Wow - my old bones are creaking with excitement. I can't hardly wait.

TWO - COUNT'EM - TWO Phantasm movies are coming out this fall.

Photo: Silver Sphere Corporation, Fair Use 

The first is a remastered version of the original Phantasm that came out in 1979. Fittingly, it's called Phantasm:Remastered.  And if that isn't good enough news, the remaster has been put together by none other than J.J. Abrams, of Star Wars and Star Trek fame! Wow! Apparently he's a bigger fan than me!

The second is a brand new film, Phantasm:Ravager. The few hints I've seen of that one have me drooling with anticipation.

You can find a lot more info on the 2 films at this link: Phantasm films to be released this fall

I first saw Phantasm at a midnight sneak preview at a now defunct theater in Westwood, California with two friends. We had no idea what the flick was about, but were blown away as each minute unfolded.

And then...

AND THEN!!!!!!!...

Right before the movie ended, I happened to look up above us. We were sitting just below the balcony and to my astonishment, one of the silver spheres was just hanging there, right above my head. The final scene of the movie happened - who can forget that shock?!?! - and suddenly, the sphere above me started flying across the audience toward the stage. There was a loud explosion of smoke and light, people started screaming, and behind the curtain, on stage, Angus Scrimm appeared, pointed at the audience, and snarled at the top of his lungs, "BOY-Y-Y-Y-Y!!!!"

Man, that is moviemaking! THAT is how you make a lifelong fan of a franchise to be!

Can't wait!

Check your pantries - you might have an E.coli monster living in there

Worried about the food supply? You should be. General Mills has been selling people flour and cake mixes laced with E.coli bacteria. About fifty people have gotten sick, more than a dozen hospitalized, and one person developed kidney failure.

From flour and cake mix...

CAKE MIX - ARE YOU FRIGGING KIDDING ME?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Here's a link for more information with details from CDC, USFDA, and General Mills, who distributed the flour and cake mix nationwide.

General Mills Flour and Cake Mix Recall

Become the Alfred Hitchcock or Michael Mann of Climate Change!

Now, I know I have some friends who like to think they're the next Hitchcock, Coppola, or Mann, just to drop a few names. I think most of them have a ways to go, but, hell, who am I to say?

Anyway, I also know that some of them believe climate scientists who have told us we have a BIG problem with global warming, or climate change, or whatever the hell you want to call it.

So they may be interested in this film competition dealing with climate change.

Click on the video below for more info or this link: film4climate.net

Prizes include $8,000 in cash and more. The jury of filmmakers and politicos who will be judging everything are led by none other than famed director Bernardo Bertolucci!

Entries should be submitted to the above link by September 15, 2016. Winners will be announced at COP 22 in Morocco.


Film4Climate Competition Teaser from Connect4Climate on Vimeo.

Old links to Examiner.com posts don't work anymore - sorry about that

So, just so you don't get pissed at me, some of the stuff I posted here before have links that don't work correctly anymore.

The ones that don't are those linked to articles in Examiner.com. Well, they went out of business on July 10, 2016 and instead of archiving the articles so people could still read them, the owner, AXS, decided not to do that.

So now, if you scroll through this site and see something you might want to read in more detail, the Examiner link will take you to something totally unrelated on AXS.com.

Sorry about that - I had nothing to do with it.

You ain't gonna be driving that Tesla to your job at McDonald's anytime soon

Ok, now listen up. This next link is about energy usage, fossil fuels, renewable energy, climate change, global warming - all that stuff. Over 97% of the people who know what they're talking about - climate scientists - say global warming is caused by humans. Don't waste my time telling me they are wrong - unless you have actively published in peer reviewed journals something that disputes that notion, then you don't know shit about what you are talking about. You're either a Republican in bed with an oil company or you're just a dumbass!

Photo: California Air Resources Board, Fair Use

Anyway, the way to combat climate change is to increase the use of renewable energy and to decrease the use of fossil fuels. Simple right? The folks hawking solar panels will tell you that's all ya gotta do, that and maybe buy some of Elon Musk's $100,000 Tesla's to drive to your job at McDonald's instead of that 10 year old Toyota Corolla with the bad tires that you have.

Well folks, despite the hype, it ain't gonna happen anytime soon. Here's the real scoop, based on a report from the EIA and a recent article by some folks who believe in renewables and that climate change is real.

Just click on the link:

https://environalysis.blogspot.com/2016/07/will-our-fossil-fuel-addiction-still.html

ARB rejects VW, Audi, and Porsche recall plans for 3.0 liter diesel emission cheating scandal

ARB just rejected the recall plans submitted by VW, Audi, and Porsche for their 3.0 diesel engines that were part of the infamous emission control cheating scandal. Read more at the following link:

https://environalysis.blogspot.com/2016/07/volkswagenaudiporsche-recall-plans-for.html

Photo: Audi advertising campaign, Fair use

Climate change has changed the clouds too

Apparently, Climate Change or Global Warming or whatever the hell you want to call it, has caused clouds to move from where they used to be to somewhere else. The cloud tops have even gotten higher.

Read the story at the following link for more info:

https://environalysis.blogspot.com/2016/07/clouds-arent-where-they-used-to-be.html

Photo: F. Maccioli

Climate Change and the Amazon rainforest - a history

If you are one of the brain dead knuckleheads who don't believe anthropogenic climate change is real and happening (duh - that means it's caused by humans!), then you need to view the presentation in the attached link. It's all about the Amazon rainforest and the changes that have been made over the years that have screwed up a lot of things in Brazil and the rest of the world.

(And if you ARE one of the smart people who know climate change is real, you might want to view this as well. It's very well done and informative.


“At first I thought I was fighting to save rubber trees, then I thought I was fighting to save the Amazon rain forest. Now I realize I am fighting for humanity.” – Chico Mendes, environmentalist and union leader who was murdered by those opposed to his activities.

Photo: Council on Foreign Relations, Fair Use

 Click on the following link to see the entire presentation:

AmazonDeforestation

Environmental Justice Advisory Committee to hold climate change advisory workshops

A series of public workshops to obtain input on addressing air pollution and how to help California meet its 2030 greenhouse gas reduction goals will be held this month across California.

A key goal of the workshops is to engage California residents from low income and minority communities that have historically had the most exposure to air pollution.

More info at the following link:

https://environalysis.blogspot.com/2016/07/environmental-justice-advisory.html

Photo: California Air Resources Board, Fair Use