Everyone’s blogging this this morning, but it’s still a cool story:

In a secret Paris cavern, the real underground cinema

Police in Paris have discovered a fully equipped cinema-cum-restaurant in a large and previously uncharted cavern underneath the capital’s chic 16th arrondissement.
Officers admit they are at a loss to know who built or used one of Paris’s most intriguing recent discoveries.

“We have no idea whatsoever,” a police spokesman said.

“There were two swastikas painted on the ceiling, but also celtic crosses and several stars of David, so we don’t think it’s extremists. Some sect or secret society, maybe. There are any number of possibilities.”

“…The whole thing ran off a professionally installed electricity system and there were at least three phone lines down there.”

Three days later, when the police returned accompanied by experts from the French electricity board to see where the power was coming from, the phone and electricity lines had been cut and a note was lying in the middle of the floor: “Do not,” it said, “try to find us.”

What the hell is that?

[via Engadget]

So, I broke down this weekend and tried out the new airline, Independence Air. I couldn’t resist; their fares were low (I think I paid $120 roundtrip to get in and out of Columbus) and though Dulles isn’t the most convenient of the three airports, I DO live in Virginia so it’s not terrible. The results? One Fabulous trip, one Forgettable.

On the way out to Ohio, the plane was cozy and comfortable. Right now, they fly only regional jets, so they seat about 50 people, but the seats are all leather and they aren’t too small. My seat was near the front, so I was very close to the flight attendant, who was perky and humorous. [Incidentally, the pitchman for the airline is Dennis Miller, who gives the safety briefing over the intercom while the flight attendant shows you how to buckle up.] The pilot even came out of the cockpit to personally welcome us all and introduce himself. I couldn’t believe it. The flight was short and uneventful, and to top it all off, our chipper flight attendant ended the flight by distributing HOT WET NAPS to everyone on board. From a basket. With tongs. I mean, why hasn’t anyone thought of this before? HOT WET NAPS. Never mind that mine was blazingly hot and I nearly burned my fingers. It was still such a nice touch.

On the way home, I can’t give glowing marks. I sat in the last row on the plane–so not only can you not recline, but it feels as though you are actually leaning forward in your seat. The AC wasn’t working so well, and even the air vent above me wasn’t giving me any relief. There was a baby screaming off and on for most of the flight, and the flight attendant was not nearly as friendly and certainly didn’t pass out any wet naps.

Of course, I don’t know how much karmic energy contributes to the overall quality of any flight–outbound was a Friday night, with everyone excited in anticipation of the weekend. Homebound was Labor Day Monday, with back to work looming over most of the passengers. It’s also quite possible that I was just in an incredibly snarky mood.

Regardless, I will flyi again, if only in hopes that there will be more hot wet naps…

NEWSWEEK reports that TiVo and Netflix will be joining forces later this month to offer downloadable movies from the Netflix library to broadband-connected TiVo boxes.

NICE.

A transcript of last night’s HARDBALL on MSNBC immediately following the Miller and Cheney speeches at the Republican convention. Highlights: Ohio governor Bob Taft manages not to say anything more substantive than parroting the “security” line, Zell Miller challenges Chris Matthews to a duel (no kidding — former Oklahoma Congressman JC Watts wants to sell the popcorn and Cokes at the door, he says), and a pollster in Cincinnati quizzes reportedly undecided voters about their reactions to the evening’s speeches.

Full personal disclosure: IMHO, Cheney’s speech was a reasoned critique and comparison of the Bush and Kerry positions and approaches, without really touching on the specifics of the Bush record (but I frankly wouldn’t expect that anyway — it was a pretty good speech.) Zell Miller came off like the wildly gesticulating anti-Bush crazy man everyone expected the Democrats to present during their convention (but, you’ll recall, never really did, Al Sharpton aside) — only this was some weird tirade about Kerry’s voting record, which Miller had effusively praised three years ago.

EDIT: check out the satellite photos at NOAA…

Here’s an odd thing: branding firm Landor Associates and research firm Penn, Schoen and Berland have released a joint study which attempts to compare and contrast the current presidential candidates with the brand names for some well-known commercial goods and services, and then draws some conclusions about their “marketability” among voters based on those comparisons.

Fer instance, here’s a chart ostensibly showing how undecided voters view the candidates:

The study claims these results are neither good nor bad, but provide an interesting view of the brands and candidates as having both good and bad points to consider (i.e. reliable but stodgy brands versus flashy but untested brands).

(via waxy)

You know, for as many times as I apparently win huge sums of money in these foreign lotteries, I still haven’t seen a dime…

(“notifiction”? Oh, the irony…)

—–Original Message—–

From: KARFOUR LOTTOS INTERNATIONAL [mailto:karfourlottos@netscape.net]

Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 2004 7:58 AM

To: Gus Dahlberg

Subject: WINNING NOTIFICTION !!!

Karfour Lottos International

Via cassele 55

10123 Rome.

Italy.

GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED LOTTERY PROMOTERS.

Ref Number: 75-722-5643

Batch Number: 53127563483 KLI

Sir / Madam

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the karfour

programs held on the 27th of Aug 2004 Your e-mail

address attached to ticket number 4129763654978 with Serial Number

65012331283 Drew lucky numbers 5-9-9-6-2-1 which consequently Won in

the 1st category with another lucky winner, you both have therefore

been approved for a lump sum pay of US$1,400,000.00 (One Million

Four hundred thousand United States Dollars)

US$700,000.00 (Seven hundred thousand United States

Dollars) for each winner.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your

winning information confidential until your claims has been processed

and your money paid out to you. This is part of our security protocol

to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some

participants.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn

from over 200,000 companies and 30,000,000 individual email addresses

and

names from all over the world. This promotional program takes place

every Two year.

To file for your claims, please contact our FIDUCIAL AGENT in Italy,

for your Winning claims and Processing, on

TEL 0039-347-4891517.

BELTO SECURITY COMPANY.

Contact Officer- MR. JOHNSON DAVIS .

Please, be aware that our Paying Bank will effect Payment Swiftly upon

satisfactory report, Verifications and validations provided by our

processing Agent that would be designated to your file.

Remember, all winning must be CLAIMED not later than 20th of Sept

2004. After this date all unclaimed funds would be included in the

next stake.

Please note that in other to avoid unnecessary delays and

complications

remember to quote your reference information in all correspondence.

Futhermore, should there be any eventual change of information please

inform our Agent as quickly as posible.

Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thanks for

being part of our promotional program.

Note: Anyboby under the age of 18 is automatically

disqualified.Member

of the affiliate agencies are automatically not allowed to participate

in this program.

Yours truly,

Mrs.Odille Cavalli.

Games / Lottery Coordinator,

Karfour International Lottos