1.
1984 Rajneeshee bioterror attack
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The 1984 Rajneeshee bioterror attack was the food poisoning of 751 individuals in The Dalles, Oregon, through the deliberate contamination of salad bars at ten local restaurants with salmonella. A leading group of followers of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh had hoped to incapacitate the voting population of the city so that their own candidates would win the 1984 Wasco County elections, the incident was the first and single largest bioterrorist attack in United States history. The attack is one of two confirmed terrorist uses of biological weapons to harm humans since 1945, the other being the 2001 anthrax attacks across the USA. Fearing they would not gain enough votes, Rajneeshpuram officials decided to incapacitate voters in The Dalles, as a result of the attack,751 people contracted salmonellosis,45 of whom were hospitalized. Frohnmayer set up an Interagency Task Force, composed of Oregon State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a sample of bacteria matching the contaminant that had sickened the town residents was found in a Rajneeshpuram medical laboratory. Two leading Rajneeshpuram officials were convicted on charges of attempted murder, several thousand of Rajneeshs followers had moved onto the Big Muddy Ranch in rural Wasco County in 1981, where they later incorporated as a city called Rajneeshpuram. They had taken control of the small nearby town of Antelope, Oregon. The group had started on friendly terms with the population, but relations soon turned negative because of land use conflicts. After being denied building permits for Rajneeshpuram, the leadership sought to gain political control over the rest of the county by influencing the November 1984 county election. Their goal was to win two of three seats on the Wasco County Circuit Court, as well as the sheriffs office, the Wasco county clerk countered this attempt by enforcing a regulation that required all new voters to submit their qualifications when registering to vote. The commune leadership planned to sicken and incapacitate voters in The Dalles, approximately twelve people were involved in the plots to employ biological agents, and at least eleven were involved in the planning process. No more than four appear to have involved in development at the Rajneeshpuram medical laboratory. At least eight individuals were involved with the distribution of the bacteria, the main planners of the attack included Sheela Silverman, Rajneeshs chief lieutenant, and Diane Yvonne Onang, a nurse practitioner and secretary-treasurer of the Rajneesh Medical Corporation. They purchased salmonella bacteria from a supply company in Seattle, Washington. They contaminated the produce at the bars as a trial run. The group also tried to introduce pathogens into The Dalles water system, if successful, they planned to use the same techniques closer to Election Day. This second part of the plan was never implemented, the commune decided to boycott the election when it became clear that those brought in through the Share-a-Home program would not be allowed to vote. Two visiting Wasco County commissioners were poisoned with glasses of water containing salmonella bacteria during a visit to Rajneeshpuram on August 29,1984, both men fell ill and one was hospitalized
2.
Bale Out
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Bale Out, RevoLucians Christian Bale Remix. is a satirical dance remix by American composer Lucian Piane, also known as RevoLucian, released on February 2,2009, to YouTube and Myspace. The piece parodies Christian Bale by utilizing audio from a July 2008 rant made by the actor on the set of Terminator Salvation. The day after its release, the YouTube page for the song had been viewed over 200,000 times, the Associated Press called it a hypnotic dance track, and United Press International noted it was catchy, characterizing it as a YouTube sensation. Gil Kaufman of MTV. com described the piece as a techno-ripping, time magazines website called the track hilarious, and Nine News characterized it as a raging online success. The director of Terminator Salvation McG liked the remix and put a copy of it on his iPod, in July 2008, Christian Bale was filming a scene in New Mexico for the film Terminator Salvation with actress Bryce Dallas Howard. The films director of photography, Shane Hurlbut, walked into Bales line of sight, Bale said he would quit the film if Hurlbut repeated the error and was not subsequently fired. Hurlbut responded calmly and apologized several times to Bale, and continued shooting for seven hours after the incident, the website TMZ. com reported the occurrence soon after it happened, and posted an audio recording on February 2,2009. The event did not become widely publicized until after TMZ. com had posted the audio of Bales outburst, TMZ. com reported that film executives for Terminator Salvation sent a copy of the audio recording to the films insurance company, in case Bale refused to continue filming. Four days after the recording was posted to the Internet, Bale appeared as a guest on Los Angeles radio station KROQ-FM. He said he acted like a punk, and that he and Hurlbut talked after the conflict and resolved this completely. Bale acknowledged the two worked together for hours after the episode, and at least a month after that. Senator John Kerry at the University of Florida, the Associated Press reported that Piane was drawn to the musicality of Bales rage-filled voice. Piane spent three hours working on the remix, when I heard Christian Bale flip out I had to remix the track. Its good to hear that clubs have started playing it as it is very funny. In an interview with LA Weekly, Piane commented that he wants his remix remembered, instead of Bales outburst, so I figured, remembering that one time Christian Bale went crazy on set, maybe people will remember the remix. The Bale Out mashup incorporates audio clips of Bale lashing out, the chorus includes a clip of Bale saying its fucking distracting, and What dont you fuckin understand. The sound collage includes clips of Barbra Streisand from a 2006 exchange with a supporter of former-President George W. Bush, Piane told the Associated Press, I dont know if Christian Bale is enjoying it, but I hope he does. I think Ive taken something that made him look really bad
3.
