10 Worst Polluted Cities

For years since the Kyoto Accords were signed by most of the world communities, the United States has been targeted as one of the worst offenders towards the environment – polluted rivers, global warming, failed Energy policies, etc.

Well, as much as the media, the United Nations, and the highly polarized environmental community would like us to believe the United States is not the great Satan in environmental matters, there are several other countries who are considerably worst than the US and are overlooked year in and year out.

Blacksmith Institute has released their second annual rankings of the 10 most polluted places on this Big Blue Marble we call Earth.  Not to my surprise, not one United States location/city is on the list.  Go figure…I guess the United States is not as bad as we are lead to believe.  Here are the Top Ten:

1. Sumgayit, Azerbaijan
2. Lifen, China
3. Tianying, China
4. Sukina India
5. Vapi, India
6. La Oroya, Peru
7. Dzerzhinsk, Russia
8. Norilsk,  Russia
9. Chernobyl, Ukraine
10. Kabwe, Zambia

24 – Tony Almedia is back!

24 is one of the few shows on TV that makes every character expendable no matter how popular they are to the fans and when they die, they stay dead no matter what.  Well I hate to break the bad news, 24 is doing an about face.  Coming off one of the worst seasons, the producers of 24 are hoping to catch lighting in a bottle all over again.  Besides changing the location of the show and adding new cast members, the Producers are bring back from the dead a favorite character.

Rising from the dead like the great phoenix – Tony Almedia, yes you read it correctly he is BACK!!  Yes, the rumors are true; Tony will be back on 24 for season seven.  The producers have not said yet in how he rises from the dead, but Tony will be back for season seven.  WOW!!!  Maybe there is hope for the new season after all.

Along with Tony, Chloe, and Bill Buchanan will be back, but not at CTU.  Season seven will focus in Washington DC where Jack faces trial for his past decisions and actions.  24 also welcomes four new cast members – Janeane Garofalo as an FBI agent, Bob Guton as White House Chief of Staff, Cherry Jones as the President (yes, a female President, is this a bit of foreshadowing of the 2008 election? -could be), and Colm Feore as the First Husband. 

The season begins on January, 13^th at 8 pm; let’s hope it put’s last season memory to bed.

BSG – Caprica lives?!?

Good news, there maybe hope on the horizon for Caprica the Battlestar Galactica spin off.  Syfy Portalhas reported that Caprica is getting renewed interest by SciFi Channel and could be given the green light for production later this year.  YEAH!!!!

The green light for Caprica all depends how well Razor does this fall.  If Razor does well, SciFi can justify the funding for at least a two-hour pilot.  There are two up sides to this, if a Caprica pilot does well, SciFi has a new series on its hands, which is need especially since Flash Gordan, Dresden’s Files and Painkiller Jane have all been failures in eyes of management.  If Caprica does okay or poorly, there is always DVD which will help recoup a majority of the cost for production.  So, a win-win everyone!

If you are not familiar with Caprica, it is a prequel to Battlestar Galactica which takes place about 40 years into the past around the time of the original Cylon war.  The show will focus on the rise of the Cylons and the Adama’s family. 

After two years of off and on for this project, let’s hope this time it is a go!

Castro saved Ronald Reagan

From an episode out of the Twilight Zone, the Cuban Communist party newspaper Granma is reporting that Cuba’s government saved the life of President Ronald Reagan in 1984.  I can hear the collective words coming out of your mouths – are you kidding me…a starch communist saving a devoted capitalist and arch enemy?  Yes, that is what is being reported. 

Since Castro transferred power to his brother Raul over a year ago, Fidel has been writing a series of essays for the newspaper Granma.  One of his essays highlighted the assassination attempt on President Reagan.  Fidel states a Cuban security official at the UN in New York passed along information to his US counterpart about a right-wing extremist group who had plans of assassinating President Regan during his trip to North Carolina in 1984.  The information that was passed included names of the conspirators, time/date of the assassination, location, and weapons that would be used.

After the information was received by the US, several arrests took place in North Carolina which led to a hardy thanks from the US Security Chief at the UN to Cubans for the tip.

Currently no one at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley,, CA or the FBI can (or is willing to) confirm this incident occurred.  Ms. Lisa Jones, a library archivist, did note that President Reagan only made one stop in North Carolina that year. 

