Interesting that only one of the major networks felt inclined to cover the Presidential speech last evening. Everyone else went with the usual, including reruns over on CBS. Not sure what that means, if anything.

It appears that everything is going smoothly and the media just isn't telling us that, the liberal bastards that they are! Apparently those in the military (Generals can be very short-sighted)who seem to feel that there are problems are ignoring the good things going on there.

The Prez wants all Americans to show the flag next Monday to demonstrate support for 'our troops.' Of course, there are millions of citizens who put out the flag on national holidays anyway. This was something my own father used to do and I've taken up that habit here in Brooklyn. Now, sadly, the administration and it's supporters will broadcast pictures of this and twist it into a demonstration of support for G.W.'s policies. I'm almost tempted NOT to put out the flag this weekend.

On the local front the MTA, who can't seem to repair much or get what is running to do so on time, are going to begin cracking down on us slobs who are eating and drinking on the subway. Those of us with the nasty habit of not taking the limo in will have to forego our morning cup of coffee. Since I have no plans on doing that we'll have to see when I get that first summons.

Just wanted to express my condolences to the family, friends and many fans of Paul Winchell, among the last I certainly consider myself. I was catching up on my blog reading this morning and caught Mark Evanier's comments on his death.

I fondly recall sitting around as a kid watching Winchell and his wooden friends, Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff. He really did make you forget what a great ventriloquist he was since Jerry & Knucklehead seemed almost alive and separate individuals. later you seemed to hear Winchell's voice on literally hundreds of cartoons (probably best known as the voice of Tigger in the Winnie the Pooh features & shorts) and commercials (he did the voice of the Scrubbing Bubbles for years, as I recall). I also remember seeing him on a handful of shows in the 1960s(Perry Mason, for instance) demonstrating that he was also a versatile actor.

Farewell to a truly gifted man!

"If you have a weak candidate and a weak platform, wrap yourself up in the American flag."-- Matt Quay, 1886

Well, as the blog-o-sphere seems to be taking this on I figured I'd toss in a few greenish pennies of my own.

I spent a little less than a decade in the U.S. Navy, most of that on active duty. This began while the Vietnam War was still quite active and protests were going on around the world. I don't think I'd ever considered that somebody might think that burning the flag would get so many folks all bent out of shape. Sure, growing up in the fifties I did my share of standing for the Pledge of allegiance, but I knew that it was the idea behind the symbol rather than the flag itself (a piece of cloth, after all) that was important.

Seems every few years this whole anti-flag burning thing comes up again and we all have to join ranks on one side or the other. Aren't there really more important matters which should have the attention of those buffoons in D.C.?

If somebody tried to take a sledge hammer to the Lincoln Memorial I'd be the first one to call for this guy to be handcuffed. But there is only ONE such memorial. Flags are manufactured in factories, generally in some third-world country by folks barely getting by on minimal pay. That should get folks upset and not some anarchist or other fringe type taking a match to a $10 red, white & blue table cloth.

That's just me, okay?

Okay, maybe it's just me, but is there something disquieting about your Urologist making Michael Jackson jokes during your prostate exam?

******************
The two recent helicopter accidents here in have convinced me that my distrust of them is rational. To be honest, I'm nervous enough flying in a regular airplane, but helicopters have always scared me. I had to get ride one once, while I was in the Navy, and that once will do me for the rest of my life.

***********
We were discussing the conviction yesterday of the former Tyco executives and the outcome of the Michael Jackson trial. Someone pointed out, and I think correctly, that since one involved money and the other child molestation the government feels the first is more important. Witness the conviction of Martha Stewart for trying to save a few bucks, compared to O.J. and Robert Blake killing their wives. And this was from someone who works in law enforcement!

As hard as it is to believe, Michael Jackson has been acquited on all charges. This sucker is going to be debated endlessly.

You have to wonder how these jurors will feel when this type of thing happens again (and you know it will, since the King of Pop will see this as a free pass to continue) in a few years.

For the past few weeks, beginning before our California adventure, I've been re-listening to some old audiotapes I have.

