"Read this. Just... just read this."

http://www.thedigitalcourier.com/articles/2005/05/24/news/news01.txt Thanks, Civilian for the link.

Wanted: Darth Vader

Darth Vader is on the lam. But this time, Yoda, Obi-Wan and Luke are not doing the hunting. Someone impersonating the Dark Lord of the Sith (i.e., a guy in a Darth Vader helmet) held up a movie theater in Springfield, Illinois, USA, and made off with a Death Star-sized load of credits. The Darth doppelganger, who apparently blended right in with other moviegoers attending Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith at the Showplace Eight Theater around 9:15 p.m. Saturday, was not armed; even with a lightsaber, according to Springfield Police Department. Using the force (the brute kind) he pushed an employee away from the register and snashed the case. The police doesn't know how much was taken. He was outside for awhile lurking around and then he took the opportunity to go inside and basically just grabbed the cash and ran. The manager at Showplace Eight refused to comment, as did Lucasfilm. But Anakin's evil alter ego is suddenly a one-Sith crime spree and seemingly moving at light-speed. In a copycat case, the Orlando Sentinel reports that a man disguised in a Dark Vader mask, Star Wars T-shirt and black pants, robbed a pizza delivery man in Kissimmee, Florida, on Sunday night. According to Osceola police, someone phoned in an order with Pizza Best and delivery driver Alfred Santos took the call. Upon making the delivery, Santos told investigators that the masked man pulled out a stun gun and zapped the driver when he refused to hand over his cash. Santos was okay and did not require medical treatment. Once again, however, the Darth disguisee managed to elude the law. Joshua Griffin, who runs fan site TheForce.net, worries that such Vader sightings might give a bad name to real Star Wars fans. "We trust an isolated incident like [the Illinois theater heist] won't prevent fans that like to attend the movies in costume to be stopped at the door," he said in a post. Because as any good Jedi can tell you, fear is the path to the dark side... Anyway, I think this guy is the culprit. Search your feelings, man, you know it to be true.

Looney Apologizes: (Muslims) Back in Action

Have you guys heard this yet? Muslims in Afghanistan gave Washington three days to offer a response to a Newsweek story that claimed the Islamic holy book was desecrated at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay (but the magazine apologized Sunday for the report) which prompted deadly riots across Afghanistan last week. Reaction across the Islamic world has been strong (except Malaysia) with daily demonstrations since the May 9 story came out. At least 15 people died in Afghanistan after protests broke out Tuesday following the report that interrogators at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, placed Qurans in washrooms to unsettle suspects and in one case "flushed a holy book down the toilet." Many of the 520 inmates at Guantanamo are Muslims arrested during the US-led war in Afghanistan. In both Afghanistan and Pakistan, insults to the Quran and Islam's prophet, Muhammad, are regarded as blasphemy and punishable by death. "The American soldiers are known for disrespect to other religions. They do not take care of the sanctity of other religions," Qazi Hussain Ahmed, the Pakistani chief (or shoulda been just chef) of a coalition of radical Islamic groups, said Sunday. Ahmed's comments came a day after Pakistan's President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz (both allies of Washington. Dumb punks!) demanded an investigation and punishment for those behind the reported desecration of the Quran. In Afghanistan, Islamic scholars and tribal elders called for the punishment of anyone found to have abused the Quran, said Maulawi Abdul Wali Arshad, head of the religious affairs department in Badakhshan province. Arshad and the provincial police chief said the scholars met in Faizabad, 310 miles northeast of the capital, Kabul, and demanded a "reaction" from U.S. authorities within three days. But Newsweek apologized in an editor's note for Monday's edition and said they were re-examining the allegations. "We regret that we got any part of our story wrong and extend our sympathies to victims of the violence and to the U.S. soldiers caught in its midst," Newsweek Editor Mark "Stupid" Whitaker wrote. Newsweek's source later said he was unsure about the origin of the Quran allegation and a top Pentagon spokesman told the magazine that the military "had investigated other desecration charges by detainees and found them 'not credible.'" Meanwhile, George W. "Stupid is an understatement" Bush's national security adviser said Sunday the allegation was being investigated "vigorously." "If it turns out to be true, obviously we will take action against those responsible, Stephen Hadley said in an interview for CNN's "Late Edition." Ahmed, the religious leader in Pakistan, said Islamic groups in Pakistan, Egypt, Britain and Turkey would hold protests on May 27 against the alleged desecration. Lebanon's most senior Shiite Muslim cleric on Sunday said the reported desecration of the Quran is part of an American campaign aimed at disrespecting and smearing Islam. Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah urged Muslims and international human rights organizations "to raise their voices loudly against the American behavior, which is hostile to Islam and Muslims." In a statement faxed to The Associated Press, Fadlallah called the alleged desecration a "brutal" form of torture. "This act is not an individual act carried out by an American soldier, but rather it is part of the American behavior of intellectual and psychological education in disrespecting Islam and smearing its image in the souls of Americans," Fadlallah said. So Pak Lah, what do you make of all this? Buat donno or just... well, buat donno jugak in order to maintain the so-called peace (of shit)? Or you will go like... "This is horrible. We, muslims will prevail!" And then you'll go on playing golf with the cronies.

I Just Watched Revenge of the Sith, Maaannn!!!

I had the chance to visit an early screening at GSC Mid Valley and I was very nervous. I personally am more of a fan of the original trilogy than what I have been of the prequels. Although I did enjoy TPM and AOTC, they definitely were not as well done as A New Hope or Empire Strikes Back. I think the general criticisms of the first two prequels was lack of good story and poor acting. I would like to say that the acting is much better in Revenge of the Sith than the first two prequels but what truly stood out in this movie was the story. It was delivered perfectly, for the first time since Empire, Lucas connected emotionally with his audience. The last hour of the movie was especially powerful. Although probably not planned, I think this movie will be the bridge that brings the old star wars sheep back into the fold. Just as Anakin eventually brings balance to the force, Revenge of the Sith will bring balance back to the Star Wars Universe. Check out my actual review later this evening!