Sunday Stuff

So, who was it that flew the helicopter over the one year anniversary service for the six dead in Kirkwood? On a beautiful, starlit night while the choir was singing, someone, somewhere had the absolute gall to fly a helicopter over the service, drowning out the choir and basically putting the kabosh on a thoughtful service. Many were pissed including myself. What news organization would be so thoughtless as to do something like that? Inconsiderate, reprehensible behaviour on a night where thousands came togther to remember those killed that surreal night 366 days ago. Yes, I knew everyone one of those people including the killer...

Mystery solved, it was the St. Louis County Police, hovering a helicopter in tribute of the fallen officers. All well and good, but there was nothing in the program, nothing noted and no one knew what was up. Not complaining but at least we should have been told

"A picture postcard
A folded stub
A program of the play
File away your photographs
Of your holiday

And your mementos
Will turn to dust
But that's the price you pay
For every year's a souvenir
That slowly fades away
Every year's a souvenir
That slowly fades away"- Billy Joel
**************************************************************************************************************************** I am getting to where I can not stand ESPN. During all of these steriod accusations, where have they been? Coming up with fancy names for themselves, reminding everyone that nothing happens west of Philadelphia and telling us over and over that the biggest basketball rivalry is between Duke and North Carolina ad nauseum. A friend of mine, who goes by the name of Sid Dithers and who writes for a local media website had this to say about the whole A-Fraud deal...and he says it SO much better than I can...
The Entertainment and Sports Programming Network...A PANTHEON of inconsequential blather and entertain-less entertainment, held to a journalistic standard of........well...........NOTHING!!! ESPN...ESPN II...ESPN Desportes...ESPN 360...ESPN News...And about 57 other incarnations of this sham-of-a-franchise that has added the sum total of NOTHING to the fleeting IDEA that IS "sports journalism", an oxymoronic phrase if there ever was one...While it has palpably worsened under the soul-less umbrella of Disney, ESPN has managed to peddle its "style over substance" presentation into a money-printing franchise...And rather than REPORT sports in a way that even approaches true journalism, ESPN has managed to CHANGE the way sports are played by the narcissistic athletes themselves...
***There were NO real, impactful football players like Terrell Owens and the like prior to ESPN...There were no basketball players who learned to do nothing but slam-dunk and chest-thump prior to ESPN...There were VERY FEW unsportsmanlike home run posers in baseball prior to ESPN...Or more specifically, THERE WERE NO ROID-HEADED, JACKED-UP CHEATERS CHEMICALLY-ENHANCED TO HIT NOTHING BUT 700 FOOT HOMERS PRIOR TO ESPN!!!*** Is 'The Sidster' BLAMING ESPN for the steroid scandal in baseball and other sports???...Not exactly, but their ridiculous coverage of the sensationalistic built ratings, increased revenues and allowed teams to spend money faster and with more selfish zeal than does Nancy Pelosi masturbating in the mirror...ALL while instigating the deterioration of sport fundamentals and the promotion of false hope to the disillusioned youth of today, ESPECIALLY the black athlete... But THAT is another thread...What THIS thread is specifically about is Alex Rodriguez and the whole steroid story...And HERE is the gist of Sid's angst...
***WHERE was ESPN in uncovering THIS story, even as far back as 1994???*** As far as I can determine, HERE is what these mindless vermin have "focused" on RATHER than to actually INVESTIGATE "ONE" alleged news story regarding steroids...
*Sitting for hours and days on end, thinking up nicknames for ONE ANOTHER!!!
*Sitting around for MONTHS on end developing NEW "promos", featuring the wacky ESPN "Boss Jocks" as the 'comic relief' they were TRULY hired as...In fact, THIS MONTH, ESPN produced a feature with NOTHING but old ESPN Promos...Does it get ANY BETTER than THAT???
*Hiring one empty-headed, bombshell female after another, to work the sidelines and stalk naked millionaire athletes in the shower after games, adding NOTHING to the broadcasts...Errr..I mean "BROAD"-casts...
***And best of ALL, assembling an ENTIRE staff of jug-headed siccophants who have MADE CAREERS out of MAKING FRIENDS and HANGING OUT WITH THE PLAYERS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO OBJECTIVELY COVER!!!***
Case and Point...STEROIDS!!!
Over the last decade, as baseball players began to develop biceps larger than a normal baby's torso, NOT ONE investigative piece came from ESPN concerning ANY allegation of steroid use, EVEN BEFORE STEROIDS WERE BANNED!!!... I am NOT referring to QUESTION pieces where lame-*ss, lazy anchors generically pose hypotheticals about a player's size or productivity, but ACTUAL in-your-face reporting designed to uncover the totally naked emperor...I am referring to hounding, tenacious reporting and NOT taking the lies of "NO" for an answer, ruffling feathers in the process...
Are we to believe that the briantrust at ESPN did not SEE what was happening to the modern-day ball player???...Are we to believe that these fraudulent miscreants didnt "hear" things from their "boys" regarding WHO was juicing and who wasnt???...Are we to believe that NOT ONE REPORTER was leaked information about ANYTHING concerning this OBVIOUS and BLATANT story over the course of TEN FRIGGN' YEARS???...Are we to accept that NOT ONE producer or reporter decided to 'go after' just ONE of these New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox who attained sudden and magical home run power or age-defying success on the pitching mound???