Battlefield Earth (film)
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Battlefield Earth is a 2000 American science fiction action film based upon the first half of L. Ron Hubbards 1982 novel of the same name. Travolta, a long-time Scientologist, had sought for years to make a film of the novel by Hubbard. He was unable to obtain funding from any major studio due to concerns about the script, prospects. The project was taken on in 1998 by an independent production company, Franchise Pictures. Franchise Pictures was later sued by its investors and was bankrupted in 2004 after it emerged that it had overstated the films budget by $31 million. Battlefield Earth was released on May 12,2000, the film was a critical and commercial failure, and has been called one of the worst films of all time. Audiences were reported to have ridiculed early screenings and stayed away from the film after its opening weekend, which led to Battlefield Earth failing to recoup its costs. The film went on to receive a total of eight Golden Raspberry Awards and it has since become a cult film in the so bad, its good vein. Travolta originally envisioned Battlefield Earth as the first of two films to be adapted from the book, as the only covered the first half of the novel. However, the poor performance at the box office, as well as the collapse of Franchise Pictures. In the year 3000, Earth has been ruled for 1,000 years by the Psychlos, the remnants of humanity are either enslaved by the Psychlos and used for manual labor or survive in primitive tribes living in remote areas outside Psychlo control. Jonnie Goodboy Tyler, a member of one tribe, leaves his home in the Rocky Mountains on a journey of exploration. Terl, the Psychlo security chief on Earth, has been condemned by his superiors to remain indefinitely at his post on Earth as punishment for an incident involving the Senators daughter. Aided by his deputy, Ker, Terl devises a plan to buy his way off the planet by making a fortune using human slaves to mine gold in radioactive areas. Psychlos are unable to visit such areas due to the interaction of the gas they breathe with radionuclide particles. Terl selects Jonnie as his foreman for the project and gives him a Psychlo education using a rapid-learning machine, Terl gives Jonnie a party of slaves and a Psychlo flying shuttle and orders him to go out and find gold. After learning the Psychlos language, history, and myriad other things from the learning machine. He obtains gold from Fort Knox to satisfy Terls demands, Jonnie and his followers find an abandoned underground U. S. military base with working aircraft, weapons, fuel, and nuclear weapons
4.
Freedom for the Thought That We Hate
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The book starts by quoting the First Amendment, which prohibits the U. S. Congress from creating legislation which limits free speech or freedom of the press. Lewis traces the evolution of civil liberties in the U. S. through key historical events, the title of the book is drawn from the dissenting opinion by Supreme Court Associate Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. in United States v. Schwimmer. Lewis warns the reader against the potential for government to advantage of periods of fear and upheaval in a post-9/11 society to suppress freedom of speech. Jeremy Waldron commented on the work for The New York Review of Books, Waldron elaborated on this criticism in his book The Harm in Hate Speech, in which he devoted a chapter to Lewis book. This prompted a critical analysis of works in The New York Review of Books in June 2012 by former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. The book starts by quoting the First Amendment, which prohibits the U. S. Congress from creating legislation that limits free speech or freedom of the press. Lewis warns that, in a state in which controversial views are not allowed to be spoken, citizens and he recounts key historic events in which fear led to overreaching acts by the government, particularly from the executive branch. The author gives background on the process by which the U. S. judicial system began defending publishers and writers from attempts at suppression of speech by the government. The Alien and Sedition Acts were used for political impact against members of the Republican Party in order to them for criticizing the government. Thomas Jefferson was elected the president in 1800, Lewis cites this as an example of the American publics dissatisfaction with Adams actions against freedom of speech. After taking office in 1801, Jefferson issued pardons to those convicted under the Alien and Sedition Acts. During World War I, with increased fear among the American public and attempts at suppression of criticism by the government, Lewis writes that Associate Justices Louis Brandeis and Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. began to interpret broader support for freedom of speech imparted by the First Amendment. The author reflects on his view of speech in the face of imminent danger in an age of terrorism, constitution permits suppression of speech in situations of impending violence, and cautions use of the law to suppress expressive acts including burning a flag or using offensive slang terms. Lewis asserts that punitive measures can be taken against speech which incites terrorism to a group of willing to commit such acts. The book recounts an opinion written by Brandeis and joined by Holmes in the 1927 case of Whitney v. California which further developed the notion of the power of the people to speak out. Brandeis and Holmes emphasized the value of liberty, and identified the most dangerous factor to freedom as an apathetic society averse to voicing their opinions in public, in the 1964 Supreme Court case of New York Times Co. v. He cites the New York Times Co. v. Sullivan decision as an example of Madisonian philosophy towards freedom of speech espoused by James Madison, the author questions the actions of the media with respect to privacy. He observes that public expectations regarding morality and what constitutes a violation of the right to privacy has changed over time
5.
