The World of "Lost" and Legos

I have blogged before about attempts to recreate scenes from "Lost" with Legos. This man, however, has much time and resources on his hands to create these very recognizable scenes:

Sawyer Shoots a Polar Bear

Locke and Boone find the Beechcraft Plane

Locke blows up the Hatch with dynamite

Desmond is in the Hatch punching in the numbers

Danielle and Sayid capture Benry

Hurley finds the Dharma Bus

The First Tech Support Agent

Rare Coelacanth caught of Indonesian coast

Indonesian fisherman nets ancient fish
Mon May 21, 1:57 AM ET

An Indonesian fisherman has caught a coelacanth, an ancient fish once thought to have become extinct at the time of the dinosaurs, a fishery expert said on Monday.

Yustinus Lahama and his son caught the fish on Saturday in the sea off North Sulawesi province and kept it at their house for an hour, said Grevo Gerung, a professor at the fisheries faculty at the Sam Ratulangi University.

After being told by neighbours it was a rare fish he took it back to the sea and kept it in a quarantine pool for about 17 hours before it died.

"If kept outside their habitat (60 metres or 200 ft below the sea), the fish can only live for two hours. But this fish lived for about 17 hours," Gerung told Reuters. "We will look into why it had lived that long," he said. The fish was 131 centimetres (about four feet) long and weighed 51 kg (112 lb), Gerung said.

In 1998, fishermen a caught another coelacanth in a deep-water shark net off northern Sulawesi. That catch came 60 years after a member of the species was rediscovered on the east coast of South Africa.

Coelacanths are known from the fossil records dating back more than 360 million years, according to the Australian Museum Fish Web site. Before 1938 they were believed to have become extinct approximately 80 million years ago, when they disappeared from the fossil record, it said.

Coelacanths are the only living animals to have a fully functional intercranial joint, which is a division separating the ear and brain from the nasal organs and eye.

New Second "Transformers" Trailer released

I've blogged before about the new Transformers live-action movie coming out July 4th of this year. It was a beloved cartoon of mine that I watched in the 80's...and though hopeful, I was a bit skeptical about how good this live action CGI movie would be. I hope it's not light on plot, because the FX look freakin' awesome!!!

Melinda Doolittle on American Idol 2007

It was hard to believe when I found out my high school friend Melinda Doolittle auditioned for American Idol's Sixth Season this year! She was a part of my lunch group when I was a senior, but I only got to hang out with her for a year because she was a sophomore, new to our group (our high school only had sophomores, juniors, and seniors) and then I graduated. I can attest that Melinda is a sweetie and has no pretention about her. She liked to sing back then, but I didn't know she would go on to make it a career like this! (After graduating from Union, she went on to get her degree in Commercial Music at Belmont University in Nashville, and has been singing BGV ever since.) If anyone reading this cares about American Idol, please cast your votes for Melinda this year! I will be posting her progress here on this entry. Melinda, I'm rooting for you all the way! [Melinda's Backups have started a MySpace Fansite just for her!)

Melinda's Timeline:

1/24/07: Melinda Auditions for American Idol in Memphis, wins the Golden Ticket to Hollywood [Watch video here]
2/14/07: Discovers she passes to the Top 24 Contestants [Watch video here]

2/21/07: Performs "Since You've Been Gone" by Aretha Franklin in the Top 24 Competition [Watch video here]
2/22/07: Voted to go on to the Top 20 Contestants



2/28/07: Performs "My Funny Valentine" by Frank Sinatra in the Top 20 Competition [Watch video here]
3/01/07: Voted to advance to the Top 16 Contestants


3/07/07: Performs "I'm a Woman" by Peggy Lee in the Top 16 Competition [Watch video here]
3/08/07: Voted into the Top 12 Contestants



3/13/07: Performs "Home" from The Wiz for the Diana Ross week in the Top 12 Competition [Watch video here]
3/14/07: Continues into the Top 11 Finals


3/20/07: Performs "As Long as He Needs Me" from Oliver! for the British Invasion week in the Top 11 Competition [Watch video here]
3/21/07: Continues into the Top 10 Finals


3/27/07: Performs "Heaven Knows" by Donna Summer for Gwen Stefani week in the Top 10 Competiton [Watch video here]
3/28/07: Moves on into the Top 9 Competition


4/03/07: Sings "I Got Rhythm" for Tony Bennett/Swing Week in the Final 9 Competition [Watch video here]
4/04/07: Voted into the Top 8 Finals


