Trent Lott, powerful asshole Senator, will resign by the end of the year. He, like many of his once powerful frat brothers, is finding life in an actual democracy tougher than he thought. This I find interesting, from CNN:

Lott, a four-term senator, said he was disappointed by some of the anger in politics, but he said he was not leaving public life because of that.

Yes. That IS the same briefly disgraced Trent Lott who told a birthday gathering for one time pro-segregation presidential candidate Strom Thurmond that “When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We’re proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn’t have had all these problems over all these years, either.”

Right. No anger there. Just Racism.

The article goes on:

While announcing his decision to leave the Senate in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Lott said he made the choice to pursue a new course in life after listening to a church sermon on Ecclesiastes that says there is a time for everything.

“I don’t know the future holds for us,” Lott said.

That business about being inspired to walk away from his seat in the Senate by a really good sermon, might be true. Maybe. Or it could be complete bullshit. Read on:

A senior Republican source close to Lott said one reason for Lott’s decision to resign is the new lobbying restrictions on former lawmakers.

A law kicks in on January 1 that forbids lawmakers from lobbying for two years after leaving office. Those who leave by the end of 2007 are covered by the previous law, which demands a wait of only one year.

Sounds like he knows exactly what the future holds. It’s less about being inspired by God, and more about abusing his position to get a sweet lobbying gig. More moral leadership from Mr. Lott.

Lott now joins a growing club of formerly powerful Senators who lost the game, and are now taking their toys and going home.

Five other GOP senators — John Warner of Virginia, Wayne Allard of Colorado, Pete Domenici of New Mexico, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, and Larry Craig of Idaho have said they will not seek re-election next year.

Add Dennis Hastert to that, and that’s a clean seven. These people must not like having to actually compromise on things. It had to be hard to get used to actual deliberative government, after their six years of unadulterated plunder came to an end. I’d feel sorry for them, but, you know, all the evil makes it hard.

Today is Monday, and frankly, it’s nice to have a new one. I hope Tuesday is equally as prompt.

This is pretty cool. A World War II fighter plane was recently unearthed by a freak weather situation on the public beach in North Wales. Pictures and a really good article about it can be found here. It’s interesting to think that there are lost artifacts from our own generation buried all over the planet. It’s such a small world, and really, we have no idea what’s in it. Fun to think about.

Historians have long heralded the Elvis Is Alive Museum, for it’s unceasing commitment to the truth, and for its 16 foot wooden Elvis.

The Elvis Is Alive Museum is, in fact a real place. It is in Wright City, Missouri. It is, in the words of it’s creator:, dedicated to:

Discovering the truth that Elvis never actually left the building, 80-year-old Missourian, Bill Beeny, opened the “Elvis Is Alive Museum” 15 years ago to tell the world his story. Located an hour’s drive west of St. Louis, just off Interstate 70, look for the 16 foot wooden Elvis (it’s the only 16 foot wooden Elvis on the street) and you’ll find a museum filled with photos and newspaper clippings, and even a casket displaying an Elvis mannequin. The museum is also home to thousands of pages of FBI files which shows Elvis’ involvement with the FBI and DEA as an agent, the DNA sample analysis which proved the body in the coroner’s report was that of a different man, handwriting and voiceprint files from “The King” discovered after his supposed death, and hundreds of facts refuting the notion that Elvis Presley had departed from this world.

Noble.

However, due to the fact that Elvis, if alive, would be 72 years old, intrest in the museum has flagged, and was forced to shut it’s doors.

BUT WORRY NOT AMERICA: THE ELVIS IS ALIVE MUSEUM IS… ER… ALIVE

Thanks to Andy Key, who bought the collection on Ebay, the Museum will reopen. From CNN:

Key, 38, said he’s “open to the possibility” Presley is alive, but he’s counting on there being enough skeptics out there to make his new business a success.

With an $8,000 eBay bid, Key won the Elvis is Alive Museum’s collection and plans to move the museum from its current site in Wright City, Missouri, to Mississippi, where Key lives and Presley was born.

“If (Elvis) wants to come to the opening, he can certainly come back,” he said.

I’m sure he’ll make it. You have to love Mr. Key’s enthusiasm. This casual, I-don’t-really-believe-that-Elvis-is-alive-but-it-might-be-worth-eight-grand-to-try-to-make-a-little-money-in-a-quirky-tourist-trap, sort of attitude is infectious.

And Mr. Presley, if you are alive, say hi to Andy Kaufman for me.

In the immortal words of the Kool Aid man,

OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH YYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!

A new episode of Fat Robot Radio is up HERE. Enjoy.

One of the distinguishing characteristics of the modern geek is their inability to tolerate inconsistencies in the various geek arts. I, as a geek, am no different. Every time I see something misstated, in regards to the arenas of comic books or Sci-Fi, it troubles me, like the anticipation of the tonic after a leading tone. I must resolve it. I have no control over the impulse. Thus, when I read this article on People.com, I felt compelled to clarify the discrepancy.

BE WARNED: THE FOLLOWING MINI-RANT IS A WORK OF ADVANCED NERDERY. IF YOU ARE DISGUSTED BY SUCH HOPELESS DISPLAYS, READ NO FURTHER.

Ok, so this has to do with the upcoming Star Trek Movie. Winona Ryder has been cast in the role of Amanda Grayson, Spock’s mother. Pay close attention to the first line, as that is where the trouble lies. Here is the article:

Winona Ryder is about to get the pointy-ear treatment – and guaranteed future work at sci-fi conventions.

The actress has been cast to play the Vulcan mother of young Spock in the upcoming Star Trek film, directed by JJ Abrams for Paramount Pictures, Variety reports.

The latest installment takes place during the crew’s early days at the Starfleet Academy. It will also star Chris Pine as Capt. Kirk, Simon Pegg as Scotty, Karl Urban as Dr. McCoy, and Eric Bana as Nero, the villain.

OK. So. I know this is no big deal. But, the geek in must point this out. Spock is half human. Sarek, Spock’s father, is Vulcan. Amanda Grayson, Spock’s mother, is human. Therefore, she will not be getting the “pointy-ear treatment”. A little research on the part of the author would have saved them this embarrassment.

WHEW. That feels better.

The Writers Guild has voted to strike. What do they want? Read, from AFP:

The dispute hinges on writers’ demands for a greater share of residual profits from television series sold on DVDs and money made from programs shown on the Internet, cell phones, and other new media outlets.

Studios make billions on this stuff, and the writers want their share. Fair enough I say. We at Brain Pan are supporting the strike. Good for them. I hope the studio’s have to run 2 million hours of crappy reality TV, (which by the way, doesn’t sell well on DVD), if they don’t see reason. As we’ll soon find out, without the ever crapped on, thankless work done by members of the WGA, the world will be reduced to a bunch of stupid actors standing around making crap up. GIVE THEM WHAT THEY’RE WORTH!

Oh, and if any studio needs a Scab, email me. I work cheap.

Somewhere.

Out there.

Someone.

Is Andy Dick’s daughter.

Think about that.