Friday Show Prep - Independence Day Edition at ProductionNinja.com

Reuters: China is finally getting a taste of it’s own medicine. A German teddy bear company is moving it’s factory back from China to Germany. They might want to inspect that last batch of teddy bears and make sure it isn’t infected with SARS or something like that.
Newsday: Heath Ledger’s Joker is generating lots of Oscar buzz, and even comparisons to Jack Nicholson. It’s not Nicholson’s performace as the Joker in the “other” Batman movie though, it’s Nicholson’s performance in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the previous gold standard for a performance as a crazy person.
Green Bay Press Gazzette: Remember when Brett Favre retired? Well he may have changed his mind… or maybe not. Who knows? My question is this, if you haven’t actually missed a game but retired and then changed your mind all in the same offseason, are you really attempting a “comeback” or are you just an old player?
Canadian Press: A New Zealand man sold his soul for a pizza. Interestingly enough, he didn’t intend to sell if for a pizza, he just thought he could make a quick buck selling something he didn’t believe in to begin with. The best part of the story is the fact that the auction site he was selling it on took it down after a few complaints, and his eventual buyer decided to track him down and offer him $3,800 for it. The buyer? Hell Pizza. Apparently he didn’t learn anything from when Bart Simpson sold his soul to Milhouse for $5.
AP: Oregon lawn-chair pilot plans 300-mile flight. For the love of all things holy people, how many times do the Mythbusters have to say “Don’t try this at home?” This is his third try and he now has a corporate sponsor. What company would want to sponsor a stunt like this, when it’s already failed a couple of times. The guy has a website, and if it actually works this time he wants to try crossing the English Channel. Good luck with that. I think NORAD should scramble some fighters and force him to land.
Daily Mail: Faceless “aliens” are starting invite themselves to all sorts of public events across the pond. If you were worried that we’re being invaded by the only people in the universe with less charm and charisma than John McCain, fear not. A close-up examination reveals that they are indeed wearing masks.