Another year is coming to a close. For me, personally, it's been a bit of a roller coaster ride- mostly highs, and not very many lows. I've been p[published this year- twice. I turned 40 (well, you're only 40 once, I suppose...). And, I'm still waiting for that damn settlement check (but that's neither here nor there).
2007, in many respects has been very unique. Many news events took place, and what not.
So, along with our sister blog, The Trash Bash (http://alexstrashbash.blogspot.com/ ), The View From Planet Alex proudly brings you 2007: The Year in Brief
So, without further adieu, let's take a ride through this crazy ass year we call 2007.
But first, a word from Apple:
While I'm on the subject of politics, in 2004, 61 percent of Oregon voters (this auhtor among them) voted for Measure 37, which granted Ortegon landowners to develop on their land. This meant houses- be it for housing developments or simply to keep the land in the family.
publicintegrity/YouTube.com
However, the state leaders down in Salem didn't like that owners got to basically do what they damn well pleased. So, without so much of any public input, they snuck in Measure 49, which said would only reform Measure 37 claims.
yeson49/YouTube.com
yeson49/YouTube.com/KGW-TV, Portland, OR
Well, 49 passed by 62 percent. I voted against this measure.
Now government has retained the right to take land from owners under the lie 'imminent domain'.
In California, the question was asked on whether elected offices should receive funding from taxes.
calnurses/YouTube.com
However, voters didn't buy into that argument. Proposition 89 failed by 74.5%
Eunice Lopez has British ctress Elizabeth Taylor beat. Whereas Liz married eight times- (including twice to Richard Burton), Lopez married seventeen- SEVENTEEN!- men over a four year period. Damn! The only difference is that Liz dumped all of those dedbeats like lava. Lopez, on the other hand, didn't even bother filing for divorce.
This month, Lopez was charged with bigamy. She reportedly demanded money from the men she married, under the threat of deportation (all of the husbands were illegal ailens).
thrawnbutler/YouTube.com Gerald Richardson, 29, wanted to be on the news. Who would have thought that he did it by crashing into the studios of ABC 7, WLS-TV/DT in downtown Chicago on Sunday, December 23, 2007? He was arrested for crashing into the studio- right as the 10PM (Central Time) newscast was beginning.
No one was hurt.
Christmas Eve turned out to be horrific when six memebers of a family were gunned down in Carnation, Washington. TYwo suspects were arrested.
On December 27, former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, 54, was assasinated in Rawapindi, Pakistan. Bhutto was greeting crowds when she was shot to death. The assasins- or assassins- blew themselves up just moments later. 20 others were also killed (mostly from the blast). Her killing has cast a pall over the pakistani elections, which are to commence next month.
Many blame the current president Pervez Musharraf, yet others blame Washington and President Bush for failing to protect Mrs. Bhutto, who came from a self-imposed exile to attempt to win back the seat of Prime minister. She served as pakistan's PM between 1988 and 1996.
alJazeera/YouTube.com
Oregon's domestic partnership law was to have taken effect on January 1, 2008. But a group, Alliance Defense Fund, a conservative group that opposes same-sex marriages, along with a federal judge, Michael Mosman- who was appointed by that best friend of same sex relationships, George W. Bush, in 2003- decided to put the law on hold while ADF alleges that the 100 votes that weren't counted to allow a ballot measure to be placed on the November 2008 ballot, have been erroneously tossed.
If you ask me, these folks are making much ado about nothing.
