Apparently, Cyn had a bit more going on than most of us in 2003.
May
Discovered goverment experimentation had given me super powers. Faked my own death and developed a secret identity. Used x-ray vision to check out girls.
It is a shame that we don’t get around to celebrating the lives and accomplishments of people until the year-end death lists roll around, but that’s the way it is.
Rather than concentrate on the “big” passings of 2003, like Bob Hope, Johnny Cash and Warren Zevon, I’d like to devote my little plot of cyberspace to the category: Holy Crap! They Died? (or “Hell I Didn’t Even Know They Were Still Alive!”).
Lynne Thigpen, 54, actress. She was “The Chief” in the Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? series.
Robert Atkins, 72, doctor and author. No, sorry, the inventor of the Atkins Diet died from hitting his head after slipping on the ice, not from a heart attack.
Elizabeth Huelette, 42, wrestler. I remember “Miss Elizabeth” from the when she was Randy Savage’s wife. Um, not that I ever… uh… I mean I didn’t really watch… oh nevermind.
Matt Jeffries, 81, set designer. Creator of the original Starship Enterprise, as well as all the props we’ve come to know and love, like phasers, and the Klingon and Romulan ships.
Sam Phillips, 79, record producer. I really thought the guy that discovered Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and a host of others had died years ago. Oops.
Rod Roddy, 66, TV announcer. He replaced Johnny Olson as the announcer on The Price is Right in 1985. Um, not that I ever… uh… I mean I didn’t really watch… oh nevermind.
Art Carney, 85, actor. Another one I thought was already dead. He was a great actor/comedian besides his signature role on The Honeymooners, but due to a freak act of nature I am doomed to share a last name with that lovable sewage maintenance engineer.
OK, to be fair (and somewhat balanced), for all the foolishness about overzealous TSA agents, silly bans on mall walkers and warnings to watch out for anyone carrying a book, I’m glad New Year’s Eve security is especially tight. The idealistic side of me bemoans the fact that we seem to be turning into Fortress America and feels like we’ve given a big ole “Mission Accomplished” to terrorists by being terrorized. The realistic side of me knows that there are idiots out there that want to hurt people, because their twised minds think it will further their cause. So, I’m glad we’ve got extra cops and troops watching out for us.
I hope that they don’t forget that not all terrorists are foreign. Some of them are from Texas*.
I hope you all have a faboo evening how ever you choose to ring in the new year. Don’t drink too much (or at least stay off the road). And have a Happy New Year!
[ *via Pippa ]
NJ.com: Security alert halls mall walkers
Gotta watch them retirees. They’s a wiley bunch!
It’s not that I don’t think we shouldn’t watch out for terrorists, but can we use a bit of common sense? How are old people and mothers with strollers walking around the mall in the morning any more of a threat than if they’re forced to wait until the mall opens? If you’re concerned that grandpa’s got an AK-47 in his back pocket, then make sure Mall Security watches him. Isn’t that what they’re paid to do? Or are we supposed to expect that he’s a threat when the mall’s nearly empty and Barney Fife can see him clearly, but he won’t try anything funny if there’s a mall full of people?
God, this is starting to turn into the “What stupidity did Homeland Security stir up today?” blog. Sorry.
MJ recently put up an “About Me” page after much prodding. In it, she mentioned that she is a singer.
I think she’s trying to tell us something with the lyrics. I’m not quite sure what.
I love lists.
The end of the year is one of my favorite times, because everyone’s doing a “Best of” this, a “Worst of” that, or a “Top 10” something or other.
Thanks to new papa Eric, you can find all the Blogcritics’ lists in one place.
Bigwig has a post all picked out for BlogMadness 2003. That’s where a couple of guys, Pete and Manny, have come up with yet another way for blog writers to turn their work into a spectator sport by having them face off against each other–post vs. post–in a March Madness type of showdown. Only someone desperate to attract hits and receive public humiliation would be stupid* enough to enter this thing and watch his carefully crafted prose get pummeled at the hands of a more popular blogger’s rabid fans.
Naturally, I’m in.
The sticky bit is finding something written in 2003 that was not just a link to a news story or a one-liner aimed at humiliating Michele or Bill or Geekman or Scott or Les or Natalie or Buzz… um, where was I?
Oh yeah! The posts. Well, I’ve found a few, but I can’t decide which innocent lamb to send to the slaughter. Help would be appreciated. You will have my undying gratitude, because I know none of you are low enough to demand cash.
You’re Still Not Patriotic Enough, Dammit!
At the very least this has given me a chance to dig through my archives and realize how much crap is taking up valuable disk space. I think this site is due for an overhaul…
Grump: First knives.
Grump: Then box cutters.
Grump: Now almanacs.
Grump: CNN.com – FBI urges police to watch for people carrying almanacs – Dec. 29, 2003
Solonor: Oh. My. God.
Grump: Watches are next; terrorists can use them to coordinate their attacks!
Solonor: PLANE TICKETS!
Grump: *GASP* You’re right! Terrorists would have plane tickets!
And they wonder why we don’t take these alerts seriously…
Then there’s the story of the miracle fish. I’m still trying to figure out how to take over a plane with a goldfish.
By some odd coincidence, another blogger that normally stays away from such topics has decided to make a post with a political bent.*
Busymom.net: Another entry from my inner 6th grade boy
