Pay for the dead

Ok, here is a question for the fanatics out there. Think of every celebrity that has died, ever. Now tell me which one made the most money last year.

Yes, believe it or not someone actually cares about this. And they keep records of this over at Forbes. They have an annual list of who is the top dead celeb. I have to imagine the economy, and dwindling circulation in the industry, is seriously getting to Forbes.

But since the subject has come up like a re-animated corpse from a graveyard, I will deal with it.

Who could it be? Elvis? Michael Jackson? Anna Nicole Smith?

Well if you thought it was Smith you seriously are a fanatic and far to obsessed, much like many parts of the media that still probe her life and death well after the fact. But it wasn't current craze, Michael Jackson either. In fact the celeb wasn't even American.

It was Yves Saint Laurent, a french fashion designer and one of the few reasons to think of France positively. His estate made a whopping $350 million. Not bad at all for a dead guy.

Number 2 on the list is not really fair as it's 2 people combined. Rodgers & Hammerstein. They made $235 million, and some people thought showtunes were dead.

Michael Jackson shows up in third place with $90 million. But somehow I think he will be moving up very quickly. Especially if rumors of the movie made from video of his last dress rehearsal performance winning any kind of Oscar comes true. More more on that in a separate post.

Elvis Presley, the king of the 50's and notorious for stealing songs from Black performers and calling them his own, made $55 million. I expect his numbers to drop steadily as his fanbase is aging rapidly.

JRR Tolkein comes up next. His trilogy (actually 4 books if you count the Hobbit) and the excellent movie conversions have been around for decades. Of those on this list I find this the most positive statment that some people still read (besides you my readers) and appreciate good art. $50 million

Charles Schultz may not be a name most will recall of hand. Definitely my younger readers are unlikely to recognize the name. But old and young alike will have no problem recognizing one of the most famous creations of Schultz, Snoopy. Immortalized in newspapers, television specials, and now the image of MetLife, this character is so embeded in American culture even rap had to imitate it. $35 million

The 3rd singer on the list is one of the keys to the British invasion. Yes that means John Lennon of the Beatles. The yellow Submarine just keeps moving along and earned Lennon a post-humous $15 million.

Probably my favorite on the list has to be Dr. Seuss. Like millions, if not tens of millions, I can still recite some of his stories that I loved best (I'm really good with Green Eggs and Ham). And if you have to see his work rather than read it, which I think all kids should read, then stick with the Grinch That Stole Christmas and avoid at all costs the horrible conversion of the Cat in the Hat. $15 million (likely due to Mike Myers).

One of my inspirations while growing up will likely suprise some people buyt is next on the list. Albert Einstein. Yes, one of the greatest minds ever made the list though he was hardly a celebrity by today's standards (as low as they are). But the power of pure thought still must be respected. $10 million

Last of the top 10 is another writer. Michael Crichton just made enough to clear the next couple of guys on the list. He comes in just under double digits with $9 million.

Other notables on the list include the incredible Jimi Hendricks with $8 million.

So it doesn't have to be Halloween for the dead to rise it seems.

Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Star Trek all from a different perspective

There’s been a huge hustle and bustle of news and events of late and the tone to many posts I’ve written has been a bit darker than usual. So today I decided to slow down a bit and look at things from a different perspective.

Perhaps the best way to get a different perspective is to view things from a new way of seeing an old idea. So I sought out Youtube and checked out some of the mashed up movies there. I present you a couple of great ideas that Hollywood will never think of, done quite well by people just like you and me (actually I admit I don’t have the knowledge and perhaps the talent to do the videos you see below).

The Universe is big, so what would happen if some of the galactic travelers of sci-fi met up?



What if the culture of the Spartans never died, or at least in a galaxy far away a long time ago? How could they not be the forefathers of the greatest forces in the galaxy?



And for something completely different – and one of my favorites – what if JRR Tolkein wasn’t always a stand up guy?

Dungeons & Dragons greatest Dungeon Master loses the ultimate battle - 3.4.2008.1

I have some very sad news to report today. While some of you may not recognize the name, others will be quite familiar with Gary Gygax. I hate to say it, but he has died at the age of 69.

Now I know gamers, most of us that are now a bit older and many are creating our own games, should be familiar with this man. For those that are not, he is one of the co-creators of the most popular gaming system possibly ever. Dungeons & Dragons. Along with JRR Tolkein he was responsible for sci-fantasy and RPG style gaming.

