First off, my prayers go out to the survivors of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse, and the families of the victims- those who are trapped, and those who have since passed on from their injuries. May God's grace comfort you all, and the love of the country and the world.
Last night, at around 6:00PM Central time (4:00 here in the Pacific), the bridge that passes over the Mississippi River, on Interstate 35W collapsed. This happened durring rush hour, and dozens of cars fell in. The fatalty toll- initially tallied at seven- is now currently at four, and over five dozen injured. Nearby, the Minnesota Twins played against the Kansas City Royals in the Metrodome. Now, some of you may say that the Twins organization was heartless in their approach. But given the fact that the collapsed bridge was so close to the Dome, that the game had to go on, in part to allow first responders- the police; emergency personnel- to head to the scene ands do their jobs. So I think the right call was made.
Tonight's Twins-Royals game has been postponed, and the four game homestand against the Cleveland Indians are on the bubble.
I have a link from CNN, the view of the I-35W bridge collapsing. Just click on the title.
Here's the Breaking News footage from KSTP Eyewitness News 5 television; KARE 11; KMSP Fox 9; and WCCO CBS 4.
NewsTv/YouTube
I am heartened to know that the sixty young children who were on the school bus as thr bridge collapsed are okay. Some are scratched up, but other than being shaken, those little babies are in the comforting arms of their parents, with said parents clinging a bit tighter to them.
Furthermore, I'm a bit astounded that some cars, and parts of the road, when the bridge collapsed stayed intact. But those are the saaving graces of what is otherwise a tragic event.
The I-35W bridge was 40 years old, and was last inspected in 2005. Repair work was being done to it at the time of the collapse. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating, and Congress has appropriated $250 million for the bridge's repair.
Again, my hearts and prayers go out to the survivors and the victims' family.
Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander
All Rights Reserved.
CNN.com
ESPN: The Worldwide Leader In Sports Widget
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Turning 40- Chapter Two
Today, I turn 40. Yes, I'm still alive- though a bit blue from eating all of those blueberries a friend give me. I can still run up stairs, though my left ankle's still crying a bit (I almost twisted it the other night). I still have a slight case of neuroses- had to babysit the group I'm in (I'll explain in due time). Other than that, I'm holding up fine, thank you.
Now that I'm in the beginning stages of middle age, a few realities become inevitable for me:
1. The words of my uncle Jerry return to haunt me: When I was 18, Jerry told me that the next 10 yeasrs of my life would go fast. Of course, I was in twelfth grade and attending Mifflin High at the time. Ten years later, I was living with the woman- a four-foot-ten version of the Marvel comics villain Kingpin who would later become my wife (and subsequently, ex-wife). Now it's time for yet another roller coaster ride as the trip from July 31, 2007 and July 31, 2017 has begun.
2. This skinny frame is about to turn into Jell-O(R): I began to feel this at 38- or was it 36?... anyway...I've been nearly supermodel thin my entire life. It's been both a compliment and a curse (A compliment because I've haven't yet met an early grave. A curse, because I could stand a bit more sculpt and bulk. Which is why I'll soon be hitting the Bowflex(R)).
Well, Big Al, kiss the Cindy Crawford body 'buh-bye'.Sure, I'll still exercise and do a bit more biking. But it's inevitable that soon those chocolate bars and Pepsi(R) colas will hit my gut and my hips. Not that anything's wrong with that. Just keep the food intake under control and keep active, d'Artagnan, and you'll do fine.
3. My sex drive may- or may not- head south: It's a sad reality that strikes a lot of us guys in our 30s and 40s- our testosterone levels start going down, down, down.
Talk about a midlife crisis!
Sure, I'll still be able to make a few babies, but I may need a bit of help from those three ED (erectile dysfunction) pills- Viagra; Levitra; and Cialis. Of course, a bit of exercise helps, too.
4. You're Gonna Stick That Finger Where, Doc?:
(from Family Guy)
haylaah/YouTube/Fox
Inquiry: Is it 40 or 45 that us black guys supposed to get our prostates checked? Anyway, I'm about at the age where I have to- gasp- undergo a few prostate exams. Yes, it may feel like what Peter's doctor has done to Peter (according to Peter, of course. But, I'll have to side with Lois and the doc there, Pete. Sorry, pal...). But it's one of those necessary evils of life. Just like having a cardiologist; insurance agent...it gets creepy, kids. Believe me.