WHAT a f*cking JOKE!!! When the A-Rod story broke yesterday, there was comical irony inherent in the announcement...A fat, dumpy woman (which means she's CLEARLY the smartest one in the bunch!) from Sports Illustrated actually followed up on a lead that turned into the confirmation on A-Rod, NOT any of the 'jesters-of-hijinks' from ESPN...In 2003, when he won the American League home run title and the AL Most Valuable Player award as a shortstop for the Texas Rangers, Alex Rodriguez tested positive for two anabolic steroids, four sources have independently told Sports Illustrated...ONLY FOUR (4) sources...No biggie...And it gets better because the ugly, chinless reporter actually hunted A-Rod down to get a quote, working at night yet!!! When approached by the reporter on Thursday at a gym in Miami, Rodriguez declined to discuss his 2003 test results... "You'll have to talk to the union," said Rodriguez, the Yankees' third baseman since his trade to New York in February 2004... When asked if there was an explanation for his positive test, he said, "I'm not saying anything."...No to overstate the obvious, but WHERE was ESPN???...I guess they were all in Hawaii "chillin" at the Pro Bowl...WHEN F*cking Katie Couric is HARDER in interviewing A-Rod than ANY POS at ESPN, you KNOW your department has issues...But they WILL have cool Hawaiin shirts for their overblown broadcast of a NOTHING sporting event...It is important to acknowledge that A-Rod on steroids is NOT NEW "news"...It WAS 'swept under the carpet' NEWS...But since it is NOW "fashionable" to jump on A-Rod because of Joe Torre's recent portrayal of him in his book, it was A-Rod's name being "leaked" as ONE of the 104 guys who tested positive for steroids in 2003...And you can BET that all the maggots at ESPN will LEAP at the opportunity to bury A-Rod now that THEY dont have to worry about breaking the "clubhouse code" of all their *sshole friends in the locker room...
WHAT a bunch of P*SSIES!!!
"Boo-Ya!"..."Scotty" van Pelt-meister!...Pete "I NEVER Criticize a Red Sock" Gammons...Buster "Nothing Exists in America west of NYC" Olney...
"Hey Sid, what about Outside The Lines?...Bob Ley is the "Morley Safer" of ESPN"...
PLEASE!!!...OTL, as well as ANY of the lame bullsh*t from Jeremy Schaap, are mostly puff pieces, a bunch of non-evasive pontificating...Journalism is NOT the rhetorical asking of questions without answers or a forum to opine ad nauseum in the popular, contemporary 'Cliffs Notes-ish One-Sentence Samba' that masquerades as "editorial"...
The bottom line is that the steroids story is the BIGGEST story in the history of sport---ANY sport!!!...And for an ENTIRE NETWORK, a network EXCLUSIVELY dedicated to SPORTS NEWS, to TOTALLY MISS what is essentially 11 or 12 "Watergates" in one place, is spectacularly incompetent and inexcusable...
And furthermore, to be "SCOOPED" by an unattractive female from a fading forum like 'the magazine' is even MORE embarrassing...I have another idea for SI...How's about a story on discriminating hiring practices at ESPN???...Its hard to believe that the females are as incompetent as the males, but they ARE...
But the GOOD news is that Stuey and Scotty and Buster and Pete and Chrissy and Karlster all the roid-headed ex-players who critique the nightly happenings will STILL be able to have cocktails with their "bro's"...And as we ALL know in "sports journalism", THAT is the most important thing!!!
Well done Disney!!!...And way to go ESPN!!!...You NEVER disappoint!!!!
************************************************************************************************************************** The Grammy's are tonight and I am rooting for Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Coldplay ("Viva La Vida" is their "Dark Side of the Moon"), Burce Springsteen and Ne-Yo.
********************************************************************************************************************** Walter Milton Dwayne Midkiff died the other day. We knew him as Dewey Martin, drummer for The Standells "Dirty Water" and most notably the only drummer that Buffalo Springfield ever had. Martin worked as an itinerant drummer for many of country music's greatest artists, including Carl Perkins, The Everly Brothers, Patsy Cline, Charlie Rich, Faron Young and Roy Orbison among others. In 1963, he travelled to Las Vegas with Faron Young's band and then Los Angeles where he decided to stay. During late March/early April 1966, Martin was working with The Dillards at the Ice House in Pasadena when Doug Dillard told him that his services were no longer needed and gave him a telephone number for a new group that needed a drummer. The band was Buffalo Springfield. Martin became the last member to join the legendary group at its founding. Along with Stephen Stills and Richie Furay, he was one of only three musicians to stay with the group from its inception in April 1966 to its disbandment on May 5, 1968. During his time with the group, Martin also did session work for The Monkees. In concert, he sang covers of Wilson Pickett's In The Midnight Hour and Richie Furay's "Nobody's Fool" and "Good Time Boy". The latter appeared on the band's second album, Buffalo Springfield Again. He also sang Neil Young's "Mr Soul" as the introduction to Young's "Broken Arrow" on the same album and backing vocals on the band's biggest hit, "For What It's Worth". In 2008, Dewey Martin joined the cast of Matt Alan's live Internet radio program, OUTLAW RADIO. His unique personality, fascinating stories and quirky wit soon endeared him to the show's worldwide audience. Martin apparently died on January 31, 2009, and was found dead the next day by a roommate in his Van Nuys apartment, longtime friend Lisa Lenes said. She said Martin had health problems in recent years and she believed he died of natural causes. He was 68. Martin and the groups bassist, Dewey Palmer, have both passed.

