Funnyman Buddy Hackett Dies at 78...

Knew it was coming soon ever since he blew his gasket on "Last Comic Standing" fighting with the host of "Fear Factor".

I thought he was awesome. I even watched "The Love Bug" just a few days ago. Weird. Death is all around us.

Death Row Records Founder Suge Knight Arrested... Again!

I saw him down the road at a local recording studio, That Nig... I mean, that guy is HUGE! Yet still looks good.

One of my fav poets, Irish poet and Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney has praised the lyrics of rapper Eminem, saying he has a "verbal energy." I just saw him pulling off the Michael Jackson baby ball on the balcony bit and it was great! Eminem man, That nig... I mean, That White Nig... Whatever, he's so cool. Still haven't watched "8 Mile" yet, but will soon.

Oh, here's a great "Fear Factor" moment for ya...

This woman in Vienna laid awake during surgery for 45 minutes, unable to move or call for help, after staff forgot to hook up the machine pumping out anaesthetic. Get this... The woman was temporarily paralyzed because she had been given a muscle relaxant, and her ordeal ended only after a replacement doctor who came into the operating room saw tears in her eyes and noticed the machine was not connected properly.

The woman, who was undergoing abdominal surgery, is suing for 70,000 euro ($79,970) in damages, the hospital in the Austrian province of Carinthia confirmed.

Fuckin' Austrian HMO's...

Had a call on my machine tonight asking me if I was interested in working with the Sundance Channel again... The Sundance Channel plans to air an unusual series incubation project dubbed "TV Lab," a half-hour format featuring several "mini-pilots."

Sundance Channel president and CEO Larry Aidem said he hoped the "TV Lab" experiment would "unearth some terrific ideas for television programming." Viacom Prods. president Perry Simon said he hoped the process would help identify "fresh new voices" among writer-producers.

I got the feeling I'd be paid the same as I was before... $0.00

British filmmaker Michael Apted has replaced Martha Coolidge as president of the Directors Guild of America. Michael Apted's film credits include "Coal Miner's Daughter," "Gorillas in the Mist," "Thunderheart," "Nell," "The World Is Not Enough," "Triple Echo," "Stardust," "The Squeeze," "Agatha," "Continental Divide," "Gorky Park," "Class Action" and "Enigma."

I love Martha Coolidge, but it is interesting that Apted was the guy to replace her. This being a time when the union is embroiled in such issues as runaway production to cheaper locales and the industry's aversion to hiring women and minorities.

Charlie Chaplin, has gotten a computer-enhanced DVD makeover, his feature-length films and some of his shorts digitally restored to remove flecks, specks and scratches and rebalance the black-and-white tones.

Four Chaplin flicks arrived on DVD... "The Gold Rush," "Modern Times," "The Great Dictator" and "Limelight."

Coming early next year are two films I remember bringing my x-wife and me to tears several times... "City Lights," "The Kid," also coming out are "Monsieur Verdoux," "The Circus," "A Woman of Paris" and "A King in New York," plus such Chaplin shorts as "Shoulder Arms," "A Dog's Life" and "Pay Day."

Film critic Richard Schickel was asked to write and direct a Chaplin documentary. Schickel's "Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin" debuted at Cannes and is playing other festivals before hitting DVD with the next wave of Chaplin movies in 2004.

Schickel said he hopes the documentary introduces new viewers to Chaplin, whose Little Tramp character remains an Everyman today's audiences can relate to.

"He's a universal figure. All the Tramp's needs and wants are the needs and wants everybody has," Schickel said. "He wants to make a living, find a girl, he wants to have a certain amount of respect in the community. The things that drive the Tramp are the things that drive all of us."

Born dirt poor in London, Chaplin was one of Hollywood's richest filmmakers in the silent era, co-founding United Artists and becoming one of the earliest performers to blend pathos and drama with sidesplitting slapstick.

"There's still no one like him, no one with that magic, that subtlety, that innovation," said Johnny Depp, who in "Benny & Joon" recreated Chaplin's sight gag from "The Gold Rush," skewering two rolls with forks and dancing them around like feet. "What he was able to do with no dialogue, no text, no words, just the body, just body language, just the eyes, just emotion. Pure emotion."

"The Great Dictator" has behind-the-scenes footage shot in color by Chaplin's brother, Sydney, plus a documentary juxtaposing the lives of Chaplin and Adolf Hitler, who were born four days apart in 1889.

And how cool is this? "The Gold Rush" includes the shortened 1942 version with narration by Chaplin and a reconstruction of the original 1925 silent version.

"Limelight" has Chaplin family home movies and the 1952 film's complete score, which, because of a loophole in Academy Awards rules, earned Chaplin an Oscar for best score 20 years after it was made.

The "Modern Times" bonus materials include an extended version of the nonsense song Chaplin sings and a Liberace performance of "Smile," the pop standard that evolved from the theme music Chaplin wrote for the film. The DVD set also slyly includes a 1931 U.S. government film touting the depersonalized assembly lines Chaplin parodied.

"He remains so absolutely modern," said Geraldine Chaplin, who played her father's mother in the 1992 film biography "Chaplin," starring Robert Downey Jr.

"Modern Times" made in 1936, talks about riots, unemployment, drugs, strikes, anti-strikes, poverty, the tyranny of the machine, the inhumanity of the workplace. It could have been made today. And you identify with this little guy who's kind of the unconquerable spirit of mankind."

He was great, a genius, and he also liked hot young chicks.

I had a great day...

I was knocked down a bit by news that four-time Oscar winner (I think) Katharine Hepburn died this afternoon. She was 96.

I saw "28 Days Later" and really loved it. Very inspiring filmmaking. Danny Boyle rocks again!

I'm watching a TV Series... Don't know the name of it... Could look it up, but that might require me getting up off my ass to do that. So, no, don't know the name of it, but Henry Jaglom is the host and he just showed a short film base on one of my favorite stories called, "Killer Diller" and it starred that cool guy that played James Dean on Tee Vee and was Spiderman's best friend in the movie... and Brad Renfo and Meatloaf were in it. It was real good. Check it out and if you figure out the name of the show e-mail me.

Man, if you wanna see a bunch of hot chicks go to any theater showing "Charlies's Angels". That movie has brought out the girls and women to the theaters.