4/10/07: Sings "Sway" by Jennifer Lopez for the J.Lo/Latin Week in the Final 8 Competition [Watch video here]
4/11/07: Moves into the Top 7 Finals


4/17/07: Performs "Trouble is a Woman" by Julie Reeves for Martina McBride/Country Week [Watch video here]
4/18/07: Voted into the Top 6 Finals


4/24/07: Performs "There Will Come a Day" by Faith Hill for Idol Gives Back/Inspirational Week [Watch video here]
4/25/07: Stays in Top 6 Competition (no eliminations this week)



5/1/07: Melinda sings "Have a Nice Day" by Bon Jovi for Bon Jovi/Rock week-Watch video here]
5/2/07: Continues into the Top 4 Finals (2 eliminations this week)

5/8/07: Melinda sings "Love You Inside Out" and "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" by the BeeGee's for Barry Gibb/Disco Week [Watch videos here and here]
5/9/07: Voted into the Top 3 Finals

5/15/07: Melinda performs 3 songs:
Judge's Choice (Randy Jackson): "I Believe in You and Me" by Whitney Houston [watch video here]
Producer's Choice: "Nutbush City Limits" by Ike and Tina Turner [watch video here]
Contestant's Choice: "I'm a Woman" by Peggy Lee [watch video here]
5/16/07: Melinda is voted off of American Idol - does not advance to Top 2 [watch video here]

GREAT JOB MELINDA--I'M SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!!

Watch all of Melinda's American Idol Journey in the video below:

Think you're good at bowling...?

Religious Celebrity Quote of the Day: Bono

My religious life has been trying to get through the minefield without coming out of it at the other end in a wheelchair. And I have. Well, okay, I walk with a limp. But that's kind of rock 'n' roll, know what I mean? The wobbly knees thing works well in leather pants.

-Bono

Tomb of King Herod presumably found

Archeologist: King Herod's tomb desecrated, but discovery 'high point'

By Amiram Barkat, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Staff

The archeologist who located King Herod's tomb at Herodium said Tuesday that the grave had been desecrated, apparently shortly after his death, but called the discovery a "high point."

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem announced Monday night that it has uncovered the grave and tomb of Herod, who ruled Judea for the Roman empire from circa 37 BCE.

Professor Ehud Netzer of the university's Institute of Archaeology told reporters Tuesday that the tomb was discovered when a team of researchers found pieces of a limestone sarcophagus believed to belong to the ancient king.

Although there were no bones in the container, he said the sarcophagus' location and ornate appearance indicated it was Herod's.

"It's a sarcophagus we don't just see anywhere," Netzer said. "It is something very special."

Netzer led the team, though he said he was not on the site when the sarcophagus was found.

He said the sarcophagus had been smashed into pieces, most likely by someone seeking revenge on Herod during the great Jewish rebellion of 66-72 CE.

"The discovery of the grave is the high point in the excavation at the site," said Netzer.

The professor, who is considered one of the leading experts on King Herod, has conducted archeological digs at Herodium since 1972 in an attempt to locate the grave and tomb.

The discovery solves one of Israel's greatest archeological mysteries.

The majority of researchers had believed that Herod was in fact buried at Herodium, based on the writings of the ancient Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, but multiple excavations at the site failed to locate the grave.

Netzer's successful dig focused on a different part of the site than previous excavations, between the upper part of Herodium and the site's two palaces.

Herodium, a fortified palace built by Herod some 12 kilometers south of Jerusalem, was destroyed by the Romans in 71 CE.

Herod, whose father and grandfather converted to Judaism, was appointed governor of Galilee at the age of 25 and was made "King of the Jews" by the Roman senate in approximately 40 BCE. He remained king for around 34 years.

Herod, also known as Herod the Great, is credited with expanding the Second Temple and building Caesarea, Masada, and many other monumental construction projects. He died in the year 4 BCE in Jericho after a long illness.

Herod decided to construct his tomb at Herodium because the site played a role in two dramatic events in his life. In the year 43 BCE, when Herod was still governor of the Galilee, he was forced to flee Jerusalem along with his family after his enemies the Parthians laid siege to the city.

His mother's chariot flipped over near Herodium, and Herod became hysterical until he realized she was only lightly wounded. A short while later, the Parthians caught up to Herod and his entourage, although Herod and his men emerged victorious in the ensuing battle.