GTO Judge Commercial

My man Brian has a GREAT blog and on his latest post, he did a marvelous job chronicling his affection for Paul Revere and The Raiders. Another band that should be in the rock and roll hall of fame before RUN DMC but I digress...on his blog, he posted this TV commercial for a car that I actually owned...a 1970 GTO Judge.
Very cool commercials for this one of a kind car...



This is exactly what my car looked like...(and I did this frequently)

Song In My Head

One of the bad things about having an Ipod is the fact that every once in a while, I'll get a song in my head and it won't get out. Yes, I know they are called "earworms" but really, having this song in my head is a blessing and a curse.
The blessing is that it is a great song, dedicated to John Lennon when he was having his immigration troubles and a curse because IT WON'T GET OUT OF MY HEAD!

This was his follow up to "Laughter In The Rain" and I remember an interview where Neil Sedaka said he didn't care if it became a hit or not, he just wanted to weigh in on the subject with song. It wasn't a hit, it only reached number 22 in May of 1975.

Someone did a great job with putting together a video for it. Now, it's your earworm. No tag backs!

Hundreds Attend Global Warming Protest

Thanks KK

My Top Ten Favorite Country Songs...

10. I Hate Every Bone In Her Body But Mine
9. I Ain't Never Gone To Bed With an Ugly Woman But I've Woke Up With a
Few
8. If The Phone Don't Ring, You'll Know It's Me
7. I've Missed You, But My Aim's Improvin'
6. Wouldn't Take Her To A Dogfight 'Cause I'm Scared She'd Win
5. I'm So Miserable Without You It's Like You're Still Here
4. My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend And I Miss Him
3. She Took My Ring and Gave Me the Finger
2. She Gets Better Lookin' with Every Beer

And the Number One Country song is...

1. It's Hard To Kiss The Lips At Night That Chewed My Ass All Day

Wednesday Night Stuff

They are remaking "Bonnie and Clyde", not surprising since Hollywood is bereft of ideas. They are casting Hillary Duff in the Faye Dunaway role. Faye was quoted as saying "Couldn't they get a real actress?" Hillary "fought" back with..."none of my fans know who she is". That's because none of you fans would know an actress if she bit them in the butt. I think I am going to be sick. Hillary Duff? Ick.

Raleyisms... a watched phone never rings. January and February are just months to get us to March.

Hey Christain Bale, you been hanging with Chris Berman again?

This is cute but definately NSFW

Truer Words Have Never Been Said

I don't know who Bill McMahon is, but he is spot on with this observation on his blog...

The Problem with Ryan Seacrest
Bill McMahon

"On-Air with Ryan Seacrest" is a microcosm of what's wrong with radio right now. The problem has nothing to do with the show being created in Hollywood and syndicated to local radio stations across the country. The trouble is the show's content. It's ordinary, average, and forgettable. Mindless, soulless, lowest common denominator stuff the media, including most cookie cutter morning radio shows, are saturated with -- vacuous interviews with celebrities hyping their latest projects, a steady stream of superficial celebrity news and Hollywood gossip clipped from the pages of People, Us, and The National Enquirer and read breathlessly with much manufactured enthusiasm and amazement by Ryan and his cohorts. This is sad stuff.

Here's what's really scary. In the past few months, "On-Air with Ryan Seacrest" has spread to approximately 140 markets, including most of the 50 largest cities in America. How did this happen? The show has no record of ratings success. The content is no different and no better than the average local radio morning show. Okay, Ryan gets more and better celebrity guests, but who cares. There's absolutely nothing special about his interviews -- no intimacy and no revelations. Listeners can get the same information by reading the press release for the new movie, CD, book, or other project the celebrity guest is hyping. Make no mistake about it; these are not Howard Stern-like interviews. There are no surprises in Ryan's fawning and shallow conversations. The show is not live, but that probably doesn't matter given its content. It's just a bunch of unoriginal recycled bits from Ryan's morning show in Los Angeles, which by the way, is not even the highest rated show on KIIS FM. So, what's going on here? Why is this show spreading? It's definitely not a virus.

