Hey there, folks. Sorry I've been neglecting MFO lately, but it hasn't been entirely my fault. In fact, for the most part, it's been out of my hands. Last week I failed to update ye olde website because I was feeling like shit and overwhelmed with school stuff. This week I was getting over being sick, but still planning to rock out the latest episode of Masterforce.org when a small disaster struck last night. The power went out on the entire campus. Just... poof. I sat in my room, alone, with no electricity, not even a light, for hours. Thrilling, I assure you. I eventually gave up and went over to my friend's place. They got power back in her dorms before we did in my apartment, so we watched Friday, which was kind of funny, even though it was really stupid. But hey, stupid-funny can be good. When I got home the power finally came back, but your humble author was too tired by that point. I'd have done it tonight despite being a day late and a buck short, to bring up the old cliche, but I had this little assignment to do involving a Nosferatu and a Dracula. The upside of this is that you're getting an article out of the experience. The downside of this is that I watched two movies and wrote a paper on them tonight instead of sleeping and didn't have time to update Masterforce.org. Ah well. Please forgive me.

I'm sure you noticed that I haven't been around, BTW, because I haven't been here to correct people's typos (Hi Ian!), or just plain bad information. (Hey Ian and Tyrant... Return of the Living Dead featured strong, smart, powerful, fast zombies in the early 80's. You're both wrong.)

I was going to mention this before, but you know that story already. But do you know this one? Our dread lord Castro had a little chitchat with a certain movie director. I stole these from the Internet Movie Database (IMDB.com), who stole them from World Entertainment News Network. I'd link them, but fuck them. They don't need more publicity. Read on.

"Spielberg Blasts US Policy on Cuba

Superstar movie director Steven Spielberg has blasted the US trade embargo against the communist-run island of Cuba. The Jaws helmer is currently on a trip to the Caribbean nation to meet young Cuban cinematographers and attend a festival showing eight of his films. He says, 'I personally feel this embargo should be lifted. I don't see any reason for its existence beyond grudges carrying into the 21st century.' Spielberg, 55, says he had seen several Cuban films in the past and found their scripts to be 'interesting and passionate.' He adds, 'I am here to meet a very rich and varied culture.' The Cuban Institute Of Cinematographic Arts And Industry invited Spielberg to Cuba, where he will meet with Cuban filmmakers and visit the International School Of Film And Television, which trains students from around the world in the moviemaking arts. Spielberg will also launch a festival of his films by attending the Cuban premiere of his most recent film, Minority Report. Spielberg is also scheduled to visit Havana's main synagogue to meet the Jewish community and attend a reception with US diplomats and their families stationed in Havana. Accompanying Spielberg on the trip are his wife, actress Kate Capshaw; cinematographer Janusz Kaminski and television director Jake Paltrow."

And then, read this one, too. It came later.

"Spielberg Meets with Castro

Hollywood director Steven Spielberg met with Cuba's Communist leader Fidel Castro on Monday during his four-day visit to the country. The pair spoke for eight hours, and discussed cultural exchanges, history, the environment and the US trade embargo, according to official delegates. Jaws filmmaker Spielberg was invited to Cuba by the Cuban Institute Of Cinematographic Arts And Industry. The director attended the Cuban premiere of his most recent film, Minority Report, Tuesday night and told the crowd of hundreds gathered outside the venue that Cubans were 'exploding with passion and talent and self-respect.' He added, 'I feel so much at home here. I hope to come back many times in the future.'"

Not that I'm not jealous of Spielberg getting to meet mighty Castro, but what the hell does Spielberg think he's doing in Cuba? Is this some bizarre marketing campaign? Or did we just win the world's first celebrity member of the Orbanic Havana Church?