From The Doctor to my son Thomas
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Capaldi filmed the 42-second video in character as the 12th incarnation of The Doctor in the BBC science-fiction series Doctor Who. Capaldis message had an effect on Thomas, his father said that the boy smiled for the first time since learning of his grandmothers death. Thomas father Ross Goodall posted the video to YouTube on 6 November 2014 and he later explained to media that he wanted to make the video available to his family and had no idea it would become popular online. CNN reported that after its appearance on YouTube, the video was viewed over 200,000 times in its first 48 hours online and this more than doubled the next day, and less than a week later it had over 900,000 total views. BBC News observed that Capaldis message had become a viral video, the Guardian and The Daily Telegraph called the recording by Capaldi a touching video to a young child suffering from grief. CNN and MTV characterised the video similarly, as did Spanish, the Independent wrote that Capaldi displayed a kinder face of his personality by sending the message. BT commented it was Capaldis best contribution as the character of the Doctor to date, the video had a positive impact on those with mental health problems. Autism Daily Newscast reported favourably on the Doctors actions, the Hollywood Reporter observed that as his character the Doctor, Capaldi was using his role to support mental health. Hollywood Life said their reporters were moved to tears after watching Capaldis video, Peter Harness, writer of the episode Kill the Moon, said that Capaldis video was his favourite highlight from ten years of Doctor Who. The Scottish actor and film director Peter Capaldi was cast in 2013 as the 12th incarnation of the Doctor and his casting was announced on 4 August 2013 in a special BBC programme hosted by Zoë Ball. Capaldi first appeared as the Doctor in a cameo in the 50th anniversary special The Day of the Doctor, before appearing in the 2013 Christmas special The Time of the Doctor. A lifelong fan of the series, Capaldi had played Lobus Caecilius in the 2008 episode The Fires of Pompeii, before taking the role, Capaldi said that he had to seriously consider the increased visibility that would come with the part. The Goodall family were all fans of Doctor Who, describing themselves as Whovians, Thomas decorated his home with objects related to the television series. Capaldi wrote back to Thomas thanking him, and sent a note to the childs father saying that he intended to send a video message, Capaldi enclosed guidance to Ross Goodall on how to organise a tour of the production studios for Doctor Who. Ross Goodall subsequently communicated with Capaldi through the agent, to inform him that Thomass grandmother had died. He told Capaldi that his son was not dealing well with the grief from his grandmothers death, the family received the subsequent video message to Thomas from Capaldi three weeks after the death of the childs grandmother. Capaldi appears in character as the Doctor and addresses Thomas directly and he expresses his gratitude at receiving the childs letter, saying that it had pleased him. He then speaks to Thomas about grief, mentioning the Doctors adventures with travelling companion Clara Oswald and he tells Thomas that negative events impact Clara and himself in their journeys through the universe and time travel, and that occasionally they feel depressed too
6.
Fuck (film)
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Fuck is a 2005 American documentary film by director Steve Anderson about the word fuck. The film argues that the word is an part of societal discussions about freedom of speech. It examines the term from perspectives which include art, linguistics, society and comedy, scholars and celebrities analyze perceptions of the word from differing perspectives. Journalist Sam Donaldson talks about the versatility of the word, musician Alanis Morissette comments that the word contains power because of its taboo nature. The film features the last recorded interview of author Hunter S. Thompson before his suicide, scholars, including linguist Reinhold Aman, journalism analyst David Shaw and Oxford English Dictionary editor Jesse Sheidlower, explain the history and evolution of the word. Language professor Geoffrey Nunberg observes that the treatment by society reflects changes in our culture during the 20th century. Anderson was exposed to public conceptions surrounding the word fuck by comedian George Carlins monologue Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television and he named the film Fuck despite anticipating problems with marketing. Animator Bill Plympton provided sequences illustrating key concepts in the film, the documentary was first shown at the AFI Film Festival on November 7,2005, at ArcLight Hollywood in Hollywood. Film critic A. O. Scott called the documentary a battle between advocates of morality and supporters of freedom of expression. The Washington Post and the New York Daily News criticized its length, in his 2009 book Fuck, Word Taboo and Protecting Our First Amendment Liberties, law professor Christopher M. Fairman called the movie the most important film using fuck. The American Film Institute said, Ultimately, Fuck is a movie about free speech, freedom of expression must extend to words that offend. Love it or hate it, fuck is here to stay, Fuck begins with a segment from the 1965 propaganda film Perversion for Profit, followed by a clip from SpongeBob SquarePants which states that the word can be used as a sentence enhancer. The word fuck is used 857 times during the film, scholarly analysis is provided by Maledicta publisher Reinhold Aman, journalism analyst David Shaw and Oxford English Dictionary editor Jesse Sheidlower. Language professor Geoffrey Nunberg says, You could think of that as standing in for most of the changes that happened in the 20th century, the film next features author Hunter S. Thompson in his final documented interview. Fuck later includes archival footage of comedians Lenny Bruce and George Carlin, Carlins 1972 monologue Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television is excerpted in the film. Journalist Sam Donaldson comments on the versatility of fuck, Its one of those all-purpose words, Bill Maher comments, Its the ultimate bad word, observing that thanks to Lenny Bruce, comedy clubs have become the freest free-speech zone in the United States. Connolly states that fuck sounds exactly like what it is, noting that the impact of saying fuck off cannot be translated. He says that if you are in Lhasa airport and someone is fiddling with your luggage, yelling fuck off will effectively communicate that they should stop, Morissette says, The f-word is special
7.