"On-Air with Ryan Seacrest" exists for two primary reasons neither of which has anything to do with what comes out of a radio’s speakers or making radio listeners’ lives better. First, Ryan Seacrest is famous -- not for extraordinary talent, not for producing amazing radio content, not for producing stellar Arbitron numbers. Ryan Seacrest is famous for being the host of American Idol. Ryan Seacrest is famous for his boyish good looks. Ryan Seacrest is famous for hanging out with Simon Cowell. Second, "On-Air with Ryan Seacrest" is cheap programming -- a money-saving alternative to paying local personalities in 140 markets. So radio station operators blinded by fame and celebrity and driven by the need to reduce expenses are programming this drivel. Yikes!

Radio is in deep doo doo right now. Radio needs to create relevant and original content to survive. Radio needs rebels, mavericks, characters, passionate artists and innovators. Radio needs people to challenge the status quo not perpetuate it. "On-Air with Ryan Seacrest" is the status quo -- a very ordinary and average version of it. Exactly what radio doesn't need right now.

Radio is headed for extinction if things don't change quickly. How did it come to this? Lee Abrams provided some pretty good answers in a recent interview conducted by Al Peterson at NTS MediaOnline. Here's what Lee had to say about the radio business and the source of great ideas. "Radio was one of the last great bastions of creative thinking. There were no rulebooks, you could come up with a new format idea in your basement, take it out and try it somewhere, and if it worked you were in business. Unfortunately the radio business, which was once a place with very few rules, evolved into a business with a whole lot of rules.... all great ideas start emotionally then you use science to determine whether or not you're full of it. In most big media today everything starts scientifically and the whole emotional component gets left out entirely."

Lee's description of how radio's best programming ideas came to be and where great ideas begin sounds remarkably like what's happening on the Internet today. All kinds of goofy original ideas are being created. There is lots of experimentation going on. People are creating stuff in basements and garages all over the world and putting it out there in cyberspace to see if it flies.

This is exactly how many of radio's most successful formats and shows came to be. Rush Limbaugh created the show he wanted to listen to -- a show reflective of his ideals, his values and beliefs -- a show that broke the rules and challenged the status quo. He discovered there were lots of listeners just like him who were looking for a place to hang out and connect with like-minded people who shared their conservative values. Howard Stern created the show he wanted to listen to. Lee Abrams created a format with the music he wanted to hear. Both discovered lots of listeners just like them who liked what they liked.

Now radio creates stuff for some mythical target audience defined by simplistic and superficial research. No one breaks the rules or challenges the status quo. There's no experimentation. No risk taking. No new ideas. No innovation.

There is lots of cloning and copying. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern wannabes trying to duplicate everything these originals do. Nearly every morning show has a boy and a girl. Most are obsessed with presenting "pop culture" defined by superficial and sensational celebrity news and Hollywood gossip delivered by the girl. They talk about the same current events and news stories. Try finding a radio morning show this time of year that isn't talking about American Idol. Yes it's the top-rated show on television, but it's watched in less than 20% of homes with TVs. Radio morning shows across the dial and around the country use the same show prep services for their inspiration. Formats, music, and imaging -- all the stuff of radio programming -- have become fully homogenized at a time when the real world -- fueled by abundant entertainment and information choices made available by technology and the Internet -- has become anything but homogenized.

The problem with "On-Air with Ryan Seacrest" and far too much of the programming heard on the radio these days is that it's not distinctive, it's not relevant, and it's not essential to listeners because it doesn't make their lives better. That's why mobile phones, iPods, and computers are far more important in people's lives than radios.

His blog

Game...set...match, Bill. Thank you for saying it better than I can

"Official" Superbowl

It was a great superbowl but I was certainly puzzled by a number (or lack) of calls. The "roughing the passer" call against Arizona when clearly, later in the game Warner was hit worse. The "lack" of a call on James Harrison when he punched Larry Fitzgerald. Like John Madden said.."he should have been ejected". The excessive celebration on Santonio Holmes when he "sprinkled the powder" on his hands and threw them in the air after the final touchdown. Finally, the lack of a review on the final play of the game when Warner was sacked. It looked like to me his hand was moving forward. It just seemed like the Cardinals were punished for the same things the officials ignored with the Steelers. GREAT game, excellent commercials and it was truly "Boss time" for 12 glorious minutes at halftime.

This was my favorite....

Brrrruuuuuuuuuccccccccceee!!!

Kiss of Death for Kurt

I find it hard to "root" for anyone in college or professional sports anymore because they have become nothing but promotional and marketing machines. Professional sports more so than college where every tackle is then followed by preening and prancing around, trying to make your opponent feel bad. The lack of sportsmanship is only equalled by the "officials" lack of having any control of any game. Woof, woof, trash talking is the rule instead of the exception. One guy stands out from them all...Kurt Warner. Kurt is by all accounts, a great father, a great Christian and a guy who handles himself with great humility. I read in the paper this morning everytime his family goes out to a restaurant, somebody from the family picks someone else in the restaurant and the Warner family buys their meal anonymously. Yesterday, I guess it was a table of 20 Steeler fans that got their meal gratis. Brenda Warner used to live on food stamps. She thought it was weird getting their meals comped when recognized by an owner. "We are rich, why don't owners take care of those people who need it most?" So, whether it's an old couple or someone who looks like they are down on their luck, the Warner's will see to it they get a good meal, free and anonymously. So, in less than 90 minutes, I'll be rooting for Kurt to win another Super Bowl. If he doesn't, he'll probably blame himself. If he does, he'll give the credit to the team. Since I am rooting for Kurt, place your bets on the Steelers. I seem to be good like that.

