World Watch OnLine: The UnOfficial Buckaroo Banzai Mailing List
# 136 (5 June 2000)
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Editor: WWatchOne@aol.com
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Contents:
Greetings
Re: World Watch OnLine 135 - 28 May 2000
At the Auction - lobby cards
Re: World Watch OnLine 135 - 28 May 2000
Yet another generation of BBI!
Dumb question, BB VCD
Re: Buckaroo the archetype
Hoax alert -- Klingerman virus
At The Auctions
Dragon Tales

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Greetings,

Not only late this time around, but the next one
probably won't go out until next Monday (instead
of the usual Sunday mailing). 

Despite the edits and such, hope everyone (whether
you watched it or not) sends the S-F Channel a 
quick email ( program@www.scifi.com ) to thank them
for showing it. 

Kind of a long one this time, and since I'm pressed
for time anyway, I'll just let you get to it.

Later...
ArcLight

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Subj:	Re: World Watch OnLine 135 - 28 May 2000
Date:	5/28/00 9:14:34 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:	BanzaiSGI

The cards mounted on foam core are so expensive because they are made of that
precious and rare commodity today....oil? gasoline? what? It must be
something in the water?

I have friends stationed in the Air Force in Okinawa and Korea and they said
that there are patches being made/available there for BB, AirWolf, etc...and
any can be made, usually with a design and for a dollar a piece...so you know

Instead of waiting for it on DVD...why not do it like others are doing their
music CDs...on the internet

Buckaroo Banzai, James Bond, Genghis Khan...you asked why do they appeal to
us? Because they are us...in a Walter Mitty world....

Personally......as a loyal BB type...I see myself as my own archtype...of
course, I am being modest (and who among us ain't?)...
As someone once said (I had been consuming zucchini daiquiris from a recipe
in BB's cookbook, volume 23)...If you can't believe in yourself, then you
must be invisible...

We provide laughs about the con-artists?
Whoa...don't you realize as loyal strike team members, who for the price of a
6 piece mcnugget and warm shake, will covertly place a TTTTNND
(teenytinytacticalthermonukedevice) in the lap of any con artist you desire?
Still amused?
(In jest of course)

Hey!
Speaking of Blade Runner!
It is available at Wal-Mart in special letterboxed edition for about 10 bucks
or so...
BanzaiSGI/Jim

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Subj:	 At the Auction - lobby cards
Date:	5/29/00 10:38:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From:	zimbob@primenet.com (Michael Zimmerman)

Greetings one and all,

Here's my two-cents on the lobby cards: A.) I don't remember ANYTHING being
foam core-mounted in  1984 B.)  11"" x 17" is a standard paper size on a
color copier (ours is 1200 dpi) C.) anything foam core-mounted is glued so
securely that you can't peel back the image to seewhat it's made from and D.)
If you have the 3 comic books, the viewmaster reels, the book and the press
kit welllllllll....wait a minute I HAVE A SET OF RARE LOBBY CARDS........

"It's a bivoac man, the sleep here"

BBI Uncle Dude 

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Subj:	Re: World Watch OnLine 135 - 28 May 2000
Date:	5/30/00 11:03:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:	DrAndreaCampbell@cs.com

Hi,
Thought I would start the ball rolling on my own previously expressed
interest in favorite Buckaroo quotes.  Here' one I have posted over my desk:

(From the website)
First, stop being failures.  It's absurd to judge ourselves against a scale
larger than our own efforts.  Do the right thing, help one another, raise the
less fortunate, without ulterior motives.  Live simply, never lie, never
steal, limit personal wealth, donate to charity, meditate, practice
self-denial, live a pure life and spend some time as a monk.  Above all,
don't be afraid of nothingness, because the universe is full of it and
therefore it must be natural and good.  In this way of being of "no-mind," we
escape ajiva and achieve enlightenment. 
--Dr. Banzai

As for Jim's discussion of archetypes/Buckaroo's appeal -- I think I agree
With Jim's assessment that it is the multiplicity of archetypes that is so
appealing to me.  We don't really live in a society that promotes the idea of
renaissance people.  We ask people what they do, where they're from looking
for a singular answer.  When people try to take oon more for instance actors
who try to direct or a director who uses his own music in their films, they
tend to be mocked or slammed for it.  I love the idea of someone who does so
may thing well, who is not bound by convention which tell s us to narrow our
focus..that you can't be serious about your job and do something perceived as
frivilous.(i actually heard from a Ph.D. candidate who was told he couldn't
be a serious scholar and be in a rock band...I told him to do his
dissertation on Buckaroo!)  And as Jim pointed out, that Buckaroo is removed
from everyday things.  He doesn't have to worry about getting groceries or
paying the bill.  He can focus totally on things that really matter.  But you
also get the feeling that the people who do take care of those things, want
to.  Not that he is some pampered playboy surrounded by servants.  More like
a monastery where each person contributes and every contribution is valued.

