Grumpy Graham's Grumblings
week of Feb.5-11,2006.

In NY there used to be a sports columnist named Dick Young for the Daily News. Died about 30 years ago I think. Crabby,never liked him, never agreed with his 1960s 1970s rightwing politics, yet I couldn't wait to read his gunfire Sunday column about this and that

Anyhow, thought I would give it a try, for my sanity's sake do this again (not writing this for replies either).
I am doing this for myself, to proove I can still write a thought in a sentence or two, instead of long winded paragraphs,

These days I read Commander Coconut in the Orlando Sentinel on line every Friday. Similiar rat-a-tat type column Dick Young used to write.

Recently a friend and I started wondering if the Comm. was a guy or girl, we know he/she is not young, as the column has been a while...but guy/girl
gay/straight, doesn't much matter. You can't tell by the picture either.

The Comm. is a big liberal though and can't stand Bush. Surprised the Commander has lasted,it is Florida you know.

Benihana Japanese Steak House was sued but the woman who sued lost this week. Seems the chef's who cook at your table, flung a shrimp
for her husband to catch in his mouth, but he didn't want to play and jerked back... Hurt his neck.

Weeks later he was in the hospital and developed a staph
infection and died. Wife sued. No more flung shrimp at Benihana's or other chains now.But at least in our local place like this, you still get
a volcano, butter-fly, and most times a great meal.

The Olympics have started. Used to really like the skating
US Skater Hughes comes in 3rd, earning a place on the team, only to be told Michelle Kwan is being given the spot as she was injured in the run-up tournies, but too bad Miss Hughes. Today Kwan fell in rehearsal and looked awful.
Seems the fix is in.

See the mogul downhill skiing?(never heard of this before). As Homer Simpson would say "ouch, ooh, ouch, yow, ow, ouch, ouch,ouch"

Seems as usual only the Americans and two others in each sport are worthy of showing us. In the old days it was all live, and one watched at 4am

Harrison Ford has to be the worst guest on a tv talk show. Seems to want to leave the building quicker than Bush41 wanted to leave that debate
with Bill Clinton and Ross Perot

really enjoyed though Firewall, even if one has seen this movie ten times in prior years

Franklin Cover died at Age 77. He played Tom Willis on the Jeffersons, and in a breakthrough role, was married to a black woman, and Lenny Kravitz's real life mother, Roxie Roker (who died way too young herself.) Of the four main characters of the All in the Family spin-off, only Sherman Hemsley as George is still alive now.

Barry Manilow scored the #1 album of the week, with his version of 1950s standards. Is it me or seeing him on Good Morning America lip syncing, he sounded as he left his voice back in the 70s

And record mogul Clive Davis is thinking of Vol.2- Manilow the 1960s

Grammy's- yeah for U2 and Greenday. And love how Mariah Carey was shut out on tv (although she did win 3 earlier not shown). If anyone has cheated her way to the top, it was Mariah

Seems the Grammy's forgot all about country music this year too, except for a pop performance from Faith Hill and Tim, and one other from Sugarland.

Speaking of scandals on the music charts- mini scandal time on Billboard Mag...Last week 9 songs from "High School the Movie" on the Disney Network
debuted on the charts surprising everyone, all from downloaded sales by tweens on their IPods.

However, it appears that the singer named on five of the songs, the star in the movie actually didn't sing and another person sang the vocals, so Billboard had to change the billing on the record
Milli Vanilli anyone?

Remember "You light up my life" Debby Boone had the big hit, however, in the movie neither her nor the star of the movie, Didi Cohn sang the song. NY Kasey Cisyk who tragically died from cancer a few years ago sang the original.

Don't know about you, but I have fallen in love with Ruth and Claire, the Anoerxic Twins from Australia. They are about 60 pounds.
Send them hugs but lightly please.A big one would crush them and turn them to dust.

Wilford Brimley sure looks like he is about to crush his poor horse he sits on advertising for Liberty Mutual, doesn't he? And is that moustache
real these days or fake.

