Governator Cameo in New Terminator

Possible Schwarzenegger Cameo in Terminator Salvation

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger might make an appearance reprising his classic Terminator role in the latest installment of the film franchise.

If a cameo is made, it wouldn't have the Govenator going into the studios to film for Terminator Salvation. The special effects wizards at Industrial Light and Magic are trying to insert Schwarzenegger's image from the 1984 original.

"I made it very clear that I don't have the time to do the movie," he said during an "Ask the Governor" Webcast on Tuesday. "I said that I would be willing to be in the movie if they get the technology together, and so they are working on that right now."

Schwarzenegger said, in the possible scene, the main character would encounter him as a "future Terminator."

"I think it's cool to continue on with the franchise," he said.

Terminator Salvation featuring Christian Bale, hits the theaters next month on May 21.

UK Police List Jedi as Religion

Eight police officers serving with Scotland's largest force listed their official religion as Jedi in voluntary diversity forms.

Strathclyde Police said the officers and two of its civilian staff claimed to follow the faith, which is featured in the Star Wars movies.

The details were obtained in a Freedom of Information request by Jane's Police Review.

Strathclyde was the only force in the UK to admit it had Jedi officers.

In the Star Wars films, Jedi Knights such as Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda use the Force to battle the evil Darth Vader, who has turned to the dark side.

Jane's Police Review editor Chris Herbert, who requested the information, said: "The Force appears to be strong in Strathclyde Police with their Jedi police officers and staff.

"Far from living a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, some members of the noble Jedi order have now chosen Glasgow and its surrounding streets as their home."

Provided voluntarily

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police confirmed: "At the time of the request, 10 (eight police officers and two police staff) had recorded their religion as Jedi."

She added that the force monitored "six strands of diversity" - age, disability, gender, race, religion and belief, and sexual orientation.

The force said the information was provided voluntarily and securely stored.

About 390,000 people listed their religion as Jedi in the 2001 Census for England and Wales. In Scotland the figure was a reported 14,000.

The Office for National Statistics did not recognize it as a separate category, and incorporated followers of Jedi with atheists.

Last year, brothers Barney and Daniel Jones founded the UK Church of the Jedi - which offered sermons on the Force, light saber training, and meditation techniques.

Strathclyde Police employs 8,200 police officers and 2,800 civilian staff.

Originally reported by BBC News

Simpsons Couch Gag Contest

YOU'VE SEEN THEM AT THE BEGINNING OF "THE SIMPSONS" FOR TWO DECADES. NOW HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO CREATE YOUR OWN COUCH GAG.

In honor of the "Best. 20 Years. Ever.", FOX, MySpace and the producers of "The Simpsons" invite you to create and share your very own original live-action Couch Gag video.

The Grand Prize Winner and Guest will receive a trip to L.A. and an invitation to the annual "The Simpsons" Fall Launch Party, plus a Home Entertainment System and a custom drawing of "The Simpsons."

The Fan Favorite Winner will win a "The Simpsons" Prize Pack.

HOW TO ENTER:

Upload your entry to myspace.com/thesimpsons by May 18, 2009

We have provided audio files of the theme song for your use.

All other elements in your video must be original, starring you, your family and your friends. Your video must be no more than 45 seconds in length.

The Grand Prize Winner will be selected by FOX executives and/or producers of "The Simpsons."

Come back and rate entries in the Video Gallery and help select the Fan Favorite Winner. Fan voting will begin May 19, 2009.

Grand Prize Winner and Fan Favorite Winner will be announced on, or about June 22, 2009.

Simpsons Stamps Coming Soon

On Thursday, the U.S. Postal Service revealed five first-class stamps featuring characters from the Fox animated series "The Simpsons" -- Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie -- that will hit a post office near you May 7.

"This is the biggest and most adhesive honor 'The Simpsons' has ever received," creator Matt Groening said.

The TV show, the longest running prime-time sitcom, was chosen from about 50,000 stamp subject suggestions submitted last year, the Postal Service said.

"We are emotionally moved by the Postal Service selecting us rather than making the lazy choice of someone who has benefited society," said Simpsons producer James L. Brooks.

Bart Simpson, who is known to collect stamps, "will serve as a great opportunity to interest youngsters into stamp collecting," said David Failor, executive director of stamp services for the Postal Service.

Failor added, "eyebrow-raising to say the least, this witty, well-written pop icon continues to irreverently satire its parody of a middle-class family as it lampoons American culture."

Superheroes During Difficult Days

America faces an economic calamity. Trouble brews in faraway lands. Sound familiar?

During the Great Depression and early years of World War II, the very first superheroes debuted. Superman, the Bat-Man, Wonder Woman and Captain America have all become household names, born out of dire times in our countries past.

A new exhibit at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles celebrates these icons from the Golden Age of Comic Books. "In the 1930s, the American Dream had become a nightmare, and I think comic books and superheroes in particular provided an escapist form of entertainment that allowed the American public to go into a fantasy world where all the ills of the world were righted by these larger-than-life heroes," says Erin Clancy, a curator at the Skirball.

Guest curator Jerry Robinson not only organized the exhibit, he's a part of it. The comic book pioneer created Batman's arch-enemy, The Joker, and named the caped crusader's sidekick Robin. (Although Bob Kane, credited with creating Batman, has long disputed elements of Robinson's creation stories.)

"We were just emerging from the Depression," Robinson recalls. "Superman started in 1938. Batman started in 1939. So, we were just recovering."

In modern times, the public is turning to costumed heroes again in record numbers. Movies based on comic books are box office leaders; comic books themselves remain a strong and growing industry.

"I think the comic book superhero came out of a context in which the political, social and economic realties were a little tough," Clancy says, "and we can certainly relate to those realities now in our own day. I think the resurgence of popularity of superheroes can be attributed to that."

Last year, audiences made "The Dark Knight" the second-highest grossing film of all time. The late Heath Ledger, who won a best supporting actor Oscar for his performance as The Joker in that film, spoke with Robinson before he died.

"I was flattered to hear from him that he based the whole concept of The Joker's persona and rationale on our first concept of The Joker," Robinson says.

With the box office success of "The Dark Knight" and "Iron Man" -- plus comic book-inspired films like "The First Avenger: Captain America," "The Avengers" and "Thor" in development -- it looks like superheroes will continue to inspire.
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"I think heroes are back," Robinson says. "I think you can almost chart it. The times are not so good -- we're looking for heroes."