We had notable passings in 2007. Sidney Sheldon, 89, was a best-selling novelist. Jack Valenti, 85, founded the Motion Picture Association of America in 1966 Lady Bird Johnson, 94, was first lady of the united states from 1963-1969. Ruth Lotz Graham, 87, wife of evangelist Billy Graham. Wally Schirra, 84, one of the Mercury 7 astronauts. Ernest Gallo, 97, winemaker, scion of the Gallo vintery dynasty. Joseph Gallo, 87, brother of Ernest. Left the family winemaking business to make cheeses. Predeceased Ernest by a little over a month. Phil Rizzuto, 90, New York Yankees broadcaster whose catchphrases "Holy cow!" became part of Yankee lore. Molly Ivins, 62, liberal columnist Beverly Sills, 78, Brooklyn-born opera legend who brought opera to the masses Robert Goulet, 73, opera tenor who also poked fun at himself. Kurt Vonnegut, 84, author of Slaughterhouse Five Denny Doherty, 66, member of 60s group the mamas and the Papas. Art Buchwald, 81, Pulitzer-winning humorist. Tige Andrews, 86, played Captain Greer on ABC's The Mod Squad Frankie Laine, 93, singer in the 50s. Betty Hutton, 86, singer-actress, noted for role in Annie Get Your Gun Bowie Kuhn, 80, baseball commissioner. Luther Ingram, 69, singer noted for hit If Loving You is Wrong (I don't Want to Be Right) Roscoe Lee Browne, 81, actor with mellifluous baritone voice. Don Ho, 76, the man who gave us Tiny Bubbles Kitty Carlise Hart, 96, actress of film and TV, also noted as panelist on long-running game show To Tell the Truth Boris Yeltsin, 76, former Russian president. Bobby 'Boris' Pickett, co-wrote the hit Monster Mash Tommy Newsom, 78, Tonight Show with Johnny Carson bandleader Tom Poston, 85, actor who frequently co-starred with Bob Newhart's sitcoms. Yolanda King, 51, actress and activist. Daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Charles Nelson Reilly, 76, frequent panelist of Match Game and actor. Brett Sommers, 83, Reilly's co-panelist on Match Game and actress. Estranged wife of Jack Klugman. Kurt Waldheim, 88, UN secretary. Chris Benoit, 40, WWE wqrestler. Killed himself after killing his wife and young son. Liz Claiborne, 78, cosmetics and fashion queen. Joel Siegel, 63, Good Morning America film critic. Doug Marlette, 57, editorial cartoonist who created Kudzu Tammy Faye Messner, 65, co-founder of PTL ministry with then-husband Jim Bakker. Later became a gay rights activist. Laszlo Kovacs, 74, cinematographer of numerous films(Easy Rider; Five Easy Pieces, etc.) Tom Snyder, 71, talk show host (Tomorrow; Late Late Show with Tom Snyder) Bill Walsh, 75, San Francisco 49ers head coach Merv Griffin, 82, talk show host, real estate magnate; and game show creator. Phil Rizzuto, 89, New York Yankees shortstop and later broadcaster. Coined the phrase "Holy Cow!" Brooke Astor, 105, Philantropist. Max Roach, 83, jazz drummer. Leona Hemsley, 87, bitch who ran Hemsley Hotels. Richard Jewll, 44, man credited for saving lives in 1996 Centennial Park bombing in Atlanta. Accused and later exonerated of charges that he caused the bombing. Rev. D. James Kennedy, 76, conservative Christian pastor. Luciano Pavarotti, 71, opera tenor. Hailed as the 'King of the High C's'. Jane Wyman, 90, actress and first wife of actor (and later US president) Ronald Reagan. Rex Humbard, 88, televangelist. Marcel Marcaeu, 84, legendary pantomine artist. Lois Maxwell, 80, Miss Moneypenny in early James Bond films Tawn Mastery, 53, female voice of LA's heavy metal scene. Deborah Kerr, 86, actress noted for hot steamy kiss with Burt Lancaster in 1953's From Here to Eternity. Joey Bishop, 89, one-fifth (and last surviving member) of Hollywood's Rat Pack. Porter Waggoner, 80, country musician, credited for kick starting Dolly Parton's career. Hank Thompson, 82, country musician, created 'honky-tonk swing'. Norman Mailer, 84, 'prince of American letters. Best-selling author. Joe Nuxhall, 79, youngest major leaguer with the Cincinnati Reds, later the Reds play-by-play announcer. Dick Wilson, 91, lovable hypocritical store owner Mr. Whipple in Charmin bathroom tissue ads. Kevin DuBrow, 52, lead vocalist of Quiet Riot. Sean Taylor, 24, Washington Redskins safety. Ike Turner, 76, credited for creating rock-n-roll, ex-husband of Tina Turner. Roger King, 63, creator of King World Productions, and CBS executive. Dan Fogleberg, 56, singer of song Leader of the Band Oscar Peterson, 82, legendary Canadian jazz musician. Harry Lee, 75, Chinese-American sheriff of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.