In addition to this, in the larger picture of I love the appeal of the
concept of the Hong Kong Cavaliers.  These are friends whose life is shared
and intimate and yet independent Pecos can go off to Tibet and know that when
he (or is it she) returns the Cavaliers will still be there.  There is a
constancy to that that I like...like a family but one of choice and
inclination.

I also like the fact that movie doesn't explain things.  It drops us in the
middle of these people with no back story so it feel more like this is
something that is really happening and ongoing group that we are seeing just
a slice of their lives.

Sorry for the long post but Buckaroo is so complex.... :)

BBI Stardancer  

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Subj:	 Yet another generation of BBI!
Date:	5/30/00 3:57:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:	Erik.Kobayashi-Solomon@msdw.com (Erik Kobayashi-Solomon)

Hi All,
    BBI KoSo here with a little story to warm the cockles of your heart
(perhaps someone might explain exactly where the cockles of ones heart
is...).
    This weekend, I was doing some work remodeling and had to [gasp]
unplug the television [!].  My son who just turned two, did not complain
until halfway through the 4th day.  By that time, I was almost finished
with the remodeling, so I relented and plugged in the tube.  He kept
saying "video, video", so I picked up the two cases that were on top of
the VCR: TABB and Winnie the Pooh.  As a lark, I decided to give him a
choice: "Do you want to watch Buckaroo Banzai or Winnie the Pooh?" I
asked, already knowing what his answer would be, since he watches Pooh
almost every day and loves it.  To my absolute surprise, the little tike
immediately blurted out "Bakoo Banzai mitai" (we speak Japanese in our
house on alternate days and "mitai" means "I want to see..."), smiling!
I and my wife were both flabbergasted!  While it is true that he has
been "watching" TABB ever since he came home from the hospital, I didn't
know he was enjoying it as much as he was!  Through dinner, his little
eyes were glued to the set, and when it finished, he kept saying "back,
back!" (his word for "rewind"...).  I can't tell you how proud I was!

    Well... are your cockles warmed? :-)

No matter where you go...

erik...
aka BBI KoSo

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Subj:	 Dumb question, BB VCD
Date:	5/30/00 12:20:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:	madmax66@excite.com

Recently I've been getting into VCD's since there are a TON of movies
available that are not out on DVD (Superman, Indiana Jones...). I've been
putting in a few inquiries myself and came up empty.

Since all I've been seeing are inquiries of both the tape and Laserdisc, I
just wondered if this option was ever persued here? 

Basically, VCD's are big MPEG-1 files that can be played on both your
computer and any competent DVD player and has has a resolution of 320 lines
compared to VHS's 240.

And best of all, they can be copied like and data CD to distribute for folks
who are hungry for a copy, suffering from none on the loss of a VHS dupe.

If that's the case (legal restrictions aside) would it be possible to burn
VCD's of the Laserdisc and workprint and not worry about Nth generation
copies?

Software like WinOnCD and Nero are usually used to burn VCD's for those such
inclined.

Maybe this can be an option that can be persued?


-Save the whales, collect the entire set.

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Subj:	Re: Buckaroo the archetype
Date:	5/31/00 4:42:51 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:	Tonkatron

I wanted to chime in on Jim's topic (JIMUSA, "What other characters from
literature or mythology does he resemble? Why is he funny and entertaining?
And what is so appealing about his character to some of us, yet didn't seem
to translate into larger success for the film or the character?"). I think it
is one of the more interesting topics to come along on this newsletter in a
while...