See, I told ya. Nice job, Kurt, you played your guts out.

Road Trip

With me having a bit of free time on my hands this week, my friend Jay Philpott suggested a road trip to clear the air between our ears. Our excuse was to go see a sick friend in Omaha, so, why not? The sick friend is a cat named Steve Brill, who has been in the business about as long as I have. One of my first contacts with Steve was when he and Smash did the afternoon show at KSD in 1998 and took me on one day. Word crept out of the Emmis building that I had packed my bags and was headed across the street to go to work at The Rock! Steve pounced on it and yapped at me all afternoon. It was glorious to hear my name all day on a competing station. All is fair in radio, and we made peace many years ago. I thought it was extremely entertaining and fun radio. You know, the way it used to be. Steve just had his chest opened up and his ticker repaired. Jay picked me up at 7:30 on Thursday and bypassing Kansas City, we made it to Omaha about 2:30. I saw Michelle Matthews who was the night gal at the Rock, she is now the Operations Manager for Clear Channel Omaha. She is doing much better than I am and I am proud of her. I also met Lester St. James who is her PD and someone I have admired for years. Out to dinner on Thursday night at a restaurant in Omaha that featured St. Louis style pizza (what the hell is that?) and Toasted Ravioli. I guess we weren't as far away as we thought. We left Omaha on Friday morning and stopped at a Runza restaurant in Nebraska City because Jay had never had one before. Jay, being a big fan of food like me, was thoughly impressed. Friday afternoon was spent at Hooter's, meeting my old friend Skid Roadie and stopping at Ponak's to have dinner with two of my best friends in the world; my buddy Corky and Van McClain of Shooting Star. While there, an old girlfriend bought me a round and it was great to see her, she looked fantastic. Heading out of town, we went by Minsky's to get a couple of half baked pizzas to bring home. While ordering, the woman behind the counter asked my last name and when I gave it, the gentleman next to me remebered who I was and we chatted for a bit. Funny, isn't it, how after all these years, people still remember? It was very nice. Thanks, Jay, for a great two days. You are a very good friend and it was just what I needed.

R I P

Billy Powell. Wow, was there ever a band that had a bigger black cloud follow it around more than Lynyrd Skynyrd? Of the original guys and replacements, a number of them have died. That includes Hughie Thomasson, original member of The Outlaws (who, in their own right has had their share of deaths). Gary Rossington is the only orignal member left (Atimus Pyle didn't join until later on and he's in prison). Billy had heart trouble and had an appointment with his doctor the day he died. He was found dead with the telephone in his hand, calling 911. Billy was last heard on Kid Rock's "All Summer Long" that was all over the radio earlier this year. Many say it was the three guitar solo on "Free Bird" that established it's place in rock and roll. To me, it was the opening sad keyboard provided by Billy that set the tone for that song. What would "Sweet Home Alabama" be without Billy? He gave his life over to Christ later in his career so, to the believers, he's in a much better place. Dead at 56. Done way too soon.

Here's a one minute ten second clip that shows how he made the song his own.






John Updike, writer, novelist, poet and cartoonist. His "Rabbit, Run" started me along a path that followed me throughout my life. His writings were rich and filled with a great usage of words to paint a picture. I always wanted to write like him and hoped someday I would. This house is full of John Updike's works. He seemed to be a friend who I could count on. He also peened the "Witches of Eastwick". A two pack a day smoker, he died of lung cancer at the age of 78. I am going to go back and re-introduce myself to Rabbit.

Ruh roh

This is "allegedly" Michael Phelps. I don't think that's real good for your stamina...'ear, man.

Guitar World's Top 50 Guitar Solos

Not a bad list, not quite like mine, but close. I think "Sultans of Swing" should be higher, but this kind of stuff is pretty subjective.

While We Are On The Subject

Love these

More Kurt Vonnegut

Bob Newhart

The People have spoken and according to our poll, Bob Newhart is now the fourth member of the Stand Up Comedy Hall of Fame.




I couldn't find any footage of his stand up but, from 1973, this is his roast of Don Rickles on the Dean Martin Celebrity Roast.

I have put together a new poll, adding one glaring omission and eliminating Seinfeld and Leno who got no votes.

The Other Side of Mt. Rushmore

Just The Beginning...

Usually on this blog, I write about my thoughts on whatever subject I feel like bloviating on. This is a much more serious note. I am afraid that this is just the beginning for desperate people in desperate times. What happens when there is no hope, no money, no getting out of a situation? How sad this makes me feel, but in these days of firms using taxpayer's money to buy other firms and then whack said taxpayers, I am afraid we will hear many more instances like this one. Where can you find a job when there is no job available? How do you continue? How do you face the day to day struggle that becomes more volatile every day? Circuit City cuts 30,000, Caterpillar cuts 20,000, where is the bottom? Is there one?


Don't think that I could ever do this, I couldn't. I can't condone it, either. I just understand how it can happen.


