark side of teen sex: "There are distorted but obvious images of several real-world issues in “It Follows,” including acquaintance rape, teen suicide and mental illness, but you can’t boil the movie down to any of those things any more than to a metaphorical treatment of Detroit’s social and racial divide."

i09: Proof that horror movies don't have to be dumb to scare you: " It offers an unpredictability that's become increasingly rare in horror. For that alone (and for not being a sequel, a remake, a found-footage extravaganza, or gratuitously gory) It Follows deserves high praise. This movie is absolutely one of the year's must-see horror films."

Entertainment WEEKLY praises: "Even with its flaws, though, It Follows is a dizzyingly tense and creepy workout. Oh, and I almost forgot… Hey kids, don’t have sex!"

NEW YORK POST says the movie will stick with you.

A VULTURE reveiwer says 'I've rarely been as scared as I was in IT FOLLOWS'

There aren't currently too many theaters showing it. I have a feeling word of mouth will create demand.. and create a sensation. It will be the sleeper hit of 2015.

This is a full listing of the theaters you can see it

 

Disclosure: Overreachable or teachable moment on Kimmel?


That’s why you will not be president.




Barack Obama, in a joking response to Jimmy Kimmel last night after Kimmel said the first thing he’d do as president is open the files on AREA 51, Roswell, and UFOs..

And another UFO related quip from the show:

On President Clinton’s claim that he went through the secret files on extraterrestrials and found nothing:
"That’s what we’re instructed to say."

Obama went on to read ‘mean tweets’ . . his comments about UFOs are considered, of course, jokes.

But let’s not forget.. for a joke to truly work, there’s always a shed of truth behind it.. Perhaps it is why people like KIMMEL, who always seem to ask Presidents about UFOs, will not be President..

Kimmel had previously made some waves after asking former President Clinton about aliens.. at that time, Clinton was analyzed to have had ‘stressed’ behavior during his response.. I can’t find any analysis yet of Obama’s reaction..

Jokes.. Jokes.. laughable moments. Teachable moments?

Am I overreaching here?

With Secret Service Agents in the background, President Barack Obama talks with Jimmy Kimmel during a break in taping on Jimmy Kimmel Live, in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 12, 2015. After the taping the president is expected to attend a DNC event.

WHERE'S POOTIE POOT?

FRIDAY THE 13TH IN RUSSIA: Putin, Said to Be ‘Perfectly Healthy,’ Is Also Nowhere to Be Seen »


There are rumors online that Vladimir Putin is either sick, or even  dead!

The NYT says,
The last confirmed public sighting was at a meeting with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi of Italy on March 5 — although the Kremlin would have citizens think otherwise.

Given that the Kremlin borrows all manner of items from the Soviet playbook these days, there appeared to be an attempt to doctor the president’s timetable to show that all was well.

The KREMLIN is busy doing damage control..

The mystery deepens: Where’s VLAD the IMPALER…

THE DRIPPING SOUND OF SLOW DISCLOSURE

Confirmed: Jupiter's moon Ganymede has a salty, underground ocean »



SET SAIL FOR Ganymede!


Take a deep breath.. read the headline a few times until the true power of it sinks in. Jupiter’s moon.. a salty ocean..

Though it may seem like eons for my, it wasn’t too long ago that I learned in school how Earth was the only planet with life and water. And there were only 9. Boom. Done.

Now there’s trillions with untoldillions to be discovered. And maybe multiverses.. and Pluto is NOT a planet. But CERES has glowing balls of light emitting from it. And we are landing on asteroids.. and there’s a ROVER on MARS watching the sunset from the distant planet.. and TITAN may have water.. And MARS may have HAD water..

And we are stardust.
And there may be aliens..
And we are not alone.

This is an amazing time to be alive. It also makes me ponder if ‘disclosure’ is going to drip out slowly .. with each new story about water on some distant body in space, are we being primed for the ultimate: Not only water is abundant, but life is too?

From the LA TIMES STORY, a money quote:
"The solar system is now looking like a pretty soggy place," said Jim Green, director of planetary science at NASA. "The more we look at individual moons, the more we see that water is really in enormous abundance."

A soggy place.
Much different than those 1980s and 90s grade school textbooks in science. And even much more different than those 2013 textbooks.

Throw them all away.

Next up?
LIFE.

THE TOLERANT REBELLION: STAR WARS GETS A GAY CHARACTER

Anghus Houvouras writes: It's a Trap: Why 'The First Gay Star Wars Character' is a war on common sense »


Interesting article.. Worth the read. Anghus may be very familiar to those who have been long-time HORROR REPORT fans, he used to pen a little bit of a column way back when we were nothing and now he is a profoundly important writer and director, plus a genius columnist at FLICKERING MYTH (not being paid to write any of that, but I sincerely believe it) ..

And his point is taken ..

The money quote:
Up to this announcement, any of the characters could have been gay. Admiral Akbar. Boba Fett. Hell, even, Lando Calrissian. Would it matter if Lando Calrissian was gay? Not at all. His role in the story wasn’t impacted by his sexual orientation. If I had read the headline ‘Lando Calrissian revealed as gay’, all I would have thought was ‘that makes sense: those overtures to Leia were overcompensation.’ Lando ran Cloud City, betrayed Han and friends, and redeemed himself by blowing up Death Star 2.0. Gay… straight… it didn’t matter.

And:
We live in a time where everyone is desperate to label everything. To define what something is or isn’t because saying nothing somehow implies intolerance. To me, the Star WarsUniverse feels far more intolerant because they’ve flat out told me there’s been no gay characters in canon until now. I liked it better when there was ambiguity to it, because it had no impact on the story I was watching or comics I was reading.

He does make a good point near the end of his article: There really is no need for STAR WARS, a movie that will already have lots of attention, to get more attention.. And really, the sexualization of STAR WAR never really occurred.. though by THE RETURN OF THE JEDI I was coming of age, so I figured Princess Leia may have been Jabba's sex slave. But, since it was gross, I never tried to determine how that would have even worked..

And Anghus is right: We are seemingly desperate to label everyone in our current time. Every single person deserves a label, an acronym, or a bandwagon to jump on. What happened to just being an individual? Daring to be different? Just having a light saber and destroying the Empire?