Taking a break from the usual Old Time Radio or Books on Tape, I have been going through tapes on political conspiracy produced by Dave Emory. Emory has been doing this type of thing for over twenty years beginning with shows broadcast from several non-commercial & college stations in California and then picked up by others. By the mid-late '80s his show, HARD RAIN was available on several Pacifica stations including WBAI, here in NYC. That's where I began taping and then purchasing some of his programs.

Emory dealt with the widely known stuff on the JFK, RFK & MLK assassinations, but really his his stride with covering the little known history of the early support (financial & political) of Hitler and the Nazi Party by American industry. A quick search of the 'net will bring you to several sites which offer his programs and include transcripts of some material. Since he doesn't appear to have his own site I'm not going to link to anyone of them. Just a heads up to those, like myself, who are fascinated by this material.

I am, on the other hand, going to put up a link to Conspiracy Planet where you won't find Dave Emory, but you will find plenty of other things which will give you pause.

Since this stuff really fascinates me I'm probably going to add some similar sites over the next week or so.

Sadly, after enjoying a very nice week in California we returned to Brooklyn and found ourselves dealing with 'real life.'

One of Donna's very close friends Bella was diagnosed with cancer and this past Monday had to undergo a hysterectomy. They were unable to remove all of the cancer and she will soon begin a six-week chemotherapy treatment. Donna and I have both spent time with her in the hospital, visiting and also trying to cheer up her husband,Pete.

Having lost both of my parents to cancer it is one of those diseases which I have come to dread in my own life. When someone like Bella, only a year in age different from me, contracts such a serious form it once again reminds me of my own mortality. Also, the fact that I may indeed by genetically predisposed to it.

I have only yesterday made an appointment with my doctor for a regular check up and prostate exam. Men over forty years of age and women, as well should not take their health for granted. You only get one chance here on Mother Earth, so try and stick around as long as you can!

I meant to mention this last time out, but it slipped my mind.

The theatre in which we caught both REVENGE OF THE SITH & MADAGASCAR was the Edwards Stadium Cinema in Aliso Viejo. We had been there during our Christmas trip and found the place just as clean and friendly as we did then. It's one of those places with dozens of screens and multiple showings of the major releases.

They are really gearing up for the up-coming FANTASTIC FOUR feature in July. For the four days leading up to the film and they are running what they have dubbed MARVEL MANIA WEEK. Each night at 9:00pm they will be showing a movie based on a Marvel comic. Starting with the two SPIDER-MAN films, followed by DAREDEVIL, then X-MEN. Finally, on the last night the 9:00pm showing of X-MEN II will be followed by the midnight premiere of FF. Pretty cool, huh?

I don't know if they'll be doing anything else to tie-in with the event, but if you're in the Orange County area you might see if other Edwards Cinemas are having something like that.

Oh, and they had trailers for both BATMAN BEGINS & FANTASTIC FOUR at the screening of REVENGE OF THE SITH, so this fanboy really was in a good mood.

Well, except for a bit of turbulance both ways our trip to California was pretty good. To be honest, we discovered that it was actually a bit warmer here in NYC than out west. We hit what is known (at least out there) as the June Gloom, so every morning started out overcast, but would generally burn off by around 1:00pm.

Donna had a chance to spend time with her daughter, Kristina and we all had a good time the first Saturday night at a party that Michael (Kristina's dad) and she threw. Must have been around thirty people at Michael's place coming and going until almost 2:00am. I think he was smart to just get take out from several places instead of trying to put it together himself.

During our stay we had a chance to catch both REVENGE OF THE SITH & MADAGASCAR, (I'll have brief comments on both over at Shot's Shack in a day or two) plus Donna & I went to San Juan Capistrano, which I'd never seen before.

We did get some anxious phone calls during the week when Donna's mother thought we might have been in Laguna Beach, where a number of homes were destroyed in a landslide. Fortunately, nobody we knew was involved, although Michael's sister and several friends do live in that area.

Whenever we visit California we find it hard to get back on the returning flight. Both of us love southern California and hope to eventually settle there, when family responsibilities allow. It does rain there, by the way!