Look at the cute little goldfish, swimming in the . . . what the hell is that thing?

Frenchman reels in monster goldfish

It may look like an impressive catch, but it’s also a troubling one.

The 30-year-old recreational fisherman (in the photo above), Rafael Biagini, said that the huge goldfish he is holding weighed 30 pounds and came from a lake in southern France. Frenchman Biagini, who lives in the French city of Montpellier, said that he released the giant goldfish shortly after this photo was taken. Of course, goldfish are actually a domesticated (in this case feral) breed of carp. And while there are some species of carp that evolved in Europe, where this fish was caught, the goldfish is not one of those species.

In fact, goldfish originally came from China, and were brought to Europe by some people... maybe Marco Polo or somebody like that. Some of them obviously have been released into European waters, where they are eating and growing - a LOT. Because goldfish can survive in cold water, it's entirely possible that some of them have even been reproducing in French waters and in other European locations.

But when a non-native species of plant or animal begins to spread in an ecosystem, it is said to be an invasive species. Different versions of carp from Asia and elsewhere have become invasive species in waters the world over. They do harm in the ecosystems that they invade by eating food needed by native species of fish, as well as sometimes eating the native fish themselves.

So, while it seems nice that Mr. Biagini let the big goldfish go back into the lake, it might have been better if he kept it in a giant fish tank or something...

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King [Blu-ray]

With The Return of the King, the greatest fantasy epic in film history draws to a grand and glorious conclusion. Director Peter Jackson's awe-inspiring adaptation of the Tolkien classic The Lord of the Rings could never fully satisfy those who remain exclusively loyal to Tolkien's expansive literature, but as a showcase for physical and technical craftsmanship it is unsurpassed in pure scale and ambition, setting milestone after cinematic milestone as the brave yet charmingly innocent Hobbit Frodo (Elijah Wood) continues his mission to Mordor, where he is destined to destroy the soul-corrupting One Ring of Power in the molten lava of Mount Doom. While the heir to the kingdom of Men, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), endures the massive battle at Minas Tirith with the allegiance of the elf Legolas (Orlando Bloom), dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) and the great wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen), Frodo and stalwart companion Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) must survive the schizoid deceptions of Gollum, who remains utterly convincing as a hybrid of performance (by Andy Serkis) and subtly nuanced computer animation.

Jackson and cowriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens have much ground to cover; that they do so with intense pacing and epic sweep is impressive enough, but by investing greater depth and consequence in the actions of fellow Hobbits Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd), they ensure that Return of the King maintains the trilogy's emphasis on intimate fellowship. While several major characters appear only briefly, and one (Christopher Lee's evil wizard, Saruman) relegated entirely to the extended version on DVD, Jackson is to be commended for his editorial acumen; like Legolas the archer, his aim as a filmmaker is consistently true, and he remains faithful to Tolkien's overall vision. If Return suffers from too many endings, as some critic suggested, it's only because the epic's conclusion is so loyally inclusive of the actors--most notably Astin--who gave it such strength to begin with. By ending the LOTR trilogy with noble integrity and faith in the power of imaginative storytelling, The Return of the King, like its predecessors, will stand as an adventure for the ages. --Jeff Shannon

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Vandor Wood Clock, Star Wars, 13-1/2-Inch

The Force is strong in this clock that comes straight from a galaxy far, far away. Quartz movement 13.5" Star Wars wood cordless wall clock. Requires 1 AA battery (not included).

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Mysterious Journey 2

Mysterious Journey II: Chameleon is a first-person perspective puzzle-oriented adventure game that follows on from the best-selling adventure game Schizm. Combining eye-catching environments with challenging puzzles gamers seek to save an ancient colony from destruction.
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UFO sightings and mysterious lights in the sky in New Zealand

New Zealand is finally releasing classified documents that include UFO sightings. These 'x-files' detail the country's best-known UFO mystery, which took place in 1978. A cargo plane reported strange lights following it and air traffic controllers detected radar blips that could not be explained... and never have been.

The thousands of government documents cover more than 50 years of New Zealanders' reports of encounters with unidentified flying objects. Most of the released files suggest natural explanations for the sightings, (including meteors and reflections off boat lights) but they don't explain everything.

I want to believe! Do YOU?

Giant squirrel attacks San Diego

Is it a sign of the End Times? The great squirrel-shaped rainstorm of 2010 in California has been impressive, with 15 feet of snow in the Sierra Nevadas, tremendous amounts of rain on the coast, and so on. But it pales against the "Super Ark" storm of 1861-62, a 45-day beast (animal shape unknown) that made unusable something like one-third of California's taxable land, and created massive lakes in the Central Valley!

Still the freak, giant-squirrel storm of 2010 remains a frightening shocker... if for nothing else than it's menacing shape alone.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers [Blu-ray]

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a seamless continuation of Peter Jackson's epic fantasy based on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. After the breaking of the Fellowship, Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) journey to Mordor to destroy the One Ring of Power with the creature Gollum as their guide. Meanwhile, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas (Orlando Bloom), and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) join in the defense of the people of Rohan, who are the first target in the eradication of the race of Men by the renegade wizard Saruman (Christopher Lee) and the dark lord Sauron. Fantastic creatures, astounding visual effects, and a climactic battle at the fortress of Helm's Deep make The Two Towers a worthy successor to The Fellowship of the Ring, grander in scale but retaining the story's emotional intimacy. These two films are perhaps the greatest fantasy films ever made, but they're merely a prelude to the cataclysmic events of The Return of the King. --David Horiuchi

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