The Money Is in the Franchise Rights

Can you even imagine how much money George Lucas has? I mean seriously, Sears, Toys R Us, Burger King and half the gas stations in America have been selling painted plastic shaped like Star Wars characters since I was a wee tyke. (And now I’m an old guy?!?)

Saw this post over on Mazurland complete with a scan of a 1979 Sears catalog. See that Millennium Falcon at the bottom? Here’s what it looks like today:

Notice the missing roof piece? The spattered reddish matter on the ships floor panels? We’re talking 20+ years of serious kid abuse here. And today there’s still selling more.

Someday people will finally turn on Microsoft for pushing shoddy product, but Lucas should still be going strong.

Dojo Info 11/30/05

1. Simmon’s Links
   Irrefutable logic. “I thought Ron Artest was crazy until he got pushed by Ben Wallace and went after the little guy with the plastic cup. When you’re crazy, you don’t pick your battles. He picked his battle.”
2. Good news
   Boston turned the Christmas Tree into a Holiday Tree, then back again. In California the Encinitas Holiday Parade has been returned to the Encinitas Christmas Parade. It only makes sense. I bet the PC crowd is going Grinch.
3. Blu-ray/HD DVD Could Become Irrelevant as HVD Nears
   For the geeks among us.
4. Cool Google Maps
   Don’t know how “cool” they are, but I’m a big map guy. 8^)
5. In The Beginning…
   Mazurland Blog has a sizable post on the issue of Intelligent Design. What I find troubling is that neither side seems to have an easily digested (i.e. brief) defintion of ID, but rather long and crusty tomes few today will attempt. All religious debate aside, the staggering odds of our complex world being chanced upon sheerly by accident completely voids Darwinism in my mind. Plus there’s that whole, “where in the world are all the transitional fossils” debacle.

Specter Is on T.O.’s Team

Politics will make strange bedfellows. Take Sen. Arlen Specter and Terrell Owns, for instance. The AP is reporting Specter as saying:

“I do not believe, personally, that it is appropriate to punish him [by forcing him to sit out the rest of the season]. He’s not committed a crime, he’s committed a breach of contract. And what they’re doing against him is vindictive.”

Specter is even considering bringing it up before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which he chairs. Interesting.

A Moment of Zen 11/29/05

When one dish just won’t do. [via The Other AP]

Keyword Experiment

These Google ads have got me thinking. Maybe I can bring in the good ones?

Great Deals on Samurai Dolls
Great Deals on Samurai Dolls
Great Deals on Samurai Dolls
Great Deals on Samurai Dolls

Ok, maybe not.

Keyword Ads Just Don’t Get It

Anyone else notice that these keyword ads are really missing the boat?

A Moment of Zen 11/28/05

It’s the second coming of Rodman!

Really? Nah. Really?

I can hardly believe it’s spelled “squeegee.” Seriously, that’s just weird.

Dojo Info 11/26/05

1. Sadness…
   The following stores have all decided to change Merry Christmas to Happy Holidays: Target, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Kmart/Sears, Costco, Kohl’s and Lowe’s about their practice. (Lowe’s even refuses to promote their trees as Christmas trees, but calls them “Holiday Trees.”)
2. Time for another English lesson
   I need this lesson as much as anyone. It’s just fun to see Beth get so bent.
3. Taste of Freedom
   “And after the world is free only then can we hope to have peace.” Tru.dat [via IOpian View]
4. “… filled with a quiet longing…”
   I hear you, but won’t we always feel this way until we’re on the other side of eternity?
5. Like Lawyers Selling Used Cars
   “Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Not that congressmen are that high up on the ladder, but they’re certainly higher than I.

Survivor Guatamala: Week 11

Smart money was on Gary getting the vote this week but he didn’t go out without a little verbal skirmish with Judd, who foolishly claimed to have not been lying… yet. Gary explained the whole hidden immunity idol situation and Judd was busted. I think America now wants Judd gone. At least, everyone in our house.

Until Cindy won the reward challenge in this show, she was practially invisible. Her plan has worked flawlessly to this point.

Judd didn’t freak like I thought he might after being kept out of the loop last week, but that didn’t stop him from making an ass of himself at Tribal Council. Man I hope they launch his butt next week. What a goober.

Poor Lydia… doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. Now, why did she want to play this game again?

Rafe is becoming the challenge king with three straight wins. He’s in a good position to potentially go with whichever sect seems to be winning at any given moment. I have to say I’m quite surprised by this turn of events, given that in Week 1 he couldn’t even climb a ladder.

Don’t you think sooner or later people are going to want Steph gone? I mean, the whole, “Why does she deserve a second chance on this show?!?” Followed by the, “Oh no Miss Thang, you didn’t just tell me what to do?!?” It might not be this week, but I’m thinking Steph is digging her own grave by being so bossy. If she doesn’t start winning some challenges soon, she’ll be taking the trip to Outtietown.

Next up on the chopping block, Danni can only hope for a miracle. But I don’t see it happening. Nice run though.

Don’t forget about Fantasy Survivor. I’ll post the updated scores before next week’s show. Good luck everyone!

Lego Underground

On the year’s busiest shopping day, it’s only fitting to highlight the dangers of living in a society where consumerism is blaring out of every possible media outlet. Today’s winner is William Swanberg of Reno, Nevada who has been arrested for stealing more than $200,000 worth of Lego’s. Target security guards stopped Swanberg after he bought 10 boxes of the Star Wars Millennium Falcon set. Legoland had no comments.

Happy Thanksgiving

“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” -Isaac Newton

Dojo Info 11/24/05

1. Kentucky 63, Iowa 67
   First loss of the season and “Yes!” it hurts. Things might get even worse as Kentucky gets W. Virginia in the consolation game.
2. War on Brats
   What a title?!? It’s not a bloody war. It’s a the right of the business owner to keep the atmosphere pleasant. Of course the “protestors” are out against him. Alison Miller, 35, a psychologist, corporate coach and mother of two. “I’d love for him to be responsible for three children for the next year and see if he can control the volume of their voices every minute of the day.” Pulleez. Over exaggerate much?
3. Kentucky 80, W. Virginia 66
   After losing to #17 Iowa, it was good to see the Cats bounce-back and beat #13 W. Virginia even though Pittsnogle put up quite a fight. The game of the night (year?) was Gonzaga’s TripleOT win over Michigan State. Get this, they combined to make 53 of 57 free throws. That’s freakin’ 93%?!? Amazing.
4. Law & Order SMU (Special Mayberry Unit)
   Good clean fun in Mayberry, well, except the drunk and disorderly part.
5. All-time Best Fake Thanksgiving Quotes
   Quite appropo.

The Truth About Iraq

Help spread the truth, not the anti-Bush gar-baj we get from the DP.

A Moment of Zen

In an effort to bring more peace and harmony to the Internet, I shall make a concerted effort to bring you on a regular basis, A Moment of Zen. The goal is not bring higher sales to my cousin’s online store, “90-Day MONEY-BACK Guarantee!!” but to pause and contenplate all that life can be. If you have any that you’d like to share with the Dojo, by all means.

Our first installment comes courtesy of List Grant.