sunday around 5 pm
We just had our 2nd annual 56th street ice cream social sponsored by my wife the neighborhood block captain. Both young and old were in attendance. The youngest was Brian and Lynn's son Henry who is 13 months old, the oldest being Martha who exact age we are unaware of but she told us once that she got married in 1945.
It was a very pleasant day for the event, warm and sunny but not humid. The past week the weather has almost been like fall. The event ran from 1-3 pm but most people showed up around 2 and we were out in the driveway until about 4.
Watching Henry the 13 month old was interesting. I have no children nor any nieces or nephews so being around kids is a rarity. There are few youngsters on the street, aside from Henry the only other children are two elementary school aged kids whose names escape me at the moment. My mother once told me that I did not learn to walk until I was 18 months old. I watch Henry amble about confidently albeit with support from outdoor furniture and chairs and wonder what I was doing at 13 months. Was I that clumsy or did I just love powercrawling around the house.
Currently my 3 cats, Bindi, Stanley and Sophie are circling the basement posting themselves by my chair as according to their estimation it is supper time. It's funny watching them all scramble down the basement stairs in unison, Stanley the most hyperactive one skipping through the air and landing ahead of another cat to get to his food bowl as they make the descent. Alas, Master Bart is not ready to feed the young beasts as the hour of 5 pm has not yet struck.
Our book club has chosen Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" for this month so I will get my copy from the library this week and read it over the fourth of July weekend.
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Friday, June 18, 2004
My favorite Urban Legend
Is Clint Eastwood the son of Stan Laurel?
Most of the stuff I find on Snopes as the result of some e-mail that's been forwarded on to me about $50 Applebee's Gift Certificates, kidney thieves in Las Vegas or poisonous snakes at the children's playground at Burger King.
The legend claiming that Clint Eastwood is the son of Stan Laurel is one I discovered on my own and is a personal favorite. Snopes.com mentions that Clint Eastwood was born the same month that Stan Laurel's wife gave birth to a son who died 9 days after being born. The rumor has it that the baby didn't die, was given up for adoption and was taken into the Eastwood home. Who knows maybe it is true? Has Clint Eastwood ever come forward and proved that he's not the son of Stan Laurel? What is he trying to hide from us? I'm growing suspicious.
Sometimes when people send me the Urban Legend e-mail I'm inclined to write them back and introduce to them the wonders of Snopes and how they should check every e-mail against the Snopesbase to verify what they are reading. Some programmer out there should add that to e-mail filtering software. It would detect an Urban Legend and attach the Snopes reference to the message so that the user could get all the facts at once.
I enjoyed the Laurel and Hardy movies growing up. My Dad would check them out from the library in reel to reel format(no VCRs or DVDs in my childhood, sonny). On New Years Eve at church we would have a potluck and my Dad would show a Laurel & Hardy, Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin movie. Also there was a program called "Supes On" on Channel 43 WUAB in Cleveland and the first hour of the program usually featured a Stooges or Laurel and Hardy movie. Going to church to see an old comedy sure beats going to Sunday School.
Is Clint Eastwood the son of Stan Laurel?
Most of the stuff I find on Snopes as the result of some e-mail that's been forwarded on to me about $50 Applebee's Gift Certificates, kidney thieves in Las Vegas or poisonous snakes at the children's playground at Burger King.
The legend claiming that Clint Eastwood is the son of Stan Laurel is one I discovered on my own and is a personal favorite. Snopes.com mentions that Clint Eastwood was born the same month that Stan Laurel's wife gave birth to a son who died 9 days after being born. The rumor has it that the baby didn't die, was given up for adoption and was taken into the Eastwood home. Who knows maybe it is true? Has Clint Eastwood ever come forward and proved that he's not the son of Stan Laurel? What is he trying to hide from us? I'm growing suspicious.
Sometimes when people send me the Urban Legend e-mail I'm inclined to write them back and introduce to them the wonders of Snopes and how they should check every e-mail against the Snopesbase to verify what they are reading. Some programmer out there should add that to e-mail filtering software. It would detect an Urban Legend and attach the Snopes reference to the message so that the user could get all the facts at once.
