Let's hope this originated with the vigorously-fact-checked reportage of Michael Isikoff:

Great news for 'Star Wars' fans - a seventh blockbusting film is being planned for the series.

...

A movie insider said: "George believes there are even more stories to tell.
"His latest idea would feature an almost all-new cast, apart from the Jedi master Yoda, who would be the hero of the new movie.".

Making Yoda, the tiny green Jedi master, the hero would be a popular move with 'Star Wars' fans.

The character, voiced by Frank Oz, trained Luke Skywalker to defeat Darth Vader and is a cult hero among devotees.

Umm, no he's not. He was a funny and mysterious and enjoyable little character in Empire. He's okay in small doses. But I think I speak for a lot of "devotees" when I say that I'm sick to death of Yoda.

He's the new Jar-Jar.

I'm about as psyched for further Star Wars prequels as I am for Willow prequels.

Maybe Lucas can do a Baby Willow Heroes film, featuring an infant Madmartigan or something, who twirls swords in between blowing spit-bubbles and pooping his pants.

That might suck less than the latest batch of stinkers.

Thanks to Ogre Gunner.

Posted by: Ace at 10:11 AM | Comments (34)
Post contains 234 words, total size 1 kb.

Pixy Misa, host of this domain (also known to me as Mr. Pixy Misa), thoroughly rips an anti-American screen appearing -- where else? -- Al-Newsweek.

But not in the American edition; oh, no. This bit of anti-American incitement is intended only for foreign consumption, appearing it its interenational edition.

Pixy slices like an f'n' hammer:

The truth is that Americans are living in a dream world. Not only do others not share America's self-regard, they no longer aspire to emulate the country's social and economic achievements.

Well, yeah, we noticed that. Anti-Americanism goes hand-in-hand with social and economic dysfunction.

The loss of faith in the American Dream goes beyond this swaggering administration and its war in Iraq.

Fuck you too, Newsweek.

A man after my own heart. And isn't it time to retire the "swaggering" cliche? Aren't paid writers supposed to be on the look-out for cliches that have been used so many times as to have been drained of all meaning whatsoever?

Countries today have dozens of political, economic and social models to choose from.

Most of which have been proven not to work.

Anti-Americanism is especially virulent in Europe and Latin America, where countries have established their own distinctive ways—none made in America.

That is a bizarrely twisted statement.

America didn't invent democracy or free markets, though it did give them some unprecedented guarantees in its Constitution. Since the year that document was signed, France has changed its form of government - not just the ruler or leader, but the very nature of the government itself - twelve times.

The made-in-America product seems to be somewhat more reliable than what many European countries have managed, with the exception perhaps of Britain. I won't even mention Latin America.

Futurologist Jeremy Rifkin, in his recent book "The European Dream," hails an emerging European Union based on generous social welfare, cultural diversity and respect for international law—a model that's caught on quickly across the former nations of Eastern Europe and the Baltics.

Along with high taxes, high unemployment, low economic growth, negative population growth.

In Asia, the rise of autocratic capitalism in China or Singapore is as much a "model" for development as America's scandal-ridden corporate culture.

Yes, who needs civil rights?

The funny thing of course is that this cocksucker goes on to rip Americans for not guaranteeing "civil rights" he holds precious -- guaranteed minimum salary, working or not (i.e., the dole), the "right" to be free of the death penalty, etc.

And yet he also praises the "models" of China and Singapore... far more autocratic and draconian regimes than ours, of course.

How can it be that he thinks countries with (he alleges) more civil "rights" than America are better than America, and that those countries with less civil rights are also better than America?

Well, you don't really need to be consistent when all you want to do is knock America for everyfuckingthing.

I have to join with 72 Repetitions on this -- the right must boycott. If you're still subscribing to Newsweek, you're enabling these bastards.

Posted by: Ace at 09:57 AM | Comments (9)
Post contains 522 words, total size 4 kb.

Fake, but also inaccurate.

I'm sure they'll have some reason why fake-but-also-inaccurate stories are important and vital to run, though. Something like "While the story was fake but also inaccurate, it does 'raise important questions' about 'troubling rumors' the administration is 'stonewalling' on."

Posted by: Ace at 09:36 AM | Comments (6)
Post contains 53 words, total size 1 kb.