It is always facinating to breakdown the most beloved stories and heroes of
our day and trace their "ancestry" to an archetype, or universal character we
have seen in hundreds of stories. Luke Skywalker and Indiana Jones are the
journeymen on a quest. Rambo, Neo, Ripley and even the Ghostbusters are
called upon to be the one and only slayer of a particular dragon. (By the
way, is a Byronic Hero anything like a Bionic Hero?) The themes stay the
same, compelling us because they are about the human condition.

So why do we love Buckaroo? Is he even one archetype we've seen before? I
think his unique appeal is that he is a rare breed: a "multiple archetype".
Throughout literature and folklore, I am hard pressed to find such a
character. Maybe Doc Savage. Sure, Banzai is kind of like Robin Hood...but
he's also like Doctor Who, and James Bond, and Wyatt Earp... and Adam Ant.
What I liked about Buckaroo was that he was SO MANY things. Not since Da
Vinci has it seemed possible. It was so far-fetched for one man to excel at
so many disciplines... that it WORKS. 

I also think that, after many decades of dark and conflicted "anti-heroes"
(Batman, Dirty Harry, Mad Max), it was refreshing to see a truly shining GOOD
GUY, so shamelessly moral and bright and true that he'd tell a kid to say his
prayers and eat his vegetables as soon as gun down the villian. It's this
over-the-top angle that makes Buckaroo's world funny, yet draws us to it.
It's an ideal world we all want to be a part of. I also think that the fact
that he has a TEAM of friends around him adds to his appeal ("Hey, if those
guys can ride with him, maybe I can too!").

So why wasn't the film a hit? Why do some people LOVE Buckaroo and others
think it's a goofy, confusing movie? I think that the film simply doesn't
help the audience along, like mainstream films do. The goals and characters
are not as boldly defined for a more simplistic moviegoer. It's one of those
films you have to take time to figure out... and that's part of it's appeal,
too. It's an inside joke you want to be a part of. You either get it or you
don't. And if you don't get it, then you weren't meant to. It's like Louis
Armstrong said, when someone asked about the appeal of Jazz: "Lady, if you
gotta ask, you'll never know."

Johnny Fedora

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Subj:	 Hoax alert -- Klingerman virus
Date:	6/4/00 11:02:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:	jetlightfoot@juno.com

Recently, I was sent a copy of a chain e-mail with a virus warning
(sufficient detail follows for identification), which I immediately
suspected to be as much of a hoax as the Microsoft e-mail tracking
project post that pops up at intervals. (Most of you probably know about
that one; if you don't, the hook is that MS will send you money based on
how many people get the forwarded post after you send it on -- complete
BS. Bill Gates is *not* that money-stupid.)

In the name of public service (and in light of the Institute's concern in
all matters medical), I thought I should probably do a bit of rumor
control -- hopefully it's proactive rumor control for the most part. The
CDC has issued a press release in regard to this particular hoax (further
info on this available by following links at
http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACHoaxes.html), and several virus hoax sites
list it; if this isn't sufficient documentation, I'm not sure what is...
Of course, the lack of any media reports of 23 mysterious illnesses or 7
deaths due to a mystery infection does tend to confirm the CDC pr, and I
personally find it interesting that the "Florida police Sergeant" in the
original post doesn't appear to have a first name (or gender) and no
specific jurisdiction is actually mentioned. Makes it kinda hard to
confirm that there *is* such a Sergeant Stetson, doesn't it...?

One last note: if you receive suspicious items in the mail, contact your
postmaster.  Frequently the senders of such items can and should be
charged with mail fraud, if nothing else.

Replay

-------------
Identifying information follows -- only the first few lines of body text
are given here:

Header--

>Subject: Fwd: This is very serious

Body of message--

>Subject: Very Serious Information!!!!!!!!!!

>This is an alert about a  virus in the original sense of the word...
>one that affects your body, not  your hard drive. There have 
>been 23 confirmed cases of people attacked  by the Klingerman 
>Virus, a virus that arrives in your real mail box, not  your e-mail
>inbox.

**** Please folks. If you get any sort of chain email/virus
warning type thing...take a minute and check it out first.
Out of the hundreds (literally) of virus warnings I've gotten
by email, only ONE has been legit. - ArcLight ****

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Subj:	 At The Auctions
Date:	6/4/00 2:26:51 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:	alandsmith@uswest.net (BBI Dragon (Alan Smith))

At The Auctions
with BBI Dragon & Crazy Horse

Not a bad week at the BB auctions. We contacted a few high bidders and
got a little feedback on the items they won. We'll start of with them.

