Not in Kansas Anymore?

Wealthy adventurer, endurance sport enthusiast, and Wizard of Oz wanna-be Steve Fossett is missing somewhere in the Nevada desert.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/04/fossett.missing/index.html

Fossett is perhaps best known for flying around the world (from Australia to Australia, or Oz to Oz) alone in a balloon back in 2002, traveling 20,626 miles in just under 15 days. Oddly, Mr. Fossett used Salina, Kansas as the departure point for several of his earlier record attempts at balloon navigation.

"For the Love of God"

Artist Damien Hirst is back in the news...Beverly Stringer at Exploring The Mysterious brought Mr. Hirst to our attention back on Aug. 21st with the following article

http://exploringthemysterious.blogspot.com/2007/08/massive-virgin-mary-statue-naked.html

It appears now he's moved up the ladder a few more rungs after netting $100 Million for his Platinum & Diamond encrusted skull called "For the Love of God"

Artist Damien Hirst’s platinum cast of a human skull, titled “For the Love of God,” is covered with 8,601 ethically sourced diamonds. Forensic experts concluded it was male, probably of European origin and about 35 years old at the time of death. Radiocarbon analysis suggests that he lived sometime between 1720 and 1810.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20517869/?GT1=10252

The "objet d'art" sold to an "investment group" (wonder what that list of names looks like?) who claim they will in turn sell it at some point...I wonder what the skull will be used for in the meantime? The Templars had a certain habit of communing with craniums back in the day if I'm not mistaken...

For more on Hirst, you can check him out via his Gallery "White Cube" (interesting)
http://www.whitecube.com/artists/hirst/

Get "Well" Kentroversy

For those who have not heard yet, Kent Daniel Bentkowski aka Kentroversy had a most horrific medical situation this month. He is doing much better, and everyone will be hearing from him soon, I am glad to report.

In dedication to Kent and 117 Year Old Birthday boy H.P. Lovecraft (Aug. 20th) on this eve of the Lovecraft Roundtable Podcast recording on Occult of Personality (Greg we ALL thank you) I provide you with a teaser...

From Rod Sterling's under-appreciated "Night Gallery" TV show an INCREDIBLE segment entitled "Professor Peabody's Last Lecture" starring Carl Reiner.

Alternative 3

This 1977 (Originally to air April 1st the broadcast was delayed until June) UK TV special edition of "Science Report" was announced as a "War of the Worlds" type hoax after it created much anxiety.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_3

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075664/

In 1978 a book was released by Leslie Watkins which further examined the story of Alternative 3

http://www.theforbiddenknowledge.com/hardtruth/alternative_3_pt1.htm
http://www.theforbiddenknowledge.com/hardtruth/alternative_3_pt2.htm
http://www.theforbiddenknowledge.com/hardtruth/alternative_3_pt3.htm
http://www.theforbiddenknowledge.com/hardtruth/alternative_3_pt4.htm

Compelling 30 years later. Disinformation or Predictive Programming? Either way, a brilliant piece with original music by Brian Eno.

Up, up and Away

Balloons have been a topic of some importance this summer...sadly, tragic events happen.

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/250544

2 Dead, 11 injured

007 himself Daniel Craig appeared in the film "Enduring Love" just two years ago which could almost mirror the events of this past weekend. Daniel appears in "The Invasion"

http://peeringthrough.blogspot.com/2007/08/invasion-begins-today.html currently with the former Mrs. Cruise, and again in the upcoming "The Golden Compass" a film of some note which Ben Fairhall writes about recently.

http://the-daily-behemoth.blogspot.com/2007/08/golden-compass.html


New child STAR Dakota Blue Richards...Dakota "War of the Worlds" Fanning stars with Tom Cruise, The "Dakota" in N.Y. which was the death site of John Lennon, and birth site of Rosemary's Baby. Director Roman Polanski's wife Sharon Tate was murdered at the hands of the Manson Family, Manson had been a Scientologist...and suggested that the Beatles were speaking to him via their music. Helter Skelter.