I got to see two real butch lesbians make out in front of the crowd in a Starbucks. That was cool. I don't drink coffee and was only there cause my friend Aaron uses the coffee as some sort of medicine to stop his headaches, so seeing chicks kiss was a cool time killer for me.

The Blogger IS repeating some of my posts... So beware...

I saw, "The Hard Word" and I really liked it. It reminds me of some of the old ITC shows from the 60's and the 70's. Guy Pearce is awesome.

I'm heading off right now to do a marathon of "Charles' Angels" and "28 Days Later" and maybe Guy Madden's "Dracula" silent movie... I think it's silent anyway, but being a musical/dance thing... Maybe not. I like Madden's work and am a real fan. I even have his autograph somewhere.

The last few days Blogger and my server have been down. It just looks like I have been lazy and not writing.

The Washington Post publishes a yearly contest in which readers are
asked to supply alternate meanings for various words. The following
were
some of this year's winning entries:

1. Coffee (n.), a person who is coughed upon.

2. Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained.

3. Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.

4. Esplanade (v.), to attempt an explanation while drunk.

5. Willy-nilly (adj.), impotent

6. Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you absentmindedly
answer the door in your nightie.

7. Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp.

8. Gargoyle (n.), an olive-flavored mouthwash.

9. Flatulence (n.) the emergency vehicle that picks you up after you
are
run over by a steamroller.

10. Balderdash (n.), a rapidly receding hairline.

11. Testicle (n.), a humorous question on an exam.

12. Rectitude (n.), the formal, dignified demeanor assumed by a
proctologist immediately before he examines you.

13. Oyster (n.), a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddish
expressions.

14. Circumvent (n.), the opening in the front of boxer shorts.

15. Frisbeetarianism (n.), The belief that, when you die, your soul
goes
up
on the roof and gets stuck there.

16. Pokemon (n), A Jamaican proctologist.

Buddy Ebsen Hospitalized, but is in "good" condition at Torrance Memorial Medical Center in Torrance, California.

Ebsen, who in recent years has depicted the Clampett character in paintings, penned a novel , and recorded an album, began his show-biz career in the 1920s as a Broadway dancer, he tap-danced alongside Judy Garland in Broadway Melody of 1938. Ebsen was cast as the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz, but the silver makeup made him ill. Jack Haley ended up with the gig, and the chance to help lead Garland to Oz.

Get-well cards can be sent to Ebsen in care of Borovay by email fnrinc@msn.com or snail mail Buddy Ebsen c/o Larry Borovay, 851 Ravens Point Court, Simi Valley, CA 93065

I can't tell you how many people have e-mailed me sinse I broke the story about Hillary Duff and Disney splitting... Well, now more news...

Walt Disney's music group signed Lizzie McGuire star Hilary Duff to a record deal after the soundtrack to the Lizzie McGuire Movie went platinum.

Reunited.

Disney and Duff parted ways after they failed to offer up enough money to play her alter ego in a ABC series that would have featured Lizzie graduating to high school, as well as a movie sequel.

Rumors were that the star's mother, Susan Duff, was impossible to deal with.

Disney's Buena Vista Music Group signed Duff to a solo album deal, which will come out under the Buena Vista Records and Hollywood Records banners. Titled Metamorphosis, the disc hits stores August 26. She'll also work on two additional music projects within the next 18 months.

She's currently shooting a remake of the 1950s comedy Cheaper by the Dozen with Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt, and is about to start production on A Cinderella Story, due in theaters next summer.

Sorry, no pictures of Hillary Duff in her panties just yet...

Henry Hill, the mob informant portrayed by Ray Liotta in "Goodfellas," has a new book, "A GoodFella's Guide to New York," a memoir-tourist guide-mob history. Last October, he released "The Wiseguy Cookbook."

No word yet if Martin Scorsese will be turning those into films.


In his guide, Hill reveals where the bodies are hidden... I hope.

http://www.goodfellahenry.com

Former U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond was remembered by friends and colleagues in South Carolina as a dedicated public servant and the "greatest statesman" the state has seen. Dead at 1000 years old, maybe they can fill his seat with Bob Hope...

Life of the Rich...

Texas Woman Gets 50 Years in Windshield Murder, yet... Lizzie Grubman, the publicist who backed her SUV into a crowd of clubgoers in the Hamptons two years ago, begins a new job as a gossip and entertainment reporter for the radio station WNEW-FM.

Hoping to go see a few movies this week...

THE HARD WORD

Still wanna see, MAN ON THE TRAIN

and I guess I'll see "CHARLES' ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE, but only with a CET AMOUR-LA, chaser...

Based on the novel by Yann Andrea, this is the true story of the passionate love affair between celebrated French author Marguerite Duras and Andrea, her much younger muse and apprentice. Showcasing a brilliant performance by Jeanne Moreau as the fiery and voracious Duras, this unusual love story offers special insight into the heart and mind of one of the world's major literary figures.  Duras' unique body of work was developed across a stunning range of disciplines (cinema, theatre, journalism, novels, short stories, and essays).  This last great romance of her life began in 1975 when Marguerite came to Andrea's university to introduce a screening of her film India Song.  They would not meet again for five years, during which time Andrea would write her up to five letters a day every day. 

Sounds like my kinda flick...

The blog has been down and then so has my website...

As soon as I can, I will tell of all my adventures of the past few days. Till then enjoy this...

The Washington Post publishes a yearly contest in which readers are
asked to supply alternate meanings for various words. The following
were some of this year's winning entries:

1. Coffee (n.), a person who is coughed upon.

2. Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained.

3. Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.

4. Esplanade (v.), to attempt an explanation while drunk.

5. Willy-nilly (adj.), impotent

6. Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you absentmindedly
answer the door in your nightie.

7. Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp.