Bidder won the "Team Banzai T-shirt, very worn" for $10.50
"Just received my BB tee-shirt yesterday but was disappointed to see the
neck
all cut up. What a bummer - just e-mail the seller."

I (Dragon) politely pointed out the the description of this item did
tell that the neck was torn out. I also give this bidder two URLs for
online direct ordering of new BB T-shirts.

What have we learned: Read the description of the items very carefully,
contact the seller before you bid with any questions and clarifications.

And:
 Bidder won the "BUCKAROO BANZAI/SATURN 3 Boddecker/Bernstein" for
$40.50
"Actually, I just received it today, and am listening to it now, my
comment
would be that it is probably a japanese bootleg. The chords and sounds
on the
tracks I was looking for seem to be fairly accurate, others are
re-mixed,
but, after 16 years of searching... well, I'm happy i got it, also it
was
cheaper thru the auction than any dealers i found thru conventions and
fan
groups (prices were 60-90). It only has the score, it does not have the
art's
artery gig at all.   :-("

And:
Bidder won the "Extended video" aka Rough Cut aka Director's Cut aka The
Letter Box video...
"Still have not watched it. Go figure spend the money and can't get time
to sit down and relax. It is a copy so I do not know what the quality is
like."

Not much help, but interesting that this winner hasn't taken the time
yet to view it.

-------

Lord Whorfin Watch, deja vu

Dragon: The Lord Whorfin watch is back and now the seller is starting
out the bidding much lower then the last several attempts at auctioning
off this item. $24.99 to start was a little outrageous and detrimental
to it getting to a new home. And the broken band doesn't help one bit
either! Now it's being presented as-is with a starting bid of $9.99.
Well see if anyone is interested now.

Crazy Horse: The watch. Watch the watch. See it go away, see it come
back. Just when you think it's gone, it's back. Kinda like Ricky Martin.
If it ever dips below $1.99, I might get it just to put it out of it's
misery!!


-------

BUCKAROO BANZAI 1984 Studio PROMO - RARE!

This sticker measures approx. 4" and was distributed several months
prior to the film's original theatrical release in July 1984. Bidding
starts at $1.99.

Crazy Horse: Now this is an item worthy of contempt of the highest
order!!!! I e-mailed Dragon about a month and a half ago, and he sent
the the same pic. I have changed the size many times and printed it out
on my HP
612C, using Webtv. Cost....about 10 each! If I can do this on my $250
Webtv, y'all can do it on your $$$
computers!! DO NOT BUY THIS ITEM UNLESS YOU DO NOT OWN A PRINTER!!!

Dragon: Yes, no kidding CH. I'd understand if someone wanted an
inexpensive little collectable item. This is the same image that I
scanner for you several weeks ago and you were able to mass produce for
yourself. Granted a newly printed on wouldn't have that 'collectability'
but the price is nearly free if you print them yourself.

-------

RARE "BUCKAROO BANZAI" 40x60 SIZE POSTER

Crazy Horse: Yeah, it's the $150 poster again. Don't get me wrong, I'd
love to own this. However, common ebay knowledge states that if an item
does not sell, try selling it again at a lower price. Especially if the
opening bid is $150!!!!
By the way, speaking of common ebay knowledge, NEVER bid after you've
had more than a few drinks!!!!! I will not go into details, just trust
me on this one, okay?

Dragon: I'm agreeing with you 100% here. Not only with the issue of
re-listing an item at a lower starting bid but also not being
intoxicated when bidding. It can be an expensive combination.

-------


"Buckaroo Banzai Belt Buckle - NEW!!!!!!!"

Crazy Horse: Yet another "hard piece to find" that was picked up "at a
science-fiction convention." Those 2 phrases are starting to make me
think that the seller really means "I just bought this at Starland, and
hope to make some money off of it."

Dragon: At least this buckle doesn't come with a broken belt, LOL (see
Whorfin Watch). Yes CH... it's all marketing. Make the potential buyer
interested by saying an item is 'rare' or 'hard to find'. Just because
they found it easily at a sci fi convention doesn't make it is any less
rare and hard to find if you don't go to conventions. This BB belt
buckle is available at Starland for $14.95 so potentially with a
starting bid of only $3.00 (plus $2.50 postage) you could save a few
bucks at auction. I wonder what this bidder bought it for at the
convention.

