Judge didn't see this man's domestic violence history. Set him loose six days before he allegedly killed his ex-girlfriend and a UNM professor.

Rescue crews scour the Santa Fe ski area for a snowboarder.

Guy stops burglary at his house.

The Lobos won again. (Fifteen times in a row, even, and 29 times this season.)

The Legislature took $25 million from UNM's pocket. So what's the plan, Schmidly?

Elections Director A.J. Salazar says he resigned from the Secretary of State's Office because of ethical violations going on there. Secretary of State Mary Herrera says he quit because she wouldn't give him time off.

Obama's not leaving the country until the House can get its health care legislation passed.

Black leaders want Obama to focus on poverty and unemployment in the African-American community.

Suicide bombers target military vehicles near a crowded market in Pakistan.

There are a lot of homeowners in the country who haven't paid their bills but haven't lost their houses. A tidal wave of foreclosures is threatening the market.

Wedding rings for sale: Unemployed women make cash on Craigslist.

Climate change makes birds smaller.

Shut down the prom! A lesbian might show up!

Good headline: Man sues airline for not looking at his scrotum.

Get her some for pretty's sake.

Yes, those are real “Mad Men” Barbies. I’m speechless. Actually, come to think of it, it kinda makes sense. Christina Hendricks’ boobs are almost the right proportions, even. They’re limited to 10,000 each and will run you $75 apiece. Tiny plastic martinis are not included. You can buy them at AMCTV.com or through BarbieCollector.com. Read the press release here.

In the last few weeks, movie blogs have been abuzz with the news that there might be a Showgirls 2. Yes, a sequel to Paul Verhoeven’s awesomely awful 1995 film starring Elizabeth Berkley and Gina Gershon. The news came from some unknown German director named Marc Vorlander. Vorlander says he has secured $25 million and is working hard on the film. He’s even put up a website with a “trailer” for the film. It’s arty, sleazy as hell and completely incomprehensible (not to mention NSFW—you have been warned). Vorlander has told a number of news outlets that his film will concentrate on Penny Hope, a (very) minor character from the original. His film will tell the story of a stripper who gets murdered in Frankfurt and her brother who shows up looking for revenge. Sounds ... awesome.

Today, out of nowhere, actress Rena Riffel popped up issuing an official statement saying that she has nothing to do with the sequel. Riffel played the character of Penny Hope in the original film. (Nope, I don’t remember her either.) She says Vorlander contacted her about resurrecting her character in the sequel, but that she found Vorlander’s plans “horrifically graphic.” Normally, the word of a 20th billed actress wouldn’t amount to much. But Vorlander did say his film would revolve around Riffel’s character. Not only is Riffel going out of her way to distance herself from Vorlander’s (still kinda questionable) project, she’s actually developing her own sequel to Showgirls! Riffel, who describes herself as a “Cult Superstar” thanks to her role in the film, has shot her own teaser trailer for Showgirls 2. You can check it out here. Riffel is currently writing, producing, directing and starring in Trasharella in Space—so Showgirls 2 sounds right up her alley. Funny thing is there’s no evidence that either Vorlander or Riffel own the rights to Showgirls and can make a sequel without getting their asses sued by United Artists. It will be interesting to see what (if anything) comes out of these now dueling projects.

• You couldn't pay me enough (pleiades) [ Thu Mar 11 2010 3:51 PM ]