8. Gargoyle (n.), an olive-flavored mouthwash.

9. Flatulence (n.) the emergency vehicle that picks you up after you
are
run over by a steamroller.

10. Balderdash (n.), a rapidly receding hairline.

11. Testicle (n.), a humorous question on an exam.

12. Rectitude (n.), the formal, dignified demeanor assumed by a
proctologist immediately before he examines you.

13. Oyster (n.), a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddish
expressions.

14. Circumvent (n.), the opening in the front of boxer shorts.

15. Frisbeetarianism (n.), The belief that, when you die, your soul
goes
up
on the roof and gets stuck there.

16. Pokemon (n), A Jamaican proctologist.

Robert Altman 's new film, "The Company," will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Organizers announced the first 25 films to be shown during the Sept. 4-13 festival and said the turnout was expected to be normal despite the SARS outbreak in Canada's largest city.

Altman's "The Company," about the world of ballet, stars and is co-produced by Neve Campbell.

Do smoking pot protect you from SARS?

The Rolling Stones are scheduled to headline a July 30 outdoor concert to boost tourism in Toronto and southern Ontario after the SARS outbreak.

Where did Monkeypox go?

Top-selling American novelist Leon Uris, best known for "Exodus" about the creation of Israel and "Trinity" on the conflict in Ireland, has died in New York of congestive heart failure. He was 78.

Uris was also known for his screenplay, "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral," a 1957 movie directed by John Sturges with Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas.

Born in Baltimore in 1924, Uris never graduated from high school. Cool!

Hollywood celebrities led by actor-director Tim Robbins called on Gov. Gray Davis not to slash funding for public arts programs, saying children would suffer most and the money would scarcely make a dent in closing the state's $38.2 billion budget deficit.

The celebrities, joined by entertainment executives, arts advocates and a Los Angeles school board member, presented a letter urging Davis to reconsider his proposed 73 percent cut in funding for programs in visual art, theater, film, dance, music, literature and arts in education.

Actress Fran Drescher also spoke at the event. I bet she did it in that annoying voice too. The group had 46 signatures as of Monday, including actress Anjelica Huston, "West Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin, and actors Michael York, Elliott Gould and Jimmy Smits.

Let's see Arts Funding or Three Times the cost for Car Registration....?

As many of you know my work in the Arts also consisted of working on, "Girls Gone Wild" well, Snoop Dogg isn't wild about "Girls Gone Wild" anymore it seems.

The rapper, who appeared as the host on one of the raunchy strip videos, says that he's done with the series because it doesn't feature women of color.

Snoop Dogg, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, said he plans to do his own version of "Girls Gone Wild" to "bring some flavor to the table" — and to satisfy women of color waiting for their chance to go topless for the camera.

"They've been complaining to me like crazy," the 31-year-old rapper said. "They think I like the white girls because I'm on there with them, and I don't. I just did that for money." Me too!

Foes of genetically modified food, some dressed as butterflies and giant tomatoes, paraded through the cordoned-off streets of the capital for the second day in a row, as top federal officials and representatives of 120 nations opened an international conference on farm technology. They call it, 'Frankenfood'. I like that with my Frankenberry cereal.

Wow, Yesterday just flew by without me even noticing it...

Just got back from seeing, "The Hulk"... I Loved It!!!

Not everyone did, but I think Ang Lee is one of the best living filmmakers out there. This is such an adult take on the comic. Very deep and important.

I have two friends who have already finished the latest, "Harry Potter" and they loved it. They both are older than 40.

I received an e-mail from a young man who was reading a Richard Laymon nonfiction book about being a writer and noticed my name in the text and wanted to know if it was me... It was. I had to find my copy. I started rereading it and got inspired and saddened all over again. Richard Laymon was one of my most important friends and mentors.

I had another amazing dream... So real it was...

I met a girl. She was so cool and was everything I wanted in a friend and lover. The dream seemed to last years. We were so in love. We were free. Everything was possible. She began to get sad and then began to cry. I felt like she knew I was dying... She told me I was leaving her. I guess I was... Because then I awoke.

I miss her so much.

The other day Aaron and I traveled to a Wonderful City called, "Wal-Mart" in Monrovia. The prices were so great, I bought some cool new boots and some t-shirts. I think I could live there.

I start my second week of Fasting tomorrow. I think I'm going to eat on the weekends and Fast through the week days. I don't know why. Just gonna do it.

I just wanted to make sure I had something to say here, before Saturday passed us by...

Boy, don't know how I'm going to spend my movie money tonight...

Should I see "From Justin to Kelly"?

Should I see "Alex and Emma"?

Should I just drive a knitting needle through my eye? Or both eyes?

Maybe I'll just pop in a tape of Maya Deren's, "Meshes of the Afternoon" instead.

"The Hulk" opened and that might be good. I like every Ang Lee film I've seen. This is suppose to be his most personal film yet.

The Olsen Twins get a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame... I can die now.

The author of "The Exorcist" William Peter Blatty, and William Friedkin, the director of the 1973 movie of the same name have filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros., alleging the studio didn't do enough to make them money. I too have a problem calculating percentages, maybe Warner could hire me for their Accounting Department.

I had a really nice e-mail from a radio fan named Rachel from Texas... It's always nice to hear nice things.

Things are looking up for getting back on the air in Los Angeles. Talks are in the process with several Station Managers... We'll see.

PBS has been showing some documentaries on Early Submariners. Boy, that has been some really neat stuff. Those guys were really brave. There could be some real cool movies made out of those stories.

I have discovered another way to get free food!!!

Do what I've done... Tell everyone about the Fast that you're on and watch as they line up trying to get you to eat. I've never had so much food offered to me before. Ever notice when you're at a party and those that are smoking pot just have to get you to smoke some. No matter how many times you say, "No" they keep at ya. Same with food. Try it.

Now, I wish I wasn't on my Fast, because I could be eating up some good stuff.

Last night was a night of dreams you just don't want to wake up from...

I really do enjoy my dream-life more than the real life.

Even with the nightmares.

There seem to be reaccurring characters in my dreams that welcome me to their world. They seem sad when I have to wakeup. But they are happy when I arrive.

The Fast that I'm on really may be making the dreams more intense.

One of my real life dreams has taken a nose-dive...

I've always wanted to appear in a Fred Olen Ray film, but do to a conflict in scheduling, I'm unable to "Star" in the one I was originally asked to be in this weekend. This really saddens me. Who knows... Maybe Fred can think of a way to make it happen... He's very crafty as filmmakers go.

