Curse Jade Scorpion is a 2001 American crime-comedy film directed and written by Woody Allen. The film is set in the 1940s and follows insurance investigator CW Briggs, played by Allen himself, who is assigned to work with a new efficiency expert named Betty Ann Fitzgerald, played by Helen Hunt. While initially at odds with each other, Briggs and Fitzgerald eventually find themselves embroiled in a mysterious plot involving a rare and valuable jade scorpion. The curse of the jade scorpion is said to be a supernatural phenomenon that brings misfortune and bad luck to anyone who possesses it. In the film, Briggs unknowingly falls victim to this curse when he attends a magic show and becomes hypnotized by an eccentric magician, played by David Ogden Stiers. Under the influence of the magician's spell, Briggs becomes a thief, stealing valuable jewels and committing various crimes without any memory of his actions.

Laura's Birding Blog

In the late 1990s, I circulated a petition trying to get the Black-capped Chickadee named Minnesota’s Emergency Auxiliary Backup State Bird, to serve during the six months of every year when loons have flown the coop and are not fulfilling their obligations. I got a few thousand signatures, my DFL precinct caucus voted in favor of it, and if I recall correctly, my congressional district convention approved it too, but that’s as far as it went. It was a lot of work on a fun campaign. I failed, but at least we still have a state bird, absent half the year though it may be.

School mascots are like state birds—not all that important in the overall scheme of the universe, but at their best, they provide a unifying symbol of community spirit and shared identity. My adult children have forgotten a lot of details about their elementary school but still remember the Lakeside Lion because of the funky design and colors on school supplies and sweatshirts.

Elementary school mascots have less impact on us beyond childhood than high school and college mascots do—I can’t remember what my elementary school’s mascot was, but I do remember the West Leyden Knight. When I started college at the University of Illinois in 1969, the mascot was “Chief Illiniwek.,” which even in my ignorance at the time seemed offensive. In 2008, the university finally got rid of that shameful stereotype, and in 2011, a campus survey of 11,440 U. of I. students revealed that 85 percent supported the decision. But in the 14 years since, the university hasn’t replaced the mascot with anything else.

To fill that vacuum, in 2019, a fun, determined, and talented astrophysics student, Spencer Hulsey, spearheaded a campaign to name as mascot a splendid blue and orange bird.

The Belted Kingfisher has a lot going for it besides bearing the school colors. The powerful, heavy beak and shaggy crest give it the proportions of an athlete, especially one wearing a funky helmet; and kingfishers exemplify skill, concentration, and focus as well as power, making them an excellent choice for a school that excels in academics and sports both. And unlike many mascots and a certain state bird I could mention, the Belted Kingfisher lives right there in Champaign-Urbana year-round. Its loud rattle would make a perfect battle cry for any sporting event and is mechanical enough that some enterprising individual is bound to make a cool noise-making toy mimicking the sound that could create a craze like the vuvuzela did in the 2012 Olympics only, with luck, less damaging to our eardrums. Spencer and her friends suggested a giant Kingfisher Kazoo. What could be more fun?

One little-known fact about the Belted Kingfisher makes it especially appropriate as a football team mascot—it’s one of the few birds that form huddles. Nestling kingfishers stay in a tight huddle, wings snugly wrapped around one another even as they shuffle about in their dark nesting burrows.

That huddling can also be construed as a group hug that could endear the birds to the most sports-averse students as well as football fans. And that is exactly what a mascot should do: appeal to the many diverse interests and passions of a university community.

Spencer Hulsey created a lot of engaging illustrations to promote the kingfisher and gave me permission to post them on my blog.

In 2020, she presented her case to the University of Illinois Senate who passed the resolution 105 to 4, but the endorsement legislation is still sitting on the Chancellor's desk. Now her group is focused on building community support so the chancellor can see they mean business. She said that ultimately, their work “proved to him that the campus and faculty are ready for a new mascot, and we expect he will vote to adopt a new mascot before Spring 2024. The kingfisher is the only contender at the moment, but the floor could be opened to other suggestions.” The Kingfisher website includes information about how we can join the Letter Campaign to most effectively support making this splendid and fun bird U. of I.’s official mascot.

Kingfisher mascot discussions continue in committee

Boneyard Area Mural !nitiative presents their mural Kingfisher located on 3rd Street. Since the University has retired Chief Illiniwek in 2007, many support the idea of having kingfisher as the new mascot.

By Jessie Wang, Staff Writer
October 12, 2022

A University committee is working to identify new traditions that don’t rely on depictions of Native Americans, and supporters of the kingfisher mascot are hoping that their pick will be included in the discussion.
The committee is one part of Chancellor Robert Jones’ announcement in 2020 on the University’s Implementation Plan on Native Imagery.
In 2020, the University Senate passed a resolution in favor of an orange and blue kingfisher designed by University alum Spencer Hulsey. The resolution called on Chancellor Jones to approve the new mascot and consider the kingfisher as a possible successor to Chief Illniwek.
Since the resolution was passed, there have not been any significant updates to the status of the kingfisher as the University mascot, said Robin Kaler, spokesperson for the University.
The University retired Chief Illiniwek in 2007 and has been without a mascot for 15 years. The retirement of the Chief came after the NCAA cited the mascot as “hostile and abusive” in 2005, after decades of controversy surrounding the mascot.
According to Dana Yun, a former University student senator who graduated this year, the Chancellor’s committee “discussed a new infrastructure” for how to vet a new mascot.
Yun is part of the Kingfisher Alumni Organization, an organization that promotes the proposed mascot by selling merchandise, working with campus RSOs to adopt the kingfisher and collaborating with Native American communities.
“It’s really amazing to see this shift, and we’re trying to gain more formal support,” Yun said. “We’re actually in communication with the Embassy of Tribal Nations … and working closely with their mascot task force to make sure that we’re aligning our goals with members of that group.”