I once met Sam Elliott, and he was clean shaven. Think he had a bushy black mustache in his pocket for emergencies though.

Oscar time is coming in early March
Brokeback, Phillip Seymour Hoffman are my picks.

By the way- CRASH-does anyone remember an ABC Movie of the week starring Buddy Ebsen "Smash-up on Interstate 50". Same exact premise
better movie.
Like LaurensTate would really reach into his pocket with a nervous white guy driving a car...guess he wasn't watching the movie

We were driving the backroads the other day, and in front of us this guy on his electronic mobility unit (wheelchair) all of a sudden, puts out his left
hand and makes a u-turn. It was about 60 degrees that lunchtime. Guess he was just out for a little stroll

soduko anyone else into those?

Remember the song "The Alley Cat" back in the early 1960s? By a Denmark musician,Bent Fabric... he has a new hit now, and is coming to the USA in March or April. In his 80s now.

Wayne Gretzky is caught on wiretaps trying to cover up his actress wife's gambling debts...Or is he involved?
Odd how that case of wire tapping is in the news right now

100 million NJ lottery again guess I won't be winning it

We are suppose to get anywhere from 5 to 15 inches of snow. Anyone wanna bet? Wayne? Janet?

I have always liked Jack Cafferty...glad he is finally noticed by the entire nation. Also liked Jack Germond, but haven't seen him in years.
If he is on Fox, well, that let's me out.

Is it just me, or what?
The other day I was thinking maybe I am part of the fix is in.

But that is too far gone even for me. To be in a conspiracy of a conspiracy of a conspiracy.

It's cheaper than therapy, but not 1/2 as effective.

One week closer to the 06 elections and salvation(hopefully)

Did I tell you lately the fix is in?©g4a

Take a bow, Grumpy Graham! I really enjoyed reading your Grumblings...


I hope you write your "column" frequently.....

This and that for the week of Feb. 13-19

I like my new avitar. Wilford Brimley is the man. 72 years old, yet he seems to have been 72 about two decades ago. Just one of those that looked old.
He played-
William DeVasher in the great movie "The Firm", was in The Hotel New Hampshire, The Natural, Cocoon and Cocoon 2
Does the Liberty Mutual commercial about Diabeties supplies, some while sitting on his horse on his ranch. He has a cult following, very tongue in cheek.

Always liked character actors
Another of my favorites recent ones are the evil playing Ed Lauter and remember Richard Farnsworth? Harry Dean Stanton

So when is David Lynch ever making a new film? Been a while since Mulholland Drive

When they celebrate President's day, do they mean Millard Fillmore too? They should take some of them out.
Maybe have a separate Bad President's day.

So Whittington got shot. What is he the only lawyer in the world who has not quickly filed a lawsuit against Cheney?

What really annoys me is, people who love the Bush administration, and then complain their property taxes are too high
Like learn about how things are paid for please

You know it is getting bad when John Edwards is starting to look good to me

What ever happened to Merlin Olsen?

Friday and Saturday at the Grand Ole Opry, who took the stage for a half-hour segment? None other than Elvis Costello and
EmmyLou Harris. Wish I was there.

Greatest unknown singer of all time must be Gram Parsons. Without him there is a whole sound that would not be heard in today's music.
Let alone the 1980s and 1990s. Was a member of the Byrds for one album. Came from I think New Orleans. Died of an overdose many years ago
Should be in both the rock and country music hall of fame

There was a major sport even in New Jersey this week, and most people had no idea. The Pro Bowlers tour had their US Open in North Brunswick
New Jersey. Winner Tommy Jones won $100,000 for doing harder work than a golfer, yet the Pro Golfers win 10x that amount in their major tournaments.
Bowling is still the #1 spectator sport in the nation. And still a relatively cheap way to have fun.

