Howdy Ho! More "South Park"

Dave Chappelle may have called it quits, but at least Comedy Central's still got South Park.

The network announced Thursday that it had reupped the raunchy 'toon series for three more years, carrying Cartman and the gang though their 12th season on the air.

The new contract calls for 14 new South Park episodes a year through 2008, with creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone continuing to write, direct and edit the show.

"I was at Comedy Central when we launched the first season of South Park, and I am thrilled to see them continue through 2008," Comedy Central President Doug Herzog said in a statement. "Matt and Trey are creative geniuses and a huge part of the Comedy Central family, and we look forward to continued success."

Renewing the show was something of a no-brainer, seeing as the antics of foulmouthed foursome Cartman, Kenny, Kyle and Stan consistently pull in the network's highest ratings.

Since its inception in 1997, South Park has made a habit out of pushing the envelope on conventional limits, perhaps most notably with its season-five premiere in which the unbleeped S-word was uttered 162 times.

However, respite for the squeamish cartoon viewer is in sight, as a kinder, gentler version of the show is headed for non-cable airwaves in the near future. The series has been approved for syndication in markets including Los Angeles, New York and Chicago and cleaned-up episodes begin airing Sept. 19.

cuthbert1776

one of Chicago's local stations will also be broadcasting South Park - at midnight

Captain America's Big Shot

Spider-Man is about to get company--a lot of it--in makeup.

Marvel Entertainment, the Webslinger's corporate boss, announced plans Tuesday to produce as many as 10 new films based on 10 characters from its considerable comic-book collection.

Captain America, Black Panther and the supergroup known as the Avengers are among the crimefighters in line for their big-screen closeups.

As announced last April, Paramount will distribute the films, all of which are slated to be live action. The first made-by-Marvel movie is due out in summer 2008. Which tights-wearer will be the subject of that inaugural production is undecided.

"No character before its time," Avi Arad, chairman and CEO of Marvel Studios, told the Hollywood Reporter. "The scripts will dictate which is first."

The other characters jockeying for position: Nick Fury, the one-eyed agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.; Ant-Man, the ant-sized avenger from Coral Gables, Florida; Cloak and Dagger, a pair of vigilante teenagers; Doctor Strange, a neurosurgeon turned sorcerer previously immortalized in a 1978 made-for-TV movie; Hawkeye, a mere mortal with a costume and spot-on archery skills; Power Pack, a sort of kid-centric Fantastic Four; and Shang-Chi, a kung-fu fighting master.

There's nothing new in Marvel product becoming movie product. Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Hulk, Daredevil, Elektra, the Fantastic Four and Blade all hail from the comics giant, and all have recent big-screen credits. Next year will bring more Marvel releases: Ghost Rider, The Punisher II and X-Men 3.

What's new is the amount of control Marvel will exert over its legion of heroes--no small thing for a company that has wrangled in the past with producing partners. In the new set-up for the 10-picture slate, Marvel will set the budgets (approximately $165 million), secure prime release dates (the summer or winter holiday seasons) and keep the kitty from all film-related merchandising.

Additionally, Marvel will hire the writers, and decide which screenplays are ready to shoot, and when. In the Reporter, Arad dropped a heavy hint that a certain shield-baring, star-spangled superhero might have the inside track. "I cannot wait to tell Captain America's story," he said. "It's a doozy of a story." (Variations of the story have been told already, most ignobly in a low-budget 1991 feature that was dumped on video.)

Marvel's exclusive pact with Paramount also is new. In the past, the company's heroes have worked freelance for the likes of Fox (the X-Men franchise), Universal (The Hulk) and Sony (the Spider-Man movies). As a result, a project like The Avengers might present a lineup challenge to Marvel and Paramount since Avenger members such as the X-Men's Wolverine and Hulk already have appeared in films for rival studios.

Gimme another shot of this beer..

BERLIN (Reuters) - A German brewer has concocted what he says is the world's strongest beer, a potent drink with an alcohol content of 25.4 percent that is served in a shot glass.

"Everyone who has tried it is enthusiastic. It tastes like a quirky mixture of beer and sherry," said Bavarian brewer Harald Schneider.

Schneider, who lives in southern Germany where beer is a tradition, said his beer fermented for 12 weeks for an alcohol content twice that of Germany's other strongest beers.

"People will only be able to drink two or three glasses, otherwise they'll drop like flies," he said.

Schneider expects the holders of the world's strongest beer, the Boston Beer Company, to put up a fight.

"I'm pretty sure the Americans have something up their sleeve."

