A Long Time Ago, In A Galaxy Far, Far Away...

... a man parlayed the movie script for an otherwise run-of-the-mill space opera into a multi-billion dollar film studio and special effects house.

And now?

Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd:

Continuing its strategy of delivering exceptional creative content to audiences around the world, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) has agreed to acquire Lucasfilm Ltd. in a stock and cash transaction. Lucasfilm is 100% owned by Lucasfilm Chairman and Founder, George Lucas.

One hundred percent?  Yowza.  How in the world did he manage to retain complete control? 

Under the terms of the agreement and based on the closing price of Disney stock on October 26, 2012, the transaction value is $4.05 billion, with Disney paying approximately half of the consideration in cash and issuing approximately 40 million shares at closing.

Four.  Billion.  Dollars.

Four billion dollars.

He just more than doubled his net worth.

I've got to imagine that he's pretty happy about that... and yet, I keep hearing this in the back of my head, spoken in Steamboat Mickey's voice...

The ability to destroy the childhood memories of millions is insignificant next to the power of the Mouse.  Hee-hee!

Indeed.  I just hope that a significant part of the deal is that good ol' George has zero creative control over whatever happens with future Star Wars franchise development...

VA Inaction In Action

Veterans Affairs Shuts Down West Coast Operations Ahead Of Hurricane Sandy

LOS ANGELES, CA – Speaking to assembled press today, officials with the Department of Veterans Affairs announced the closure of all VA facilities west of the Mississippi river in response to possible dangers that may arise from Hurricane Sandy...

The facilities closure is set to last for approximately 2 weeks, although Shinseki has said that the VA will do everything in its power to keep its doors closed to veterans for longer, if possible.

One of the key elements of satire is that it has to be at least somewhat believable.  Having worked with the VA, I have to say that they hit the nail on the head for this one.

R.I.P., HMS Bounty

HMS Bounty Abandoned, Sinks in Heavy Seas off Hatteras, 2 Still Missing

Rescuers at the United States Coast Guard have swung into action this morning after receiving word that the crew of the 180-foot, three-masted tall ship, HMS Bounty, has abandoned ship approximately 90 miles southeast of Hatteras, North Carolina.

Forced to abandon ship, 14 crewmen have been recovered and flown to Air Station Elizabeth City.  A C-130 and Jayhawk remain on the scene, searching for the remaining two crewmen.

The Bounty was built in Nova Scotia in 1960 specifically for the 1962 film, Mutiny on the Bounty, and has also been used in the Pirates of the Caribbean films, Dead Man’s Chest and At World’s End.  As of this year, the vessel has been offered up for sale at a price of $4.6 million.

Althouse Asks...

Are the media protecting Obama, pre-election, from the full impact of the Benghazi story?

Yes. Next question?

Obama's In Trouble

... and the left knows it.  Which is why they're already lining up their excuses.

Remember, folks.  If you don't vote for Obama, it's obviously because you're a deceitful racist.

Because nobody anywhere could [0] ever [1] think [2] that [3] Obama [4] was [5] doing [6] a less [7] than [8] stellar [9] job [10].

[0] Drone kill lists.

[1] Fast and Furious.

[2] Benghazi security failures.

[3] Lies about Benghazi.

[4] Solyndra.

[5] Labor force participation.

[6] Underpaid female staffers.

[7] Israel.

[8] Obamacare abortion mandates.

[9] Violating federal law for political gain.

[10] Congress?  Who needs 'em?

[11] Oh, and the GM bailout.  And... how many more failed "green" investments? And Honduras (remember that?) And shutting down oil production in the Gulf.  And obstacles to drilling for oil and gas under public land leases.  And the Russian "reset switch".  And killing the Keystone Pipeline.  And attacking natural gas production.  And promises of "more flexibility" after the election.  And you have to pass the bill to see what's in the bill.  And ignoring the Iranian uprising in 2009.  And military involvement in in Libya (sometimes).  And using a small time con artist and film-maker as a political scapegoat.  And... well.  I'm sure you get the idea.

This Is News?

Pew research says that Republicans are more informed than Democrats:

Moreover, Pew’s latest survey only reaffirms previous surveys demonstrating the same result. 

In fact, the results weren’t even close. 

In a scientific survey of 1,168 adults conducted during September and October of last year, respondents were asked not only multiple-choice questions, but also queries using maps, photographs and symbols.  Among other subjects, participants identified international leaders, cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, nations on a world map, the current unemployment and poverty rates and war casualty totals. 

In a 2010 Pew survey, Republicans outperformed Democrats on 10 of 12 questions, with one tie and Democrats outperforming Republicans on just 1 of the 12.  In the latest survey, however, Republicans outperformed Democrats on every single one of 19 questions.

Well, shucks.  I've known this for years.

If your "big four" issues are birth control, Big Bird, binders and bayonets, it's a pretty good indication that you're not living in the same world as the rest of us.

"Very bad, Indy. You go first."

Indiana Jones, denied tenure:

Dr. Jones: As chairman of the Committee on Promotion and Tenure, I regret to inform you that your recent application for tenure has been denied by a vote of 6 to 1. Following past policies and procedures, proceedings from the committee’s deliberations that were pertinent to our decision have been summarized below according to the assessment criteria... 

... no one on the committee can identify who or what instilled Dr. Jones with the belief that an archaeologist’s tool kit should consist solely of a bullwhip and a revolver.

(Hat tip to Borepatch for the link!)

Rope. It's What's For Breakfast.

At least, it would be if there were some justice in the world.

No Charges for Officer in Submachine Gun Killing.

Officer Steve Gilley of the Downey Police Department will not face charges from the Los Angeles District Attorney's office for the October 2011 submachine gun death of Michael Nida in Downey, Calif.

...

Prosecutor Stephanie Sparagna, however, wrote that Nida repeatedly resisted arrest and ran from police three times. He also ignored warnings from police, including one from the officer that he would "blow his head off" if Nida did not show his hands. 

Rope.

Cowpathing the Code

Coding Horror talks about The Future of Markdown

Markdown is asimple little humane markup languagebased on time-tested plain text conventions from the last 40 years of computing...

Unfortunately, it lacks a real specification, which makes creating a conforming implementation impossible.  So, the solution?  Take what works, smooth off the rough edges, and create a spec.

I want this new language – working name "Rockdown" – to be seen as Markdown with a spec, and therefore only deviate from Markdown's behavior in unobtrusive ways. It should basically be a replacement that paves over the problems and ambiguities in Markdown. I'm trying to draw a line between what behavior is important to preserve and what behavior isn't.

Reminds me a lot of the mostly apocryphal stories of cowpathing.

"What an unbelievable coincidence!"

So, the Obama campaign borrows $15 million from the Bank of America... then six weeks later, and three weeks before the loan is due, federal prosecutors sue Bank of America for one beeellion dollars.

Just a coincidence, I'm sure.

Bank of America is a nice place, after all.  It would be a... shame... if anything were to happen to it.