I enjoyed the Laurel and Hardy movies growing up. My Dad would check them out from the library in reel to reel format(no VCRs or DVDs in my childhood, sonny). On New Years Eve at church we would have a potluck and my Dad would show a Laurel & Hardy, Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin movie. Also there was a program called "Supes On" on Channel 43 WUAB in Cleveland and the first hour of the program usually featured a Stooges or Laurel and Hardy movie. Going to church to see an old comedy sure beats going to Sunday School.
Monday, June 14, 2004
many thoughts crossing into my mind at the moment.
in the news I've heard of a terrorist plot to bomb malls in Columbus, Ohio. I found this news a bit alarming being a former resident of the city and having frequented its malls many times. For those not acquainted here's a rundown based on personal experience.
Northland Mall: otherside of town from where I grew up. It no longer exists, is used to be the main mall in CoCo town when I was a kid but the surrounding neighborhood decayed and the mall went down the tube with it. I only remember being there once, to see the movie "Teachers" with Nick Nolte, Judd Hirsch and yours truly. I was an extra in the film and was actually congratulated by Aaron Russo, the executive producer for my performance in a scene. This scene ended up on the cutting room floor much to my dismay and my I was aghast when I realized this as I kept telling my friends before we entered the cinema, "I'm in the film, I'm in the film". Alas, I think I ended up on the album cover for the soundtrack, I'm that large red speck seen heading up the stairs of John F. Kennedy High School(olde Central High school in reality). This was my 15 minutes of almost fame.
Southland Mall: does it still exist, did it ever exist. The south side of Columbus once claimed this mall. It had about 7 stores and a movie theater. I remember it because I saw a James Bond movie there. One scene in the movie involved a woman playing a violin in a concert hall in Bratislava, Czechloslovakia, I forget the rest. I always think of the mall when I hear the Lynrd Skyrnd song that goes "singing sounds about the Southland..." I have some image of the band playing in front of the store with no one around just some stray trash twirling around aimlessly right outside the entryway. If you've seen the movie "American Beauty" you'll understand what I'm talking about.
here's a sight/cite you might find interesting:
Northland Mall Today
Dead Malls web site
Westland Mall: home sweet home, actually I spent more time at Great Western but that was a strip mall and not the enclosed, climatically controlled SuperMall. I went to Westland many times but I honestly cannot remember why, nor do I recall spending a lot of money there. No, I was not a mall rat and did not hang out there with other disaffected teens, there were other places to do that which were far more interesting. I would go to WaldenBooks, a record store whose name I have forgotten and going to a pretzel outlet called "Hot Sams".
City Center Mall: this was just built about 15 years ago right in downtown. Circle City Mall in Indianapolis was built to model this mall. I'm really not sure if the downtown Columbus Mall is still in good shape. Circle City was not built until after I went away to college but I did visit a few times. I wonder how things stand today.
in the news I've heard of a terrorist plot to bomb malls in Columbus, Ohio. I found this news a bit alarming being a former resident of the city and having frequented its malls many times. For those not acquainted here's a rundown based on personal experience.
Northland Mall: otherside of town from where I grew up. It no longer exists, is used to be the main mall in CoCo town when I was a kid but the surrounding neighborhood decayed and the mall went down the tube with it. I only remember being there once, to see the movie "Teachers" with Nick Nolte, Judd Hirsch and yours truly. I was an extra in the film and was actually congratulated by Aaron Russo, the executive producer for my performance in a scene. This scene ended up on the cutting room floor much to my dismay and my I was aghast when I realized this as I kept telling my friends before we entered the cinema, "I'm in the film, I'm in the film". Alas, I think I ended up on the album cover for the soundtrack, I'm that large red speck seen heading up the stairs of John F. Kennedy High School(olde Central High school in reality). This was my 15 minutes of almost fame.