LOS ANGELES – A man who fatally shot his wife, five young children and himself Tuesday had earlier faxed a note to a TV station claiming the couple had just been fired from their hospital jobs and together planned the killings as a final escape for the whole family.
"Why leave the children to a stranger?" Ervin Lupoe wrote, according to KABC-TV.
The station called police after receiving the fax, and a police dispatch center also received a call from a man who stated, "'I just returned home and my whole family's been shot."
Officers rushed to the home in Wilmington, a small community between the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, about 8:30 a.m., apparently within minutes of the killings. Officers could still smell the gunshot residue in the air.
Although the fax asserted that Ana Lupoe planning the killings of the whole family, police Lt. John Romero said Lupoe was the suspect. A revolver was found next to his body.
Ana Lupoe's body was found in a downstairs bedroom with the bodies of the couple's twin 2-year-old boys. The bodies of an 8-year-old girl, twin 5-year-old girls were found alongside Lupoe's in an upstairs bedroom.
It was the fifth mass death of a Southern California family by murder or suicide in a year. Police urged those facing tough economic times to get help rather than resort to violence
"Today our worst fear was realized," said Deputy Chief Kenneth Garner. "It's just not a solution. There's just so many ways you find alternatives to doing something so horrific and drastic as this." Lupoe removed three of the children from school about a week and a half ago, saying the family was moving to Kansas, the school principal told KCAL-TV. Crescent Heights Elementary School Principal Cherise Pounders-Caver said nothing seemed to be troubling Lupoe at that time; she did not ask why the family was moving. Kaiser Permanente Medical Center West Los Angeles released a statement confirming both Lupoe and his wife worked there; both were medical technicians.
"We are deeply saddened to hear of the deaths of the Lupoe family," it said in a statement.
In the letter he faxed to a TV station, Ervin Lupoe claimed he and his wife both had been fired and that she suggested they kill themselves and their children, too. Police described the fax but did not release the details.
KABC reported that the man claimed in the fax that a medical center administrator rebuffed them when they showed up to work, told them to file a union grievance and said, "You should have blown your brains out."
Lupoe wrote that they filed a grievance but nothing was done and two days later they were fired, KABC said.
"They did nothing to the manager who started such and did not attempt to assist us in the matter, knowing we have no job and five children under 8 years old with no place to go. So here we are," the note said.
At the bottom of the note, Lupoe wrote, "Oh lord, my God, is there no hope for a widow's son?"
The Kaiser Permanente statement made no comment on the claims in Lupoe's fax.
"He was going through some critical situations at the job, that's what he described in that two-page letter, ongoing problems at the job, and that's what prompted him to take his own life and his family's, from what was said in the fax letter," Garner said.
The two-story home, much larger than its one-story neighbors, sits in front of a railroad track in Wilmington, a small community about 18 miles south of downtown. A children's playset stood in the backyard.
Retired truck driver Jaime Solache, who lives a few doors down, said many of these newer, larger homes in the neighborhood had gone into foreclosure. The Lupoe house, which has a sign hanging above the driveway reading "The Lupoe's Pad," is about 6 years old, Solache said.
News of the killings sent shivers through the community, and several neighbors came to the yellow police tape to watch a steady procession of officials enter and leave the home.
"This area right here is quiet, calm," said Armando Chacon, who lives one block north. "People like to sit out at weekends and barbecue. Other than this, no problems at all."
A community meeting was planned later Tuesday in a local church.

Google Does It Again

Here's a number worth putting in your cell phone, or your home phone speed dial: 1-800-goog411. This is an awesome service from Google, and it's free -- great when you are on the road. Don't waste your money on information calls and don't waste your time manually dialing the number. I am driving along in my car and I need to call the golf course and I don't know the number. I hit the speed dial for information that I have programmed. The voice at the other end says, "City & State." I say, " Garland , Texas ." He says, "Business, Name or Type of Service." I say, Firewheel Golf Course." He says, "Connecting" and Firewheel answers the phone. How great is that? This is nationwide and it is absolutely free!

This IS My City

This is an article featured on the blogsite Neatorama where they chroncled The Most Dangerous Places in the United States. Did you know that Mobile has the most dangerous creatures? Well, I knew that St. Louis would be in the running for the highest crime rate. It is actually north St. Louis, not downtown St. Louis that is very dangerous, but what the hey... There would NEVER be a reason to go there, you don't know anyone in that part of the city, and there are no businesses there, either. I have been here since 1985. I have raised a family here, but it IS a beautiful picture, no? Thanks, Steve (I think).