Does anybody know if it's better to sleep with your head aimed in one direction more so than in another? Like is it better to sleep with your feet aimed at the rising sun? That's the way I'm sleeping now and it seems better than when I was sleeping with my head aimed North.

Just wondering...

I'm sleepy just thinking about it.

My Fast is slow going...

I am having the headaches and stomach pains that one would expect, but I'm also experiencing painful sores that are opening and oozing fluids. I accidently tasted some of the juices while popping a blister and just as I had expected it tasted just like creme cheese.

I was so hungry and overcome with hunger that I completly ate my lower shanks. Raw. While losing lots of blood, it was that back pain that really hurt me.

I should be okay tomorrow.

I saw a great documentary on Clint Eastwood tonight on PBS. Now I want to go rent some of him better films. I didn't realize how important he has been in my movie-going life. I guess I've always liked him, but he's just always been there... I guess I took his work for granted.

Just like he's taken me for granted.

But he's not the only one...

Lee Grant used to take me for granted. But I showed her. I speard the word that she was a Communist back in the 50's and got her Blacklisted, just because she wouldn't sleep with me.

Now, I would sleep with her if she called, but too much time has passed I think.

I would like to clear her name though and would hope she would forgive me. I still think there's something "Hot" about her. That rough strong voice, squinty eyes, and those long jangly legs... wait that's Clint Eastwood I'm describing...

Must be the hunger talking here...

Four Rikers Island jail officials were charged Tuesday with stealing a Salvador Dali sketch from a locked display case during a fire drill.

Hey, if you can't trust your Jailers...  

The men, two assistant deputy wardens and two corrections officers, were charged with grand larceny and could get up to 15 years in prison.

The untitled work, depicting the crucifixion in ink and pencil, was removed from the lobby of the city jail and replaced with a copy during an unscheduled fire drill staged by the defendants at midnight.

A 1985 appraisal concluded it was worth at least $175,000, a corrections official has said, but an art expert told The New York Times in 2001 that it was worth at least three times that.

Dali gave the sketch to the jail in 1965 after canceling a visit. At the bottom of the drawing is a message from Dali, who was never known for correct spelling: "For the inmates dinning room on Rikers Island. Dali."

The sketch was displayed in the jail's dining room for 16 years before being moved to the lobby, where only officers and visitors are allowed.

So let that be a lesson to ya, always leave your Dali artwork in the dining room. It's safer there.

I finally saw The Pang Brother's, "The Eye"...

It was alright. I enjoyed myself while watching it. But I also enjoyed the movie too.

I had to drive to Pasadena to see it and I hate going to Pasadena. No cheap place to park. No cheap place to eat. Stuck up people.

With the money I spent, I could have waited to buy the DVD and saved money. The screen I saw it on wasn't that much bigger than my TV.

There's some cool ideas in the film but nothing we haven't seen before. But I still liked it.

I saw some kids with the New Harry Potter book. I thought no one was suppose to have it yet. They're making a big deal about it being Top Secret on the News and here these kids were pouring through it on the sidewalk in Old Pasadena. They said that Harry dies in this one... But I didn't believe them or even really care.

I bought some Milk and Honey Bubble Bath, so I'm off to soak and then hibernate for 8 hours.

Hume Cronyn has died of cancer. He was 91. He and Jessica Tandy were married for nearly 52 years at the time of her death from ovarian cancer in September 1994.

Cronyn, known for his roles in the "Cocoon" movies, was a seasoned stage actor, making his theater debut in 1931 as a paperboy in "Up Pops the Devil."

He made his film debut in 1943 as the detective story addict Herbie Hawkins in Alfred Hitchcock's "Shadow of a Doubt."

Also appeared in Hitchcock's "Lifeboat", "Phantom of the Opera", "The Postman Always Rings Twice", "Cleopatra", and "The World According to Garp".

Cronyn frequently worked with his wife — on Broadway in "The Gin Game", in "Foxfire" and in "Cocoon" and "Cocoon: The Return".

He also won a Tony as supporting actor for playing Polonius in "Hamlet," a 1964 production of Shakespeare's play directed by John Gielgud.

He co-wrote the television adaptation of "The Dollmaker," starring Jane Fonda.

I thought he was great!

Today I attended the early part of Gregory Peck's Service. It was very moving.

Another of my favorite actors has passed away...

William Marshall, who played Shakespeare's "Othello" on stage and "Blacula" has left our Theater to perform in a much Greater one, he was 78.

I had heard that Marshall, suffered from Alzheimer's.

He was great in his "Star Trek" episode and "The Jeffersons".

He taught acting and was director of the Mufandi Institute in Watts.

Marshall studied at the Actors Studio and the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City was an art student at New York University.

He had the most amazing voice.

I wish I had known him better...

I haven't made it to see, "The Eye"...

Yet.

I got caught watching a documentary on Joni Mitchell. She has always been a favorite. This documentary has alot to say about being an artist and being depressed.

She says one really cool thing about banishing the Demons and you also have the Angels fly away.

I'm very hungry. Should I leave this documentary now and eat, or should I suffer hunger and fill my heart?

My stomach is more persuasive.

I could record this documentary, but it's more precious because it's just electrons now. It's best not to possess everything you can.

Things should be like bubbles and raindrops ever once in a while.

I'm getting close to starting up my Film Workshop again...

I've been writing down some ideas that originally were more ideas for books, but now feel they're too visually oriented to be locked into text.

I've also found some ways to showcase my films in more of a gallery setting than theatrically displayed. Just a little different to be... well, different.

Maybe my First Edition DVD's can be limited and numbered and sold to the patrons attending the showing.

I'm also thinking of attending a matinee of the Pang Brothers, "The Eye" before Tom Cruise remakes it. I'd better hurry.

I met a really cool gal today at an exhibition of the work of André Kertész. She was very interesting and we had a great conversation. She is so smart. She is also a photographer, and I can just tell from listening to her that she's very talented. I can't wait to see her work. Hopefully I will see some.

I saw her walking and what caught my eye was that she was wearing sunglasses like mine. Big black huge sunglasses. So she has to be cool!

It was really a great day for me. I had a lot of fun.

I read a book about Dali today. While I like his work, I find him so fascinating. The guy was amazing. This book had some great photos of Dali and Gala hanging out on the beach. Dali painting and swimming in the ocean at the same time.