This is a trap..
And people will fall for it.

George Lucas gave us a number of political commentaries in STAR WARS when you study it.. Seems like DISNEY would rather give us pop culture than generationally important messages..

And anyway.. JAR JAR BINKS was gay, right?

THE CERN BURN

NASA LAUNCHES 4 SPACECRAFT TO SOLVE MAGNETIC MYSTERY »


This is how the ASSOCIATED PRESS dispatch reports it for the official record:
NASA launched four identical spacecraft Thursday on a billion-dollar mission to study the explosive give-and-take of the Earth and sun’s magnetic fields.
The unmanned Atlas rocket - and NASA’s Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft - soared into a clear late-night sky, right on time. Within two hours, all four observatories were flying free.

A billion bucks to study, as the AP also reports, this:
Magnetic reconnection is what happens when magnetic fields like those around Earth and the sun come together, break apart, then come together again, releasing vast energy. This repeated process drives the aurora, as well as solar storms that can disrupt communications and power on Earth. Data from this two-year mission should help scientists better understand so-called space weather.

While I am not trying to induce mass hysteria or concoct some elaborate conspiracy, the timing is amazing—to some, most likely, even suspect.  CERN is back with a vengeance this weekend, as the large Hadron Collider is going to fire with DOUBLE the power as previously done.. With the restart, scientists are hoping to unravel the secrets of dark matter and the universe..  Clyde Lewis had a couple of shows and guests this past week that may raise eyebrows and speculative questions, including Anthony Patch, someone who clearly, not in the mainstream has been sounding an online alarm over the CERN restart..

Since CERN was just being planned, people feared it would create a gaping black hole or alternate reality for everyone living on earth.  Some even argue that it did just that, thinning the veil in a sense and giving us a whole new vibration..

And now with NASA satellites traveling to the sky to study magnetic reconnection, and some CERN magnetic happenings, all eyes are on the multiverse this weekend. Let’s see how things go..

PAM'S Friday the 13th Hit

Cyclone Pam Hits Vanuatu: Nationwide Red Alert Issued, Officials Fear the Worst »



The WEATHER CHANNEL has this:
With Cyclone Pam expected to deal a major blow to the island nation of Vanuatu, officials were pleading with the population to get to safety, or risk their lives.
The country spent Thursday stocking up and fortifying buildings for the cyclone’s strong winds, torrential rain and devastating storm surge, but experts fear the worst will happen if Pam hits Vanuatu’s population centers directly, especially the coastal capital, Port Vila.
The country’s government issued a red alert for all six provinces as Pam closed in, BBC said. The alert orders all of the South Pacific nation’s 250,000 residents to get to shelter immediately, the report added.

And even more intense, a tweet posted by a user Humans of Vanuatu says a few things about the storm, right now, as it hits:
Folks, I’ll be honest. It’s really bad out there. The wind is howling with a deep roar that just doesn’t let up. Anyone not in shelter now is in mortal danger. Frankly, I don’t think our country will make it through this without some deep scars.

And
The shutters are groaning like ghouls, but the power is still on, and my internet is still running full bore. Not sure how I’d be feeling if not for that….

More:
Just got a text from some of the skeleton crew on the Tina 1, one of those ships opposite our house that you saw in the video. They’d love to get off the ship now, but they can’t. They’re stuck there for the duration.

This is PAM as she starts the terror on land:

The horror renaissance , 2015

A good list has been compiled by the AV Club about how to make good horror..

And it's good horror that has been lacking for too long of a time, besides a few gems that have popped up through thebyears..

This article linked here could help any upcoming writers or directors create a new masterpiece of our time and genre..

I am perfectly fine that the Era of torture porn appears to be coming to a close..

Of course as I say that a popular Go fund Me still exists for 30, Rob Zombie' upcoming film. .

The masterpieces of yesterday may never get repeated--even though we keep on trying to recreate them over and over again with remakes and redos.. Instead, directors and writers should update the standards, refocus on what is scaring this new generation.. And what isn't.. Slashers lost their effect.. Our reality is comprised instead of trustworthy men in business suits ruining the world. That's scary..
Equally scary: The future of robots and nanotechnology.. science fiction and horror can merge in a beautiful and well-made with under the direction of the right producer.

And maybe even more, horror movies should teach lessons again. Become societal commentaries again. Like DAWN OF THE DEAD. That movie held a revolutionary message. Even some say the same for FRIDAY the 13th, calling it a commentary on the Reagan era and the rise of the Religious Right.  The SAW films capitalized on America's newfound love of torture after 9/11..

And now today, as this is written, IT FOLLOW and BABADOOK are celebrated not only in alternative sources but also mainstream press as horror films worth seeing.

That's a positive.
Horror can be as important as drama or any other genre.. As a matter of fact, even more so: It's the primal fears, the instincts of humanity, the hopes and prayers of survival.. the scares of what we cannot control. All rolled into one hour and a half (or more) of visual and emotional scares.

Today, IT FOLLOWS is released in a number of theaters--but not nearly as many as I wish. With success, of course, that could change.

Earlier this week, I wrote about the high praise of IT FOLLOWS. And the positive press hasn't stopped there, the shower of love of this movie has only continued. And that's a good thing if you're a fan of what this genre SHOULD be about.

For years I have been the anti-horror movie horror fan, usually celebrating movies opposite of what pop culture says they love.. as an emotional and loving father, I am disturbed by many of the films in the horror genre that some praise. I get a little queasy when other sites write stories talking about the 'best death scenes' and the 'kills' of films..  But please don't get me wrong, there's enough room in any genre for subsets of the best.

The real reason that horror, to me, is still important and worthwhile to follow: Because when done right it can put a spotlight on pop culture or societal troubles, drench it with attention, and change the world.. I really do believe that.

 

THE PARANORMAL POLL

Some comments so far on the HORROR REPORT paranormal poll:

Freeranger writes, "Friday nights after I've rec'd my paycheck mostly........then upon waking Saturday mornings, I've found that much of it has been spirited out of my wallet. Poof...."..
x x x
rootbeer29 says, "When i practise extended perception, intention, and wandering."
x x x

Barbara wrote this, "I was working in my office when out of the blue a voice in my head said my brother was going to commit suicide. I immediately called my brother and he told me his was fine and working in his yard. The next afternoon he killed himself."
x x x
Vote below on the poll and comment here on SODAHEAD..