ROAD TRIP !!

Disney Opens Theme Park in Hong Kong

HONG KONG - Hong Kong Disneyland threw open its gates to the public Monday, marking Mickey Mouse's biggest push into China — a market the U.S. company hopes will flood the theme park with splurging tourists from the world's most populous nation.

With the pink Snow White Castle behind them, Disney executives and a senior Chinese leader celebrated the opening with musicians clanging cymbals, Chinese lion dancers prancing precariously on tall poles and fireworks bursting in the sky.

The ceremony ended with a parade of skipping Disney characters old and new: Mickey, Donald Duck, Mushu the dragon, Lilo and Winnie the Pooh.

Robert Iger, president of the Walt Disney Co., said it was exciting being part of China's future. "As millions discover the wonders of Hong Kong and China — one of the most rapidly growing travel destinations in the world — the future is indeed bright," he said.

Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong called the park, "Hong Kongers' eternal carnival."

Hundreds of visitors lined up outside the park's gate, waiting to get in amid muggy, sweltering heat.

Michael Kuzma, of Celebration, Fla., began queuing up a day early and was first in line. "I think for over 50 years, the American people have experienced the happiness of Disney theme parks. I hope the people of China can enjoy the happiness," the 36-year-old consultant said.

The attraction and its two resort hotels are surrounded by mountains on lush Lantau Island, just 30 minutes away by subway from bustling central Hong Kong. It looks much like the first Disneyland in California, with a Space Mountain thrill ride, a classic Cinderella Carousel and Sleeping Beauty Castle — which Disney predicts will be one of the most photographed buildings in Asia.

Hong Kong's government — the biggest investor in the $3.5 billion park — says the attraction will help turn this global financial capital into Asia's best family holiday spot.

Disney hopes the park, the 11th in its global empire, will be a magnet for increasingly wealthy Chinese tourists, who have a reputation for being big-spenders.

Iger said the park would create a media buzz and word-of-mouth excitement that would ignite interest in Disney films, TV shows and other products. Hong Kong-based Phoenix Television broadcast the Disneyland opening live to viewers across China.

Michael Eisner, Disney's chief executive officer, said China and Disneyland will be a perfect match because they both value families.

Hong Kong and Disney struck a deal to build the park in 1999 — just two years after the former British colony returned to Chinese rule. The city had been battered by the Asian financial crisis, and desperately needed a new project to boost its spirits and troubled economy.

Disneyland says it employs 5,000 people and will draw 5.6 million visitors in its first year.

So far, the biggest complaint among some of the thousands who got a sneak peak at the park during a soft opening period has been that Hong Kong Disneyland is too small. It's Disney's smallest park at about 100 acres.

The entire attraction — including the two hotels — is 298 acres, and there's room to expand to nearly 500 acres.

Chinese tourist Zhang Wei predicted the park would be a big hit with the mainland Chinese.

"Disney has a big name and it will definitely attract people and be a success," said the 38-year-old businessman from Beijing as he finished watching the daily parade of floats.

Hong Kongers have a reputation for being brusque and unsmiling, but the Disneyland staff — including cleaners and guards — have been trying to master the Disney tradition of giving guests a warm smile and hello.

has anyone tried the new Mountain Dew - Pitch Black II?

It was a grape flavor last Halloween time

I have seen it at the store - but haven't tried it yet -

Has anyone?

Is it any good?

Super Deluxe

Signs Your Librarian Is Nuts

5> No matter what book you ask for, she hands you a piece of toast and a Q-tip.

4> Uses the "Dewar's Decimal System," which involves regular belts of scotch.

3> Instead of a simple "Shhhh," uses a bullhorn to say, "One more sound and I cap yo' ass!"

2> Flashes patrons and yells, "Hey! Check *this* out!"

and the Number 1 Sign Your Librarian Is Nuts...

Even if you can hit a glass on the table four out of five times when you're clipping your toenails, women will never truly appreciate your skill.

Ballpark Jumbotron Messages We'd Like to See

5> "Attention, Bob Smith in seat 12, row 38: Your son is in the locker room losing his virginity to Mike Piazza."

4> "Today's Kansas City Royals post-game show brought to you by the Suicide Prevention Hotline!"

3> "Tonight's Massengill Disposable Douche Player of the Game is...."

2> "Neither team could be here tonight, so instead please welcome the comedy stylings of former Vice President Al Gore!"

and the Number 1 Ballpark Jumbotron Message We'd Like to See...

