Kniwt's Journal

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To think, I could have had a dream for only $5,000 (Canadian)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/two-canwest-stations-sold-ctv-deal-falls-through/article1202639

... In a deal that took several months to negotiate, cable broadcaster Channel Zero Inc. said Tuesday that it is buying two stations from CanWest, which were set to close if CanWest couldn't find a buyer. The stations, in Montreal and Hamilton, are believed to be changing hands in what one source said was a four-figure deal, likely worth less than $5,000.

One of the stations is the legendary CHCH, a true pioneer in Canadian TV broadcasting and a station that we occasionally could watch from home in upstate New York. Now worth less than $2,500. The mind boggles.

More retro-sci-fi reimagined: "Space: 2099"
The things you find on the internets these days! An artist in Canada has an expansive, bold vision of "Space: 1999" reworked, reordered, and enhanced for the 21st century. His work so far is extremely impressive, and his plans for the future are very extensive ... some might even say a bit too extensive. It appears that he wants to get major studio backing to let him complete his work.

Here's a medium-length feature that he's made about his work so far. (The video loads immediately.)

http://www.space2099.tv/video/03_futurepast_f8.htm

Update: And over on the YouTubes, here's almost seven minutes of an actual "reimagined" episode, complete with the new funky opening credits:

The mounting evil in game shows
Submitted for your approval, the endgame of yesterday's debut episode of "Divided":

Thinking back to the great glory days of game shows, I don't recall feeling like this after any show I ever watched. Even when the newlyweds fought and didn't get the beautiful lounge suite, it wasn't like this.

Kniwt 1, Wolfram|Alpha 0
My first query: 'montana speed limit'

Did I get:
(a) The correct answer, both night and day speeds?
(b) An interesting review of Montana's colorful speed limits over the years?
(c) An ad on how to fight speeding tickets?

No, I got:

Wolfram|Alpha isn't sure what to do with your input.

Meanwhile, Google result #1 gives me (a), and result #2 gives me (b).

Media hype strikes again.

Just when you thought they couldn't shock you anymore
http://men.style.com/gq/features/landing?&id=content_9217

On the morning of Thursday, April 10, 2003, Donald Rumsfeld’s Pentagon prepared a top-secret briefing for George W. Bush. This document, known as the Worldwide Intelligence Update, was a daily digest of critical military intelligence so classified that it circulated among only a handful of Pentagon leaders and the president; Rumsfeld himself often delivered it, by hand, to the White House. The briefing’s cover sheet generally featured triumphant, color images from the previous days’ war efforts: On this particular morning, it showed the statue of Saddam Hussein being pulled down in Firdos Square, a grateful Iraqi child kissing an American soldier, and jubilant crowds thronging the streets of newly liberated Baghdad. And above these images, and just below the headline SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, was a quote that may have raised some eyebrows. It came from the Bible, from the book of Psalms: “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him…To deliver their soul from death.”

This mixing of Crusades-like messaging with war imagery, which until now has not been revealed, had become routine.

Images here: http://men.style.com/gq/features/topsecret

'Bring Back Star Trek'
For your documentary viewing pleasure, I offer "Bring Back Star Trek," which aired on Britain's Channel 4 last weekend. In it, the host (who's kinda fun 'n' hunky in a bearish sort of way) travels to Los Angeles and tries to arrange surprise meetings with members of the cast from the original series. Some he does, others he does not, and he gets some fun dirt as well, especially about The Shat. There are plenty of other surprises as well, but I best not spoil it for you.

I suspect this won't last on the YouTubes for long, so get while the getting's good. It's in eight parts (it runs more than an hour in total); here is part one.

Police blotter
http://www.tribstar.com/local/local_story_127232456.html

INDIANAPOLIS — Musician Henry Lee Summer, who had two top-20 hits in the late 1980s, has been arrested on methamphetamine possession and other charges.

Then and, zomg, now:

In a photo provided by Indianapolis police, musician Henry Lee Summer, whose real name is Henry Lee Swartz, is shown in a photo after his arrest Tuesday, May 5, 2009, in Indianapolis.

Just another day in the Queen City of the Central Valley

Tattoo suspect pleads not guilty

A Fresno man suspected of tattooing a gang insignia on a 7-year-old boy while the father held him pleaded not guilty Friday to felony charges of aggravated mayhem and street terrorism.

Travis Gorman's next hearing in Fresno County Superior Court is April 29.

Police say Gorman, 20, does tattoos for Bulldog gang members. He has been in the downtown jail since his arrest on Tuesday. His bail is $700,000.

Court records show he pleaded no contest to felony burglary in December 2007 and to the same charge in February 2008. On March 12, 2008, he received two years in prison for the two burglaries, records show.

Wow, it must be 2010 now.

'Fishing' may cause demise of drive-up mailboxes in Fresno

The drive-up mailbox soon may be a thing of the past in Fresno - a casualty of crime.

That handy snorkel-like slot that makes it easy for drivers to mail envelopes without getting out of the car also is user-friendly for mail thieves, postal inspector Frank Ducar says. So they are being replaced by conventional pull-down slots throughout the city.

He said thieves "fish" for mail with a glue-covered paper used to catch rodents. They attach the paper to a string, drop it through the drive-up slots and pull mail back out.

... San Diego is the only other city that Ducar knows of where this crime is common.

Summer 2009 could be very good indeed
http://www.prefabsprout.net

... the new Prefab Sprout album, which if you've not been keeping up to date, will be called 'Let's Change the World With Music: The Blueprint,' and should be with us in the summer.

... Long-time supporter Lee Redfern took it upon himself to email Kitchenware, and recieved this response:

"We do indeed still represent Prefab Sprout, and the new album is due to be released this summer. We'll be issuing a press release nearer the time which will tell you more about the long awaited record."