Who is our Dali today?

The choice of Broadcast TV viewing tonight is hard...

Should I watch "The Gin Game" with Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore on PBS or "Maxim: Hot 100" on NBC?

Maybe neither...

I'll just pop in a tape of "Ashes & Diamonds" Directed by Andrezej Wajda. Then kick off my boots and eat some pumpkin pie.

Happiness.

I finally had a great dream last night!!!

I have had some real nightmares lately, but finally a good one.

I dreamed I was asked to be in a film... Just plucked off the street. Thought it would be just a small part. Turns out that it's a major role in a Middle Earth kinda movie and I'm a warrior. I have a great time with the cast and crew and get to really ham it up in front of the camera.

Finally the big screening. I'm all excited and the film turns out great. Then fame hits me like a ton of bricks. I'm acclaimed as the New Vin Diesel!!

AFI does De Niro... He is amazing if you just for a moment think about all the films this guy has done. I saw him once in Tribeca, very intense and strange seeing him in public. You feel like you're in a movie when you see him in person. He get's his Lifetime Achievement Award so now he can just stop.

Los Angeles will soon have these kind of Taxi Drivers... Passengers just off the Greek bus at the unfinished border crossing with Albania stare in disbelief when led to a donkey with a taxi sign tied to its head. Impoverished Albanian villagers have started a donkey-taxi service at the new Qafe Bote crossing to help travelers negotiate the 2.5-km (1.5-mile) mountain path between the two Balkan neighbors, charging two euros ($2.36) for a ride.

Mel Gibson's new movie about Jesus: The Robed Warrior will be be spoken in only Latin and Aramaic with no English subtitles. But the actor swears his upcoming film about the last hours of Jesus Christ is most certainly neither anti-Catholic nor anti-Semitic, but it'll rip a new one out of those Scientoligists.

I can't wait!!! Jesus can kick ass and get that much needed gas tanker across the desert.

A wax model of Britney Spears gets inflatable breasts in UK just like the real one in the US.

In Sedalia, Mo., a shoplifter caused a buzz in a department store restroom and made off with about $60 worth of CDs, perfume, batteries and scissors. The man released a swarm of honeybees in a Kmart restroom, creating a diversion that allowed him to escape. That's a cool idea. I can almost imagine Steve McQueen and Ali McGraw doing that at a bank. I'm writing the script right now!

Swarms of Mormon crickets are marching across the West, destroying rangeland and crops, slickening highways with their carcasses and leaving disgusted residents in their wake. I don't know why they're called, "Mormon" crickets, unless it has to do with their devout faith in the teachings of John Smith and having more than one wife. Nevada is covered in crickets right now, just like in those old atomic scare movies of the 50's

Sorcerer Kevin Carlyon performed an incantation on the shores of Loch Ness on Friday, trying to lure Britain's favorite monster into the open. Carlyon, High Priest of British White Witches, said he had cast a spell two years ago to scare off the monster so it would not be caught by a visiting Swedish scientist Jan Sundberg. It must have worked.

During Friday's ceremony, Carlyon said he cast a talisman into the loch -- a flat stone inscribed with ancient Nordic runes and witchcraft symbols -- while chanting the incantation: "Let Nessie be free, may her spirit be free, so may it be." It also must have worked.

Rembrandt, like countless young people in recent years, was a victim of a botched ear piercing, according to the latest issue of the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.

Van Gogh supposedly suffered from a botched pierced penis causing his ear to fall off... from his own screaming.

I'm so glad it's Friday. I just know today will be different than last Friday. It'll be even better than the Friday before last. But, it won't be as good as Tomorrow. Because Today never is as good as Tomorrow.

Yesterday I was frisked by Thai- Secret Service as I was asked to pull over because I was in an area where the Prime Minister Of Thailand was to be speaking. It was kinda strange. There were no American Police around to notice what was going on... These guys were very nice though... Until I asked them if they knew any good Thai restaurants.

I got an e-mail from a former wrestlin' buddy of Freddy Blassie's who called me down because Isaid I wore tights like Freddy when I was a kid... Well, Freddy NEVER wore tights! I meant that I wore the tights my mother made for me with Blassie's name on them, but only because I was ashamed of how scrawny my legs were. So there!

I sweat dear friend of mine is getting laid off from Disney Animation with about 100 others as 2D animation calapses under the weight and demand of 3D animation. I melt this rare collectable cel in acetate in your honor my friend.

From my friend Aaron some cool things to look at...

This stuff's pretty funny. Wish some of these were real toys. Check out the Opera Lobster.

http://www.goblertoys.com/

It blows cheese scented soap bubbles!!! How hard would it be for them to go ahaed and manufacture those
wonderous toys? Speakin' of cheese...

Today really kinda sucked so I needs me creme cheese won-tons of mass destruction.

(i too blow cheese scented fragrances)

Check this out. I think it'll be a good start for my "3-illing Furiously" (2 Fast 2 Furious-sequel) pitch project:

http://homepage2.nifty.com/ztath/starthp/subpage11.html

If you love Horror Movees!

Screamfest Horror Film Festival in association with Two Arts, Inc. will host the Robert McKee HORROR DAY, a one day seminar on the art of horror covering story structure & essential principles of horror filmmaking as part of Screamfest on Oct.11th in LA at the LA Film School.

The seminar will run from 9:30AM to 7:30PM. The registration fee is $195 for the day.

What a great way to spend Columbus Day Weekend! Interested parties and those needing travel arrangement assistance should email screamfestla@aol.com.

None of my Horror Filmmaker friends can afford $195 to see Robert McKee, but they can rent "Adaptation" and watch Brian Cox play him.

Woody Allen urges U.S. to french kiss, preferably in France "Director and definitive New Yorker Woody Allen can
currently be seen in the U.S. urging Americans to eat french fries, french kiss and travel to France," The Guardian reports.

I don't wanna think of Woody French-kissing anything... The French can Freedom Kiss My ASS!!!

Gregory Peck Dies, I can't believe it... Well, I guess I can... from Atticus Finch to Captain Ahab. He was a six-foot-three frame and bone-rattling deep voiced guy who was also great on many old radio shows like, "Suspense". Looks like he has died. He was 87.