When it comes to crime in the U.S. you may think that New York or Los Angeles sound like scary places, but compared to Detroit and St. Louis, those cities are delightful locations for Sunday-school picnics. St. Louis and Detroit battle it out for the title of “Which City is More Likely to Annihilate You With Its Crime,” and quite honestly this contest is going into extra innings with no end in sight. St. Louis comes out of the gate and scores some quick points because of its insanely high violent crime rate – 2,480 violent crimes per 100,000 citizens. But the Motor City comes right back – nearly tying the match with its own hefty rate of 2419 per 100,000. Maybe the Lions went 0-16 because they couldn't focus on the game – they were too busy looking over their shoulders to make sure they weren't going to get mugged or killed! Speaking of getting killed, if you do decide to ignore the fear of being mugged, stabbed, or beaten and decide to brave these Midtown Detroit streets, you run the risk of being one of many yearly murder victims there – people are killed at the gaudy rate of 61 per every 100,000 citizens. When you realize that the national rate is a mere 7, you see how dangerous this area is. But before you fall out of your chair and start hyperventilating know this: Downtown St. Louis has that rate beat – by a mile – because 93 out of every 100,00 are murdered there. All of a sudden, Midtown Detroit might be looking safe. But it isn’t. Because St. Louis has one thing going for it in the crime department ­– at least when it comes to Forcible Rape, it’s not Midtown Detroit.

Detroit is not safe enough even for the Department of Public Safety.
The building has been abandoned ...
Photo: Derek Farr (Detroit Derek) [Flickr]

We’ll let you know just how bad Midtown Detroit is in the rape department, but first a discussion about the stats we found for rape in the US: When we were doing our research, we were horrified by Juneau, Alaska. I don’t know what they’re drinking there, but 102.3 out of every 100,000 people are getting raped in the land of “Whatever It Is People Do In Juneau,” Since the US average is a mere 33.1, clearly they have a serious problem. (And actually, it’s kind of widespread to the whole state of Alaska! That place has an unbelievably high rate of 76 – that’s for the state on average. Sarah Palin, what in the world is going on up there?). Truly it can’t get worse than Juneau, right? Wrong. Sleepy little beach communities Ocean City, Maryland and Key West, Florida made a baffling and troublesome attempt to hang with the major cities by weighing in with rates of 123.3 and 127.3, respectively. Think about that for a second. If you had a NFL Football game in Ocean City, Maryland, about 127 people in that crowd would be raped that year, on average. What’s going on, Ocean City? Considering that New York City’s Rape rate is a mere 13 per 100,000, one has to wonder if NBC should move the Special Victim’s Unit to Ocean City, Maryland! Benson and Stabler, head to the Shore! Actually, no. If we’re going to be calling Benson and Stabler anywhere, it should be to Midtown Detroit. While we were scandalized and terrified by Key West, Ocean City, and Jeneau – we were absolutely left in a state of disbelief by Midtown Detroits numbers. 181 rapes per 100,000 people. Yes, 181. Just about six times the national average. So it looks like Midtown Detroit is more likely to rape you while Downtown St. Louis will more likely just kill you. We can’t pick a winner. But we know two areas we’ll be avoiding for the near future. (This would be the time to point out that both Detroit and St. Louis have areas that are very safe and lovely. But really, don’t go to Midtown or Downtown without body armor and some pepper spray.)

The Obama Irish Song?

OK, then. Kind of funny....O'Bama's Irish?

Stealing Stuff Again

I got these from another blog, so I ain't that smart. I am at least honest about stealing.
But, being that Kurt Vonnegut went to the University of Iowa, that makes him a righteous dude of the first order.

Thanks, KK

'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.' When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better. Concentrate on this sentence... 'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.' Something good will happen to you today; something that you have been waiting to hear.

From your mouth to God's ear...thanks, Karl

The Stand Up Comedy Hall of Fame

I stole this idea from another website (kinda like rock and roll isn't it)?

I have put together what I like to call the Stand Up Comedy Hall of Fame.
Here are MY charter members...

George Carlin



Richard Pryor



Lenny Bruce



You can vote for your favorites to the right. Enjoy!

From George Washington to Barack Obama Under Four Minutes

Fascinating.

Top 100-Henry Gross

A few months back, I started posting about the Top 100 albums in my life, then I got sidetracked, as per usual. Let's continue the countdown, kids. Here's one that would fit somewhere in the 75-80 range.At age eighteen, Henry was a founding member of the world famous Rock & Roll revival group, SHA NA NA, wearing on-stage the "Greaser" clothes he wore in high school "because he thought they looked good". The groups' popularity took a giant step after legendary performances in the Fillmore Auditoriums, East and West and at the Woodstock Festival. With the groups' appearance in the movie "WOODSTOCK" their popularity became a worldwide phenomenon.
Henry left the band in 1970 to pursue a career as a singer songwriter signing his first solo deal with ABC DUNHILL RECORDS in 1971. The albums lack of commercial success did not discourage him and in 1973, after performing at colleges and clubs all over the country, he was signed to a production deal by Cashman and West, legendary producers of Jim Croce, who almost immediately placed Henry on A&M RECORDS.

Yes, Henry Gross did the song "Shannon" which, I thought, was a heartfelt tribute to a passing friend. Only later did I find out it was about his...dog. That kind of ruined it for me. Before he did "Shannon", he relased an album full of great pop rock and roll. I had this on 8 track and wore it out. I bought this CD as an import from my buddy Tom at "Now Hear This" many years ago and again, it found a regular place on my CD player. Henry's got a high voice and the harmonies on this album makes me think of the Beach Boys and indeed, the CD features Carl Wilson. Along with the production duo of Cashman/West (Amercian City Suite), this is a joyful, great power pop record.

