Recently, my stupid ass copy of WinJournal decided to stop playing well with the two blog services- Blogger being one of them- which, as you may imagine, does not bode well with me.
So, I'm trying out Zoundry's Raven software. I've already tested it on my other main site, The DWA Musings, on WordPress. It works great (now, if my friend Ceej stops trying to hog the spotlight...). I'll see how this goes.
(C) 2009, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
Five Alabama police officer lost their badges after they beat a man who led them on a car chase through the streets and highways of Birmingham.
January 23, 2008, Anthony Warren, 38, led Birmingham Police through a 22-minute, multi-highway chase. According to reports, a Birmingham police officer was questioning Warren about possible drug activity. Warren began to flee, beginning the chase. Eventually, he crashed on a shoulder. As his SUV crashed, Warren was thrown from the vehicle and was unconscious. Five officers then beat and kicked Warren, leaving him with a skull fracture and a severe concussion. Now Warren has filed a suit against the officers, who were terminated from the force, and the city of Birmingham. Warren, meantime, is serving a 20 year sentence for first degree assault for striking an officer with his van.
Police Chief A.C. Roper call the officers' conduct "shameful" in a report.
Were the officers wrong in their effort to restrain Mr. Warren? Were they aware that he was already out cold? They could've killed the man, and subsequently faced murder charges. and Mr. Warren could've killed the officer as well. As far as I can tell, both the terminated officers and Mr. Warren were in the wrong. Mr. Warren would have been better off staying put and taking his medicine. The officers, because they let their emotions and frustrations get the best of them.
(C) 2009 by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
For those of us who watch the morning shows, you know it's a horse race between NBC's Today; ABC'S Good Morning America; and CBS's The Early Show. The former two, as many of us know, are constantly nose to nose when it comes to reaching first place. CBS, however, probably should have stuck with Captain Kangaroo (or any children's TV equivalent), because it's constantly in the Nielsen toilet.
One of my addictions is looking at YouTube (which is, like Blogger, is owned by Google. It's also what I constantly use for video footage. Of course, I always give credit to my sources), and today, I came across this gem. Now, before I begin, it must be noted that CBS's morning news ran mainly at 7:00AM, and came on before Captain Kangaroo. It ran for one hour, until the late 1970s or early 1980s, when it was reduced to 30 minutes. Unlike Today, CBS Morning News mainly ran just hard news.
The co-anchors in this nearly 10 minute clip from 1973 are Hughes Rudd, and Sally Quinn, who quit the Washington Post to anchor the morning news.
VintageTelevision/YouTube
When I watched the clip, I wondered if I needed to reach for one of those Excedrin PM tablets (in place of the Advil I carry). This was a painful clip to watch, and is it me, or does Sally look like she's recovered from a stroke. Boy, was she nervous. Never mind she was sick, but she looked robotic, no emotion whatsoever.
At least, this clip does show that cool "Keep America Beautiful" ad campaign from 1971, with the crying Native America- and a promo for the remake of "Perry Mason" (Well, like I said, not everything was perfect at the Tiffany network).
CBS. America's Most Watched TV Network. In everything EXCEPT NEWS! Perhaps it's time for CBS to leave the news business, and just stick to entertainment.
(C)2009, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
Oregon Attorney General John Kroger, a former federal prosecutor who took on two of the biggest crime syndicates- one is known as the mafia; the other named Enron- may bring down Portland's first openly gay mayor, as a report on Adams' relationship with then-legislative intern Beau Breedlove is due out anytime now.
At issue is whether Adams violated the law by having sexual relations with Breedlove when the latter was only 17, and if so, Adams could be found guilty of contributing to the delinquency of a minor between the ages of 16 and 18, a misdemeanor. This report could play a role in the recall effort that seems to be growing.
The earliest petitions for recall can be sent out is July 1.
(C) 2009 by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
Dom DeLuise, the larger than life actor; chef, and comedian who has starred in many film, TV, and stage comedies, passed on today.
Lauzi66/YouTube/NBC
For generations, DeLuise kept audiences in stitches with sketches- like the one above seen on "The Dean Martin Show", where he portrayed an inept magician; and in numerous films with Mel Brooks, such as "Blazing Saddles": bitchykitty/YouTube/Warner Bros.
and..."History of the World, Part One":
19nessie87/YouTube/20th Century Fox
He also collaborated with longtime friend Burt Reynolds in the two "Cannonball Run" films, portraying J.J.'s buddy Captain Chaos:
NilssonJ/YouTube/20th Centruy Fox
Just as he loved doing films, he loved food even more. He was an accomplished celebrity chef- and I wouldn't at all be surprised that his cooking was the favorite at home as well. I could picture many dinnertimes at the DeLuise home- festive; very lively. And that was the man DeLuise himself, full of life, very much loved by all.
He was 75, and died peacefully in his sleep Monday night. He is survived by his wife of nearly 44 years, actress Carol Arthur; and their three sons Peter, Michael, and David.
He will definitely be missed.
Copyright (C) 2009 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.