This is weird but I was just getting ready to go see," To Kill a Mockingbird" at Los Angeles's Last Remaining Seats June 18th.

Atticus Finch, the principled, 1930s Southern lawyer who struggles, in his personal life, with single parenthood, and, in his professional life, with the defense a black man unjustly accused of raping a white woman. The 1962 film brought Peck his first, and only, Academy Award for Best Actor. One of my favorites.

He was also Moby-Dick's Captain Ahab, author Herman Melville's singularly obsessed whale hunter.

The Omen, a box-office hit, from 1976, in which he learned his devilishly cute son was the spawn of, well, Satan.

Aside from Mockingbird, Peck scored four other Academy Award nominations during his six-decade film career. The other Oscar nods were for: 1944's The Keys of the Kingdom, 1946's TheYearling, 1947's Gentleman's Agreement and 1949's Twelve O' Clock High.

In 1968, he received the Motion Picture Academy's prestigious Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

More Death stuff...

Veteran broadcaster David Brinkley died at his Houston home on Wednesday of complications from a fall. He was 82.

I grew up watching this guy... Ya know this is kinda sad, but I thought he died a long time ago.

This morning I saw The Hulk hanging out on Vine Street. They really are making a big thing out of this movie... It should be the best thing since last weeks "2 Fast..." or oh so last weeks "Matrix"...

Sometimes I wish I were a Robot and didn't have to deal with some of the emotions I find myself feeling time to time...

Don Murphy who produced Natural Born Killers is making a live-action version of The Transformers--The Movie...

Will Smith will be in Isaac Azimov's, I, Robot...

Chris Wedge, who made the CGI hit, Ice Age, will bring us, Robots...

Doesn't anybody remember, Heartbeeps? With Andy Kaufman?

Ray Harryhausen, the stop-motion animation master now has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

He turns 83 on June 29.

"It all started at Grauman's Chinese Theatre when I was a kid and saw the movie 'King Kong,'" he said. "Seventy years have gone by and I have a star near where it all started."

At the ceremony were fantasy writer Ray Bradbury and horror-film aficionado Forrest J. Ackerman, founder of the "Famous Monsters of Filmland" magazine.

"We both had dreams about dinosaurs," said Bradbury, 82. "I wrote about them and he made them for the movies."

Tonight I was at my favorite restaurant Frontier Wok when a beautiful woman said some very nice things about my writing. Little does she know she said it at just the right time. I really needed to hear something nice.

Last night I had some real trouble sleeping. I had some more bad, weird dreams...

I dreampt I was dead and in a sorta "Heaven" and everything I thought about came true instantly. I thought about Stanley Kubrick and he appeared. When he showed up, I instantly thought, wow, he's dead. Then of course he keels over dead. I then thought, wait he was just alive. And then Kubrick gets up alive and says, "Stop thinking so much, you're killing me."

The dream just kept going like that with everybody that popped into the dream. My Mother who's also dead. Kubrick's mother. Freud was there too. I thought he looked like the "Architect" in the Matrix: Reloaded, so then that dude pops into the dream. Freud looks at the Architect and says, "What's the height of conceit?"

The Architect looks at me.

Freud says, "Having an orgasm and calling out your own name."

I wake up saying my own name, yet it sounds like I'm speaking in tongues.

Weird.

It looks like "2 Fast 2 Furious" raced into first place...

I've spent too much time this week trying to figure out a third sequel name. "3-illing Furiously"... I don't know yet... I'm still working on it.

I did a cool thing last night...

I talked with Art Bell, the former late night king of talk radio. I talked with him through my telephone to a streaming audio website, through a shortwave radio, to his radio in his RV as he drove across the desert... Technology is so cool! I also talked with some very nice fellows about radio. And I met some local radio freaks while talking with all the world and space beyond.

It's so strange... I called my Truck-drivin' brother last night... But Not by CB... and he was watching the "Tonys"... Weird. He was really into it, yet he'll never see any of those Broadway shows.

Cool that John Water's Hairspray was the big winner.

I used to date models... The plastic kind...

Ed Burns and Christy Turlington were married in San Francisco Saturday in front of family and friends, including Sting and Vin Diesel, and Bono.

I wish them well, but seriously... How long d'ya think they got? Any bets?

Actress Kate Winslet and director Sam Mendes have also married during a holiday in the West Indies. Winslet's daughter Mia and three close friends attended the private ceremony. But no Bono, or Vin Diesel... Losers...

Hundreds show up for Hillary Clinton's book signing, and in a publicity stunt similar to Howard Stern's book signing Hillary was dressed up like a Woman.

I just read that Hollywood is remaking, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre",... oh I'm sure they'll make it better...

Last night I was taken to the UCLA Animation Workshop Film Festival of student work...

I was so exhausted, but I rather enjoyed all the films I saw. There is so mighty talented folk in that school.

I kept thinking about landmark school films of the past... Like George Lucas and his, "THX:1138:4EB: Electronic Labyrinth", Martin Scorcese's, "Who's That Knocking" and Steven Speilberg's, "Amblin", although I can't remember if that was infact a school project or not...

I wondered, just how hard will it be now for some young maverick to stand up above the din of all this talent out there now and be seen and voice heard?

The other night I had a horrible dream about me and my x-wife...

The dream itself seemed so mundane, but there was all this emotion behind all the minutiae of dull activities in the dream, however it was sad, depressing, and I awoke in a cold sweat to the sounds of yet another horrible fight next door. The couple was really going at it. There had to be blows made and taken in this bout.

I wondered if that sound while sleeping was what triggered me dreaming, or was it the phone call days before from my x's cousin Greg who I really dig? He calls from time to time to chat... We play phone tag quite a bit, but finally we talked. It's hard to maintain friendships with one's x's family and he's really my only contact.

I haven't spoken to my x in what seems to be a year, but probably hasn't been that long.

I haven't spoken to my friend who she moved in with in about that long as well. I just don't feel like putting anyone in a weird position of having to choose any sides... I'll just step aside.

After the UCLA Film Fest last night there was a big party for the students with lots of young female animation talent... I couldn't even stay in the same room... I had to leave. I just can't find it in me to even consider talking to another woman ever again...