Southland Mall: does it still exist, did it ever exist. The south side of Columbus once claimed this mall. It had about 7 stores and a movie theater. I remember it because I saw a James Bond movie there. One scene in the movie involved a woman playing a violin in a concert hall in Bratislava, Czechloslovakia, I forget the rest. I always think of the mall when I hear the Lynrd Skyrnd song that goes "singing sounds about the Southland..." I have some image of the band playing in front of the store with no one around just some stray trash twirling around aimlessly right outside the entryway. If you've seen the movie "American Beauty" you'll understand what I'm talking about.
here's a sight/cite you might find interesting:
Northland Mall Today
Dead Malls web site
Westland Mall: home sweet home, actually I spent more time at Great Western but that was a strip mall and not the enclosed, climatically controlled SuperMall. I went to Westland many times but I honestly cannot remember why, nor do I recall spending a lot of money there. No, I was not a mall rat and did not hang out there with other disaffected teens, there were other places to do that which were far more interesting. I would go to WaldenBooks, a record store whose name I have forgotten and going to a pretzel outlet called "Hot Sams".
City Center Mall: this was just built about 15 years ago right in downtown. Circle City Mall in Indianapolis was built to model this mall. I'm really not sure if the downtown Columbus Mall is still in good shape. Circle City was not built until after I went away to college but I did visit a few times. I wonder how things stand today.
Friday, June 11, 2004
time to blog and blog again.
It's been an 80's kind of week with all Ronald Reagan tribute going on. It almost makes me want to go to Itunes and download Phil Collin's "No Jacket Required", head out to the nearest fern bar/comedy club for a few wine coolers before heading home to watch the latest episode of "Miami Vice" faithfully recorded on my Sony Betamax.
I did a little research on remaining living US Presidents and their ages: (ranked by age)
Gerald Ford: Born: July 14, 1913 in Omaha, Nebraska (90 years old)
George H.W. Bush: Born: June 12, 1924 in Milton, Massachusetts (79 years old) ; birthday is tomorrow
James Carter: Born: October 1, 1924 in Plains, Georgia (79 years old)
Bill Clinton: Born: August 19, 1946, in Hope, Arkansas (57 years old)
I just wonder if all of these men will request state funerals when they pass. What will the coverage of the Gerald Ford funeral be like? Will the casket slip off the hearse?
My old Church
From 1969- 1975 my father was the minister of this church
Riverside Church in Niagara Falls
My father is mentioned in the church history found here
We left Niagara Falls shortly before my 8th birthday. I don't remember much but in the summer after church they'd have a coffee hour with lots of punch and cookies and running around in my Sunday best at such events. Looking at photos of the church on the website it looks like they put in addition right in the middle of the area where these receptions took place. As Dr Suess once said "Oh, the places you will go."
Niagara Falls is where is first heard of a TV show called "Star Trek". The show had been off the air for several years but was in syndication and on practically every night throughout the 1970's. I was a bit confused initially thinking that the show was called "Star Track" and imagined some tie in between cho-cho trains and outer space. The first episode I ever saw was when Kirk and Spock travel back through time to the 1930's United States and somehow Kirk hooks up with this woman who is anti-war and if she had lived would have led to a Nazi victory World War II or something like that. Here's the episode:
city on the edge of forever
It's been an 80's kind of week with all Ronald Reagan tribute going on. It almost makes me want to go to Itunes and download Phil Collin's "No Jacket Required", head out to the nearest fern bar/comedy club for a few wine coolers before heading home to watch the latest episode of "Miami Vice" faithfully recorded on my Sony Betamax.
I did a little research on remaining living US Presidents and their ages: (ranked by age)
Gerald Ford: Born: July 14, 1913 in Omaha, Nebraska (90 years old)
George H.W. Bush: Born: June 12, 1924 in Milton, Massachusetts (79 years old) ; birthday is tomorrow
James Carter: Born: October 1, 1924 in Plains, Georgia (79 years old)
Bill Clinton: Born: August 19, 1946, in Hope, Arkansas (57 years old)
I just wonder if all of these men will request state funerals when they pass. What will the coverage of the Gerald Ford funeral be like? Will the casket slip off the hearse?
My old Church
From 1969- 1975 my father was the minister of this church
Riverside Church in Niagara Falls
My father is mentioned in the church history found here
We left Niagara Falls shortly before my 8th birthday. I don't remember much but in the summer after church they'd have a coffee hour with lots of punch and cookies and running around in my Sunday best at such events. Looking at photos of the church on the website it looks like they put in addition right in the middle of the area where these receptions took place. As Dr Suess once said "Oh, the places you will go."
