The Weird, Whimsical and Wicked

PART TWO IN A CONTINUING SERIES

Here's some more interesting and downright goofy stuff I found surfing the web recently.

Please shed many tears for those courageous persons who run porno websites. Apparently, they're having problems reconciling their careers with their new lives as responsible parents, PTA leaders and everyday community residents. As this story tells us:

"Despite the fact that online porn remains incredibly popular, plenty of stigma remains. Some blame it on the conservative federal government, and others on the actions of 'extreme' pornographers who embrace violence and attract prosecutors.

Then, of course, there are cultural constraints. 'Am I going to join the chamber of commerce in my city? No,' said 'Madam,' who runs the porn site ****** and lives in North Texas. 'With our present government, it's making it harder for us to say, 'Yeah, I'm a pornmaster.'"

Plenty of stigma remains? Harder to admit you're a "pornmaster"? Good.

Can someone who claims to understand and follow the Islamic faith please tell me how in the world anyone justifies this atrocity?

In other religious news, there's a debate raging in the entertainment world. Has sweet Katie Holmes, the former "devout" Catholic girl, who said her faith was "very important" to her, really followed boyfriend Tom Cruise's lead and become a Scientologist? This story says yes, the assimilation is almost complete. But this IMDB story isn't so sure.

And one more religion story: Billy Graham says his upcoming crusade in New York City might be his last. I want to be there!

Can media exposure be fatal in some cases? Remember the 105-year-old man the world press descended upon last week because he had just celebrated his 80th wedding anniversary, making him part of the world's longest marriage? Well, he's dead now.

Speaking of the media, it probably won't surprise you that a new study proves public confidence in the MSM is at an all-time low.

Scientists have successfully grown a plant from a 2,000-year-old seed. This will unfortunately bolster the resolve of the "Don't throw that out! -- I might use it some day" crowd.

For those of you who can't bear to part with your VCRs and are looking forward to being able to purchase "Mission Impossible VI" on VHS at Wal-Mart in 2019, here's comforting news.

Speaking of movies, Halliwell, the person (or computer?) who writes and sells those fat doorstop books containing reviews of every single movie every made, has come out with a list of the 100 best movies. According to Halliwell, the best movie that mankind has rallied to produce is Tokyo Story, a bleak little slice-of-life pic which unfortunately I had to abandon halfway through because I kept falling asleep and soaking the carpet with my drool.

Now, I have nothing against lists -- I enjoy them. Here's an interesting one: the fine folks at Human Events Online have put together a list of the 10 most harmful books of the 19th and 20th centuries. The usual suspects such as The Communist Manifesto and Mein Kampf made the list, but for some reason the entire Madonna and Rosie O'Donnell canon was left out.

In science news, a mystery of the oceans has been explained by the discovery of giant balls of snot swimming around out there in the briny deep. (So that's where it all ends up). Also, the Greenpeace/environmentalist crowd is all in a tizzy because of Disney's plans to serve up shark fin soup to its guests. It's my guess they got the idea from Nemo, who is still steamed about the way those sharks tricked his poor dad.

Don't you love stories where people seek to redress old wrongs through the American legal system? If so, you'll be glad to know that the Shinnecock tribe is suing for billions in damages and the return of tribal lands, which just happen to be located in posh Southampton on Long Island. The land at issue contains numerous pricey mansions, two golf courses and Southampton College. No word yet if Martha Stewart is part of the package.

Finally, any do-it-yourselfers out there? Check out these simple instructions to make an inexpensive homemade air conditioner, using a garbage can filled with ice water and a fan, or this red wine made by inmates in prison with few resources at their disposal. (WARNING: nasty photos of old dirty socks, moldy bread and toilet fermentation devices).

Quote of the day:

"It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favor of vegetarianism, while the wolf remains of a different opinion."

--W.R. Inge