Soupy Sales is 80 years old. This past Jan.8. How many pies did he throw? Remember on his tv show when asked kids to send in those little green
one dollar bills sitting in their parents wallets in the mail to him

Two weeks to go for the Oscars on TV. The end of the world can wait that night while I enjoy them.

Read an article in the NY Daily News about Upper Deck Baseball Cards. Seems they included some autographed cut signatures in packs and made a one of kind baseball card for the person with the autograph enclosed. It seems one guy bought it in auction and it turns out it was a forgery. Upper Deck set the standard for "real". Laughs on that guy.

Article also said in 1990s, Upper Deck re-printed some of their great selling cards in a special run, gave them to their top executives in lieu of a bonus, and they made millions each on the cards that were reprinted and no one told anyone they weren't regular cards from the regular series
Do today's kids care anything about cards anymore? I don't think so..

I should have sold my older cards (one thing that was never thrown out) years ago. Missed the big one again.
(Now if I still had that #1 issue of that comic book)

8 1/2 months til the 2006 elections...

Lindsay Jackobellis. The Olympian snow boarder skiier that looked back to see how big a lead she had and promptly fell on her rump

But that reminds me, now I know, when people talk about the 2004 election, I will tell them,
.....................................Hey, John Kerry won the Silver Medal.

I am pretty sure it was you who mentioned this movie which PBS will broadcast in their Independent Lens series...

A LEAGUE OF ORDINARY GENTLEMEN
Broadcast premiere Tuesday, April 25 at 10 p.m. on PBS

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/leagueo...emen/index.html

How about Gus Witherspoon in "Our House." A real Family Values series if there ever was one. As opposed to BushFamily values.



There is no such thing as President's Day. It was invented by Nixon as a payoff for the Hotel/Motel contributors to CREEP. If you want to have a Bad President's Day, call it Nixon Day.



He opened a 7/11 in Toledo.

Right next to the one owned by Osama.



And in return he would send them a picture postcard from Puerto Rico!

Graham, how the f*ck old are you anyway?

I just love this column of yours G4A a.k.a. PITA LOL

Yes, how old are you?

I have a feeling that Grumpy Graham is in his late 50's.

What I would like to know is, what is your background graham? Have you always been retired or what? MYSTERY MAN!

KT

Encores and More Please!

VERY LATE 50's, if you ask me. Like fifty-nineteen.

Keep em guessing G- always on their toes!

This weeks column is dedicated to Jason McElwain.
If you haven't read or seen his moment of glory, what a story.
Jason is autistic. He is 5'6".
From Greece NY, Athena High School, he is the bench manager/ go-fer for the Basketball team
Well, the coach put him in the game the other day, and he got to shoot, and missed his first basket.
Then he winded up getting 20 points in five minutes, including six three pointers (which are no gimmees.)
What a story.
The coach wanted to give him a day he would never forget.
there should be more coaches like him for kids.
Wouldn't be surprised to see this in the movies one of these days.

David Lynch's movie "Blue Velvet" Is 20 years old. The best movie of the last 25 years.
David Lynch had a style and a sense of wonder.
Others after him attempted to copy him, like Quentin Tarentino, however, they got the violence, but forgot about the style.

And the legendary Roy Orbison became a superstar for the 2nd time with "In Dreams". Anyone who has seen Blue Velvet
will never forget Roy's song while Frank(Dennis Hopper)...(see the film if you never did.)
When will David Lynch release a new film?

Louise Scruggs died a few weeks ago. Who was Louise? She was the wife of Banjo picker Earl Scruggs, who is still going strong
(or was until Louise died.)
Louise was besides his wife, his agent, his manager, his accountant, his promoter. She did it all, and even designed some of his album covers. She was just about the first woman ever to do that in the industry, tough but fair, got him gigs for 50 years.
And she met him because she was a backstage almost groupie like fan, he invited her in and the rest is history.