Niagara Falls is where is first heard of a TV show called "Star Trek". The show had been off the air for several years but was in syndication and on practically every night throughout the 1970's. I was a bit confused initially thinking that the show was called "Star Track" and imagined some tie in between cho-cho trains and outer space. The first episode I ever saw was when Kirk and Spock travel back through time to the 1930's United States and somehow Kirk hooks up with this woman who is anti-war and if she had lived would have led to a Nazi victory World War II or something like that. Here's the episode:
city on the edge of forever
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
tues 5 pm: time for a new blog entry
I've just read that Ohio State fired their basketball coach and there is speculation that OSU might be looking to replace him with Mister Bob Knight who is an Ohio State alum. I'm not much of a college basketball fan but it would make the Ohio State - Indiana series interesting. Also I have a special karmic connection to Bob Knight as we both are from Orrville, Ohio. I left when I was 18 months old, actually I lived in nearby Dalton at the time but Orrville had the nearest hospital. Mr Bob Knight actually spent his entire pre-adult life so that makes him more of a native than myself.
The news media is full of tributes to the late President Reagan. It's interesting seeing the old clips of his appearances back when he was president. Although I was 13 when he was elected and remember him being president I have few specific recollections of the man. I recall I found out that he was shot right before I had to go to my piano lesson and wasn't sure if I should go, I did up having the lesson. I went home that night and Dan Rather was on TV with a mannequin-like object and a doctor from Columbia - Presbyterian explaining where the President had been shot. At the time I did not realize how good a public speaker he was, I only had Carter to compare with him and I was even younger during his reign. The only Gerald R. Ford recollections I have are of a large awkward man and his klutzy moments that were captured for the evening news on a regular basis.
I think one of the other aspects of the Reagan shooting was that it was not covered by Walter Cronkite who had retired a few years before it happened. All through the late 70's and early 80's dinner was always at 5:30 in the Medley home as we had to be done by 6:30 in order to get in front of the TV for "Uncle Walter". As the 80's progressed, Mom went back to work, Rather and CBS slid in the ratings and dinner was pushed back to 6. Eventually Mom went back to school and dinner came in the crock-pot and was consumed in front of the TV while "PM Magazine" or "M*A*S*H" re-runs blared away.
Another recollection of the Reagan years was my friend who said to me after Yuri Andropov died that Reagan must have commented "Oh my, the youngster is dead." I found this quite funny at the time and could not stop laughing. Also after the Robert Bork controversy he told me that he imagined a headline in the paper reading "Reagan Gorks!, nominates Bork to court."
The weirdest thing about all the Reagan history retrospective is that I was around for it. Unlike the endless JFK assassination anniversary coverage from last November, the LBJ tapes or old newsreel footage of FDR on a train somewhere, I lived the Reagan years.
In future blog entries I will try to tap the memory mines and tell tales of my days in the fast food industry in Columbus, Ohio in the mid 1980's. I think the time period can be compared with working on the railroad in the 1900s or being in silcon Valley in the late 1990s's.
I've just read that Ohio State fired their basketball coach and there is speculation that OSU might be looking to replace him with Mister Bob Knight who is an Ohio State alum. I'm not much of a college basketball fan but it would make the Ohio State - Indiana series interesting. Also I have a special karmic connection to Bob Knight as we both are from Orrville, Ohio. I left when I was 18 months old, actually I lived in nearby Dalton at the time but Orrville had the nearest hospital. Mr Bob Knight actually spent his entire pre-adult life so that makes him more of a native than myself.
The news media is full of tributes to the late President Reagan. It's interesting seeing the old clips of his appearances back when he was president. Although I was 13 when he was elected and remember him being president I have few specific recollections of the man. I recall I found out that he was shot right before I had to go to my piano lesson and wasn't sure if I should go, I did up having the lesson. I went home that night and Dan Rather was on TV with a mannequin-like object and a doctor from Columbia - Presbyterian explaining where the President had been shot. At the time I did not realize how good a public speaker he was, I only had Carter to compare with him and I was even younger during his reign. The only Gerald R. Ford recollections I have are of a large awkward man and his klutzy moments that were captured for the evening news on a regular basis.