If I'm ordering food at a restaurant and there's a waitress taking my order... I have to excuse myself and leave. I get the shakes, I start breaking out, and I begin to vomit violently.

Which leaves me with the latest project I'm starting tomorrow... I'm fasting again!

I'm doing my old fav, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, lemon and water mix cocktail... It's fastastic!

Who doesn't love shitting out hot peppered water?!!!

When I saw the Headline: Bullock Blocks Accused Stalker... I thought, "Isn't Jim J. Bullock dead?" But I guess Sandra has a stalker... Well who doesn't?

Six Flags theme park bans Manson!

A theme park in New York state has banned Marilyn Manson from performing on their grounds at an upcoming Ozzfest event.

I wish Six Flags would ban all the gangs I see hanging out in the parking lot when ever I try and visit.

If you pay to park and the ride you want is broken, they won't refund the price to park... What gives?

The day came to a nice end after a small plane crashed not far from where I was driving. The traffic was horrible. Two apartment buildings were in flames. People running. Talk of terrorism was being tossed around. For a bit I was worried...

I got an e-mail from World Famous Film Director Fred Olen Ray about being in a film of his... He wrote, Wanna play the doorman at our vampire Strip Club? -- Goth makeup.

Hey any chance I get to wear Goth Makeup, and I say, count me in...

It was amazing to hear about Luther Vandross' stroke-induced coma. I guess someone took him to a Brian Adams concert and now he's crawling out of it.

Filming on the long awaited "Star Wars: Episode III" is about to start, and you can watch the action through a WebCam set up on location at Fox Studios Australia.

You can preview the subscriber-only area of Starwars.com, for free through June 9 - from June 10 onwards, you'll have to pay $19.95 for access.

You can also watch the never-before-seen "Jedi Assault on the Droid Control Ship" from "Episode II" and the upcoming "Clone Wars," animated series.

From my friend at: http://www.mikeoliveri.com/

Want to see the very definition of someone having too much time on their hands?

Some guy took the original Star Wars flick and turned it into an animated ASCII feature. That's right -- everything is depicted with nothing but plain old text and symbols. I'm sure it's available on the web somewhere, but you can also access it via telnet. To see it, point your favorite telnet client to towel.blinkenlights.nl. If you don't know how to use telnet and you're using Windows, simply go to Start, click on run, and type "telnet towel.blinkenlights.nl" in the command box.

WASHINGTON (RNN)--The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that it has agreed to be acquired by Clear Channel Communications (CCU) of San Antonio, Texas.

In announcing the deal, FCC Chairman Michael Powell said "This transaction will greatly expedite the demise of the antiquated concept of local ownership of media outlets. Critics of deals such as this need to
understand that Clear Channel embodies all that is good and decent in the broadcast industry, and anyone that believes otherwise clearly isn't listening to the news."

In a statement issued today, Clear Channel CEO Lowry Mays said "This acquisition is a perfect strategic fit for Clear Channel. The FCC has been a wonderful business partner for the past several years, and has carried out our directions with great enthusiasm. We are proud to welcome the FCC into the Clear Channel family of companies."

Although terms of the deal were not immediately available, It is said that the acquisition will include all components, operating units and assets of the FCC, except for its soul, which was sold in a prior transaction to Satan, Inc. in 1996.

Clear Channel, which owns broadcast facilities, shopping malls, billboard advertising, and concert promotion units all across North America, has been on an acquisition binge for the past several years, and has recently broadened the scope of its acquisitions to include government entities. In a recent deal, CCU purchased a 50% interest in the U.S. Congress, and is reportedly close to striking a deal to purchase The White House.

Clear Channel already has been integrally running the George Bush presidency.

Clear Channel's Stock stood at $42.09 at the close of Monday's trading, up $1.39, or 3.42%

Yeah, I'd pick Atticus Finch and Hannibal Lecter.

I watched a little bit of the American Film Institute show last night before getting bored and passing out. They unveiled its top 50 movie heroes and villains of all time with Finch, the idealistic attorney of "To Kill a Mockingbird" played by Gregory Peck and serial killer Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter from "The Silence of The Lambs" leading their good/evil groupings.

Rounding out the top five heroes were Indiana Jones for "Raiders of the Lost Ark" in the No. 2 spot and James Bond 007 (Sean Connery) in the No. 3 spot for original Bond movie, "Dr. No."

The top five villains had killer Norman Bates of Alfred Hitchcock thriller "Psycho" in the No. 2 spot and The Wicked Witch of the West from 1939 classic "The Wizard of Oz" as No. 4.

Also Darth Vader from "The Empire Strikes Back" landed in the No. 3 spot, and mean Nurse Ratched in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Next" in the No. 5 position.

Those AFI things are a bit silly, but kinda fun.

I noticed today that L.A. Film Production Off 24 Percent from '02... Hello! Vancouver!

I was also saddened by the news of Pro Wrestler Freddie Blassie death at 85. I used to own a replica of Blassie's tights that I had specially made. I will never wear them again... Couldn't anyway. I was much younger when I had them made for me.

A seven-minute animated film dreamt up more than half a century ago by one of the most unlikely partnerships in history -- Walt Disney and Salvador Dali -- premiered in France.

"Destino", a 1946 project between the two men, had its world premiere at the opening of the Annecy animated film festival and is the world's top competitive festival of animated movies.

In 1946 Dali and Disney met and came up with the idea of making a film. Dali worked with John Hench for several months and they produced 20 seconds of animation plus a lot of sketches. Disney's finances were in catastrophic state at the time and the project was dropped.

In 1999, Roy Disney, Walt's nephew and head of Walt Disney Features Animation, stumbled on the notes and decided to finalise the project to give Disney back a bit of its history.

Russia's state-owned cartoon studio Soyuzmultfilm is seeking help for what it considers the illegal sale to a US company of the rights to more than 1,000 classic Soviet-era animation movies.

Soyuzmultfilm has applied to the Moscow Arbitration Court for a ruling annulling the 1992 sale of the rights of some 1,200 cartoons produced by the studio between 1936 and 1992 which director Ernst Rakhimov described as belonging to Russia's "national heritage."