That's the way it is for 2007. It's been one hell of a year, indeed. 2008 promises to be quite a whirlwind. There are a lot of people to thank. So, in paricular order, my thanks and gratitude goes out to first, my Lord and Savior Jesus, whom without him, I wouldn't be breathing. My friend C.J. White for inspiring me. The gang at Write Around Portland, and special thanks to Dawn Thompson and Krista Price for being the muses that inspired me this summer. Patty Warman, Marvin Mitchell, Gary Davis, and the rest of the gang at Julia West House. Thanks Rev. Tom Nolen for allowing such a space from the storm. Ulis Hardman, also, for goading me on (even if he sometimes talks to me to death). And everyone else I may have forgotten. Thank you all! It's been a great year, and I look forward to a fast paced 2008.
I leave you with this:
suzydastar2007/YouTube.com
Have a Happy and Safe 2008!
Copyright (C)2007, by DWA Organisation (Darren W. Alexander). All Rights Reserved.
The people at the Alliance defense Fund, a conservative legal interest group with no ties to Oregon, must not have anything better to do.
In a move that shocked even the most conservative among us, the group claims that signatures that were rejected should be put back on. Even as those signatures probably weren't valid.
A federal judge, named Mossman, decided to wait until February 2, 2008, to hear this case. If the Alliance wins, a ballot measure could be forced upon Oregon voters on whether to allow domestic partnerships- or reject them.
Apparently, the passage of Measure 36 in 2004- which banned same-sex marriages- wasn't good enough for theses jackals. And I probably won't be at all surprised at who's probably bankrolling this. Fucked up thing is, that shooter who shot up those two churches in Colorado recently, missed the one many wish would just go away.
(C)2007, The DWA Organisation. All Rights Reserved.
Singer-actress Jessica Simpson is not- I repeat, NOT!- welcome in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
Ever since Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo performed at his personal worst in the Cowboys' loss to the Philadelphia eagles on Sunday, everyone- from Cowboys' running back Terrell Owens to just about everyone else- are blaming Romo's failures on the field to a certain not too good of a singer, and even worse actress (but still a fuckable hottie- at least as far as this blogger is concerned).
T.O. playfully called her out in a recent radio interview.
But hey, the actress-as-good-luck-charm still works for a certain New England quarterback, though. The Patriots are still undefeated.
Two women and a male accomplice are charged with the December 16 attack on three University of North Carolina football players.
According to Chapel Hill police, the three players- unnamed by the ABC News and WRAL-TV report (which you can click to next to the subtopic title)- were bound by tape, and threatened by a knife. The three, Monique Jenice Taylor, 28; Tnika Monta Washington, 29, and Michael Troy Lewis, 32, are charged with three counts of kidnapping, three counts of conspiracy to commit a felony, and one count of resiting arrest. Washington and Taylor each face additional charges of first degree sexual offense. Lewis faces charges on robbery, possession of stolen goods, and assault on government officials.
(C)2007 The DWA Organisation (Darren W. Alexander). All Rights Reserved.
You've heard of the Blue Man Group- those funny musicians who play improvised instruments (you know, anything from PVC pipes to just about anything they can get their hands on).
MethodicalMadness/TBS/YouTube.com
But unlike the members of BMG, this man can't take his paint off. Because his skin really is blue. Or bluish.
