Person of the Week

In 1991 at the height of the popular cartoon Blondie, Peter Jennings selected Dean Young, the son of Blondie cartoon creator 'Chic' Young, to be World News Tonight's "Person of the Week". Now more than 15 year later, World News (Tonight) has selected Matt Groening to be their "Person of the Week" in commemoration of the new Simpsons movie. Changing times.

Independence Day 2007

Have a great Independence Day!

How's Ronan Tynan singing "God Bless America" at the Yanks Stadium for this July 4?


From the movie "Independence Day" is President Whitmore's speech before the big aerial fight.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=b9r_Xq1ZCAw

And finally a reading of the Declaration of Independence.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=EQ0bpaWuZbg

Stay safe..

This Friday before Mother's Day

Good evening on this TGIF Friday. This Sunday is Mother's Day and I haven't forgotten.
Two weeks ago our school was hosting a conference spelling bee. I remember that during the first half of the bee, our school was sweeping the house and was winning the first couple grades. The great feeling that ran through our school was electrifying knowing our school was right at it.
Yeah, we rocked.
World News with Charles Gibson was here in Seattle yesterday and today is their last day here. Watch to see their Person of the Week.
Now I couldn't really decide over what song to give you, as Mother's Day is on Sunday. Maybe the best song is the original "If I Can Dream" by Elvis Presley as a solo, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Barbra Streisand, maybe even"My Girl" by the Tempations, or perhaps that duet by Nat King Cole and his daughter Natalie, what was it called? "Unforgettable" ? That's right.



You know. I could have put the Temptations' "My Girl" here and the words and everything would have been just right for all the mothers out there but that's okay.
Anyways, good night and have a Happy Mother's Day.
Later...

Before I Forget

Just a little less than a month ago was the 95th anniversary of the maiden voyage, iceberg collision, and sinking of the RMS Titanic. I don't recall anyone mentioning anything about it but I might as well now before I forget.

Now I have been thinking about 1997 Titanic movie as well as the 1953 version and the playing of "Nearer my God to Thee", the song believed to have been played by Wallace Hartley and his Titanic band while the ship was almost sunk. Quite powerful indeed, and his famous quote used in the 1997 movie:

"Gentlemen, it has been a privilege playing with you
tonight."

Many lives were lost and their stories of love, anger, hate,
business, richness, and humbleness; all portrayed in books, songs, movies.
So here is that clip from the 1997 movie of the Titanic band playing "Nearer My God to Thee."



Later...

Day of Mourning

Last night on ABC's World News, Charlie Gibson introduced a short memorial slideshow of the victims killed by the boy with a troubled mind in Virginia Tech. I thought it was quite moving.
Tonight World News' Persons of the Week are the killed students of Virginia Tech. Today was an official day of mourning in Virginia and people are displaying their suppport by wearing the VT's colors of maroon and orange. This morning on "Good Morning America", Diane Sawyer and Robin Roberts were wearing maroon/orange in support; I've been wearing orange today too.
Be sure to read "When the Networks Do the Right Thing" on ABCNews.com .
Today was also the eighth anniversary of Columbine. Ironic but the troubled boy probably wanted it like that.
Anyways...
Later

In Wake of the Virginia Tech Tragedy

Sorry I haven't been able to blog for several days now. So much has been happening in the news and the tragedy and feelings of grief upon all of everyone in America and the world right now.

I'm sure you know what you want to know of the Virginia Tech massacre so I won't repeat it again.
It was this morning that we learned the killer was Cho Seung-Hui and students were said to say he was known as a "loner."
I just can't understand why this had to happen but all I can do is pray for the family and friends of the dead.



In this tragedy, were stories of courage and comfort. I'm sure you know that Facebook was used as a means of communication between isolated students.
What I don't like about this tragedy is how people are trying to politicize the shootings and how it could have been prevented by increasing or decreasing the right to carry weapons. Idiots all of them, making darn politics out of sadness.

This week is a week full of history and has so many differences and similarities between then and now:
April 15 1961: the Bay of Pigs invasion occurred and ended on unsuccessfully on April 19.
April 15 1989: Students held demonstrations in the Tiananmen Square protests.
April 18 1906: Major earthquake in San Francisco resulting in a large death toll.
April 19 1993: the Waco Siege with David Koresh ended after 51 days.
April 20 1999: Two teenagers killed 13 other persons in the Columbine High School shooting.

Last night I was watching "World News With Charles Gibson". Charlie usually ends with "I hope you've had a good day..." but last night he ended "I wish I could say it's been a good day; it hasnt..."
Tonight Charlie is reporting from Virginia, be sure to watch him.
You can see excerpts of this on ABC News Now which is presently reairing it intermittently. Click on the link on the front page of ABC News.

We must think to realize that Cho Seung-Hui was a person with feelings and a heart but made a hurting choice that resulted in this.
We must also remember that those killed in this tragedy are humans and they had families and they deserve the right to rest in peace, without politics.
Here is a photo slideshow from ABCNews.com of those killed.

It's a sunny yet hard and rough evening here in Seattle but the sorrow and grief from across the nation in Blacksburg, Virginia can be felt everywhere today and in the days to come.

To the families and friends of those killed at Virginia Tech, all I can say is this verse from the Book of Numbers.

Jackie Robinson 42

Today may be Friday and the weekend may be coming up but I have a little bit of work to do. Still, I decided to bring up the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's debut as the first African-American in Major League Baseball. I had no idea about this until I saw "World News with Charles Gibson" featuring Jackie as their "Person of the Week." He truly deserves that and this is that report. If you haven't read the book Jackie Robinson and the Year of the Boar, do so.
Be sure to watch that World News report; it was great and was relevant to the recent Don Imus mess.
Have a good evening and a great weekend...

Monday dressed up as a Friday, Yuri Gagarin's First Spaceflight Anniversary

You know I haven't posted in several days now. Things aren't supposed to be like that; I'm supposed to have colleagues for a reason.
Well today feels like a Monday dressed up as a Friday. If you know how "Monday, Monday" feels and the relief of "TGIF", then you understand why I mean.
Anyways, there's a lot to talk of this evening but I'll boil it down.
Today is the 46th anniversary of the first human space flight accomplished by Yuri Gagarin.



Google made their logo special for this anniversary. Here are some photos from CNet.com
This week has been a hectic one but gratifying. Besidies, tomorrow is Friday.
Have a good evening..