[sh_poll poll_id="4736476"]
 

Bright lights during spring nights

I'm getting various reports from friends nearby tonight who are in or near the coordibates 40° 35' 57" North, 76° 9' 51" West seeing weird lights behind churches, bouncing white balls of light in the air, and other strange phenomena..

There seem to be two intense times of year for paranormal tales of Twilight
lights . One being in the waning days of summer and autumn while the other happens, as March advances to April--a month that could be decidedly cruel when you gaze into history..

For those in these necks of woods or any other tonight seeing oddities and strangr occcurnces, I'm not surprised. Not at all..it's just that time of year..

The Colorado fireball: The green stars are falling

A massive fireball lit up skies in several parts of Colorado during the early morning hours of March 11.. Even more, the meteor was reported by dozens of people on the AMS website..

Amazing tales of a long tail and a piece of space that was visible, some accounts say, for up to 9 seconds in time..

This star, however, was not a pink, but reportedly yellow and green in color..





Fine line for music as jury aways Marvin Gaye's family millions over BLURRED LINES

The AFP reports this interesting note from the world of music:


A ruling that pop stars Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams stole from Marvin Gaye threatens to create -- in the words of their smash hit -- even more blurred lines for songwriters who could increasingly be hauled to court over their artistic inspirations.


Gaye's family was awarded millions--the jury decided that Thicke stole BLURRED LINES. The defense--and lots of musicians--say that 'inspirations' should not result in lawsuits like this..

The lines are blurred indeed..

But what bet goes away: The smell of lawsuits and money.

More from the AFP..

no

Major earth facing X class flare

The first strong X class flare has been fired off from the sun today--the anniversary of the major Japan earthquake four years ago now..

The flare today was also earth directed-- more:

The x class flare, the strongest category of sun storms possible, peaked at 12:22 p.m. EDT (1622 GMT) today, originating from a sunspot known as Active Region 12297 (AR12297).

Experts now watching to see of any geomagnetic effects may be seen on earth, if radio or satellite problems will emerge or of any other effects will be felt..

Whatever happens will take place in a fee days--also this weekend: CERN fires up..




THE VAST CLINTON CONSPIRACY

WHAT IF..

Hillary got rid of half her emails & used one account for convenience »




While I don’t propose that as a definite, I only bring it up as a possibility..

What if.. what if.. Hillary and Bill thought this whole thing up? Triangulate, slowly drip out the news that Hillary may —cue the music— had a private email system on her personal server.. What if Bill and Hill figured to own this, they release it.. get bombarded, embattled.. and create Hillary as the Teflon woman, the iron lady of the United States.. the comeback kid of the 21st century..

I got this thought today during the theater of Hillary Clinton’s press conference.. she downplayed her scandal. And her first questioner—one that noticeably was chosen by a media handler—asked  Hill basically, if a man did what she did, would people care? And Hillary handled it with ease, a smile, and a knowing ‘thank you’ without stating it.

She won today—I know lots of people say she didn’t.. But she won.

In one sense, people like the notion of Hillary because, face it, it’s going to get fun again. Politics will be theater again, good theater.. MEET THE PRESS may actually become a must watch again..

I could be completely wrong about this theory, maybe absolutely wrong.

But as the email slow drip starts, if we see very positive emails of a commander possible Commander In Chief directing situations with ease, then my theory will become more than just a theory..

Yes indeed.
Triangulation..
90s style.

IT FOLLOWS: Heard from a review, who heard from a review, who heard from a review this is going to be a good movie

The IT FOLLOWS heat is on..
The upcoming horror movie, much anticipated, is being heralded by some reviews as not only the best of 2015 but also the best in a long while..

A Samuel Zimmerman review on SHOCK TIL YOU DROP sets the stage:
How they converge is, brilliantly, in this aforementioned post-coital curse, one which carries the everlasting anxieties over where your lover’s been before, but pushes farther into all of life’s stresses. Where am I? Where will I go? Who will I become? There’s a deliberate dread in “It’s” rules. Once you’ve got “it,” there it is, walking slowly, assuredly your way. This is where Mitchell has fun composing wide, confident frames— your eyes engaged, always under attack, searching for “It.” At more reprieving moments, he acknowledges the absurdity of the accursed characters and elicits huge laughs. When more explicitly a threat, the director and cinematographer Mike Gioulakis still employ symmetrical, centered stunning visuals. This time, they’re less paranoid and more confrontational, immediately assaulting. Sometimes, “It” is in your face. Others, it’s throwing electrical appliances at it.

As the review goes on--in my humble opinion--it shares too much of the premise and gives a little too much away of the ending, you may want to shield yourself from the final paragraph that spoils without warning. But the essence of the Zimmerman story yields the result that this film is going to be a bit different. There is a message here.. one that may need to be explored with a deep mental journey.

The plot would be laughable in a movie that doesn't script it very well, but it seems that IT FOLLOWS makes it work. A entity, paranormal and foreboding in nature, is spread through teenage lust and sex. There is something similar when compared to 80s slasher flicks--such as JASON and FREDDY ruining the lives of the sinning children who act out teenage passion in pre-marital sex. But IT FOLLOWS brings a new darker presence to it: The shadow is cast on the woman by this sexual entity, this curse which is handed down through the false love that happens when you're a tender teen tot not yet experienced with what love really means..

A DIGITAL SPY look at the movie jokes that you may never look at swimming pools or sex the same again.  Again, even with this DIGITAL SPY review, author Ben Rawson-Jones gives some spoilers (this time we were warned, though) .. He writes,
This strange affliction can only be picked up and passed on through sex, which throws up some fascinating dilemmas. Digital Spy caught up with the movie's writer-director David Robert Mitchell to find out what inspired the tale, whether a franchise is on the cards and how tricky some of the key plot twists were to pull off...

DIGITAL SPY goes on to interview Mitchell, who says some interesting things about his horror flick that could, including the fact he had a nightmare since youth of entity following him .. the sexual allegory was added to IT FOLLOWS.   Mitchell also downplays the idea of a sequel, joking that "IT'S STILL FOLLOWING"  just doesn't sound right..