In fact I think you can draw a direct line from JRR Tolkein to Gary Gygax to Vampire: The Masquerade to The Witcher to MMO’s (Massively Multiplayer Online games). Without D&D there is no Everquest, or World of Warcraft. There is no Final Fantasy. There is no Resident Evil or any other game. And thus no movies either.

Some may think that D&D was simply a bad movie made by some Hollywood guy that was made into an MMO. In fact the universe of Dungeons & Dragons is enormous and highly profitable. From huge tomes regarding how to play in the 1980’s, a cartoon in the late 80’s, video games, trading cards, books, and movies the genre encompasses 3 decades and continuing.

The original game system was a real first. Before there were computers, groups of friends (yes some were a bit geeky, but it was hugely popular with the military too) would gather to pull out pieces of paper and become a Dwarven Thief or Elven Paladin or Human Mage for a few hours. Without the need of more than pencil paper and a set of 3-, 4-, 6-, 10-, and 20-sided dice entire worlds were created and enjoyed. Today those same types of worlds require years of programming and sometimes servers connected to the world.

The legacy of Gary Gygax is immense when you consider not only what he created for his friends to enjoy, but what became a multi-national conglomerate. You may not be a computer geek, but every time you play a FPS (First Person Shooter), RPG (Role Playing Game), or fantasy MMO you are living an extension of the mind of the greatest mage this side of Merlin.

Few are so creative, and touched so many. My condolences to his friends and family. He will be missed by this Dwarven Thief and many others I am sure.

From here to there in a few words - 3.30.2007.1

So what else has happened in the world as Paris Hilton get more air-time than could ever be justified. Well in India there was a woman that gave one of the strongest expressions of love that I think I’ve ever heard. It seems that the woman was engaged a short while before her fiancé fell down a well and died. That is a sad thing, but what was sweet was her commitment Prior to her betroved being buried the woman, with the blessing of his family, married the love of her life. That’s a statement. At first look I thought it was creepy, but in thinking about it I find it sweet. Now where is an example of something like that here at home?

Now for something completely different. UFO conspirators rejoice. Yes there has been confirmation from France that something is out there, and it visited here. Since 1954 France has held onto documented cases, some seen by thousands, which cannot be explained by an earthbound means. This is similar to the Project Bluebook files that were (and possibly continue to be) held by the United States Air Force. While many of the files released to the internet were explained, roughly 400 have not been. It just goes to prove the simple math I have long believed. There are just too many solar systems, galaxies and so on in the universe to believe we are the only things alive and with intelligence in it. It just smacks of the same logic that held the earth as flat or that our planet was the center of the universe. One day, if we don’t kill ourselves off [high probability], I’m sure that thinking will seem as absurd as the current consensus.

Following the pattern of jumps, The Shield will start its new season on Monday. I can’t wait. Vic Mackey, Mr. Michael Chiklis, is a unique character, both endearing for his loyalty and angering in his blatant corruption. With Mr. Forest Whitaker still in the cast, and causing no lack of problems for Mackey and his crew, sparks may be the least of things to fly.

And Shane, Mr. Walton Goggins, better watch his back. His murder of a teammate was brutal and wrong. I cannot see any of the dwindling Strike Team members forgiving this. I can see a vicious retaliation. Especially when you consider the fact that there are a few ‘innocents’ that are going to have a ton of bricks come down on their heads before the truth is known. [On a side note, imagine having to kill your best friend in real life. In a manner of speaking Mr. Goggins did exactly that. In real life he is very good long time friends with Mr. Kenneth Johnson who portrayed the conflicted Lem. The day they filmed the murder both men had just returned from the 2006 Super Bowl that Mr. Johnson invited Mr. Goggins to. That’s rough.]

Continuing to the next thing, the world of books. I know some must still read actual books, I do. For those who have read the actual Lord of the Rings Trilogy, perhaps good news. The son of JRR Tolkein has finished his father’s last book. From what I understand it’s not a continuation of the story, nor even in Middle Earth. Yet the themes of the 4 parts of the One Ring stories are maintained. [Yes 4 parts. The Hobbit starts it all. And no there isn’t a movie of it yet. And the movie will not be made by Mr. Peter Jackson. You have been warned.] This is something to pick up. I’ll read it shortly after it comes out and let you know what I think.

Oh, expect a review of 300. Late as it may be. Good movie, in parts, but a bit disappointing as well.

This is what I think, what do you think?