So the question to ask is if this attempt really did occur and our Federal Government is hiding the details for security reasons or that the essay written is from a mad man who sees the world through extremely distorted haze of cigar smoke. I will let you be the judge.

For me, I see it as another attempt by Fidel to nurture good relations with the West which would lead to influx of much need capital.

NFL Week 1 Power Rankings

Boy, what a start to the 2007/08 NFL season!!!  There were hard fought victories, agonizing defeats, controversy and tragedy all first week of play; if I didn’t know better I would think this sounded like a Shakespearian play.   Then again, it just football…the new American pastime.

Each week the major sports outlets – ESPN, CNNSI, Sporting News, and CBS Sportsline publish a power ranking of the NFL teams.  These rankings not mean diddly in the grand scheme of things in the NFL, but does help the fan gauge how good your team in the eyes of the so called “experts.”  These rankings are also make conversation among your buddies at your local sports bar while waiting for next beer to be poured during half-time.

So, for fun of it, I thought I would take a stab at creating my own rankings based on my extensive years of “armchair quarterbacking and coaching” of NFL teams.  If you have a different order or feel that I am off my rocker, please let me know. 

Now someone get me a beer, football is about to start!

NFL Power Rankings – Week 1

• 1. New England Patriots - Will video-gate user in the down fall of this “great” dynasty?
• 2. Indianapolis Colts – Reload on offense, but can the defense hold up?
• 3. San Diego Chargers – what can say, the best complete team in the NFL.
• 4. Chicago Bears – If they can find an offense, the NFL better watch out!
• 5. Carolina Panthers – are they one game wonder or are the Cats back?!?
• 6. Cincinnati Beangals - The Carson Palmer show.
• 7. Seattle Seahawks – Healthy and ready to strike in a much improved NFC West.
• 8. Pittsburgh Steelers – Can Big Ben bounce back?
• 9. New Orleans Saints – Can Bush carry the dreams of a city?
• 10. Dallas Cowboys – How bout those Cowboys?!?
• 11. San Francisco 49ers – Can the ghost of Walsh lead this young team to glory?
• 12. Baltimore Ravens – Ray Lewis…that is all I can say.
• 13. Green Bay Packers – Is this the last shoot out for Farve and company?
• 14. Detroit Lions – 1 down and 9 more to go.
• 15. Denver Broncos – Tight win last week.
• 16. Philadelphia Eagles – A little rust on McNabb, not to worry.
• 17. Tennessee Titians – How does Fisher do it?
• 18. St Louis Rams – Wow, can they bounce back?
• 19. Houston Texans – Mario Williams has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush this season.
• 20. Washington Redskins – Can the Skins improve with Snyder running the team?
• 21. Arizona Cardinals - The rise of the Phoenix.
• 22. Jacksonville Jaguars – Is Jack on the hot seat in Jax?
• 23. New York Jets - Is this the end of the Chad era in New York?
• 24. Buffalo Bills – Time to circle the wagons.
• 25. Minnesota Vikings
• 26. Miami Dolphins – Is KC or Miami the worst team in the NFL?
• 27. New York Giants – Injuries, injuries, injuries…
• 28. Oakland Raiders – About time Russell signs. Where has the “Commitment to Excellence” gone?
• 29. Atlanta Falcons – Vick is the least of their worries.
• 30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Is Gruden gone after this year?
• 31. Cleveland Browns – The Brady Quinn watch.
• 32. Kansas City Chiefs – What a mighty fall from grace!

Doctor Who – Breaking News on Season Five

 For of us who are fans of new Doctor Who, I have a bit of breaking news that the BBC is reporting as the fourth season is set to air in the spring of 2008 in the UK.  The fifth season will not be on the air until 2010.  If you are doing the math at home, a whole year will occur between season Four and Five which is a bit unusual for any TV show either in the US or UK.

Hold on before you start firing up the Tardis and jumping ahead to 2010…there will still be a bit of Doctor in 2009.  Russell Davies will write three Doctor Who specials that will air in 2009 starting David Tennant.  As for 2010, it has not been released as of yet if Tennant will return as the Doctor or not.  Let’s hope so… 

For now, that is it for the news on the Doctor.