Reviews for the film have been overwhelmingly great--something that does not happen for movies, but especially for those of the horror genre too often. Even the old grey lady has positive words to say, with a Mekado Murphy interview of the star of the film in the NEW YORK TIMES: Maika Monroe.

Monroe is already being called the 21st century scream queen--a champion role that many stars of the 20th century still hold dear to their hearts, even after their careers moved on from horror..

iDigitalTimes says it's a horror movie like you've never seen..

Roger Moore says it's a dead teenager movie that gives teenagers a deep idea to ponder..

Another review calls the movie horror boiled down to its bones...

Review that says the movie is 'made with love,' not something said often about horror flicks..

The site ROTTEN TOMATOES has the movie with 98% positive--something else that rarely happens for horror.

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive for Mitchell and Murphy..
The ideas presented in the film seem to force questions over sexual morality and the often false safety of suburbia--and even, some say, a certain GATSY like vision of the collapse of the American dream.

This movie has a lot to offer.. a deep meaning, jumps and scares, and perhaps, just perhaps, a brand new scream queen for a new generation that needs horror movies to make a difference again.

Follow it FOLLOWS now.. The world has been watching it, and on Friday the 13th, it's going to get a limited release--that could equal a big sensation and sleeper hit of 2015.

[caption id="attachment_5899" align="aligncenter" width="1280"]THE 21ST CENTURY'S SCREAM QUEEN THE 21ST CENTURY'S SCREAM QUEEN[/caption]

 

 

Homosexuals beheaded in IRAQ

The AFP is reporting in fresh runs today that homosexuals in Northern Iraq have been beheaded and that there is video evidence to show it--though the 'proof' is at this point unsubstantiated.. MORE FROM THE AFP..

These crimes against humanity should come as no shock to those paying attention. Only weeks ago, footage revealed ISIS hurling gay men off of buildings to their death.. Even more, there is evidence of constant beheadings of women and children, torture and killing of men, and constant trails of death regardless of where ISIS goes..

Lately, the world has turned a blind eye to not only the murder of people but also the destruction of history. Archaeological finds in Iraq have been bulldozed, religious sites have been desecrated, and relics of  ancient times have been eliminated for good. The ultimate peril of the modern age is to kill it, and regulate it to the stone age. It's working..

While the AFP and other sources are reporting today's beheading story as though it's fresh, there's a long history of horror from Iraq and Syria. The website SHOEBAT has been illustrating that with countless articles and graphic photos showcasing the brutal nature of ISIS that would make even the most strident of horror movie fans revolted..

ULTIMATE REALITY: 'DROPPED' BECOMES TRAGIC IN ARGENTINA

The nation of France is in mourning today as Olympians from the nation are among ten dead in a tragic helicopter crash in a remote part of Argentina..

MORE..

Among the dead:
Camille Muffat, free style swimmer and Gold Medalist..
Alexis Vastine, bronze medal boxer..
Florence Arthaud, sailing pioneer..

Published reports indicate that two helicopters collided causing the fiery scene..

Altogether: 8 French Nationals and Two Argentine pilots perished in the accident..

The ultimate reality bend is that the stars were in the nation, in this helicopter, because they were going to star in a 'reality' show about athletes being forced to survive on their own in the remote part of Argentina. They were filming DROPPED, a popular reality show in France..

Images of the doomed passengers and their final moments are also being scene, as the TV cameras were rolling.. 

Doomed: Olympians Camille Muffat, centre, Florence Arthaud, second right and Alexis Vastine far right, are pictured with their fellow contestants on their way to film French survival TV show 'Dropped'. Former Arsenal footballer Sylvain Wiltord (centre left) was in the show, but was not on board either of the helicopters

The doomed flight .. the fractured reality..
The fake reality of television being presented in news with a real tragic outcome.. Lives wasted for a pointless program..

A very unfair way to go..

REALITY.

The Lily Groesbeck miracle: Who cried out for help?

There is a story making the rounds online tonight about baby Lily Groesbeck. It's tragic but yet hopeful.. It's a merging of the yin and yang in life, a showcase of how cruel life can be but yet, at the same time, how seemingly strange occurrences can take place that confound the logical mind..

25 year old Lynn Jennifer Groesbeck was driving home from her mother's house in Spanish Fork River, Utah. Her passenger was her 18-month-old Lily, securely strapped in a car seat.. According to police accounts, the car was in an accident and plunged into a cold and icy river on Friday night.   Jennifer died. Lily lived, and is in critical condition. The accident is under investigation..

But the story, in all its tragic makeup of a woman now gone from the earth and a young child without a mother, something else is being mentioned..A few strange and, to some, miraculous events led to the successful rescue of Lily.

Some rescue workers were treated for hypothermia. Despite the cold, they said when they jumped into the water they felt nothing..  They realized that a child was inside and their urge to fight the elements became stronger than the elements. They were able to get inside the vehicle. They saw a lifeless woman and a child still breathing..

But something else happened.

KSL in UTAH has a full breakdown of the incident and subsequent, perhaps, paranormal activity surrounding the rescue.

Four police officers--people of sound mind--said they heard cries of 'help' from inside the car. One officer, Jared Warner, said that 'all four of us can swear we heard somebody inside that car saying 'Help'."  

The 'help' that was heard was impossible .. As KSL says,

But when they flipped the vehicle resting on its hood in the Spanish Fork River onto its side Saturday, they discovered there was no one inside able to speak.


"The only people in there were the deceased mother and the child," said officer Bryan Dewitt.


"We're not exactly sure where that voice came from," Warner told KSL.


But because of the actions of those officers and several Spanish Fork firefighters, 18-month-old Lily was rescued. She remained at Primary Children's Hospital Sunday in critical condition but was reported to be stable.


Police belive Lily was upside down, strapped in her car seat for up to 14 hours. Her mother, Lynn Jennifer "Jenny" Groesbeck, was killed in the crash.



About fourteen hours after the Friday accident, a fisherman found the car.. A police officer arrived. Three more followed. KSL says,
And that's when they heard a voice.

"We were down on the car and a distinct voice says, 'Help me, help me,'" Dewitt recalled.

"It wasn't just something that was just in our heads. To me it was plain as day cause I remember hearing a voice," officer Tyler Beddoes said. "I think it was Dewitt who said, 'We're trying. We're trying our best to get in there.'