Getting It: The Psychology of est
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Getting It, The Psychology of est is a non-fiction book by American psychologist Sheridan Fenwick, first published in 1976, analyzing Werner Erhards Erhard Seminars Training or est. It is based on Fenwicks own experience of attending a session of the est training. Large groups of up to 250 people took the est training at one time, in the first section of Fenwicks book, she recounts the est training process and the methods used during the course. The second section is analytic, Fenwick analyzes the used by the est trainers, evaluates the courses potential effects. Writing in Library Journal, psychiatrist James Charney describes the book as the only useful critical look at the training, zane Berzins of The New York Times Book Review characterizes the book as a calm and professionally informed view. Hearings held in 1979 before the United States House of Representatives on a juvenile delinquents program depicted in Scared Straight, Werner Erhard, was originally from Pennsylvania and migrated to California. A former salesman, training manager and executive in the encyclopedia business, est was a form of Large Group Awareness Training, and was part of the Human Potential Movement. Est was a four-day, 60-hour self-help program given to groups of 250 people at a time, the program was very intensive, each day would contain 15–20 hours of instruction. During the training, est personnel utilized jargon to convey key concepts, participants were taught that they were responsible for their life outcomes. It had its critics and proponents, a year after Getting It was published, over 100,000 people completed the est training, including public figures and mental health professionals. In 1985, Werner Erhard and Associates repackaged the course as The Forum, by 1988, approximately one million people had taken some form of the trainings. In the early 1990s Erhard faced family problems, as well as tax problems that were resolved in his favor. A group of his associates formed the company Landmark Education in 1991 and her Ph. D. dissertation was published in 1975. When she met with graduates of the est training and heard their testimonials and observed their level of self-confidence, after some preliminary research, Fenwick decided to take the training as a participant rather than as a professional observer. She paid the $250.00 course fee and enrolled in a four-day est program to examine its methods and its appeal. She reports that the training was an experience, but that she had serious concerns about the implications of the est phenomenon. The book was first published September 16,1976, by J. B, a second edition was published by Penguin Books in 1977. The book is divided two sections
8.
Hell Is Other Robots
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Hell Is Other Robots is the ninth episode in the first season of the American animated television series Futurama. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on May 18,1999, the episode was written by Eric Kaplan and directed by Rich Moore. Guest stars in this include the Beastie Boys as themselves. The episode is one of the first to focus heavily on Bender, in the episode, he develops an addiction to electricity. Finally Fry and Leela come to him, and the three escape. The episode introduces the Robot Devil, Reverend Lionel Preacherbot and the religion of the Temple of Robotology, the episode received positive reviews, and was one of four featured on the DVD boxed set of Matt Groenings favorite episodes, Monster Robot Maniac Fun Collection. After a Beastie Boys concert, Bender attends a party with his old friend, Fender, at the party Bender and the other robots abuse electricity by jacking on, and Bender develops an addiction. After receiving a dose from an electrical storm, Bender realizes he has a problem. He joins the Temple of Robotology, accepting the doctrine of eternal damnation in Robot Hell should he sin, after baptizing him in oil, the Reverend Lionel Preacherbot welds the symbol of Robotology to Benders case. As Bender begins to annoy his co-workers with his new religion, Fry and they fake a delivery to Atlantic City, New Jersey and tempt Bender with alcohol, prostitutes and easy targets for theft. He eventually succumbs, rips off the Robotology symbol and throws it away, while seducing three female robots, Bender is interrupted by a knock at his hotel room door. He opens the door and is knocked unconscious and he awakens to see the Robot Devil and finds himself in Robot Hell. The Robot Devil reminds Bender that he agreed to be punished for sinning when he joined Robotology, after discovering Bender is missing, Fry and Leela track him down using Nibblers sense of smell. They eventually find the entrance to Robot Hell in an amusement park that Fry remembers from the 20th-century. A musical number starts as the Robot Devil begins detailing Benders punishment, as the song ends, Fry and Leela arrive and try to reason with the Robot Devil on Benders behalf. The Robot Devil tells them that the way to win back Benders soul is to beat him in a fiddle-playing contest. The Robot Devil goes first, playing Antonio Bazzinis La Ronde des Lutins, Leela responds, having experience in playing the drums, but after a few notes it is clear Leelas fiddle-playing is pathetic, so she assaults the Robot Devil with the fiddle instead. As Fry, Leela, and Bender flee the Robot Devils clutches, Bender steals the wings off a flying robot, attaches them to his back
9.
The Joy of Sect
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The Joy of Sect is the thirteenth episode of The Simpsons ninth season. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on February 8,1998, in the episode, a cult takes over Springfield, and the Simpson family become members. David Mirkin conceived the idea for the episode, Steve ODonnell was the lead writer. The writers drew on many groups to develop the Movementarians, but were influenced by Scientology, Heavens Gate, the Unification Church, the Rajneesh movement. The show contains references to popular culture, including the title reference to The Joy of Sex. Both USA Today and The A. V, club featured The Joy of Sect in lists of important episodes of The Simpsons. At the airport, Bart and Homer meet recruiters for the new religious movement and they invite Homer and many Springfield residents to watch an orientation film. The film explains that a man known as The Leader will guide Movementarians aboard a spaceship to the planet Blisstonia. The lengthy film brainwashes the attendees into worshipping The Leader, after Homer joins the cult, he moves his family to the Movementarian compound. Though defiant at first, all the Simpson children are converted to Movementarianism, Marge is the only family member to resist, and escapes from the heavily guarded compound. Outside, she finds Reverend Lovejoy, Ned Flanders, and Groundskeeper Willie, who have all resisted the Movementarians, at Flanders home Marge deprograms her children, and works on Homer. However, he is captured by the Movementarians lawyers, back at the compound, Homer reveals to a crowd of Movementarians that he is no longer brainwashed. Homer opens the doors of the Forbidden Barn to expose the cult as a fraud, but he, the crude spaceship disintegrates in flight, revealing The Leader on a pedal-powered aircraft fleeing with everyones money. The Simpsons return home to watch Fox television, the episode was the second and last episode written by Steve ODonnell and was based on an idea from David Mirkin. Mirkin had been the show runner during seasons five and six and he said he was attracted to the notion of parodying cults because they are comical, interesting and twisted. He conceived the episode after hearing a radio show about the history of cults whilst driving home one night, the main group of writers that worked on the episode were Mirkin, ODonnell, Jace Richdale, and Kevin Curran. The episodes title The Joy of Sect was pitched by Richdale, Steven Dean Moore directed the episode. The name Movementarians itself was chosen for its awkward sound
10.