At Herodium, Herod built one of the largest monarchical complexes in the Roman Empire, which served as a residential palace, a sanctuary, an administrative center and a mausoleum. Herod first built an artificial cone-shaped hill that could be seen from Jerusalem, on which he constructed a fortified palace surrounded by watchtowers that he used solely in wartime.

At the base of the hill, he built an additional palace, which was the size of a small town and known as "Lower Herodium." The palace included many buildings, fancy gardens, pools, stables, and storage areas.

Herod spared no expense in an attempt to turn the site into a regional gem, bringing water from Solomon's Pools and special soil to allow his gardens to blossom in the heart of the desert.

Following Herod's death, his son and heir Archilaus continued to reside and Herodium. After Judea became a Roman province, the site served as a center for Roman prefects.

With the outbreak of the Great Revolt, Herodium was seized by the rebels, but then handed over without resistance to the Romans following the fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE.

Fifty years later, Herodium was also used by the rebels during the Bar Kokhva revolt, but was abandoned thereafter.

In the 5th century CE, the site was settled by Byzantine monks, and then served as a leper colony before being finally abandoned in the 7th century CE.

The first archeological dig at the site, between the years 1956 and 1962, was conducted by a Franciscan monk and revealed most of the currently-known remains. Israel began excavations at the site in 1972, several years after its capture during the Six-Day War.

~~Watch a slideshow of archaeological pictures here~~

Bo's "General Lee" up for bid on eBay

Well, it appears that John Schneider, Bo Duke himself, is auctioning off one of his models of the General Lee, "the most famous car in television history," according to TV Land. John created the model himself and has used it over the last 10 years in races, charity events, and movies.

Go here if you'd like to bid....if you have a few bucks in the bank. It closes on May 4th at 10:02 am Pacific Time.

I can see the feedback now...."Looks like it's been in a few wrecks, the suspension is shot, and the doors don't even open!"

Status:

5/1/07: As of 11:00 pm EST, the car has 59 bids with the current price at $2,302,100.00.
5/2/07: As of 11:45 pm EST, the car has 60 bids with the current price of $2,302,300.00.
5/3/07: As of 10:00 pm EST, the car has 71 bids with the current price of $9,900,100.00.
5/4/07: As of 1:02 pm EST, the car ended with 61 bids (some were deleted for dishonest bidding) and sold for $9,900,500.00 .

‘Dukes of Hazzard’ car fetches nearly $10 mil
Version of the General Lee was sold for $9,900,500 on eBay
The Associated Press
Updated: 8:44 p.m. ET May 4, 2007

SAN JOSE, Calif. - A version of the General Lee — a 1969 Dodge Charger made famous in the television show “The Dukes of Hazzard” — fetched a winning bid of nearly $10 million Friday in an online auction.

If the bidder comes through with cash or financing for the $9,900,500 price, the car will be the most expensive item ever sold by eBay Inc., company spokeswoman Catherine England said.

Actor John Schneider, who played the blond heartthrob Bo Duke in the show, sold the car, which was not featured in the original show but carries the signatures of the cast.

Schneider, 47, said Friday that he expected bidding for the orange coupe, which has “01” on the doors and is emblazoned with the Confederate flag, to go for $3 million at most.

“In my wildest dreams, two people would get into a bidding war at about $2.5 million ... and I would have been delighted with that. However, I’m three times as delighted as that now,” he laughed.

All the living original cast members and crew from the show, which started in 1979, signed their autographs under the hood of the car. It was also featured in the movie “Dukes Go To Hollywood,” and Schneider raced it in The Silver State Classic Challenge in Nevada.

The actor said he would use the money to help produce a sequel to his 2006 movie “Collier & Co.”

“I think I’ll go on vacation first and then make the movie,” said Schneider, who after “Dukes” acted on Broadway and had roles on shows including “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.” “This is really, really quite amazing.”

When bidding escalated this week, customer service representatives at San Jose, Calif.-based eBay called Schneider and recommended he take bids only from pre-qualified eBay customers who could confirm financing and provide other details. Although all eBay bids are considered a legally binding contract, the transaction isn’t official.

E-mails to the winning bidder, who uses the screen name “Fishbashr1” and beat out 60 other bids, went unanswered on Friday afternoon.

“The way it works is the money and vehicle swap hands between buyer and seller, but until we hear from buyer and seller we have no way of verifying whether the transaction happened,” England said.

The current eBay record sale is $4.9 million for a private jet several years ago.

© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.