"How do you explain that? I don't know," he said, adding that the voice didn't sound like a child.

 

 

One officer speaks of the miracle of seeing the eyes of Lily flutter when they got her from the car.. A firefighter, Paul Taultomadakis, told KSL that he ended up with Lily in his arms and did everything in his human power to keep her alive.

The rescue workers did their part to ensure life continued for Lily. The miracle, though, may not have been as possible if it wasn't for that distinct voice from the car yelling for help--a voice that is not logically able to have come from the car..

But four police officers were--four who tell the same tale of a voice coming from a vehicle.. a woman's voice..

Perhaps a mother's voice who, in the last moments of an earthly dwelling, was simply attempting to make certain her child lived through the scene of tragedy..

Some are using this to prop up their own stories of religion and miracle tales.. others are disputing the facts presented and said the police were simply rushed with adrenaline and were not of a sound mind to be able to say anything they heard. And yes, I even saw a few who said the cops were just making up their story for attention and some future movie or book deal.

A story of hope..
How about instead of disputing it or rampaging through it to find inconsistencies, we just accept it as a story of hope. A little glimmer of goodness in a world filled with despair..

SAM SIMON DEAD AT 59

RIP Sam Simon, the co-creator of the Simpsons..

He was only 59 years young.. his agent said he was battling colon cancer and today lost that battle..

He also worked on TAXI and CHEERS..

Published reports tonight say that Simon had previously decided to give his entire fortune to charity..

The Simpsons Co-Creator Sam Simon Passes Away At 59

The return of U7Radio

After a controversy, a legal request from iHearteadio, and then a cease and desist, U7 has returned tonight and this message plasters by the owner:


IMG_2574.PNG

The interesting question may very well be: Who is the mysterious 'new owner' helping thumb the eyes of The Empire?

Lots of interesting speculation on that tonight..

America's SNIPER: Who's laughing at Eastwood now?

Dirty Harry's days of box office glory aren't gone, Eastwood is now able to brag about a global take of $500 million for his film AMERICAN SNIPER. He can also say it was the best of 2014..

More:

SNIPER has now surpassed The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I to become the highest-grossing domestic film of 2014 with an estimated $337.2M take.. And with his weekends cash being counted the movie has surpassed the half a billion dollar make--a success given the controversy and concept behind the film..

Warner Bros has bragging right too, touting the fact that that SNIPER is now the number one war film ever..

This weekend's box office was the lowest of the year so far..

Last weeks not so stellar horror film THE LAZARUS EFFECT sunk even more by 50%.. The Lazarus Effect has earned $17.4 million. However considering the lackluster reviews the movie got and the typical second weekend slump horror flocks endure, this movie is performing better than some others..



SOS to NINJA TURTLES toy collectors (written only halfway in a joking manner)

Attention parents of Ninja Turtles fans or adults who collect children's toys: Some disconcerting developments have been taking place at stores across Pennsylvania--stores that regardless of size or location seemingly have become wastelands in the hunt for new Ninja Turtles action figures.. Is anyone else having the same problems finding new action figures that are not yet in the family collection? I myself have witnessed broken hearts with children staring at empty racks at Walmarts, Toys r Us, and other related locations. Even more, the figures displayed are already the ones purchased..

However, miracles can happen--one day my son found TIGER CLAW in a rather ghastly dollar store in a purposely unnamed hole in the wall town in Western Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania..

A few possibilities..
1) Viacom and Nickelodean are trying to create an artificial scarcity
2) Chinese factories can't stop workers from committing suicide as good as APPLE does, therefore the scarcity is real
3) Parents buy up the new actions figures immediately when a truck delivers..

And that is why I am asking for help: Any store workers, delivery drivers, or people with insider information, I need to know the day that trucks delivers new action figures. I need to also know the day--and time--that workers restock shelves..

We need Rat King, Razhar, and Neutralizer. Nick also created new action figures.. probably ones I'll just buy online..
SOS
xx
-30-

Return to Flight 370: The expired battery theory

The oddities and strange activity surrounding the vanishing Malaysian flight 370 only got weirder--again--today.. This breaking news report was carried by CNN but global sources also report:

The battery for the locator beacon of the flight data recorder of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 expired more than a year before the plane's disappearance, an interim report on the investigation said Sunday, citing maintenance records.

The report said that there was no evidence to suggest the battery was replaced and that while such a battery can operate past its expiry date, "it is not guaranteed that it will work or that it would meet the 30-day minimum requirement."

The battery on the plane's other so-called black box, the cockpit voice recorder, was replaced as scheduled and remained within its expiry date, the report said.


A riddle solved? The reason we can't find a plane? Or a black box signified a reason for treason and a mass conspiracy that started a year prior?

Theories will rage on this one..

Another historical site being destroyed in Iraq

The Associated Press reports in Saturday night runs:

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi officials in the northern city of Mosul said Saturday that militants with the Islamic State group have begun demolishing the ancient archaeological site of Hatra in northern Iraq in a push to rid its territory of symbols it says promote idolatry.



The 2000 year old city began being destroyed hours ago with an explosion and the sights and sounds of bulldozers leveling the history that existed there..

THE SHADOWY FIGURE ON A COLD NIGHT

I love quiet walks after sunset–cold kills but sometimes it’s worth it just to breathe in some fresh and clean air..Tonight, while undertaking one of these daily mind clearing excursions, my eyes were focused in on a distant shadow that seemed to be walking towards me.. My dog didn’t notice, he was busy locating the spots every other neighborhood dog found before him..

The silhouette was large, looked tall.. I squinted my eyes extra-hard to see if I could see a dog with him or her. If that was case, I’d have to quickly think up a new route because, for some reason, my dog Mutley doesn’t do very well during encounters with his fellow canines..

It did not look like my fellow night walker was alone, no evidence of a dog with him in his travails.. nothing which indicated that Mutley would face competition..

This true story–I swear to you–got weirder as the time went on.. I stopped briefly and allowed Mutley to take care of his business, and my eyes were closely fixated on this large hulking character.. I looked away for a moment and when my eyes went back to the road, the shadowy man was gone. Without a trace..