The Last Temptation of Krust
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The Last Temptation of Krust is the fifteenth episode of The Simpsons ninth season. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on February 22,1998 and it was written by Donick Cary and directed by Mike B. Anderson. Comedian Jay Leno makes a guest appearance, in the episode, Bart convinces Krusty the Clown to appear at a comedy festival organized by Jay Leno, but Krustys old material does not go over well with the audience and he receives bad reviews. He briefly retires from comedy but returns with a new, more well received gimmick and he soon returns to his old ways, selling out to a motor-vehicle company. The production teams decision to write an episode about stand-up comedy was influenced by comedy festivals, the writing staff initially had trouble getting Krustys offensive bad jokes through network censors, but convinced them this was simply a way to emphasize his old and dated comedic material. The Canyonero sequence was modeled after Ford commercials and was given its own segment at the end of the episode because the staff liked it so much. The episode was highlighted by USA Today in a review of The Simpsons ninth season and received reviews in The Washington Times, the Evening Herald. Krusty is persuaded by Bart to appear at a festival organized by Jay Leno. His old-fashioned and outdated material fails to impress the audience when compared with the more trendy comedians also appearing, after reading a critical review of his act in the press, Krusty decides to go on a bender to end all benders and a montage sequence shows him getting drunk. After Bart finds him passed out on Ned Flanders lawn, he enlists the help of Leno to clean him up, Krusty holds a press conference to announce his retirement and in short order launches into a bitter tirade against modern-day comedians. The audience finds Krustys rant hysterically funny and he announces his return to comedy. He also changes his appearance, sporting a dark sweater and tying his hair in a ponytail, observing his newfound popularity, two marketing executives try to persuade Krusty to endorse a new sport utility vehicle called the Canyonero. Although he tries to resist, he succumbs to the lure of money. After promoting the Canyonero at a performance in Moes Tavern. He finally admits to himself that comedy is not in his blood, the episode ends with an extended advertisement for the Canyonero, as Krusty and Bart leave Moes tavern in Krustys new SUV. In the DVD commentary for The Simpsons ninth season, writer Donick Cary stated that the inspiration for the idea of an episode about stand-up comedy came out of comedy festivals at the time. Executive producer Mike Scully said that the writers had difficulty getting Krustys offensive bad jokes through the network censors, the stereotypical jokes were allowed because the writers convinced the network censors that viewers would understand it was simply emphasizing Krustys dated comedic material. Mike B. Anderson stated that at least three different acts of material were written and animated for Krustys comeback stand-up appearance at Moes Tavern and it was not until the editing process that the material used was decided upon
11.
Lisa the Skeptic
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Lisa the Skeptic is the eighth episode of The Simpsons ninth season. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 23,1997, on an archaeological dig with her class, Lisa discovers a skeleton that resembles an angel. All of the townspeople believe that the skeleton came from an angel. The episodes writer, David X. Cohen, developed the idea after visiting the American Museum of Natural History, the episode also makes allusions to actual hoaxes, such as the Cardiff Giant. The episode received positive reviews. Homer attempts to claim a motorboat from a police raffle that turns out to be a sting operation, while returning home, the family passes a new mall in Springfield that is being built on an area where a large number of fossils were found. Lisa protests strongly, which prompts the school to conduct an archaeological dig, during the excavations, Lisa finds a human skeleton with wings. Springfields residents are convinced it is an angel, and Homer cashes in by moving the skeleton into the familys garage, Lisa remains skeptical, and asks Stephen Jay Gould to test a sample. In response, Springfields religious zealots go on a rampage to destroy all scientific institutions, appalled with the violence, Lisa goes into the garage to destroy the skeleton, but finds that it has disappeared. The mob soon converges on the Simpson household, and Lisa is promptly arrested, before the trial begins, the courtrooms attention is diverted when the skeleton appears outside, carrying a foreboding message that The End will come at sundown. Sundown approaches, and Springfields citizens are frightened, but nothing catastrophic occurs, as Lisa starts to reprimand them, the skeleton suddenly silences her and is hoisted over to the entrance of the new Heavenly Hills Mall. Lisa realizes that whole saga was a publicity stunt for the mall, the bargain-loving public ignores Lisa and goes shopping and Dr. Gould confesses that he actually never tested Lisas sample. Marge says that, for a few seconds while it was rising, Lisa denies this, but admits she was frightened and thanks her mother for her support. Lisa the Skeptic was written by David X. Cohen, and he initially wanted Lisa to find a missing link skeleton, and do an episode reminiscent of the Scopes Monkey Trial. Writer George Meyer convinced him instead to have the focus be on an angel skeleton, in an early draft of the script, the skeleton was made of pastry dough baked by the malls window dresser. Cohen had initially written the Stephen Jay Gould role as a generic scientist or paleontologist and he had taken Goulds Introduction to Paleontology class at Harvard University. The only phrase Gould had objected to in the script was a line that introduced him as the worlds most brilliant paleontologist and his original final line was I didnt do the test. I had more important work to do but was cut because the writers felt it would be funnier to give him a final line
12.