Of course, going back to my eating habits, I'm afraid that it's more roughage in my diet...
smctrixie/YouTube
Those Quaker Oats commercials used to crack me up...less Coke and Pepsi, and less Chee-Tos and Lay's, and more salads, veggies, and fruits (though I still won't touch prunes or prune juice. I Won't! I Won't! I WON'T! I'm still not touching Vienna sausage, either. Hated it as a kid. Still hate it now).
Well, here's to my forties. I look forward to the next ten years, as I undergo changes in my life. Hopefully, it won't be too painful.
Copyright 2007, by Darren w. Alexander
All Rights Reserved.
Now that I'm in the beginning stages of middle age, a few realities become inevitable for me:
1. The words of my uncle Jerry return to haunt me: When I was 18, Jerry told me that the next 10 yeasrs of my life would go fast. Of course, I was in twelfth grade and attending Mifflin High at the time. Ten years later, I was living with the woman- a four-foot-ten version of the Marvel comics villain Kingpin who would later become my wife (and subsequently, ex-wife). Now it's time for yet another roller coaster ride as the trip from July 31, 2007 and July 31, 2017 has begun.
2. This skinny frame is about to turn into Jell-O(R): I began to feel this at 38- or was it 36?... anyway...I've been nearly supermodel thin my entire life. It's been both a compliment and a curse (A compliment because I've haven't yet met an early grave. A curse, because I could stand a bit more sculpt and bulk. Which is why I'll soon be hitting the Bowflex(R)).
Well, Big Al, kiss the Cindy Crawford body 'buh-bye'.Sure, I'll still exercise and do a bit more biking. But it's inevitable that soon those chocolate bars and Pepsi(R) colas will hit my gut and my hips. Not that anything's wrong with that. Just keep the food intake under control and keep active, d'Artagnan, and you'll do fine.
3. My sex drive may- or may not- head south: It's a sad reality that strikes a lot of us guys in our 30s and 40s- our testosterone levels start going down, down, down.
Talk about a midlife crisis!
Sure, I'll still be able to make a few babies, but I may need a bit of help from those three ED (erectile dysfunction) pills- Viagra; Levitra; and Cialis. Of course, a bit of exercise helps, too.
4. You're Gonna Stick That Finger Where, Doc?:
(from Family Guy)
haylaah/YouTube/Fox
Inquiry: Is it 40 or 45 that us black guys supposed to get our prostates checked? Anyway, I'm about at the age where I have to- gasp- undergo a few prostate exams. Yes, it may feel like what Peter's doctor has done to Peter (according to Peter, of course. But, I'll have to side with Lois and the doc there, Pete. Sorry, pal...). But it's one of those necessary evils of life. Just like having a cardiologist; insurance agent...it gets creepy, kids. Believe me.
Of course, going back to my eating habits, I'm afraid that it's more roughage in my diet...
smctrixie/YouTube
Those Quaker Oats commercials used to crack me up...less Coke and Pepsi, and less Chee-Tos and Lay's, and more salads, veggies, and fruits (though I still won't touch prunes or prune juice. I Won't! I Won't! I WON'T! I'm still not touching Vienna sausage, either. Hated it as a kid. Still hate it now).
Well, here's to my forties. I look forward to the next ten years, as I undergo changes in my life. Hopefully, it won't be too painful.
Copyright 2007, by Darren w. Alexander
All Rights Reserved.
Turning 40- Chapter One
I can't believe that today's the day where I reach a milestone of sorts. Part of me has looked forward to this day, while another part of me wonders if I need to pray to the great Jehovah/Allah and summon the spirit of H.G. Wells so I can finish that time machine- and turn the clock back 20 years.
Yes, true believers, I turn the BIG 4-0 today. And given the fact that I'm entering my fifth decade on planet Earth, I'm wondering what my next 10 years will be like.
I'll tell you in Chapter Two.
Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander
All Rights Reserved.
Yes, true believers, I turn the BIG 4-0 today. And given the fact that I'm entering my fifth decade on planet Earth, I'm wondering what my next 10 years will be like.
I'll tell you in Chapter Two.
Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander
All Rights Reserved.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Appreciations: Bill Walsh; Tom Snyder; and Ingmar Berman
The sports and entertainment worlds are mourning the passings of three very colorful personalities.
Legendary NFL coach Bill Walsh died this morning, at 75, after a long battle with leukemia. He is noted for the West Coast Offense, which turned around a moribund San Francisco 49ers team into a five-time Super Bowl champion team. He also coached for the Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland Raiders, and was head coach for Stanford.
OSUISCOOL/YouTube
Talk show host Tom Snyder had dry wit. His shows, Tomorrow, which aired for years on NBC; and The Late, Late Show on CBS (the latter aired after David Letterman's Late Show, with Letterman's production company Worldwide Pants producing).