Least Popular Philosophical Questions

5> If a monk, living in a monastery, takes a vow of silence, then talks in his sleep, has he broken his vow of silence? If so, who is going to tell on him?

4> If a man speaks in a forest and there is no woman to hear him, is he still wrong?

3> If a thing of beauty is a joy forever, why does ugly seem to last so much longer?

2> How many angels can writhe in tortured agony skewered on the pointy end of a pin?

and the Number 1 Least Popular Philosophical Question...

I had a bunch of Canadian dollars I needed to exchange so I went to the currency exchange window at the local bank. Short line ... just one guy in front of me ... The guy in front of me was an Asian guy who was trying to exchange yen for dollars and he was a little agitated ... He asked the teller, "why it change? yestoday I get two hunat dolla fo yen - today I get hunat eighty? Why it change?"

Keniko

That was a funny one this morning - sorry about the coffee on the monitor.

Things Hate About Everyone

1. People who point at their wristwhile asking for the time.... I know where my watch is pal, where the hell is yours? Do I point at my crotch when I ask where the toilet is?

2. People who are willing to get off their ass to search the entire room for the tv remote because they refuse to walk tothe tv and change the channel manually.

3. When people say "Oh you just wantto have your cake and eat it too"? Damn right! What good is cake ifyou can't eat it?

4. When people say "it's always the last place you look". Of course it is. Why the hell would you keep lookingafter you've found it? Do people do this? Who and where are they? Gonna Kicktheir asses!

5.When people say while watching afilm "did you see that?".

No Loser, I paid $12 to come to the cinema and stare at the damn floor.

6. People who ask "Can I ask you aquestion?".... Didn't really give me a choice there, did ya sunshine?

7.When something is 'new and improved!'. Which is it? If it's new, then there has never been anything beforeit. If it's an improvement, then there must have been something before it,couldn't be new.

8.When people say "life is short". What the hell?? Life is the longest damn thing anyone ever does!! What can you do that's longer?

9. When you are waiting for the bus andsomeone asks "Has the bus come yet?" If the bus came would I bestanding here, dumbass?

The Smith family was proud of their family tradition. Their ancestors had come to America on the Mayflower. Their line had included senators, pastors, and Wall Street wizards.

They decided to compile a family history, a legacy for the children. They hired a fine author. Only one problem arose: how to handle that great-uncle who was executed in the electric chair. But the author said not to worry, he could handle that section of history tactfully.

Well, if you can't even trust a hitman..

TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese woman called in the police after a hitman she paid to kill her lover's wife failed to carry out the job.

The 32-year-old Tokyo woman was arrested Wednesday for incitement to murder, the Daily Yomiuri newspaper said Friday.

The woman contacted a private detective through a Web site last November and paid him 1 million yen in cash to murder her love rival, the paper said.

The 40-year-old detective accepted the money and suggested he could carry out the job by chasing the victim on a motorcycle and spraying her with a biological agent in a tunnel.

Things "FEMA" Might Actually Stand For

5> Featuring Enron Managerial Accountability

4> Focused on Equines, Mostly Arabian

3> Finally Ejected Mike's Ass

2> Forget Everyone in Mobile, Alabama

and the Number 1 Thing "FEMA" Might Actually Stand For...

How to dispute a credit card purchase

It's trickier than you might think. Here's what you're entitled to under the law, and the steps you need to take to make a successful case. By Lucy Lazarony, Bankrate.com

Don't you just hate it when you buy a product and bring it home, only to discover the product is damaged or poorly made?

To make matters worse, the merchant refuses to replace it or give you a refund.

If you made the purchase with a credit card, your card company may be able to help.

Credit card purchases are protected under the Fair Credit Billing Act. This law gives the consumer the right to withhold payment on poor-quality or damaged merchandise purchased with a credit card.

Just a few catches

Under the law, you do need to make a real effort at resolving the dispute with the merchant before you can ask your issuer to stop a credit card payment. There are a few other catches as well.

The sale must be for more than $50 and have taken place in your home state or within 100 miles of your home address. Few issuers enforce the $50 or 100-mile rule on purchases, but all are free to do so.

So there's a chance that you'll be able to dispute credit card charges on shoddy merchandise purchased outside your home state, over the Internet, by mail order or phone order.

"Many credit card companies will let you dispute that," says Jeanne M. Hogarth, a program manager in consumer policies at the Federal Reserve Board. "Technically, they don't have to."

Eager to please

Because card companies are eager to hang on to their customers, especially good ones, they'll often go above and beyond what's required of them by law when a customer is unhappy with a card purchase.