Lord of the Universe
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Lord of the Universe is a 1974 American documentary film about Prem Rawat at an event in November 1973 at the Houston Astrodome called Millennium 73. Lord of the Universe was first broadcast on PBS on February 2,1974, the documentary chronicles Maharaj Ji, his followers and anti-Vietnam War activist Rennie Davis who was a spokesperson of the Divine Light Mission at the time. A counterpoint is presented by Abbie Hoffman, who appears as a commentator and it includes interviews with several individuals, including followers, ex-followers, a mahatma, a born-again Christian, and a follower of Hare Krishna. The production team of Top Value Television produced the documentary, using Portapak video cameras, the TVTV team followed Maharaj Ji across the United States over a period of six weeks, and edited a large amount of tape down to the fifty-eight-minute piece. It was the first documentary made on 1⁄2 in video tape broadcast nationally, the documentary was generally well-received, and garnered its TVTV production team the 1974 Alfred I. du Pont/Columbia University Award in Broadcast Journalism. The documentary received a review in the New York Post, and positive reviews in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Times. The San Francisco Bay Guardian wrote that the TVTV team had improved since their previous work, Rennie Davis, a follower of Guru Maharaj Ji, was one of the spokespersons and speakers at the Millennium 73 event. His speech is featured in the documentary, in a later part of the film, a loudspeaker voice announces, Those premies who came in private cars can leave now. Those who came in rented buses can stay and meditate until further notice, adherents of other belief systems also appear in the documentary, including a born-again Christian who criticizes devotees for following the devil, and a Hare Krishna follower. A separate storyline is seen concurrently through the coverage of the Millennium 73 event, involving a man named Michael who has come to Houston, Texas, once Michael has received the Knowledge, he defends the secrecy behind the rituals. One of them says that after receiving Knowledge from Maharaj Ji, he was told that this free gift required lifetime devotion, Maharaj Ji is shown in a scene in the Astrodome relating a satsang to the attendants. He is seen dressed in gold-colored clothing and a crown, the story he relates to the crowd involves a young boy who comes to Houston, while searching for a Superman comic book. While seated on the platform, Maharaj Ji is surrounded by flashing moon signs and women wearing decorative garlands, the stage is decorated with glitter and neon lights, and Maharaj Jis brother performs rock music songs. Abbie Hoffman gives a comment in the documentary, stating, If this guy is God. The documentary was produced by Top Value Television in association with TV Lab, TVTV had received initial funding for the documentary through a small grant from the Stern Foundation, and an additional promise from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Several camera crews used 1⁄2 in black and white portapaks and followed Maharaj Ji, the TVTV production team debated whether to include the secret techniques of Maharaj Ji in the documentary and finally decided that it was vital to disclose these practices in the piece. They chose to have an ex-premie divulge these practices rather than use a narration, but they were fearful of potential repercussions, TVTV member Tom Weinberg found a man who demonstrated meditation techniques in the documentary, which he described as being the Knowledge. Producer Megan Williams stated that TVTV crew members empathized with the experiences of Maharaj Jis followers, nevertheless, many in the crew of TVTV felt superior to these lost souls describing the followers as gurunoids
13.
R U Professional
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R U Professional is a 2009 satirical song by the American indie rock band The Mae Shi, inspired by a July 2008 outburst by actor Christian Bale on the set of Terminator Salvation. Bale was filming with actress Bryce Dallas Howard when he berated director of photography, Shane Hurlbut, an audio recording of the incident appeared on website TMZ on February 2,2009. The Mae Shi composed and recorded the song later in the same day, the group stated that the piece was created to honor Bale. The song parodies Bale by sampling his voice from the 2008 diatribe, the chorus incorporates Bales use of the word professional from his flare-up. The lyrics reference several films the actor starred in, including Newsies, Swing Kids, American Psycho, the song was made available on YouTube and via download on MediaFire the next day. R U Professional received a positive reception, and was praised as an effective parody of Bales on-set disturbance. MTV compared its style to new groups like Devo. The Los Angeles Times described it as a pop music tribute to the actor. USA Today categorized the song as fun dance music and called it creatively motivated, the Toronto Sun wrote positively of its creative lyrics and use of audio from the Bale oration. El País classed the piece as a song that contributed to the viral spread of the Bale rant online. Dose placed the song within the genre of a jam session. Club and Pitchfork Media were impressed with the ability to compose and release the song twenty-four hours after the audio of the incident appeared online. The Irish Independent wrote that thought the group may have used a melody they already had. In July 2008, actor Christian Bale was immersed in shooting a scene for the film Terminator Salvation in New Mexico, while performing with actress Bryce Dallas Howard, Bale shouted at the films director of photography, Shane Hurlbut, for walking into his line of sight. Hurlbut responded calmly, apologized to Bale, and continued shooting for seven hours after the incident, an audio recording of the incident appeared on the website TMZ on February 2,2009. During the four-minute audio recording, Bale can be heard shouting and swearing at Hurlbut, prior to releasing the audio on the internet, TMZ had reported on the incident on their website in July 2008. TMZ reported that film executives for Terminator Salvation had sent a copy of the recording to the films insurance company in case Bale quit the film. In a statement to Los Angeles radio station KROQ-FM on February 6,2009, Bale said he had behaved inappropriately, Bale acknowledged that the two worked together for several hours after the incident, and for a month afterwards as well
14.
