Free Republic

Transcript: GEORGE LUCAS: In school, I was of the, I don't know, angry young man... JAMES CAMERON: Sure, you were a rebel. GEORGE LUCAS: I come out of anthropology. JAMES CAMERON: Yeah. GEORGE LUCAS: So, my focus is social systems. JAMES CAMERON: Right. GEORGE LUCAS: And in science fiction, you've got two branches: One is science... JAMES CAMERON: Yep. GEORGE LUCAS: ...And the other is social. JAMES CAMERON: Right. GEORGE LUCAS: I'm much more of the 1984 kind of guy. JAMES CAMERON: Sure. GEORGE LUCAS: I am... JAMES CAMERON: THX-1138 GEORGE LUCAS: ...the spaceship guy. JAMES CAMERON: Yep. GEORGE LUCAS:...

SIR Richard Branson tried to prevent the Iraq war in a secret deal with Nelson Mandela. The Virgin boss hoped to send the former leader of South Africa to meet Saddam Hussein and persuade him to go into exile. He even got United Nations chief Kofi Annan's approval for the plan, despite fears that Saddam might kidnap Mandela. A private jet was ready to fly the Nobel Peace Prize winner to Iraq. Branson offered to join him on the peace mission. But coalition forces invaded Iraq just before they went. Branson opposed invasion plans and believed if they could offer...

Andy Rooney offered a cranky commentary yesterday about the two Taxi & Limousine Commission officers who arrested his "60 Minutes" pal Mike Wallace. "I just hate petty authorities," Rooney told the Daily News, reserving his ire for the duo and not for all of the TLC. "I do think that the TLC has done a good job," Rooney said. "New York is one of those places where you can depend on cab drivers being honest." He did have some curmudgeonly comments about Wallace's using a hired driver and buying meatloaf at a restaurant. Rooney said he personally sticks to driving...