As IF Times

link Hollywood Outraged Over Pia’s ‘Idol’ Elimination | Access Hollywood – Celebrity News, Photos & Videos.

Normally there would be something seriously wrong if I  happened to agree with the Hollywood glitterati on anything.  Even if I didn’t know the particulars of an issue, it’s a safe bet I and most other rational people would be on the opposite side of them.   In this case, no less than uber lefty Tom Hanks has expressed outrage that the most talented American Idol contestant Pia Toscana was voted off last night’s show.  And I agree with him!  What next? Either he starts collecting guns, or I start driving a Prius.  Both seem unlikely.  But it goes to show how much disbelief there is in the aftermath of Pia’s elimination from a TV show.  We haven’t seen this much horror after a vote since the 2008 U.S. elections.

This incident has galvanized people of all ages, values, and viewpoints to express disbelief and outrage at an apparent gross injustice.   Clearly, all could see the superior talent that was showcased by Pia during her time on the show.  Whether this was just the way the votes rolled or whether it was some diabolical ratings orchestration by the Fox network is not known.  In lesser countries, there would be riots in the cities and perhaps even some be-headings.  Thus far, calm in the streets.

Luckily, our gal Pia has her future secured.  While she did not win the ‘talent contest’, she undoubtedly gained millions of fans who could see and appreciate her abilities and sympathized with her untimely ousting. Ironically her talent and poise contrasted glaringly with the ‘artist’ Iggy Pop who performed just before the final vote was announced.  Here is a guy, who, if he were female would be considered a raving crack ‘ho for the spasmodic screaming which passed for entertainment.   Whoever the eventual winner is, it’s a fair bet they will be forgotten in a short time even as Pia’s career skyrockets.  Just goes to show you, the people aren’t always right.  Or, like many elections, maybe only adults should be allowed to vote.

link Japan earthquake and tsunami: Sales of doomsday nuclear bunkers soars 1000% | Mail Online.

Like a scenario from an Arthur C. Clarke science fiction novel, entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the recent disaster in Japan to capitalize on the fears of a gullible public.  Or at least a very small slice of the gullible public, because these disaster shelters are designed to house only 950  people apiece.

Putting aside the mentality of people who would be tempted to partake in this scheme, consider that  the real filter will be that of money.  At the moment, for the tantalizingly cheap price of $25,000, one is offered a chance at safety should a nuclear disaster strike.  That’s cheap!  You can’t buy a parking spot for that in New York City. 

However, I’ll bet on human nature that as an imminent disaster looks more likely, the owners of this scheme will renege on the deposits and instead, re-sell the spaces to the highest bidders.  After all, what are aggrieved people going  to do? Sue?  “We’ve assigned you a court date in one year”.   Therefore, this logically leads us to the worst part of this scheme.  The people who will be safely ensconced in these tombs of doom will be people with plenty of financial resources. 

Only lots and lots of money will get you in.  That means if you’re lucky enough to get a spot, your co-habitants for a year or so will be sports stars, Hollywood celebrities, business moguls, oil sheiks,  crime bosses and people who own real estate in Vancouver.   Given that, some would rather die a horrible death by radiation, but there will always be detractors.  The configuration of the bunkers is an obvious  issue.   It’s unclear how they will be able to build a space large enough to contain the egos given that all of these constituents are used to having their own expanses of privacy.  At 137,000 sq ft per bunker, it’s barely the size of Donald Trump’s guest bathroom.  You’d have to believe that there would be room made for chefs, cleaning people, publicists and yoga instructors, all key people in this groups’ entourage.   A year without yoga?  Please. 

It’s unclear how distribution of resources and maintenance of civil decorum will occur in such a close space.  Since despised  lawyers likely have been forced to populate their own bunkers, the administration of social decorum will at best be decided by the tried and true, rock, paper scissors method, or at worst, the Lord of the Flies method.  You can imagine what kind of chaos will erupt when someone consumes all of the Cabernet Franc in the first month.   One very serious consideration will be the food supply.  While it can be possible to store lots of freeze dried food and water, eventually, you run low.  It may be a good idea to have maximum weight limits for prospective buyers because you don’t want them unduly straining resources.  So, fat people are out. 

If you really subscribe to this scenario though, the best thing to do now is to get into the racket of selling these things as soon as possible.  At the very least, you may be able to save up enough to purchase a spot for yourself.   The possibility of spending a year with Oprah and the Donald?  Priceless.