"One More Tomorrow" starts it off with a great ELO guitar riff and is a solid, moving, driving tune that would sound great on the interstate at about 75 mph. (I should know) Great harmonies and a killer solo in the middle. Dude could play.

"I'll Love Her" is a great word song wrapped in some cool harmonies (again) and a nice building groove. The guy has quite the vocal range. Great playing from the studio musicians he hired for the porject (including one of my favorite drummers Alan Schwartzberg and with keyboardist Micheal Kamen). This should ahve been a hit single.

"Southern Band" "I'll find me some smokin yankees and make a southern band" Great guitar song and he shows his chops here. Funky bass laid down by Warren Nichols.

"The Driver's Engine" This could've been done by Micheal Murphey (see previous post). Once again, tight Beach Boy like harmonies and a song that has a very distinct country feel.

"Travelin Time" You bet. Let's grab the Ipod, crank the windows down and crank this baby up. Last song on side one.

"All My Love" Beach Boys meet the Beatles, why this song wasn't a number one song is beyond me. Must have been the record company's fault. One of my all time favorite songs.

"Only One" the filler song, here he shows us how he can sing, but we already knew that. A bit sappy for me, but very heartfelt.

"Evergreen" cool song that reminds me of the mountains, featuring a banjo and a pedal steel guitar. "Evergreen, evergreen, you are my hearts true delight, with your lines softly whispering in the night..don't know why they made the city black and white"

"Dixie Spiderman" One of the best pop guitar songs ever, very well (maybe over) produced. Almost sounds like the Raspberries meet ELO

"Tommorrow's Memory Lane" the riff is from "Sweet Jane" by Lou Reed but his voice soars on this one. Nice finale to a great album

Yes, he's still around and making music. Here's his website, where he talks about writing "Shannon" (OK, after reading it, I am a bit more impressed than before) and how he and Carl Wilson became good friends. I always liked his music, not many hits, but the song "Tie Our Ships Together" remains one of my favorites.

When The Wind Blows

Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast.
He constantly advertised for hired hands.

Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic.

They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic,

wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.
As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received
a steady stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached
the farmer. "Are you a good farm hand?" the farmer asked him.
"Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man.Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help,
hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from
dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work.
Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore.
Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed
next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the
little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming!
Tie things down before they blow away!"
The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No
sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows."Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot.

Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm.
To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had
been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens
were in the coops, and the doors were barred.
The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down.
Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his
hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while
the wind blew.
When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically,
you have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when the
wind blows through your life?
The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he
had secured the farm against the storm.
We secure ourselves against the storms of life by
grounding ourselves in the Word of God.
We don't need to understand, we just need to hold
His hand to have peace in the middle of storms.
A friend of mine sent this to me today,
and I enjoyed it so much, that I wanted to send it to you.
I hope you enjoy your day and you sleep well.

Why So Serious?

Post 1,400

"I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past. "

Thomas Jefferson

Lint On My Shirt

...I leave Bloomington/Normal with mixed feelings. I think I left the stations better than I found them and I am sad not to have been able to finish what I started. I leave confident though, knowing that I found a whole new skill set for myself. I really liked the area and was excited about getting more involved in the community and the lifestyle there. It's on to the next challenge, wherever and whenever that may be.

...I believe that you must continually exercise your brain, at least as much, if not more than your body. This blog is an exercise of my brain. Writing is something I have done since the high school newspaper days. Too bad I haven't got much better at it.

...I remember how much I caterwalled at the tremendous amount of crap my mother in law had acquired before her death and how it seemed that the job of emptying out her apartment took forever. The amount of junk I collected in less than a year in Bloomington rivals that. If I ever move away again, please remind me that "less is more". Incredible.

...Stress can really mess with your body. It can shut you down or open you up, whichever.

...I think of myself as being a good Christian man (what would be a "bad" Christian?), conversely, I sometimes like bawdy entertainment. Example, I am now at episode 11 of Deadwood. Yes there are a lot of $#&+ers and c&*^%$ers, but the entertainment value is incredible and just the thought of trying to make it back then makes me wonder how tough those people were.

...When people ask me how it's going, I at least have some options opened up to me. I could say that this is the winter of my discontent, but I have already been through that. Being so sick that you can't get out of bed for three months will certainly put it all into perspective.

...When I try and sleep, sometimes song lyrics will play over and over in my head, here's the one that's been on my mind lately..."A gal comes towards you, You once used to know, You reach out your hand, But you're all alone.."

Here's the video for the whole song..



Al Stewart's music is so real, so basic. This features Peter White on guitar, one of the most underrated players in the business and Brian Savage on saxophone. Peter and Brian are huge in the Smooth Jazz world. According to Al, he didn't like this song much, but it became a huge hit for him. The follow up to "Year of the Cat". Al is one of the nicest guys I have ever met. He came through St. Louis and played at a small club with just him and a guitar. Hard to do this song without the sax, though. Ah, yes, the summer of 1978..