Murdered By The Media? RIP Richard Jewell, 44

Richard Jewell, the security guard falsely accused of being the 1996 Atlanta Olympic's bomber has died at 44 of natural causes. He recently was diagnosed with diabetes and kidney failure.

After twelve grueling weeks of investigation by the FBI, US Attorney's office and endless hounding by the press, Richard Jewell was ultimately cleared of being the bomber. He really was the hero he claimed to be:

"Jewell was working as a private security guard in Centennial Olympic Park about 1 a.m. on July 27 when he identified a suspicious unidentified package and began moving people away from it. The package turned out to contain the bomb, which went off, killing one person and wounding more than 100." CNN

Eric Rudolph confessed to being the bomber in 2005 and is serving four life sentences plus 120 years for bombings at the Olympics and three other locations including a gay nightclub. One of the bombings killed a police officer.

Bang-Up Day

I slipped on the stairs this morning and landed mostly on one knee. Yes, Duckie, there are pix.

Looks like Vegas is moving to The OC. He's there now house-sitting and has parted ways with the boyfriend.

I'm sipping lemonade and having a teriyaki bowl.

A Trek And A Tre

I strolled to the grocery and to the bank between 4 and 6am. I'm pretty sure that's the first I've left the community since early July. I hadn't planned to do a month's worth of grocery shopping but the urge overtook me. The night was clouded and felt warm, probably from humidity. Once again I managed to dump my groceries in the street thanks to a bungled attempt to avoid just that.

Along the way a few things tried to escape out bags and my new postage stamps flew from my pocket too. Yes, I finally got the new more expensive stamps. Even better, these are those "forever" stamps which means if he price goes up before I run out, I don't need to buy addition postage or wastefully double-up stamps.

I seem to remember the grocery kept stamps in the registers, even earlier this year, but someone had to unlock the service desk to get a book for me this morning.

I paid the rent. There's someone new in the office! She looks to be early 20s and only started yesterday. I hope that doesn't mean my favorite has left us. If she did, I hope she got a better gig.

There's a scent of wildfire smoke in the air from dual fires. One is in Mexico and the other in a county further north. Add in the fresh cut grass and humidity and I think I'll stay indoors the rest of the day.

Kitty is napping in her lounge chair and has been generally non-plussed at my comings and goings. Ok, she was hiding when I got back from my early morning errands but with all the noise I probably made dragging things up stairs, who could blame her for expecting the worst? I promptly shed my sweaty attire, filled a glass with ice and put on the A/C.

Last night we watched Flipping Out and Top Chef. I'm very sorry to see Tre eliminated on Top Chef. It was a surprise. He'd won three of the nine elimination challenges.

Monday Mutterings

Here's an image from "High School Musical 2"'s "What Time Is It." Troy (Zac Efron), Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale) and Ryan (Lucas Grabeel) are in the front row:



I changed the litter box so kitty can return to being nice to me. I hope. The station has gone off the air for a top-down reorganization. I've been asked to stay on to assist with the shifting of deck chairs. Duckie refused to advise me saying he knows I'll do it anyway. He's probably right. That's why I keep him around.

My fingers are doing better. Monday means Greek and Kyle XY on TV for me and kitty.

I've been having bizarre dreams. Last evening I dreamed of doing groceries with Mother (deceased). I remember the car vanished from the parking lot. Father (deceased) had run off with it and the groceries. I've had a few grocery shopping dreams over the past few days especially some involving perusing delis. I'm a little vague on recalling the details for now. It isn't grocery time yet so I'm not sure how the dreams fit in.

The so-called "Queen of Mean," real estate tycoon Leona Helmsley, has died at 87. She became most well known during her tax evasion trial in 1989s. The $5 billion holdings of she and her husband included managing the Empire State Building in NYC and two dozen luxury hotels. According to trial testimony, she allegedly told an employee only the "little people pay taxes," a statement she denied making. She survived a collapsed lung caused by a stabbing during a home robbery in 1973 and donated millions to New York-Presbyterian Hospital and related institutions.

High School Musical 2

Well, more than a few people watched "High School Musical 2" on Friday. It was a record cable viewing audience of over 17 million. Kitty and I were among them.

The first one was better, this one seemed more forced as a story. My real concern, as I watched it, was the message that somehow hanging out with your pals constantly is more important than setting up your future.

Since his family can't afford college, the friends should've supported Troy's chances to cultivate a possible scholarship opportunities rather than getting down on him. Even his girlfriend decides to turn away and returns his necklace.

As the climax approaches he's guilted into spiking his chances but--never fear--his friends have set him up with a rouse and it all works out. His opportunities still seem open, his friends forgive him and his girlfriend love's him again. In real life, some friends would support him while those who did not, would just write him off.

For me, other than "What Time Is It?" and "I Don't Dance," the musical numbers are generally uninspired and songs pretty forgettable. "I Don't Dance" features a baseball game with the villainess' brother and presumed gay character, Ryan (Lucas Grabeel), and Troy's best friend Chad (Corbin Bleu) battling it out as pitcher and batter.

A young Rob Lowe look-alike, Troy (Zac Efron) is very fit while shirtless in several scenes and does his own singing this time.

The most annoying part, for me, was how evident the studio effects were in the over-dubbed music. There's at least one ballad which starts on screen with voice and piano only and suddenly it has a drum kit thumping away with no on screen source. That works for big production numbers but seemed bizarre with the spare ballad. PerhapsI should assume the resort's grand piano is enhanced with electronics like Elton John's concert pianos?

Riiight.

Worth a look but don't expect a whole lot from the plot. I'd hope a rumored third film will be a return to form but they may need to infuse the franchise with a new villain.

Beware of Glass...

...it bites! Glass from a picture frame slipped out of my hands while cleaning it. I got two cuts and lost a wedge of flesh to the edges.

TV Renewals

USA Network's "Burn Notice" has been renewed for a second season of 13 shows. It's a fun show. If it comes to your country, give it a look.

GRΣΣK has been picked up for another 10 shows.

GRΣΣK's doing ok but it isn't as strong story-wise as it could be. Still, it's a bit of light entertainments and I like Cappie. OK. How many characters do you need to like to watch a show anyway?

KYLE XY was good on Monday. It's moved the main plot about Kyle ahead. Next week Kyle reveals to Jesse there's more in common to them both than they knew.

Nick In A Bow Tie!

Clipped from promotional photos for the next BSB CD.

Damn. SoCAL Icon Passes...

The fantastic Hal Fishman passed away last week. I grew up watching Hal anchor the "News At 10" on KTLA out of Los Angeles. In fact, with 32 years anchoring KTLA's news, Hal's the longest running anchor in TV history. He was no non-sense and always looked smartly dressed. He was "old skool" in his delivery cadence and it worked.

Quite appropriately, he was in Spider-Man 3 as the anchorman during the climactic battle with Spider-Man and the villains. I noted his delivery style was a little different--more modern--but it was Hal.

Hal was also famous as a private pilot with a number of altitude and speed world records.

There are some echo-worthy comments about Hal in the piece from "The L.A. Times". He died of cancer; it was diagnosed just over a week before he passed on.

You presented what I came to believe the news should be. RIP Hal Fishman.

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Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune creator and all around entertainer Merv Griffin Dies at Age 82 of colon cancer.

There I Was, Minding My Own Business...

... when I saw this posted on a website:

Published August 6, 2007

Redmond, Washington—Microsoft today kicked off the greatest holiday lineup in videogame history by announcing...

What The!? H-O-L-I-D-A-Y!?! It's frigging August!

Bah humbug!