On The Internet, No One Can Send You Anthrax

Feds haven't caught the 2001 anthrax mailer, but they've nabbed Chad Castagana.

Federal agents said he had sent more than a dozen letters containing a mysterious white powder to Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, "Late Show" host David Letterman and "The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart among other high-profile figures. Castagana used aliases such as "William Shatner" and fake return addresses and sent the letters over a three-month period, beginning in September, according to the FBI.

Uh. "William Shatner"? Is it possible this guy is a sci-fi geek?

Why, so it is. Here's a missive he wrote to Sci-Fi.com.

With the passing away of Lexx ends an intriguing albeit smarmy experiment in sci-fantasy. One that breaks with conventions, or should I say, cliches of TV sci-fi of the '90s. The politically correct pabulum, the multicultural indoctrination, the Bladerunner motifs, and not the least—the steroid mutated superbabes that can punch the lights out of men, but never get punched back in return!?

How about creating a new sci-fi anthology with none of the puerile baggage of Rod Serling, Gene Roddenberry, Rockne O' Bannon, etc., etc. It is time to end their reign of Left-wing innuendo, their anti-American, anti-mankind cynicism and fatalism.

Hat tip: Digby.

Comments

Sam Franklin | November 14, 2006, 1:53pm | #

The person who wrote the anthrax said:

"DEATH TO ISRAEL."

and

"WE HAVE THIS ANTHRAX."

IIRC, the anthrax was sent soon after 9-11, but not before. I think these things are clues. I think whoever mailed the anthrax may have been quite concerned about Israel, perhaps even to the point of being obsessed with that US ally.

Number 6 | November 14, 2006, 1:57pm | #

I'm only surprised that this guy isn't an LP member.

roy edroso | November 14, 2006, 1:59pm | #

I believe this proves my theory that our greatest nemesis is neither Islamofascism nor Republicanism, but dorkitude.

My solution: make the little crybabies go outside and play.

CTD | November 14, 2006, 1:59pm | #

He's right about sucky SF, though!

Chad Castagna's lawyer | November 14, 2006, 2:06pm | #

Your honor, these letters were not the actions of my client. They were the actions of "Evil" Kirk." You know, the one possessed by the mind of some chick.


The defense rests.

madpad | November 14, 2006, 2:09pm | #

the steroid mutated superbabes...

Did he ever actually watch Lexx?

Pro Libertate | November 14, 2006, 2:22pm | #

Ah, sounds like the next LP nominee for president has been found.

the people's prosecutor | November 14, 2006, 2:23pm | #

Oh shit I think he's going to use the chewbacca defense...

J sub D | November 14, 2006, 2:24pm | #

He is obviously mentally ill. Notwithstanding we'll send him to prison rather than treat his illness. Republicans and democrats alike get to take credit for the new way we treat the mentally ill.

Aresen | November 14, 2006, 2:24pm | #

Can anyone give me a positive ID on the photo?

I think it's from one of the first STAR TREK episodes, where the telepathic kid gets connected to some superbeing & tries to take over.

Chris Puzak | November 14, 2006, 2:30pm | #

Aresen,

That's a picture of Charlie X.

joshua corning | November 14, 2006, 2:30pm | #

How about creating a new sci-fi anthology with none of the puerile baggage of Rod Serling, Gene Roddenberry, Rockne O' Bannon, etc., etc. It is time to end their reign of Left-wing innuendo, their anti-American, anti-mankind cynicism and fatalism.

You know to point out the naive socialism of star trek is pretty clear cut and a potential interesting observation but then he throws in anti-American and some weird thing about hitting women...he sort of kills the argument...plus the fact that he is a nut case.

joshua corning | November 14, 2006, 2:36pm | #

He is obviously mentally ill. Notwithstanding we'll send him to prison rather than treat his illness. Republicans and democrats alike get to take credit for the new way we treat the mentally ill.

What is so new about it? and besides given the choice of prison and the due process i am afforded in order to get me there and the potential to appeal and probation versus the alternative of some guy in a lab coat choosing who and when and for how long someone needs mental care without due process or appeal i think i would choose the prison route any day of the week no matter how crazy i am

Franklin Harris | November 14, 2006, 2:38pm | #

I'm sure I got into an argument with this guy on Usenet once.

Xmas | November 14, 2006, 3:00pm | #

I think you need to read the whole statement.

"the steroid mutated superbabes that can punch the lights out of men, but never get punched back in return!?"

Joss Whedon, I'm looking at you!

wingnutx | November 14, 2006, 3:10pm | #

Joss Whedon's babes get the crap punched out of them on occasion.

Aresen | November 14, 2006, 3:12pm | #

Thanks, Chris P.