She belongs in a Women's Hall of fame for being an invoator. I had the pleasure of seeing her last March05 in a live interview with her and Earl and 2 of their sons, at the Country Hall of Fame in Nashville, doing the interview was Eddie Stubbs, one of the greatest DJ's around.(for WSM-AM).

Earl Scruggs is most famous for the Theme From the Beverly Hillbillies.
speaking of 1950s tv shows-
Don Knotts died this week. Sometimes don't you wish life were simple like it was in Mayberry on the Andy Griffith show,
or in Springfield where the Cleavers, June and Ward lived with Beaver and Wally.
Remember the Twilight one episode "Walking Distance", when a man, (Gig Young),exhausted from working too much and having too much pressure, ends up back in his old hometown and sees his mom and dad, and himself as a boy, and wants to go back.
He drops his wallet and his dad finds it, and somehow believes this is his son years later, and tells him there is room for only one of
him, and its the boys turn. And he needs to go back and somehow make his life right again.

Speaking of WSM-AM, they are an old fashioned clear station, 50,000 watts, and coming from Nashville, can be heard coast to coast
when the night is clear. Used to be a trucker's best friend back when truckers were treated fair, paid a living wage, and trucking was important(it still is).
I am going to get Sirius radio just to hear that station and Eddie Stubbs on my car radio up here.

One week til the Oscars.
Final pick and predictions
Actor-Philip Seymour Hoffman
Actress-Felicity Hoffman
Supporting Actor-George Clooney
Supporting Actress-Catherine Keener
Director-Ang Lee, unless they screw him again and give this to George Clooney
Movie-Brokeback Mountain
length of show- 4 hours 23 minutes

I like country or pop songs that are waltZes but radio these days almost never will play one. George Strait's new song is a remake of
an old Merle Haggard one. "Seashores of Old Mexico". Same exact music as Roger Miller's Husbands and Wives. (Brooks and Dunn
did it a few years ago.)If anyone can sneak one on, George Strait can.

And Dolly Parton has the #1 song this week, her 25th, first #1 in 15 years.

And on the pop charts, Willie Nelson is the high debut with his country song "Cowboys are secretively frequently fond of each other".
I love when an oldtimer finds a way to use a new trick to get his song on the charts.
And Willie had his song be the #1 downloaded song of the week, getting to #52 on the pop charts.
This may be the way the superstars in pop and country get back on top with new songs they hav
some of the lyrics---

Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other:written by Ned Sublette in the 1980s.
There's many a strange impulse out on the plains of West Texas;

There's many a young boy who feels things he don't comprehend.

Well small town don't like it when somebody falls between sexes,

No, small town don't like it when a cowboy has feelings for men.

Well I believe in my soul that inside every man there's a feminine,

And inside every lady there's a deep manly voice loud and clear.

Well, a cowboy may brag about things that he does with his women,

But the ones who brag loudest are the ones that are most likely queer.

Cowboys are frequently secretly fond of each other

What did you think those saddles and boots was about?

There's many a cowboy who don't understand the way that he feels towards his brother,

Inside every cowboy there's a lady who'd love to slip out.

©Ned Sublette 1981

Now if only country radio would play this to all the red states out there.

I love your column Graham. Too bad about Louise Scruggs huh? Yes, good women are hard to find....find one, you gotta be smart enough to keep her.

Is Heart hot...or not?

My vote, she's hot.

Did you see Edwards on Meet the Press? If not, they are replaying it in the wee hours.... I already set my replay tv (since I slept in this morning).

By the way, John Edwards does look good! Sometimes, I actually think it worked against him-- made him look too polished. Maybe he will lose some more hair between now and '08 and people can forgive him a little!

March 4-6.2006.
So what about the Oscars?
Congrats to Philip Seymour Hoffman, well deserved.
George Clooney thanks for making Syrianna and Good Night


Now, Ang Lee wins best director, but his movie don't win?
And Crash won, but they don't like the director

I think its a bit amusing or ironic, it now is more mainstream to have a movie about race than about gays. Guess some of the older liberal Hollywood is not as liberal as they think? I don't get it.

