Roy Scheider R.I.P.

I was stunned to find out tonight that Roy Scheider is dead. I've enjoyed the actor in many movies, specifically "Jaws," "The French Connection" and, of course, "Jaws 2." But it was the movie "Blue Thunder" that earned him a special place in my heart. Screw Airwolf, Blue Thunder was the coolest helicopter of my childhood, and Scheider was the helicopter-flying cop father I never had. (I mean, I had a dad, but he didn't fly a helicopter.)

While the world is a little darker without him in it, I like to think that he's gone on to that bigger boat in the sky.

- Z

Zach's Writin' Roundup

Hey, all -

I've been dying to get another Full Mental Jacket up on the site, but I've been busy writing stuff for ToplessRobot.com, a pop-culture comedy/commentary blog run by my good friend Rob Bricken. Here are a few of the stories I've written:

The 10 Most Disturbing Smurfs

Know Your Drunken Damage: Iron Man or Robert Downey Jr.?

10 Star Wars Toys that Look Like Celebrities

Check them out and leave your comments with the rest of the world -- some hate them, some love them. (The Smurf one has actually been making the rounds of some of the bigger blogs.)

- Z