He does look a lot like a young version of Stephen Harper, though.

Again | November 14, 2006, 3:33pm | #

"Worst terrorist attack ever."

Guy in the back row | November 14, 2006, 4:14pm | #

Charlie X never punched a woman, but iirc he did get to slap Yeoman Rand's backside during that episode.

Ahh, the 60s!

JW | November 14, 2006, 4:19pm | #

Rockne O'Bannon?

See, only the insane don't like Farscape.

MattXIV | November 14, 2006, 4:21pm | #

Num 6/Pro Lib,

Give the LPers some credit - they probably would chose a less derivative way to treaten public figures.

Keith | November 14, 2006, 4:41pm | #

Which of the sci-fi superbabes are on steroids? They all still look like 100 pound models to me, regardless of what magnificent feats of strength they may perform.

The greatest tragedy in this whole case is probably that Nancy Pelosi was all excited to get a letter from William Shatner, and then it just turns out to be some anthrax. He could have at least included a link to the "Rocketman" performance.

wingnutx | November 14, 2006, 4:43pm | #

They all still look like 100 pound models to me

Gina Torres.

Mmmmmm.

dhex | November 14, 2006, 4:45pm | #

shocking statement: science fiction causes soul cancer.

update: all fandom causes soul cancer.

clarification: liking anything makes you an asshole.

Pro Libertate | November 14, 2006, 5:30pm | #

Keith,

There's always Christina Hendricks, who played the Firefly character Saffron in somewhat portly mode. Though I think she's pretty thin in real life.

Eric the .5b | November 14, 2006, 6:01pm | #

There's always Christina Hendricks, who played the Firefly character Saffron in somewhat portly mode. (Emphasis added.)

"Somewhat portly"?! Ease up on the interstate commerce there, man. :D

(For reference, I found some pics of her in that ep here: http://www.entil2001.com/series/firefly/season1dvd/ff1-6.html )

Shem | November 14, 2006, 6:12pm | #

Did he ever actually watch Lexx?

Every so often the women in Lexx got beaten down. He liked watching that, because it made him feel better about being stood up for the prom in High School.

Mad Max | November 14, 2006, 7:24pm | #

"What has been done, cannot be undone. There is no turning back the sands of time."

He should probably given some thought to that before mailing off his love letters to public figures.

"A cosmos not governed by compassion or tolerance or equality, but common sense and merit."

Most people who explicitly denigrate compassion are either Any Rand acolytes or sci-fi villains.

FinFangFoom | November 14, 2006, 9:23pm | #

"The future is not the current events of our world thrown into outer space. The future is not with the Liberals, not with the Multiculturalists (both hate America), and it is certainly not to be found in Canada! The future is not written, the future is unformed."

I guess he hates BSG and Stargate then.

FinFangFoom | November 14, 2006, 9:37pm | #

Now that I think about it, it sounds like this guy wanted Khan to win.

Khaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!

(Excuse me.)

plunge | November 14, 2006, 9:53pm | #

Seems like a pretty run of the mill freeper to me.

steve | November 15, 2006, 7:58am | #

Re the photo: That's the son of the actor Robert
Walker (see, One Touch of Venus -- 1948), Robert Walker, Jr. (iirc).
Looks just like his father.

Can't recall the ST episode, but your description rings a bell.

Andrew Ian Dodge | November 15, 2006, 8:31am | #

Has he ever seen Bab 5? Leftie bollocks it ain't. He is right about crap statist Sci-Fi is spot on.

mediageek | November 15, 2006, 11:23am | #

"There's always Christina Hendricks, who played the Firefly character Saffron in somewhat portly mode. Though I think she's pretty thin in real life."

Look at her publicity shots on IMDB. I think she's probably pretty short and wonderfully curvy.

juris imprudent | November 15, 2006, 11:42am | #

Your honor, these letters were not the actions of my client. They were the actions of "Evil" Kirk." You know, the one possessed by the mind of some chick.

Wow, Chad has Denny Crane as his lawyer!

FinFangFoom | November 15, 2006, 12:05pm | #

Following the (ongoing) Freeper picture debacle, Julian Sanchez ought to watch out in case he gets any mail from J.T. Kirk or someone else.

Pro Libertate | November 15, 2006, 12:40pm | #

Eric the .5b,

Ms. Hendricks has large tracts of land, but she isn't overweight at all, from the photos I've seen. However, she was quite hippish in at least the first Firefly episode she was in. Coulda been fake fat or weight she gained for another role, but we got a pretty good view when she was seducing poor Mal.

F'in Librul | November 16, 2006, 2:57am | #

He is obviously mentally ill.

No, just a Michelle Malkin acolyte.

Six of one, a half dozen of the other, eh?