But it seems to bode well for Barack Obama in 08 should he decide to run.

And where was Clint Eastwood? Was he ill? Or was he afraid if he showed up, he would be giving the best director or best picture to a Gay Western? And decided not to? I don't get it. He won last year, he should have been there this year, unless
he was ill, or a close family member. I don't get it

Remember when every single person who presented or won was an actual star?

Have to say I wasn't overly impressed by Jon Stewart. Think he was too conservative, and looked way too nervous. But I would give him a second chance.

Wish they would decide if Chocolate is good for you after all, or still bad.

Did I say recently I like Bob Schieffer on CBS. I loved how they put the beads around him while he was down in New Orleans
for Mardi Gras
What did someone say "Put the beads on the old guy?"

Some crimes are just so disgusting, vile. That NYC NYU student who was tortured and raped and killed after being out with friends. Seems a bouncer might have done it.

Just wondering-last week I mentioned the autistic boy who starred in the basketball game. I started thinking (bad thing to do),
how easy the coach could have set the whole thing up, alerted the different press afterward, to rake in the money.
(without the kids' knowledge, of coursee the kid still had to make the shots). Bet the coach knew he was a good shot
from a certain spot.
(Am I too cynical or what?)

Have you heard the new reggae hip hop rappin' Matisyahu? King without a crown is his big song.
Just when you think you saw everything
And he is really good too

Just how many jobs are going to be lost when ATT merges with Bell South? And didn't they break them up a few years ago?
How much higher will prices be too? No competition

Remember when you could go out to dinner and no one would talk on the phone in the resteraunt? Now if you don't get a call,
people look at you like what don't you have any friends?

Our bulbs are starting to rise in our garden, it may be 70 toward the end of the week, but generally we can't buy our flowers
til Mothers Day in May because of late sharp drops at night

Come on, when he was the tool guy on Facts of Life, did you really think one day George Clooney would ever win an Oscar?
And make good movies? I never did.
I like how he made a little political speech without it seeming he was politicking. Good job George!

You know why Philip Seymour Hoffman goes by 3 names? There is another broadway actor just named Philip Hoffman, with no major credits. Guess he got there first, n one can have the same name if they can help it.

8 months til the 06 elections. Scary isn't it?

Thinking of Kirby Puckett. He had a stroke yesterday and it don't look good.
Jack Wild, from Oliver died this week.He was only 53.
Lost in the midst of Dennis Weaver, Darren McGavin and Don Knotts passing on.Weaver barely got a mention.

Saturday Night Live has the Arctic Monkeys on this coming week. In the old days SNL had the next big thing so many times.
Wonder if these guys will live up to the hype- and there is alot of it.

How come no one ever has asked me where my clothes came from like they do celebs?

Well, what will they put on Bob Schieffer this week?

Okay, Graham, where do your clothes come from?

Love it Graham. Look forward to reading this every week

Where do your clothes come from? Inquiring minds want to know?

Where does G4A buy his clothes from?

Didn't know that Jack Wild died earlier this month. Also didn't know that he had lost his tounge and voice box to cancer.

Jeez, Jeff, I always imagined you to be much handsomer than you avatar!

Nice commentary on the Oscars Graham. I guess you like Hollywood gossip as much as you like Washington gossip.

Thank You! That's sweet, but I think the avatar is either Theda Bara or Clara Bow. I'm not sure though, maybe Graham knows? I always wanted to be a flapper girl

March 12-19
You might call me nuts, loco, or crazy (just don't call me collect) (groan...)

So I was going to post this late Sunday, early Monday morning, and yikes! I found out I turned blue

And of course I couldn't post, nor could anyone hear me not posting.
Banging on the proverbial doors let me in...