-------

French Poster

Dragon: The description says: "Very Cool BUCKAROO BANZAI Door Panel
Stylish and colorful French door panel for the sci-fi cult classic" now
how about the marketing of TABB for the French audience. This French
poster is a bit spendy at a starting bid of $60 but it is a nice image.
It seems that the French go for the 'mad max' look, or someone in the
USA thought they did anyway. BB all in black, helmet and face cover,
knee pads, pistil and huge rifle! I wonder of any of the French audience
was disappointed in that this film was not ala Mad Max, at lease not in
this BBI's opinion. Now that would be a fun tape to have, a french
dubbed TABB.

Crazy Horse: Yes, the French door poster looks more like a gritty war
movie of the future than what the movie really is! LOL!! I'm sure a lot
of French people where left wondering if they had seen the right movie.
It does look good, but for that amount, I would like something a bit
more accurate.


-------


ORIGINAL FRENCH LOBBY CARDS: BUCKAROO BANZAI
Good condition complete set of 10 color cards shipping $7 for Priority
air mail. Bidding starts at $18.

Crazy Horse: Viva La France!! What makes this item cheaper than the
German version? Oh, I forgot, the
"foam core" backing!!!!!! I suppose the Afganistan lobby cards will be
even cheaper!!!

Dragon: The one image this auction has up at ebay of the ten cards in a
new one, I haven't seen that Lectroid image before, I don't think. I'd
be concerned about shipping, if everything was shipped fine and they
were in good condition as stated, this wouldn't be too bad a buy.
Assuming the bidding doesn't take these sky high.

-------

A good week of auctions to look at for sure. Remember don't be
intoxicated when bidding and do your research. If you have any questions
about how to bid or wish advice on how high to bid on a BB item feel
free to contact Crazy Horse and Dragon privately:
mailto:alandsmith@uswest.net & mailto:cdcrsh@webtv.net


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Subj:	 Dragon Tales
Date:	6/4/00 3:13:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:	alandsmith@uswest.net (BBI Dragon (Alan Smith))

Greetings!

This week in the Rokit Files, we helped Dragon & Abacus sort the
recyclable newspapers by spreading them all over the floor, what fun
that was! Rokit also proved that his bite was mightier then the brand
new volley ball that lasted less than ten minutes! Mom & dad are
checking out obedience classes for the very near future too. The new toy
ball that dispenses treats when it rolls around is really cool too.
Rokit 'helped' with the landscaping project mentioned below. The top
phrase spoken to him during the project was, "Don't eat that!".

Us humans are having a good time at the twice weekly GABBs. We have a
nice group of regulars now but it would be nice to see a fresh face once
and a while. Don't be bashful, drop in and say hello. Listen in on the
conversation and relax some evening with us, please.

That Zen Garden landscaping project that Abacus and I have been working
on is nearly completed. We've taken pictures through the whole process
from just a grass strip to the end results. Pics will be eventually
featured in a new page at Team-Banzai.net. I've been working on a lot of
new stuff for the site as a mater of fact. Nothing there yet, just
getting all the details together for now. I'll let you all know when the
update is in and online.

Have a good week. Remember Father's day is coming up reel sune.

Always True Blue,
BBI Dragon

A Random Novel quote: Reno and Pinky talking about a new philosophy the
later had embraced only that morning:
"Is it Hindoo?" I asked.
"It's 'undo,' " he said, "I'm learning to undo everything I've learned
up to now."
What about the forty-seven thousand unknown facts?"
"That's trivia compared to this," he said, as we walked toward a waiting
limousine dispatched by the Institute.
"Everything is part of the harmonic pulsating 'it,'"

The Humane Society of The United States: http://www.hsus.org/
Team Banzai Chat server: http://www.team-banzai.net/Chat/chat.shtml
or point your IRC at: irc.team-banzai.net and then type in: /join
#Buckaroo
Gabbs are scheduled twice weekly
Weds. & Suns. 6 PM PDT/9 PM EDT.
Team Banzai.net is at: http://www.team-banzai.net/
B. Banzai e-mail list: http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/BuckarooBanzai

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