Anyone who watched comedy in the early eighties knew Bob Saget to be one of the dirtiest comics working in the business. Which made his squeaky-clean turns in Full House and America's Funniest Videos a little odd.

Seriously-- at one point, Bob Saget was quite funny.

A nice article about his days as the Jewish Redd Foxx. With this fun quote from the libertarian-leaning, liberal-pablum-hating (but also annoyingly motormouthed) Penn Jilette of Penn & Teller:

Content warning; go to the jump to read.

more...

Posted by: Ace at 09:10 AM | Comments (9)
Post contains 298 words, total size 2 kb.

As I've said, Grammer is perfect for the Beast's intellectual side. All the nimbleness and stuff can be faked or trained; I don't think Rebecca Romaijn was a master martial-artist before her turn as Mystique, either.

Church is rumored to be playing one of Spidey's lamer villains, The Sandman. The Sandman was the original villian in James Cameron's "scriptment" (script/treatment) for the original. Why he keeps popping up in these pre-script brainstorming sessions I don't know; okay, he can turn to sand, big f'n' deal.

The only worse Spidey villain is Hydroman (who can turn into... water) or maybe the useless Vulture.

One of Spiderman's cooler foes, The Shocker, never seems to get mentioned by anyone, even though he looks cool and has cool powers.

Topher might be playing anyone, from Venom (no way) to Mysterio to Electro.

I say Electro. And I say let Church play Mysterio. He's got the voice for it. Anyone remember Mysterio's voice from the old good Spiderman cartoon? I think Church could do that.

Thanks to Chickpea.

Posted by: Ace at 09:01 AM | Comments (14)
Post contains 213 words, total size 1 kb.

See the update to Instapundit's post on the matter; Howard Kurtz emails to correct the "misimpression" that the report has susbstantiated the Newsweek story.

Thanks to the National Journal's Blogometer.

Update: So, the Newsweek story was unconfirmed. Oddly enough, it turns out that the story about those 15-17 Afghans killed in the riots was unconfirmed, too, although the MSM (and bloggers, too) ran with it.

LGF asks: where are the bodies? And no one seems to be producing them.

Posted by: Ace at 08:47 AM | Comments (5)
Post contains 95 words, total size 1 kb.

That's not the formal charge, but that is the gist of the complaint.

Despite prosecutors' attempts to get the whole matter dismissed -- even the prosecutors want nothing to do with this! -- the trial of former-leftist, now pro-American, pro-war, anti-Muslim extremism writer Oriana Falacci will go forward. She's accused of "insulting Islam" and inciting hatred of a religion.

There must be a dozen venomously anti-Catholic books published in Europe every year, but I haven't heard about any trials for those.

Europe, despite its pretenses, is not a very free society at all.

Posted by: Ace at 08:43 AM | Comments (7)
Post contains 113 words, total size 1 kb.

As VodkaPundit notes, if Newsweek can traffic in unsubstantiated rumors, why not us?

Posted by: Ace at 08:28 AM | Comments (8)
Post contains 21 words, total size 1 kb.

Okay, this is my last Star Wars related post for quite a while. I didn't even like the movie, for crying out loud.

But go here to see a new (-ish?) rejiggering of the Star Wars Kid footage.

Posted by: Ace at 02:09 PM | Comments (20)
Post contains 50 words, total size 1 kb.

He told two advancing insurgents -- in Arabic -- to halt. They did not. So he shot the sons-a-bitches dead.

He was charged with murder -- apparently based on the tip of a fellow soldier with a grudge against him -- and potentially faced the death penalty.

But finally charges have been dropped against Lt. Ilario Pantano.

Co-host Karol has an interesting nugget to add as well:

New York Magazine featured a story on Pantano recently and []they tried to make him seem like a nut[,] writing that when Pantano saw the towers fall in NY it was 'as if he were a sleeper cell remotely activated' as he rejoined the military...

But they support our troops, of course. Don't they keep telling you so?

And... She also hosted this week's Carnival of the Vanities, going around the blogosphere in 71 links... and made sure to plug our show at the top of the run-down. God bless her mercenary heart.

Only Vaguely Related Update: Lt. Pantano would probably get along fine at this police department.

I have no idea if that photo is doctored or real. But I like it.

Posted by: Ace at 01:49 PM | Comments (13)
Post contains 200 words, total size 1 kb.