The trailer for upcoming, New Mexico-shot film "The Men Who Stare at Goats" is out. The story is based on a book of the same title by one of my favorite limey journalists (and This American Life contributors) Jon Ronson. In essence, the book tracks decades worth of secret Pentagon programs to create "psychic warriors" ... who can kill goats by staring at them. Somehow, this all ties to blasting Barney songs at imprisoned enemy combatants. Based on the trailer, it seems the filmmakers decided to fictionalize quite a bit, going so far as to change all the names, for the sake of action.

I love George Clooney, Jeff Bridges and Kevin Spacey...but couldn't they have found someone slightly more doofish, deadpan and intentionally naive than Ewan McGregor. That guy is a shite actor.

Ronson's portrait is taped to the wall of my office. Personally, I would preferred an adaptation of "Them: Adventures with Extremists" first.