Enduring Love

Review by David Stratton

‘Enduring Love’ begins on a peaceful summer day in the English countryside which turns to tragedy when a man dies in a ballooning accident.

Among the witnesses are Joe, (Daniel Craig), an academic who was picnicking with his girlfriend, Claire, (Samantha Morton), and Jed, (Rhys Ifans). Over the non-religious Joe's objections, Jed insists they pray for the dead man.

Back in London, Joe becomes more and more discomfited by the unsettling presence of Jed, who phones him, visits his flat, and follows him wherever he goes.

Jed is insistent that Joe loves him, Joe is so frustrated and intimidated by the situation that his relationship with Claire begins to suffer. A visit to the dead man's widow reveals that she suspects her husband was having an affair.

Joe Penhall's adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel follows the original closely until the end, when there's a sharp deviation.

This may annoy anyone who's read the book, though it has the seal of approval of McEwan himself, who is credited as the film's associate producer.

The ending aside, this is a gripping story of obsession, in which Rhys Ifans gives his best screen performance yet as the deranged and seemingly unstoppable Jed.

It's a horror film, really, but a very realistic one which deals with everyday events and relationships and then adds a wild card in the form of a madman who just won't go away.

O Superman

Harkening back to my article of July 10th, 2007 entitled "Foxes, Fires and the Art of War: or "Are foxes guarding the hen house?" many of you will surely be aware of the upcoming motion picture "Valkryie", which deals with the 1944 Plot to assassinate Adolph Hitler. The film stars Tom Cruise (pictured left in costume) as Col. Claus von Stauffenberg. The basic plot is as follows:

At the height of WW2, a group of high-ranking German officers hatched a plot to assasinate Adolf Hitler, and seize power of the military command in order to end the war. The operation was codenamed "Valkyrie", for the emergency plan that was meant to be used in case of a revolt against the Nazi government. This plan had been modified by the conspirators to ensure their success, but for various reasons the plot failed when finally carried out on 20 July 1944. The conspirators of the inner circle were shot after a kangaroo trial or sentenced to death soon after.

The filming has created a tremendous amount of controversy (which should translate well at the Box Office). Germans have been troubled by a film that glorifies Nazis, and Tom Cruise's belief in Scientology has equally been bothersome as Scientology is considered a Cult in Germany. On 8/18/2007 an accident took place on the set, and "11" (any of you numbers experts out there, I'd be curious to get your take on these numbers) extras were injuried.

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/08/20/ap4035597.html

The director of "Valkryie" is Bryan Singer, who brought us "X-Men" & "X2", "Apt Pupil" (another film of Nazi content), he served as executive producer of the 2005 TV mini-series "The Triangle", he also brought us UberMench "Superman Returns" as well as the upcoming "Superman: Man of Steel" . I am certainly not suggesting that Singer (who is both Jewish and openly gay) is a Nazi but he certainly has a fascination with them, and many themes which the Nazis' themselves were interested. The following quote from his wikipedia page is interesting, and also supports my statement.

"In 1998, Singer directed Apt Pupil, from a screenplay written by Brandon Boyce, another of his friends. The story, adapted from a Stephen King novella of the same name (collected in the book Different Seasons), tells of a young boy who develops a morbid fascination with a Nazi war criminal. An experience from Singer's childhood, where he and his friends briefly formed a "Nazi Club", is often cited as attracting him to this project (Singer said this club was born not out of anti-Semitism but rather due to the kids' fascination with World War II)."

For more on Hollywood, Scientology, and actors/actresses check out this FAQ

http://home.snafu.de/tilman/faq-you/celeb.txt

There is also an interesting article at Sabrina's Journey that deals with Scientology entitled "You can check out any time you like..."

The World According to Smirnoff

The advertising at Smirnoff sure does seem to be geared towards them having some "truths" or "knowledge" about the world we live in (because they distill 10 Times?)...Purity, eugenics and an elite master race being thrown in the face of their own customer base...bottle after bottle. Seeing CLEARLY (sure we all do after a few shots of Vodka, right?), Perfection...





Or how about a Smirnoff bloodline to the ruling classes (or perhaps the spread of the RED Wave of Communism?).