Random Thoughts 6/23/10

• The Hobbit movies don't have a director, which might be a good thing if Peter Jackson, the director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and producer on these films, gives himself the job. But he might give the job to his protege, Neill Blomkamp, the young director of recent sci-fi hit District 9, but Blomkamp seems to be committed to his own projects right now. I'd rather see Jackson direct the films himself.
  
• So General McChrystal got himself fired, but was it on purpose? Why?
  
• Daniel Radcliffe, of Harry Potter fame, will be play the main role in a new version of All Quiet on the Western Front. Make note, World War 1 films will likely make a strong showing in coming years as we near the centennial of that conflict (2014-18). I'm also hoping to see some more Civil War films and documentaries as its 150th anniversary begins next April 12.
• So if McChrystal is replaced by his boss, General Petraeus, isn't that kind of a demotion for Petraeus?
  
• Phil Ivey won another World Series of Poker bracelet (his eighth) and nice guy John Juanda made his fourth final table in this year's tourney. See WSOP results here.
• I'd like to remind the customer service guy from Verizon whom I talked to in May of 2009 and who said, "Verizon is just about to get the iPhone," that Verizon still doesn't have it and likely won't until 2011 at the earliest.