Ephraim178/YouTube.com/CNN/KFSN-TV
About 14 years ago, Paul Karason, 57, of Madera, California used a substance called colloidal silver, which is made from extracting silver from metal. It converts into water with electrical currents, and you drink it. It's billed as a cure.
Karason says that he rubbed it on his face, and that may have contributed to the rare, yet harmless condition called Argyria. (go to http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Argyria for information). Kind of the opposite of vitiligo, perhaps.
He does not plan on treating this.
(C)2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
Tonight, the release and reading of See the Water Rise/Ver Las Aguas Subir took place at First United Methodist Church, in the Goose Hollow area of southwest Portland. Over 80 people read their selections. This book is published by Write Around Portland, the folks who published the summer anthology, Unexpected Metaphors, in August.
I was among them. But this almost didn't happen.
You see, I had initially chosen not to read my submission, Pierced Body Parts- not because of fear of embarrassment (I'm not afraid to read in front of crowds), but in part out of consideration for others. The last reading, I did all I could to downplay my reading- a lot of people said that my piece, Venice on the Scioto- was among the best. In other words, I kept myself from letting my head swell (though the blog entry I wrote on that was kind of a in-house joke). But after much coaxing from friends, I finally acquiesced. (I even caved in to find out which submission the Write Around Portland group had chosen. Initially, I had intentionally kept myself in the dark on that as well).
Well, my head's swelling- but only a tiny bit. After all, Pierced Body Parts is one of the more risque, perhaps even a bit erotic- if not the most erotic- pieces I've had published yet. To be honest, when I look at it, I find it pretty sexy. A kind-of 'reclaiming my balls' kind of story. All without one word of profanity (in other words, you don't have to be 'vulgar' to be erotic, right?)
So yes, it's not too saying too much when I say that yes, this story- Pierced Body Parts- is my sexiest story yet.
See the Water Rise/Ver Las Aguas Subir will be in area bookstores shortly. I hope you enjoy the stories.
(C) 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
Roger Clemens- yes, as in the Rocket; Andy Pettitte; and home run leader Barry Bonds among others- both current and former Major League Baseball players- are named in a report by former US Senator George J. Mitchell (D-Maine) as users of performance-enhancing drugs. Also named is the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO), as the distributor.
These very findings could shake up Major League Baseball as we know it. More stringent drug testing, and an even shorter rope.
Click on the title for the full 311 page report, courtesy of The Smoking Gun.
(C) 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights reserved.
Nine people dead. A troubled teenager. Happy Christmas shopping disrupted.
Robert A. Hawkins, 19, of Bellevue, Nebraska, was fired from a McDonald's; went through a romantic break-up; and had troubles in his life.
It would be easy to ask, why? Why did Hawkins take his frustrations out on people- eight of them dead, several others injured- before taking his own life?
What more could have been done to help this young man? Apparently, everyone who tried to help him did all they could, but was this too little too late?
It's easy to point blame and fingers, but instead of playing the blame game, I think it's time to look to solutions. Answers. Sure, I'm not advocating putting metal detectors into malls, and having armed guards posted at the door- hell, there may have been armed guards there and still, eight people lost their lives- but something has to be done to make sure a tragedy such as the one at Westwood Mall doesn't happen again. If it means metal detectors and armed guards, so be it. If it means 100 police officers...who knows?
Right now, there are no easy answers. Just pain. And questions.
May the nine dead- including the shooter, Robert Hawkins- rest in peace. Sure, it's easy for many to condemn the shooter. But, if in death he finds his peace, then may he rest in peace.
For continuing coverage of this tragedy, click on the title, where you'll be connected to KETV-TV, the Hearst-Argyle owned ABC affiliate in Omaha. (C) 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
In 2007, I had two short short stories published- both in local anthologies, "Unexpected Metaphors", in August 2007, and "See The Water Rise/Ver Las Aguas Subir", in November 2007. I'm a 2009 graduate of Humanity in Perspective, a academic year-long class run by Reed College and the Oregon Council of Humanities.