Synthese78/YouTube/ NBC
Colortinis/YouTube/Worldwide Pants/CBS
Snyder died last night at 71. He had leukemia.
Many movie buffs would place Ingmar Bergman's films among the best that the industry had to offer. The Virgin Spring (1961); Through a Glass Darkly (1962); Fanny and Alexander (1982)- three films that won Academy Awards(R) for Best Foreign Films. Over a 61-year period, Bergman wrote; produced; and/or directed over 40 films, and produced and directed numerous of plays for the stage.
mgarlrinho/YouTube/Sandrew(Sweden)/
A clip from Fanny and Alexander, which won 4 Academy awards in 1984.
Bergman died peacefully this morning at 89 in Faro, Gotland, Sweden.
There is too much to describe about these three legends passed, and time won't permit me write more on them (besides, there's very little anyone doesn't know about them). But, we will all remember them; and each will be sorely missed.
Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander
All Rights Reserved.
Legendary NFL coach Bill Walsh died this morning, at 75, after a long battle with leukemia. He is noted for the West Coast Offense, which turned around a moribund San Francisco 49ers team into a five-time Super Bowl champion team. He also coached for the Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland Raiders, and was head coach for Stanford.
OSUISCOOL/YouTube
Talk show host Tom Snyder had dry wit. His shows, Tomorrow, which aired for years on NBC; and The Late, Late Show on CBS (the latter aired after David Letterman's Late Show, with Letterman's production company Worldwide Pants producing).
Synthese78/YouTube/ NBC
Colortinis/YouTube/Worldwide Pants/CBS
Snyder died last night at 71. He had leukemia.
Many movie buffs would place Ingmar Bergman's films among the best that the industry had to offer. The Virgin Spring (1961); Through a Glass Darkly (1962); Fanny and Alexander (1982)- three films that won Academy Awards(R) for Best Foreign Films. Over a 61-year period, Bergman wrote; produced; and/or directed over 40 films, and produced and directed numerous of plays for the stage.
mgarlrinho/YouTube/Sandrew(Sweden)/
A clip from Fanny and Alexander, which won 4 Academy awards in 1984.
Bergman died peacefully this morning at 89 in Faro, Gotland, Sweden.
There is too much to describe about these three legends passed, and time won't permit me write more on them (besides, there's very little anyone doesn't know about them). But, we will all remember them; and each will be sorely missed.
Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander
All Rights Reserved.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
I Love Portland (But Why Am I Here Instead of LA?)
The Independent Television Festival take places in Los Angles this weekend. Three days of viewing television series NOT made by the major studios. Sitcoms. Dramatic series (this would include those dramedys such as Desperate Housewives, et al.).
I bring this up because I ask myself this $64,000 question: WHY AM I HERE? Why am I here in Portland, Oregon still? Why am I here instead of Los Angeles? No, I'm not giving up on Portland, but admittedly, I could use the break from good ol' Stumptown.
After all, it's been four years since I've returned (from New Orleans, Louisiana), and there has been times when I wished that I had stayed (and subsequently drowned?) in New Orleans. Hell, when I left New Orleans in June 2003, I almost took a trip to Washington, DC (actually, Arlington, Virginia). Another discussion for another day.
And my first opportunity comes August 1, when I leave the Rose City for the city of Angels on business. Then, in October, I'll be back in LA for Screenwriting Expo 6, and for film making classes in November (or in early 2008).
I have many impressions of LA, not all of them good. But I'll set aside my trepidations to stay and work there. You never know. I may just fall in love in LA yet.
Copyright (C) 2007, by Darren W. Alexander.
All Rights Reserved
I bring this up because I ask myself this $64,000 question: WHY AM I HERE? Why am I here in Portland, Oregon still? Why am I here instead of Los Angeles? No, I'm not giving up on Portland, but admittedly, I could use the break from good ol' Stumptown.
After all, it's been four years since I've returned (from New Orleans, Louisiana), and there has been times when I wished that I had stayed (and subsequently drowned?) in New Orleans. Hell, when I left New Orleans in June 2003, I almost took a trip to Washington, DC (actually, Arlington, Virginia). Another discussion for another day.
And my first opportunity comes August 1, when I leave the Rose City for the city of Angels on business. Then, in October, I'll be back in LA for Screenwriting Expo 6, and for film making classes in November (or in early 2008).
I have many impressions of LA, not all of them good. But I'll set aside my trepidations to stay and work there. You never know. I may just fall in love in LA yet.
Copyright (C) 2007, by Darren W. Alexander.
All Rights Reserved
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