I picked up in speed because I wanted to get as close as I could to the scene of his existence before he would be gone, running perhaps behind someone’s house or lurking around shrubbery..

I found no evidence.. Heard no sound.. And even after using the flashlight on my phone, didn’t see even one footstep in the snow–new fallen snow today as a shower covered up some of the melting that had occurred previously today.

I was left wondering if what I had just seen was a figment of imagination, a shadow person in real life, or just some quick kid wearing a large overcoat, darting as fast as I he could away once he saw me look at him.

If you go down a paranormal road, it is a little freaky.. If you keep it logical, it’s alarming. Why would someone want to hide from another approaching human..?

The ABCS of insanity

ADAM ROCKOFF in the DAILY BEAST wrote about the ABCS OF DEATH case, and the jail time for Sheila Kearns for showing the movie to a class..

He wrote, in part:
Substitute teacher Sheila Kearns did a very stupid thing when she showed a horror movie to a Columbus, Ohio high school class. But she doesn’t deserve to go to jail.

And this:
Kearns showed abysmal judgment—although she maintained throughout her trial she was unaware of the film’s content. She should never be allowed near a classroom again. But jail? These were high schoolers. Not kindergarteners.

I am in full agreement and have written countless stories on my website concerning this case, and the bizarre chastisement of this woman as some sort of modern day witch. I wonder if her race had something to do with it..

There is a point of ridiculousness too. Chances are most of the students in the class already saw the ABCS OF DEATH–and if they did they would realize it wasn’t even that great of a movie, even the lower forms of people who live and breathe snuff films were not overly excited about this or even the sequel..

Rockoff writes more,
More disturbing than the draconian sentence is the law under which Kearns was prosecuted. Her crime falls under an umbrella of moral codes known colloquially as “obscenity laws.” And while they might seem like a relic from a time when rock and roll was the devil’s music, they’re still on the books in almost every state in the Union.

I am glad, truly glad, that someone besides me is 1) paying attention to this story and 2) upset by the insanity of putting a woman in prison for something that, under all scenarios, isn’t a crime..

MIDNIGHT IN THE DESERT, COMING THIS SUMMER

ART BELL PICKS A NAME

# # #

The anticipation continues to build for the return of Art Bell to the world of radio--podcasting seems to be the clear intention, along with a 'big player' yet to be named making a deal with the talk show legend..

Bell, who left Sirius Radio in 2013, is announcing that 'MIDNIGHT IN THE DESERT' is going to be the name of his new radio show. Even more interesting is how Bell picked it: For days he has been in constant communications with the users of BELLGAB.COM asking them what they think a good name should be.. the common consensus--and poll result--was the name Bell announced today would be the new title of the program.

Bell wrote on Facebook:
Midnight in the Desert

That will be the name of my new show! Hi everybody here is a update for you. It is looking like the deal will close and the show will start to air in late July but we still have not signed on the dotted line.

The show will be truly International. I will not be using regular media to promo it, instead I will be asking all of you to plaster info about it everywhere, we will demonstrate the power of Social Media, but not yet, it is still to early. I truly will be depending on my Friends. This is truly going to be fun.


Art

The social media world is ready.

During Bell's post-Sirius days, the #FreeArtBell campaign raged across the Sirius XM Facebook page with enraged users demanding the satellite radio company end their non compete with Art Bell. They did not, but now two years later the Bell tolls again in a new form.

It seems more likely that Bell is going to be a show of and for the people--he is upgrading his typical 'mysterious and reassuring' stance online to become fully engaged with the fans that follow him.

Bell has also said that the Crystal Gayle song written for him, also titled Midnight in the Desert, will close the nightly show..

The newest name will be a delight, especially to the users of BELLGAB who picked it..

 

CAPITALIZING ON A MEME

The DRESS went viral last week. Is it black? Blue? Yellow? Or white..

So many debates took place in living rooms across America. While President Obama was mum on NET NEUTRALITY, and the real for the new Internet still had yet to be revealed (AND STILL HAS YET TO BE REVEALED), the debate over a dress color went viral and cruel. It even divided my family..

No better time like now to capitalize on the event..
Which is exactly what The SALVATION ARMY is doing with a new advertising featuring a battered woman wearing the very dress that caused so much pointless division among the millions debating it..

The ad says this: "Is it so hard 2 see black & blue? 1 in 6 women are victims' ... Along with those words: An image of a woman, clearly with the makeup of abuse on her body, in the dress--clearly this time a dress that is gold and white.

Embedded image permalink

The campaign showcases how marketing is now done: Cheap and efficient. And effective all around.

At one time, the question was: Does art imitate life or does life imitate art?
Now the real mystery may be: Is life a meme or are memes just life? And amazing fodder for viral marketing techniques..

The overall response from Facebook and Twitter users seeing the marketing campaign has been positive--the dress is ad is powerful and now puts important colors into perspective--things that really matter..

 

THE SO-CALLED JOKER

The next JOKER of this new generation, Jared Leto, shared an image of himself on INSTAGRAM showcasing what is either blonde or green-tinted hair..

LETO's newest photo added some more logs on the fire of controversy about his pick to play the CLOWN PRINCE OF CRIME in the next BATMAN flick..

David Ayer's SUICIDE SQUAD will feature the star, for better or for worse..

Debate had raged with Leto's initial cast as the JOKER in the film.. And now these new images may either cause applause or cue a laugh track.

Love that Joker?
No one may be Heath.. But LETO may try.

HARRISON FORD IN PLANE CRASH

 

Harrison Ford plane crash

Harrison Ford has been seriously injured in a plane crash.. this is a developing story

Harrison Ford has been seriously injured in a plane crash.. this is a developing story

So far known: The plane lost power..

Also known: Harrison Ford is injured but it is not life threatening, we are being told..

ISIS destroys history


NIMRUD DESTROYED BY ISIS




ISIS ATTACKS A MAJOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE IN IRAQ »


Anne Barnard in the NEW YORK TIMES has the best report online tonight regarding what ISIS has just to the ancient site of NIMRUD in Northern Iraq..