The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power
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The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power is an article, written in 1991 by U. S. investigative journalist Richard Behar, which is highly critical of Scientology. It was first published by Time magazine on May 6,1991, as a cover story. Behar had previously published an article on Scientology in Forbes magazine, Behars article covers topics including L. Ron Hubbard and the development of Scientology, its controversies over the years and history of litigation, conflict with psychiatry and the U. S. Internal Revenue Service, the suicide of Noah Lottick, its status as a religion, after the articles publication, the Church of Scientology mounted a public relations campaign to address issues in the piece. Miscavige alleged that the article was actually driven by the company Eli Lilly, the Church of Scientology brought a libel suit against Time Warner and Behar, and sued Readers Digest in multiple countries in Europe in an attempt to stop the articles publication there. The suit against Time Warner was dismissed in 1996, and the Church of Scientologys petition for a writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court of the United States was denied in 2001. Behar received awards in honor of his work on the article, including the Gerald Loeb Award, the Worth Bingham Prize, and the Conscience-in-Media Award. The article has had ramifications in the current treatment of Scientology in the media, Behar conducted 150 interviews in the course of his research for the article. Behar wrote that the motive of these operatives was to threaten, harass and he later learned that the Church of Scientology had assigned its head private investigator to direct the Churchs investigation into Behar. Anderson Cooper 360° reported that Behar had been contacted by Church of Scientology attorneys numerous times while doing research on the article, the parents of Noah Lottick, a Scientologist who had committed suicide, cooperated with Time and Readers Digest. The full title of the article is The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power, Scientology poses as a religion but is really a ruthless global scam — and aiming for the mainstream. The article related the May 11,1990, suicide of Dr. Edward Lotticks son Noah Antrim Lottick, Lottick was a Russian studies student who had taken a series of Scientology courses, he died after jumping from a hotel tenth floor window. The Church of Scientology and Lotticks family have differing positions on the effect Scientology coursework had on him, while none of the parties assigned blame, they expressed misgivings about his death. Mike Rinder, the head of the Church of Scientologys Office of Special Affairs, I think Ed Lottick made his sons life intolerable. The article outlined a history of Scientology, discussing Hubbards initial background as a science fiction writer. Behar wrote of the costs involved in participation in the Church of Scientology, what he referred to as front groups and financial scams. He estimated that the Church of Scientology paid US$20 million annually to one hundred attorneys. Behar maintained that though the Church of Scientology portrays itself as a religion, it was actually a hugely profitable global racket which intimidated members, no cult extracts more money from its members
15.
Trapped in the Closet (South Park)
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Trapped in the Closet is the twelfth episode in the ninth season of the American animated television series South Park. The 137th episode of the overall, it originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on November 16,2005. In the episode, Stan joins Scientology in an attempt to find something fun, after the discovery of his surprisingly high thetan levels, he is recognized as the reincarnation of L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the church. The episode was written and directed by series co-creator Trey Parker, the title is a reference to the R. Kelly serialized song of the same name and a satirized version of R. Kelly appears in the episode. Trapped in the Closet generated significant controversy, a publicist of Cruise denied this, saying Tom had nothing to do with this matter. Hes been promoting Mission, Impossible III for the last six months and we have no clue where this came from. Though the episode was scheduled for rebroadcast on March 15,2006. Hayes, the voice of staple character Chef, asked to be released from his contract shortly before the start of the tenth season, the episode has since been rebroadcast on Comedy Central multiple times. Trapped in the Closet was nominated for an Emmy Award in July 2006, TV Guide ranked the episode #17 on its list of TVs Top 100 Episodes of All Time. Saving for a bicycle and not wanting to spend money on entertainment, after answering a long questionnaire, Stan is informed that he is extremely depressed and therefore a perfect candidate for Scientology. They offer to him out for $240. Back home, Stan asks his parents for the money and his father suggests that he use the money he had been saving. Stan pays and is taken into a room where an attendant reads his thetan levels using an E-meter. Stan has such a reading that the Scientology headquarters in Los Angeles is notified. There, the president of Scientology determines that, because his reading is so high, Stan must be a reincarnation of L. Ron Hubbard, Scientologys founder and prophet. Later that night, a group of Scientologists, including John Travolta. The president of Scientology arrives in a helicopter and talks with Stans parents and they are opposed to Stans participation, but the president informs them that were not asking him to join us, were asking him to lead us. Randy sends Stan to his room, where he finds Tom Cruise waiting, Cruise, believing that Stan is genuinely Hubbards reincarnation, asks him whether he has enjoyed his acting
16.