For example, Capital One issues a temporary credit to a customer's account when a purchase is in dispute.

"If a customer sends a dispute letter, we'll issue a temporary credit so they won't have to pay for it," says Diana Don, a spokeswoman for Capital One. "We're giving the benefit of the doubt to the customer."

Capital One then contacts the merchant. If Capital One agrees with the customer, the refund stands. If Capital One sides with the merchant, the customer must pay for the item, plus finance charges.

Some card companies may be less generous when a big-ticket item is in dispute or if you made the purchase while traveling overseas. It all depends on the card company and how much they value you as a customer. They can point to the limits spelled out in the Fair Credit Billing Act whenever they want to.

How to dispute a credit card purchase

Make the law work for you

To get the Fair Credit Billing Act to work for you, here's what you need to do:

Try to resolve the problem with the merchant. "Give them the chance to fix it. Sometimes they do," says Cary L. Flitter, a consumer attorney in Narberth, Pa.

"If you use common sense and courtesy, it usually gets the problem solved before it becomes a Fair Credit Billing problem."

If possible, take the defective merchandise back to the store. Otherwise, call the store and ask for a manager or supervisor. Keep records of each conversation.

"You always want to have a paper trail," says Deborah McNaughton, author of "The Insider's Guide to Managing Your Credit." "Make notes of dates and times and who you talked to."

If the merchant won't budge, put your complaint in writing. Outline the dispute in a short, detailed letter to the merchant and send it certified mail.

Be sure to make copies of the complaint letter sent to the merchant. One copy will be sent to your credit card company as proof that you tried to resolve the dispute with the merchant and one copy will be kept in your records.

The next step is contacting your credit card company and alerting them of the disputed purchase amount. To be protected under the Fair Credit Billing Act you'll need to do this in writing and within 60 days after the bill with the disputed charge was sent to you.

Fully document your case. In your letter, be sure to include your credit card account number, the closing date of the bill on which the disputed charge appears, a description of the disputed item and why you're withholding payment. Enclose a copy of your complaint letter to the merchant and any other documentation you may have supporting your position.

Make sure it gets there. Send your letter by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the credit card company at the address for "billing inquiries" and not the address for payments.

A credit card company cannot charge you finance charges on a disputed charge. But you will still be charged interest on any other purchases you may have made. Be sure to include a payment for these purchases with your letter.

Don't delay in the mailing of your dispute letter, especially if it includes a payment. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, an issuer can take as many as five days to credit a payment not sent to the payment address.

Your issuer will then contact the merchant and hear its side of the story. Two things can happen. If the card company sides with the merchant, you'll have to pay for the disputed item, plus any finance charges. If the card company sides with you, you don't have to pay a penny.

To dispute a bill, it's best to move quickly. You'll want to inform your card issuer of the disputed charge before it's due for payment. You can't withhold a payment once a bill is paid.

Has anyone received an email with songs attached from pino danilo prestinenzi or victoryolove ??

I have not opened it - afraid of viruses

Signs a Romance Novel Has Been Plagiarized

5> Chapter in which a scantily-clad Desiree clings to the sinewy Roberto and recites a list of ways he can tell if he might be a redneck.

4> The author? Danielle Steal.

3> The publisher? Kinko's.

2> Hero's frequent calls of "Adrian!!" seem to ring a bell.

and the Number 1 Sign a Romance Novel Has Been Plagiarized...

How many members of the Bush administration does it take to change a light bulb?

1. One to deny that a light bulb needs to be changed;

2. One to attack the patriotism of anyone who says the light bulb needs to be changed;

3. One to blame Clinton for burning out the light bulb;

4. One to tell the nations of the world that they are either for changing the light bulb or for eternal darkness;

5. One to give a billion dollar no-bid contract to Halliburton for the new light bulb;

6. One to arrange a photograph of Bush, dressed as a janitor, standing on a step ladder under the banner 'Bulb Accomplished';

7. One administration insider to resign and in detail reveal how Bush was literally 'in the dark' the whole time;

8. One to viciously smear No. 7;

9. One surrogate to campaign on TV and at rallies on how George Bush has had a strong light-bulb-changing policy all along;

10. And finally, one to confuse Americans about the difference between screwing a light bulb and screwing the country."

LucySorets & PhryDom

For post 2000

not sure where I got the unusual post from - since no one else got it - I am definately not going to listen to it - ahhhh.

Anyway - just glad to be around, have some fun here once in a while and listen to great music.

Thanks JOE for your music, the upcoming G3 CD/DVD, for T2J, and all the memories.

Keep rocking !!