Jam Master Jay Dies

Terrible news. As everybody knows, Run DMC was one of the pioneering acts of hip hop. What is less known was that they were completely different from the shallow, chest-thumping, play-acting thugs that soon came to populate the rap scene. Very, very sad.

Unlike the others, Jam Master Jay stayed closed to his roots. While these other idiots make millions, Jay dedicated himself to improving the environment he came from. At least his peers have acknowledged his legacy.

Rest in peace man.

Media Frenzy Over the Sniper

Trust the Brits to come up with some calming perspective on this overheated coverage.

Click here to read the artcile.

My favorite news(!) channel theme: Search for the Sniper: Killer on the Loose."

Now you understand why Michael Moore's "Bowling for Columbine" is even more relevant.

Naomi Watts

Nice article about her.

One question, how can she date that idiot Heath Ledger? I mean, come on man. Heath Ledger.

Life is unfair.

The Ring Video!

That's right, the video you see that causes you to die in seven days...

Is right here.

See it if you dare!

Els Defeats Garica

Awesome week for The Big Easy. Now why is he so scared of El Gato? C'mon Ernie, you're a lot bigger than him, let's see you pull out the Masters next year.

"The Ring" is the No. 1 Movie!!

Still, if Dreamworks had opened it wider, it would have done a lot better. Please see it and tell your friends about it too. It's so rare when a quality movie sneaks out of mainstream Hollywood that by making it a hit we might, just might, see more of them. So, go see "The Ring" and tell your friends about it too.

You HAVE to see "Bowling for Columbine." It might be tougher to find it near you, but you must try. Love it or hate it, you will come out feeling refreshed that a film with this much cojones managed to be exhibited in these times. Once again, tell your friends, because, unlike most Hollywood films nowadays, this one cannot be dismissed. You may not agree with it, but it will roil your passions.

"Red Dragon," was actually quite good. I hate to say it, but it was better than the original, with the notable exception of Edward Norton as Will Graham. William Petersen really nailed that part in "Manhunter." Ralph Fiennes, especially is amazing. Check it out; again it's quality product.

"Sweet Home Alabama" and "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" just keep on motoring. Reese Witherspoon, welcome to the $20 million club. Nia Vardalos, not so fast.

"Formula 51" tanked, but a movie about Samuel L. Jackson as a genius pharmacologist, skulking around Liverpool in a kilt, with Begbie from "Trainspotting," and Meatloaf playing someone called The Lizard, being chased by a cute-as-a-button hitwoman played by (the gorgeous) Emily Mortimer, directed by a Hong Kong action director responsible for the "The Bride of Chucky." Please, this one defies all description. Check it out on DVD when it comes out, oh, three weeks from now.

Is Country Still Country?

This is still one of my pet peeves. I guess I am becoming a bit of a curmedgeon but give me the old guys anyday. Nice article, it's all about the money. I guess the Dixie Chicks are a good common ground though.

Garcia to meet Els in Match Play final

Big names battling it out, only one goes through, what more could you ask for?. The easy Disney course highlights exactly what is wrong with the PGA tour here. Hopefully, you'll be able to watch Els and Garcia battling it out.

Queen Honored with Hollywood Star

Freddie Mercury's legacy lives on.

Let's hope the musical makes its way Stateside.

Chris Carter Comes Out of Retirement

Even though his exit and subsequent job-hunt was less than graceful, Carter should still be a welcome addition to the 5-1 Miami Dolphins.

Go Ricky!

HALLOWEEN!

This is pretty spooky.

Apparently the owners of this house had been seeing images and hearing voices for quite a while. They did some research and found that a lady once lived in the house who lost her husband during the civil war. Legend says that she used to sit at the table and look across the fields in anticipation of her loved one returning home. He never came. So, they say she still waits. They caught this photo (using digital imaging and a separate sound recording) of what they claim to be her. This one is wild and a little spooky once you find the ghost in the picture. It took me a few seconds to find it, but when you do, it just stands out. Like one of those optical illusions.

To save you some time, concentrate around the table and sort of towards the window. It takes one to two minutes before you can focus in on it,so don't be impatient, but you'll eventually see it.

Turn on your speakers so you can hear what sounds the owners of this historic home hear!

Click here, if you dare!

Films With War Themes Are Victims of Bad Timing

Excellent article in the New York Times.

Too bad, I was looking forward to the film and had hoped for its commerical success.

Anyway, you can always buy the most excellent book the movie was based on.

Sniper may or may not be Al Qaeda

I sh*t you not, man. The other day I heard some Law Enforcement remark that the DC Sniper was probably not part of Al Qaeda.

You gotta be kidding me.

On top of that, US Senators have been warned that they might be targeted by Al Qaeda snipers while playing golf.

Golf. While playing golf.

I am not kidding you, this is true. Check it out for yourself here.

Giants v Angels

Okay, first of all, no one, but no one predicted this one. If this year's World Series shows you anything, it is this: sportswriters in America are morons.

These guys get paid tons of money for writing crap about sports that are more circus sideshows than anything else, yet always end up with egg on their faces.

At the beginning of the NFL season most writers agreed with a fair amount of certainty that the St. Louis Rams would win the Super Bowl. Then the team started 0-5. Watching a Monday Night Football I swore I heard John Madden compare the New England Patriots' Tom Brady to Joe Montana. Then they lost three in a row. What about MLB? Let's see, the names that were bandied about were the Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, and the Oakland A's. All these teams were slapped away in the first round by teams that had been on the verge of self-destruction (Giants), sale (Angels) and extinction (the Minnesota Twins).

And so it goes.

I hope the Giants win. I don't much like Barry Bonds, but there is no getting around the fact that this guy is on a different planet. Still, for all you Angels lovers out there, chew on this. I am sure it will make for interesting reading. At the very least, JT Snow was incredibly gracious in defeat, even while being interviewed a few moments after their victory, before he could collect himself.

Me? I'm going to make myself tea and settle in with some Peter Dobereiner and PG Wodehouse.

Now these were sportswriters.

Trigger-happy West Indies face tall order

Srinath and Harbhajan Singh turned in impressive all-round performances to push the West Indies closer to defeat in the second Test against India here on Saturday. Fast bowler Srinath (2 for 16) and offspinner Harbhajan gave a good account of themselves as lower-order batsmen before sharing three wickets to reduce the West Indies to 186 for 4 at stumps on the third day at the Chidambaram Stadium.

The tourists were just 37 runs ahead, with their slim hopes of setting a stiff fourth-innings target largely depending on Ramnaresh Sarwan. Sarwan was batting on a solid 62, hitting Harbhajan for two sixes during his 14th Test half-century in 26 matches.

India were all out for 316 in reply to their opponents' 167 before grabbing four big wickets to strengthen their chances of clinching their first Test series against the West Indies in 23 years. Indian tailenders (of all people!) Srinath (39), Harbhajan (37) and Parthiv Patel (23) made merry in overcast conditions to help their team add 110 under lights in the extended morning session after resuming at 190 for 5.

THE RING!!

This is one of the scariest movies I have ever seen. In an era where mainstrean Hollywood has reached new lows even by its own reduced standards, this film stands out all the more for its craft, verve, and wit. While it is unable, finally, to escape its genre constraints (something the vaunted M. Night Shyamalan failed to do in a spectacular degree with "Signs") it still delivers on the promised chills and scares one expects -- the surprise is that it does so with almost no blood and gore.

The result: you have a movie that caused me to sleep with my lights on for two weeks.

Click here to check local listings. See it today!!