29th Golden Raspberry Awards
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Nominations were announced on January 21,2009. The Love Guru was the most nominated film of 2008, with seven, Award results were based on votes from approximately 650 journalists, cinema fans and film professionals from 20 countries. Awards were presented by John Wilson, the ceremonys founder, the Love Guru received the most awards, winning Worst Picture, Worst Actor, and Worst Screenplay. Paris Hilton received three awards, including Worst Actress for her work in The Hottie & the Nottie and Worst Supporting Actress for Repo. Hilton matched the number of awards received by an actor in a single year. Pierce Brosnan received Worst Supporting Actor for his role in Mamma Mia, the Movie, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull received the award for Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel. Uwe Boll received the Worst Director award for the films 1968 Tunnel Rats, In the Name of the King and Postal, the most nominated film of 2008 was the box-office bomb The Love Guru, with seven nominations. Paid members of the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation voted to determine the winners, Award results were based on votes from approximately 650 journalists, cinema fans and professionals from the film industry. Voters were from 45 states in the United States and 19 other countries, the ceremony opened with a musical number which parodied the song Dancing Queen from Mamma Mia. Awards were presented by John Wilson, the ceremonys founder, awardees received a gold spray-painted raspberry worth $4.97. The Love Guru received three awards, Worst Picture, Worst Actor and Worst Screenplay, Worst Picture was the last award given out at the ceremony. The main thing wrong with it is no one said to Myers that it wasnt funny and he managed to offend the entire Indian population and his investors, said Wilson in a statement in The Guardian. Wilson shredded a copy of The Love Guru at the awards ceremony and she is the 21st century Zsa Zsa Gabor. She is famous for who she hangs out with, shes not famous for any talent she has yet exhibited. She may end up working with Uwe Boll and she could be the head vampire in BloodRayne 3, said Wilson of Hiltons performances. Pierce Brosnan received Worst Supporting Actor for his role in Mamma Mia, Award hosts Chip Dornell and Kelie McIver described Brosnan as an actor who could not sing, should not sing and arguably did not sing, in a role he should not have accepted. The Steven Spielberg film Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull received the award for Worst Prequel, Remake, Uwe Boll received the Worst Director award for films 1968 Tunnel Rats, In the Name of the King and Postal. He also received a award for Worst Career Achievement
17.
Dan Savage bibliography
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American author Dan Savage has written six books, op-ed pieces in The New York Times, and an advice column on sexual issues in The Stranger. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Savage began contributing a column, Savage Love, by 1998 his column had a readership of four million. He was Associate Editor at the newspaper from 1991 to 2001, Savages books have had successful sales results and have been generally well received. Savage Love, Straight Answers from Americas Most Popular Sex Columnist was published in 1998 and features selections from his advice column. His next book The Kid, What Happened After My Boyfriend and I Decided to Go Get Pregnant was published in 1999, and recounts his experiences with his boyfriend whilst deciding to adopt a child. Skipping Towards Gomorrah, The Seven Deadly Sins and the Pursuit of Happiness in America, published in 2002, the book was featured in The Best American Sex Writing 2004, and won a Lambda Literary Award. The book features notable contributors, including David Sedaris, Hillary Clinton, sales of the book were successful, and IndieBound reported it reached a list of best-sellers in the United States less than one week after publication. It reached 16th on The New York Times Best Seller list in April 2011, Savage collaborated with Lindy West, Christopher Frizzelle, and Bethany Jean Clement on a college guide, How to Be a Person, which was published in 2012. His 2013 book American Savage reflects on Savages experiences throughout the founding of the It Gets Better Project and was received by The Washington Post. Savage served as Associate Editor from 1991 to April 4,2001 and he became editorial director in September 2007. Seattle, Washington, The Stranger, Tim Keck, Index Newspapers, by 1998, Savages advice column had a total of four million readers, and was syndicated to 21 newspapers located in Canada and the United States. It Gets Better, part of the It Gets Better Project and he reflected on his experience during his mothers death. It Gets Better, MTV Television Special and it Gets Better was a collaborative project between MTV and the It Gets Better Project. Along with his partner Terry Miller, Savage hosted the episode, MTV featured Savage in its program Savage U, wherein he traveled to college campuses in the United States to speak about sexuality and answer students queries. The series premiered on MTV on April 3,2012 and it Gets Better 2, MTV Television Special. It Gets Better 2 was hosted by Savage and featured an examination of LGBT young adults as they dealt with issues surrounding their alternative sexuality, the Real ONeals is an upcoming drama for ABC for their 2015–16 television season. Its a Lon Mabon Christmas Carol, Charlie Brown — play produced by Greek Active, Seattle, Washington, the play was co-written by Charles Smith. Play was performed at the Tugs Belmont in Capitol Hill, Seattle, Washington. Its a Lon Mabon Christmas Carol, Charlie Brown was an LGBT-themed adaptation of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, the play included a satire of activist Lon Mabon, and parody of Its a Charlie Brown Christmas