Barnard writes,
It was the latest in a series of attacks on ancient structures and artifacts in Syria and Iraq that the group has destroyed in the name of its harsh interpretation of Islamic law. Last week, Islamic State militants videotaped themselves destroying statues and artifacts in the Mosul Museum and at the Nergal Gate entryway to ancient Nineveh. The militants captured the city during its offensive blitz through much of Iraq last June. “The terrorist gangs of ISIS are continuing to defy the will of the world and the feelings of humanity after they committed a new crime that belongs to its idiotic series,” the ministry said in a statement on its Facebook page, referring to the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, ISIL or Daesh.

And more:
Nimrud is the sprawling site of a city founded by the Assyrian King Shalamansar I, who died in 1245 B.C. Among the most impressive objects at Nimrud are the colossal statues known as “lamassu,” mythological creatures that depict either lions or winged bulls with bearded human heads. Pairs of the 17-ton statues are at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum.

More on the breaking news today from NBC NEWS dispatches:
A statement from Iraq’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities didn’t elaborate on the extent of the damage, saying only that the group continues to “defy the will of the world and the feelings of humanity” with this latest act.

Nimrud was the site of what has been called one of the greatest archaeological sites ever discovered in history..

THE ABCS OF SENTENCING


THE ABCS OF SENTENCING





THE ABCs OF DEATH case settled..AP:COLUMBUS, Ohio — A former substitute teacher convicted of showing a movie including graphic sex and violence to a high school class was sentenced on Wednesday to 90 days in jail.Sheila Kearns, who was convicted in January of four felony counts, apologized in court, saying she hadn’t watched the movie before showing it to her Spanish classes at Columbus’ East High School in April 2013. The movie, “The ABCs of Death,” consists of 26 chapters, each depicting some form of grisly death and representing a letter of the alphabet, such as “E is for Exterminate,” ”O is for Orgasm” and “T is for Toilet.”She faced a greater amount of prison time than this..I still don’t even understand how she is getting prison time for showing a movie that released in various venues and one that most people in the class probably already saw in some form or another at home.. A firing justified? Yes. Prison time? I still don’t get that..

THE ABCs OF DEATH case settled..

AP:
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A former substitute teacher convicted of showing a movie including graphic sex and violence to a high school class was sentenced on Wednesday to 90 days in jail.
Sheila Kearns, who was convicted in January of four felony counts, apologized in court, saying she hadn’t watched the movie before showing it to her Spanish classes at Columbus’ East High School in April 2013. The movie, “The ABCs of Death,” consists of 26 chapters, each depicting some form of grisly death and representing a letter of the alphabet, such as “E is for Exterminate,” ”O is for Orgasm” and “T is for Toilet.”

She faced a greater amount of prison time than this..
I still don’t even understand how she is getting prison time for showing a movie that released in various venues and one that most people in the class probably already saw in some form or another at home.. A firing justified? Yes. Prison time? I still don’t get that..

We previously reported about the Kearns case on this website and have continuously questioned why the outcry over the case even took place.

Now, the chapter is closed with the sentencing today.. One I still don’t get completely.

But no one else seems to be a little queasy with an African American teacher being thrown into jail for showing a horror movie–a legal horror movie–to a class.

AS a matter of fact, media sources are busy playing up the ‘horror’ of her crime, as evidenced by insane headlines running across the NET:

sexhorror

A HORROR MOVIE FOR A SNOWY THOR

Another snowy night.. potentially a housebound day tomorrow for lots of folks in the eye of THOR.. So why not turn off the lights, close the blinds, and entice your mind with a movie about the surreal, unreal, and paranormal. DARK SKIES is one of those films. Try it on for size—an abduction movie with dark shadow aliens, the Greys, evolves quickly into what I think was one of the most legitimately scary and good movies I’ve seen in quite some time.

There are some memorable scenes.. memorable characters. Specifically the idea that the other worldly suddenly presents itself into the lives of mundane people is freaky.

Besides one annoying scene I thought was plagiarism—a family sitting down to a dinner prior to an alien invasion like in SIGNS—the movie was strong and had a good alien premise. If you like alien movies. Or scary ones..

Add to the agenda a dark room and healthy snacks..I think it’s worth it.

Find it on NETFLIX if you can’t find it anywhere else..

After the movie, lighten the mood with the Ballad of the Greys.

UK CENSORS HORROR MOVIE

A horror film featuring neo-Nazis terrorizing Jewish families has been banned in the UK..

The name of the film is HATE CRIME. The premise, as though you could not tell from the headline, is this: Anti-Semitic thugs breaking into the family’s home and mutilating and sexually abusing family members..

The British Board of Film Classification ruled that a substantial part of the 70-minute film was “unacceptable” .. even more: They have decided that the movie cannot be released in theaters OR on DVD.. And more, the Board made a decision that even if controversial scenes were cut, the movie was not able to be approved by for release in Britain..

MORE from the description:  The Jewish family featured in the film, directed by James Cullen Bressack,  just arrived in a neighborhood.. While recording their son’s birthday, the home is invaded by the drug enthused anti-Semitic criminals.

The Facebook page for the film has over 2,000 likes but does not mention the recent British ban to fans.

A number of fan reviews online showcase the common thread that the film is disturbing and violent..

Perusing the reviews that currently exist on IMDB, a mixed bag of emotions are presented.  One review called the movie pointless, another said to ‘avoid at all costs.’  The movie is called ultra-violent and called a cultural commentary on hate crime.

Bill Nye the genetically modified guy

Suddenly MONSANTO and GMO have a brand new proponent: Bill Nye the Science Guy..

In 2005, he said we should farm responsibly.

Now he is completely fine and in favor or corporate led farming. What made the bow-tie wearing pro-vaccine scientist in chief become such a fan of GMO farming?

He is quoted on REAL TIME with Bill Maher saying, he  “went to Monsanto and I spent a lot of time with the scientists there.  have revised my outlook, and am very excited about telling the world. When you’re in love, you want to tell the world!”  Pretty amazing what ONE VISIT can do.

PRO-GMO sites are happy.

Others are scratching their heads and wondering if Bill’s bow tie was too tight..

So who owns Art Bell?


THE COLLECTIVE COPYRIGHT CLAIM





U7 Radio is broadcasting Art Bell DREAMLAND reruns again tonight–at least for now.  The war between U7 and executives for Premiere and iHeartRadio is continuing after the initial shot across the bow when the empire struck back.

