Yesterday my wife and I bought a plastic bag dispenser to attach to our dog’s leash, for hygienic reasons that are obvious to anyone who has walked a dog, or seen one walked. There was a variety of colors and patterns to choose from, but we zeroed in instantly on our favorite: the pirate-themed dispenser.

What is it about pirates? They’re mean and murderous, things which I hope my wife and I are not. So why does everybody love pirates? Long before the lovable Johnny Depp recreated Jack Sparrow for millions of movie-goers, Disney visitors were frolicking on the Pirates of the Caribbean theme ride in Florida. This past Friday, I read, was “Talk Like a Pirate Day.” And I jumped at the chance to adorn my little puppy’s pleasantly purple leash with a black and white plastic dispenser covered with skulls and crossbones.

Then it dawned on me, pirates - at least as they’re portrayed in popular culture - are exceedingly charismatic, and as humans, we flock to charisma. It’s why there are cults of personality, it’s why life is a perpetual popularity contest, and it forms my new hypothesis as to who wins presidential elections. I used to think the better-looking candidate always won, but aside from the awkwardness of being a straight man trying to ascribe attraction points to male politicians, it didn’t really work. It’s just not possible to say whether George W. Bush is better looking than John Kerry. It’s the wrong contest.

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Johnny Depp has plans to power his private island on a solar hydrogen energy system.   Depp bought the Bahamanian property - which he has reportedy dubbed “F*** Off Island” - in 2004, taking his inspiration from fellow actor Marlon Brando’s private paradise in Tahiti.

Four years later, Depp is now third in line to receive an independent solar hydrogen power system designed by New Jersey inventor Mike Strizki.   The first two Strizki systems were the inventor’s own home, which sports a system that cost approximately $500,000 and a client in the Cayman Islands whose system will cost about half that.   There’s no word yet on how much it will cost to fit Depp’s 35 acre island with the system. You can see a video about Strizki’s solar hydrogen power system below:

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It’s Friday the 13th! In celebration, here’s my take on the top 10 scariest movies ever. The overtly sensational horror flicks today riding on their reputation for the best in blood, guts and gore are no match for these classic thrillers. I’ve included some of my favorite clips below - enjoy the roller coaster of horror after the JUMP Don’t forget to leave comments and let us know if I’ve left any of your favorites out!

1) The Shining (1980) - All work and no play makes Jack a dull axe-wielding lunatic. Think fast Shelley!

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Social Action + Cinema Videos of the Day:

1) Arianna Huffington breaks down the media

For the Cinema YouTube Video of the Day, Click here >>>

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A man who was almost undefinable - Hunter S. Thompson is the focus of Alex Gibney’s latest documentary:

While we mostly think of crazy and drugs when we think of Thompson today - his political mark can’t be denied

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The online auction website Charity Buzz is hosting an auctioning off a chance to be a featured extra in a scene with Johnny Depp in his latest film ” Public Enemies, an action-thriller that tells the story of America’s criminal folk hero John Dillinger (Depp), who conducted a wave of bank robberies in the 1930s. The role will be non-speaking, and will be shot sometime in May in Chicago.Proceeds from the auction will go to the Robert F Kennedy Memorial, an organization providing innovative support to courageous human rights defenders around the world. Through long-term partnerships and cutting edge methods, the organization assists advocates who have won the RFK Human Rights Award to boldly confront injustice in support of human freedom.

If you’ve got a few thousand dollars to spend then and bid at https://auction01.charitybuzz.com/secure/viewItemDetail.do?auction_item_id=13567

Or you can also and get involved with RFK Memorial organization by visiting rfkmemorial.org