Foreign distribution rights to the films are worth "between five and seven million dollars," Rakhimov said, challenging the legality of the sale of the rights to the US firm Films by Jove, formed by a former Soviet actor, Oleg Vidov, who had emigrated previously to the United States.

Vidov paid 500,000 dollars in the months after the collapse of the Soviet Union for 30-year lease on the rights to the films.

The deal was drawn up in obscure circumstances by the Russian government of the time with the company which then went under the name Soyuzmultfilm, according to the weekly magazine Ezhenedelny Zhurnal, which added that the current government was seeking to recover the rights.

Rakhimov however rejected the magazine's version of events, and insisted that the Soyuzmultfilm of 1992 -- the company was reconstituted in 1999 -- "was not the legal owner of the rights to the studio's production, and had even less right to sell the rights."

The old Soyuzmultfilm simply "had the use of the buildings and studio facilities," he said.

Rakhimov said that the money paid under the terms of the contract that stipulated Soyuzmultfilm and the movies' writers should receive 39 percent of Films by Jove's profits had brought in "not a kopek."

The plaintiffs have accused the company's former director, Igor Skulyabin, of withholding the money and absconding to the United States.

Rakhimov insisted that the new company, formed on the initiative of then president Boris Yeltsin, was the legal owner of the rights to the films and said he had sought redress from Films by Jove.

However the US firm failed to respond to a summons by a Russian court to appear in court on May 28, he said.

It's so sad when cartoons become victims of crime.

It's best maybe to just make your own cartoons in the corner of your favorite book so you can flip the pages, and never sell'em to anyone... Hell, don't even show 'em to anyone, unless you think it'll help you get laid.

There seems to be some interest lately in my Radio Show...

The ratings and hits have really peaked. I've received many e-mails about purchasing the rights to some interviews and using them in other mediums. I dom't know about doing that...

I have some interviews lined up that I am really looking forward to doing.

I wish that I could get my show back up on the air here in Los Angeles, but I 'll just have to wait I guess.

I saw an interesting A&E Biography on Ben Stiller. Man, that guy really is driven... I know he drives me crazy.

I love his mom and dad! I remember watching them as a kid. My older brothers were into that Greenwich Village style comedy. We used to have all sorts of records of comics you'd find on Playboy After Hours and in Village Cafes. I guess it all seeped in to me.

One of my favorites, Jonathan Winters lives just down the street from me I'm told. Check his site out if you wish... He be funny!

I always thought Ben Stiller was older than me, maybe he is and lies about his age. I know I'm 29, so that makes him...

He seems to have the "Life" but it looks that he's really working to make it happen. One of the things his friend Jerry Stahl said was that Ben can't relax, he always has to be on the computer typing and writing... Always work. That's the hard part of being creative... Having what Stephen King calls, "Bum Glue" to keep your ass in the the chair while typing and creating. Woody Allen always said, "Just showing up is 99% on the deal."

I rarely show up, if ever...

I finally got around to seeing, "The Mighty Wind" or is it, "A Mighty Wind"? I can't remember. It was sweet and cute. Go see it.

"Finding Nemo" Hooks $70.6 Million, but not from me. Yet, anyway. My friend Aaron saw it because he's working on the new Dreamwork's, "Sharkslair", or is it, "Sharkslayer"? I can't remember. Seems weird that there are two similar films coming out like that... I hear that they're vastly different, yet similar.

Saturday night MTV awarded The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Spider-Man and 8 Mile.

Peter Jackson's adaptation scored Best Movie. The franchise's second installment lead the way with four golden popcorn trophies, including Best Action Sequence, On-screen Team (Elijah Wood and Sean Astin) and Virtual Performance for schizophrenic villain Gollum--a new category created because of the increase of special-effects performers.

Gollum appeared at the Shrine Auditorium event to snatch his precious trophy from the hands of actor Andy Serkis, who's voice and movements were used by animators to bring the computer character to life.

In his Michael Moore - like acceptance speech Gollum went on to trash everyone involved in making the movie, MTV and the audience.

Also Star Wars icon Yoda, who appeared on a giant screen to accept the award for Best Fight for his lightsaber battle opposite Christopher Lee.

"Hmmm. Grateful am I to this award receive. To win, I did not expect," said Yoda. "Promise myself cry I would not."

Another odd pairing of cartoonish speakers: Madeleine Albright, secretary of state under President Clinton, and Michael Moore, the author-filmmaker-large-guy who once referred to Clinton as a "sad, pathetic man."

The two featured non-CGI guests Yesterday at BookExpo America got along just great, thanks largely to one man they both oppose: President Bush.

Both she and Moore received standing ovations and both got big laughs criticizing Bush.

Moore spoke first, noting the success of his book "Stupid White Men" and mocking Bush for backing a tax cut that primarily helps the wealthy — namely Michael Moore.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I don't know what I'm going to do with all this money," said Moore, who quickly offered an idea. "I'm going to spend my entire tax cut to help defeat you next year."

Albright gave a candid speech, making a dig at her former boss. Albright also declared that war should be a "last resort," a belief she found lacking in the current administration.

"I'm very concerned about what is going on now and I am speaking out about it more and more," Albright said. "And I think Michael and I ought to go out there and be a tag team."

Mud wrestlers?

Composer Albert Sendrey, who contributed musical talent to 170 films, if not more, including "Guys and Dolls," has died. He was 91.

Sendrey died at the Motion Picture and Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills. That's really a place to visit if you want to talk with old Hollywood old-timers. Go Volunteer! Bedpans are a waiting!

Sendrey, wrote the music for Fred Astaire's classic ceiling dance in "Royal Wedding".

His TV credits included "Bonanza", who can forget that?

His music was great!

I just talked with my Niece Jennifer, who had a baby girl born on my Birthday... What timing! She named the lil'baby, Kendell Nikole Page... I'm not sure on the spelling, yet.

The funny thing is, she named her Kendell then, as she was getting dressed noticed the pads the nurses put on her to stop her bleeding were called "Kendell". Same spelling.

It's lucky she wasn't named "Kotex".

In the little town they live in, everyone has come by to visit. The town is just that small.

Here, I don't even know my Postal Person's name. I'd ask, but it'd be a different person every week. They seem to go "Postal" here a lot.