I think one of the other aspects of the Reagan shooting was that it was not covered by Walter Cronkite who had retired a few years before it happened. All through the late 70's and early 80's dinner was always at 5:30 in the Medley home as we had to be done by 6:30 in order to get in front of the TV for "Uncle Walter". As the 80's progressed, Mom went back to work, Rather and CBS slid in the ratings and dinner was pushed back to 6. Eventually Mom went back to school and dinner came in the crock-pot and was consumed in front of the TV while "PM Magazine" or "M*A*S*H" re-runs blared away.
Another recollection of the Reagan years was my friend who said to me after Yuri Andropov died that Reagan must have commented "Oh my, the youngster is dead." I found this quite funny at the time and could not stop laughing. Also after the Robert Bork controversy he told me that he imagined a headline in the paper reading "Reagan Gorks!, nominates Bork to court."
The weirdest thing about all the Reagan history retrospective is that I was around for it. Unlike the endless JFK assassination anniversary coverage from last November, the LBJ tapes or old newsreel footage of FDR on a train somewhere, I lived the Reagan years.
In future blog entries I will try to tap the memory mines and tell tales of my days in the fast food industry in Columbus, Ohio in the mid 1980's. I think the time period can be compared with working on the railroad in the 1900s or being in silcon Valley in the late 1990s's.
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
wednesday night after 7 pm
Kids say the darndest things
A friend of ours from California sent us a report that a son of one of their friends wrote about Indiana.
here are some of the quotes:
"Indiana has a lot of unique things that California doesn't. For example Indiana has tornadoes and California doesn't. Indiana has a shore on the Great Lakes. Indiana is flat with 0-500 meters above sea level, it's in the Eastern Time zone, and is only 36,420 sq. miles. Indiana has a really good football team and had citizens that were the proud inventors of the first Raggedy Ann doll. They also have an energy reserve for coal. This makes Indiana such a nice place."
also he describes one of the larger venues in Indiana, the RCA dome formerly known as the Hoosier Dome.
"Come to the great RCA dome (formerly known as the Hoosier Dome) to see the Indianapolis Colts play. If you're a tourist you're probably wondering why you should come. Well, wouldn't it be great to have the camera at the game get a flash of you on TV sitting with 60,000 other fans? How could anyone resist getting a star's autograph? What if a famous game unraveled right before you're eyes? How can anyone resist coming to the RCA dome?"
I couldn't have put it better myself. I have been to the RCA Domo several times, I don't recall any famous games but I have seen the Colts defense unravel in front of my very eyes. I also recall a field goal kicking contest the Colts lost to the Buffalo Bills back around '97. That was back in the dot net go-go days of the 90's when free football tickets were easy to come by for us computer guys.
Kids say the darndest things
A friend of ours from California sent us a report that a son of one of their friends wrote about Indiana.
here are some of the quotes:
"Indiana has a lot of unique things that California doesn't. For example Indiana has tornadoes and California doesn't. Indiana has a shore on the Great Lakes. Indiana is flat with 0-500 meters above sea level, it's in the Eastern Time zone, and is only 36,420 sq. miles. Indiana has a really good football team and had citizens that were the proud inventors of the first Raggedy Ann doll. They also have an energy reserve for coal. This makes Indiana such a nice place."
also he describes one of the larger venues in Indiana, the RCA dome formerly known as the Hoosier Dome.
"Come to the great RCA dome (formerly known as the Hoosier Dome) to see the Indianapolis Colts play. If you're a tourist you're probably wondering why you should come. Well, wouldn't it be great to have the camera at the game get a flash of you on TV sitting with 60,000 other fans? How could anyone resist getting a star's autograph? What if a famous game unraveled right before you're eyes? How can anyone resist coming to the RCA dome?"
I couldn't have put it better myself. I have been to the RCA Domo several times, I don't recall any famous games but I have seen the Colts defense unravel in front of my very eyes. I also recall a field goal kicking contest the Colts lost to the Buffalo Bills back around '97. That was back in the dot net go-go days of the 90's when free football tickets were easy to come by for us computer guys.
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