Happy Birthday, Nelson Mandela

Ninety years old and still fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves. One of the better human beings we've been privileged to have on the planet.

Who are your current nominees for People We Really Need? I'm always going to be in the Al Gore camp.

Dr. Horrible

As everybody and their third cousin twice removed has been posting about this week, Joss Whedon has a new musical, free online. Dr. Horrible stars Neil Patrick Harris as a mad scientist wannabe (yes, yes, I have already heard comparisons to a certain guy who Makes The World Safe For Breakfast) and Nathan Fillion stars as his nemesis, Capt. Hammer (who huskiebear described as "Gaston as a good guy"). Two installments up now, the third tomorrow, and you can buy it on iTunes or wait for the DVD (my choice).

It occurred to me that I've written one musical involving mad scientists and I'm writing at least two more (Herbert West and Girl Genius, neither of which has been forgotten, never fear). What is it with that, anyway? And what kind of madboy/girl would you be?

(I'll tell you this much. I'd happily and repeatedly violate one of the cardinal rules of TV/movie mad science: "When you've got the beautiful heroine under mind control, forget how gorgeous and willing and obedient she is, and forget how creative and frustrated you are. Instead, send her out as an assassin to kill the hero instead." Gotta love our Puritan heritage that makes that an acceptable alternative. [Let's not even get into the psychology of wanting to mind-control the heroine for any reason.] Also deep-six the corollary, "Donald Pleasance is a good role model." Y'ever see the MST3K episodes Warriors of the Lost World and Puma Man? Absolute control over incredibly gorgeous babes -- one of 'em Persis Khambatta, for Set's sake -- and all Donnie can think to do with 'em is send 'em to kill the heroes. Shmuck.)

ETA: As redaxe points out, be sure to follow the necessary directions for survival presented in Peter's Evil Overlord List.

George Carlin Dies

Last month, of course, at the age of 71. Carlin was definitely one of my heroes and major influences, at the Cosby/Henson/Blanc level. Smart as hell, witty, angry, passionate, and above all so fucking funny you couldn't breathe sometimes listening to his many, many classic routines.

I won't even bother listing my favorites; there are far too many. By all means, list or link to yours. But there is one joke of his which never fails to break me up, part of his newscaster bit for Wonderful WINO (The Big Sound In The Bi-i-ig Town!), and I'm likely misremembering the correct road here, but it went like this: "The San Bernadino Freeway was the scene of a freak accident today as six freaks in a camper crashed into three freaks in a van...."