But eyebrows were raising tonight after attorneys for iHeartRadio expanded their copyright claim over Coast to Coast programs to include DARK MATTER shows that Bell broadcast on Sirius radio in 2013 during his brief stint.

The full text of the newest message U7 received was printed in full.. And re-printed here:
Dear Sir:
I, the undersigned, CERTIFY UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY that I am the owner or an agent authorized to act on behalf of the owner of certain intellectual property rights, said owner being named Premiere Radio Networks, Inc. (“IP Owner”). I have a good faith belief that the listings or materials identified in the addendum attached hereto are not authorized by the above IP Owner, its agent, or the law and therefore infringe the IP Owner’s rights according to state, federal, or United States law. Please act expeditiously to remove or disable access to the material or items claimed to be infringing.

I may be contacted at:
Printed Name: Ellen Lockwood
Title & Company: Senior Paralegal, iHeartMedia, Inc.
Street Address: 200 East Basse Road
City and State and Zip: San Antonio, Texas 78209
Email (correspondence): ellenlockwood@iheartmedia.com
Email (for infringing parties): infringerissues@iheartmedia.com
Telephone: 210.822.2828
Fax: 210.832.3149
Truthfully,
/Ellen Lockwood/
Ellen Lockwood, ACP, RP
Senior Paralegal
Certified Paralegal – Intellectual Property Specialist
Addendum to Notice of Infringement
Name of Intellectual Property Owner: Premiere Networks, Inc., a subsidiary of iHeartMedia, Inc.
Work infringed: Coast to Coast AM with Art Bell radio programs
Type of Infringement: Copyright infringement – unauthorized copies of copyrighted works made available for performance
URL of Infringing Items: http://u7radio.org/
Ellen Lockwood, ACP, RP
Senior Paralegal
Certified Paralegal – Intellectual Property Specialist
iHeartMedia, Inc.
o 210.832.3382 | m 210.863.4884
200 East Basse Road, San Antonio, TX 78209
EllenLockwood@iHeartMedia.com
- ksb

And more: The assertion was made that Premiere owns not only Coast programs but also DARK MATTER episodes!
Premiere owns all Coast to Coast, Art Bell, and Dark Matter programs on the list at the link below

The immediate outcry on BELLGAB was one of confusion mixed with consternation.  Even Art Bell weighed in, writing
Wow, They must have a much bigger reach then I thought. Perhaps they made a bigger deal with Sirius/XM
then even I thought…..goodness that’s some claim!! Dave is really something. Hard to believe they would make
a Legal claim like that if not true.

Art

Meanwhile, DREAMLAND programs air on the U7 stream–and plenty of other running streams are still online broadcasting Coast programs.

The fascinating aspect has now become: Just who owns ART BELL?

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK: U7 TAKEN DOWN

The popular U7 Radio website has been forced to take down its much listened to Art Bell 24/7 stream tonight after Premiere Radio Networks issued a cease and desist order. The copyright claim was sent to the site, and u7radio.org published the text both on its site and Facebook page.

The full screen cap:

u7

There were rumors for several days a copyright claim would be presented to the site.. Now, the full effect of the takedown is seen: no stream. No site.

Just days earlier U7 announced a new app for the android that was on the way. 

And tonight, just like the Fine Art Stream last year, this site has ceased to exist..

ONE MAN’S TRUTH, ANOTHER MAN’S TRASH


GOOGLE WANTS TO RANK WEBSITES BASED ON FACTS NOT LINKS – 28 FEBRUARY 2015 – NEW SCIENTIST »





Lots of people are quite worked up over this.. As a matter of fact, the grand implication here is that GOOGLE is simply the Orweillian ‘Ministry of Truth” ..

Right now, Google uses a complex algorithm of determining the number of links going TO a site as the way to measure how far up in the search a certain website will be.  Of course, people would argue that sites containing lots of misinformation will be too high in results and bad information will be spread.. you know, like the bad information that typically disseminates from MAINSTREAM news outlets during breaking news events..

But now the ‘ministry of truth’ idea comes into play, where Google will tap into a fact vault to compare with search terms. Of course, one man’s facts is another man’s figuring.. facts change. Historical accounts converge to paint very different pictures from those presented in the G-rated history books we have become grown to reading in our formative years..

The ‘fact optimization’ idea will most likely create a brand new multi-billion dollar industry.. I can see it now, people who specialize in advertising ‘facts’ ..

But a long time ago, if Google would have been around, a ‘fact’ would have been a flat earth theory..

And if someone googles “Best sex of 2015” … will there be a fact algorithm to present it? Because let’s not kid ourselves on what people Google—anyone with a website can tell you some of the bizarre terms that land them on their pages..

So for all of those upset by this, I get it. I am uncomfortable, too.

But there’s always STARTPAGE. And for those more old fashioned folk, you can always still ask Jeeves, even though he has been vanquished from the askeeves search page.

SNOW GLOW OVER WEEKEND BOX

BOX OFFICE TOTALS COMING IN..

Studio execs are blaming weather for some less than stellar numbers.

WILL SMITH'S 'FOCUS' NOT IN CLEAR FOCUS.. Less people went to see this film than expected.. Luckily the film was cheap to make. With only $19 mil so far racked up, though, more sales will need to be generated to pay off Warner Bros..

KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE was still second in week three..

Number three was the SPONGE still soaking up family friendly movie goers.. The film came in with $11.2 mil for the weekend and has thus far made $140 mil in four weeks..

The LAZARUS EFFECT had little effect on the box office, it was expected by many to come in 4th place for its first week .. Instead, another set of women --maybe for the second time--went to see FIFTY SHADES OF GREY.. Mr. Grey ended the third week in the box office with almost $11 mil and a grand total of $147 mil since its release in early Valentine's Day weekend..

And finally, in fifth, a weak LAZARUS EFFECT with a little over $10 mil total. Respectable perhaps.. but the numbers tell a bigger story. The movie had a 13% increase in sales on Saturday when compared to its opening Friday.. but by  today it crashed 45%.

Even more: All movies crashed Sunday with uncertain weather conditions nationwide.. a snow and ice storm stretched from the Midwest to the Northeast.. and it with an average of 38% decreases in ticket sales took place across the board..

 

HISTORY