According to the organization’s website, their efforts “send a strong signal that University of Illinois alumni are ready to see our alma mater unify school spirit and create new traditions.”

The kingfisher is also present in murals created by the Boneyard Area Mural !nitiative, or BAM!.

Murals of the kingfisher can be spotted at South Third Street and in the top right corner of the new mural on the side of Skyline Tower on Green Street.
Jacqueline Carrillo, a graduate student studying public health, said she remembered seeing the Chief on merchandise worn by students and talks about “bringing back the chief” when she began as an undergraduate at the University in 2018.
“When I did my own research about what the Chief was … I deemed (that) to be disrespectful,” she said.
Carrillo said she is happy the University no longer uses the Chief as a mascot, but is unsure about the kingfisher because of the University’s reputation as the Fighting Illini.
“When it comes to bringing in the new mascot, I think that (the University) is fine without a mascot,” she said. “I don’t think it would be a great idea to bring in a new mascot when we are already known as the Fighting Illini.”
However, the 2020 senate resolution stated that this mascot proposal is not intended to serve as a team name change but rather create new and inclusive traditions for the entire campus community.
Yun notes that although many people have strong ties to the old mascot, the creation of new symbols can bring a larger sense of unity and community.
“A mascot brings together a community more than any other marketing technique, so we’re just trying to give students a bigger sense of community,” Yun said.

The University of Illinois Might Make a Kingfisher Its New Mascot. It should!

Spencer Hulsey, a former U of I student, began the campaign last year. This Monday the school's Senate will vote on the proposal.

Under the influence of the magician's spell, Briggs becomes a thief, stealing valuable jewels and committing various crimes without any memory of his actions. As Briggs and Fitzgerald investigate the thefts, they become entangled in a web of deception and suspicion. Along the way, they encounter a colorful cast of characters, including a wealthy businessman and his seductive secretary, played by Dan Aykroyd and Charlize Theron respectively.

Birds in This Story

Belted Kingfisher

As the plot unfolds, Briggs and Fitzgerald must unravel the mystery of the curse and find a way to break its hold on Briggs before it's too late. Curse Jade Scorpion showcases Allen's signature blend of wit, charm, and slapstick comedy. The film captures the essence of the 1940s with its stylish period costumes and settings, and Allen's dialogue sparkles with his trademark intelligence and humor. The chemistry between Allen and Hunt is delightful, and their banter throughout the film adds to the overall enjoyment. While Curse Jade Scorpion may not be one of Allen's most critically acclaimed films, it remains an entertaining and enjoyable watch for fans of his work. With its intriguing plot, charming characters, and witty dialogue, the film offers a nostalgic trip to a bygone era..

Reviews for "Cursee Jade Scorpion in Ancient Rituals and Ceremonies"

1. Jessica - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Cursee jade scirpion". The plot was confusing and all over the place, making it hard to follow what was going on. The characters were underdeveloped, and I couldn't connect with any of them. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and it was hard to believe the interactions between the characters. The writing style was also difficult to read, with awkward sentence structures and grammar mistakes. Overall, I found "Cursee jade scirpion" to be a frustrating and unfulfilling read.

2. David - 1 star - I regret picking up "Cursee jade scirpion". The story lacked originality and felt like a poor imitation of other fantasy novels. The world-building was weak, leaving me with no sense of place or depth. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself constantly bored and disinterested. Additionally, the author relied on excessive info-dumping, overwhelming the reader with unnecessary details that did little to enhance the story. The characters were forgettable and lacked any real development. Overall, "Cursee jade scirpion" was a tedious and unengaging read that I would not recommend.

3. Emily - 2 stars - "Cursee jade scirpion" had potential, but it fell short for me. The writing style was confusing and disjointed, making it difficult to follow the story. The world-building was poorly executed and left me with more questions than answers. The characters lacked depth and were difficult to connect with. The plot was predictable and lacked any real surprises or twists. Overall, I was disappointed with "Cursee jade scirpion" and felt like it was a wasted opportunity to create an engaging and immersive fantasy novel.

4. Alex - 1 star - I found "Cursee jade scirpion" to be a complete letdown. The writing was amateurish, with cliched descriptions and dialogue that felt forced. The plot was uninteresting and lacked any real substance. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any depth or complexity. The pacing was inconsistent, with slow moments dragging on and action scenes feeling rushed and chaotic. Overall, "Cursee jade scirpion" was a poorly crafted and unenjoyable read that I would not recommend to anyone.

The Symbolism of Colors in Cursee Jade Scorpion