So I turned blue, and that made me think of things blue
I could have gone outside, it was a really warm day for March and seen the blue sky

Or listen to some of my favorite blue songs
Blue Velvet-Bobby Vinton
Blue on Blue-Bobby Vinton
I'm bluer than blue - Michael Johnson
Blue-LeAnn Rimes spot on Patsy Cline type single that got her in the limelight
Blue Christmas-Elvis
Blue Moon
Blue Hawaii
Blueberry Hill
Bluebirds over the Mountain

and then a funny thing happened

All of a sudden I turned GREEN!!! I was back being Green.
Like Kermit
Like what should have been a major third party if they would have won some seats in the House or the Senate
Like Green Eggs and Ham

Green songs-
Green Tamborine-remember that one? The Lemon Pipers in 1968
Green Green Grass of Home
Green Sleeves
Green Onions (great instrumental)
Greenfields
and of course
The Ballad of the Green Berets- Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler (who I once met and talked too for a few minutes)

and then I found out Maureen Stapleton died
and after years of back and forth NO- she was not the sister of Jean Stapleton (Edith in all the family)
and of course, one of her best roles won her an academy award for the Warren Beatty film
REDS (which if you never saw it, go out and rent it. Too bad Warren only threatened to run for something.)

Red
There was Red Sovine- who did the ultra tear jerky TEDDY BEAR
Redd Foxx who was Sanford
Red Skelton, my dad's favorite comedian of all time

Red Red Wine (originally a Neil Diamond song, done by UB40)
Red Rain
Red Roses for a blue lady
Red Sails in the sunset
Red Hot remade by Robert Gordon & Link Wray(Who died recently too)

and then because it was so nice outside, my wife was in the garden getting ready for spring, moving branches and making her old jeans brown

like Jerry Brown running for AG in California after major success as Mayor of Oakland. Actually doing something

Brown-
of course Brown Eyed Girl
Brown Sugar
Brownsville Station who had Smokin' in the boys room- remember how cool you used to think it was
to have a cigarette during school? As if they couldn't all tell afterward. How stupid we all must have
been back then

No award shows this week.
Maybe they should have an award show honoring the best in award shows

Ever watch Pat Sajak on Wheel of fortune- and how his hair is getting freakier and freakier (or should I say a toupee or dead squirrel)
Do you ever watch how he constantly touches all the female contestants sometimes in inappropriate places?
And how he NEVER touches Vanna White. Did she take a restraining order out on him?
Give me an F, can I buy a vowel, how bout a U and an O... FU__ OFF (Vanna turning the letters)

And in NY from 7 to 8pm on CBS syndicated, they have Inside followed by Entertainment Tonight, and both shows are just about exactly the same. With interviews you heard on one redone just 20 minutes later on the other

Which reminds me, my favorite cartoon of all time is Rocky & Bullwinkle and it seems the Bullwinkle
Emporium is no more in LA.
Jay Ward, who created the cartoon legend had a little shop where he sold Rocky & Bullwinkle stuff, and his writing studio was out behind it.Big statue of Rocky out front. Seems to have fallen on hard times, is all boarded up. What a shame. His daughter was running it last I had heard after Jay died.
They have released the first 3 seasons on DVD, hope they get around to the last two.

Speaking of where people used to buy clothes
Anyone remember WABC from the 60s and 70s, greatest AM radio music station ever
Top 14 songs over and over, #1 song every hour on the hour
Remember the ads for Dennison's, where they would treat you nice at 2am
Never was in there, but everyone always wondered what exactly did you need to purchase at 2am
and how did they treat you nice

I think I will pass, but tomorrow in NYC at I think Border's books, Larry Hagman and Barbara Eden
will be signing DVD's of I dream of Jeannie's first season (and you can buy it either in color or black and white.) But that is all they will sign. Don't think of asking Larry to sign a copy of a Dallas DVD.

Speaking of Black and White

There is
Three Dog NIghts' black and white (about racism)
Black Velvet (about Elvis)
Paint it black

Nights in White Satin
White Rabbitt
White Silver Sands
White Sport Coat & a Pink Carnation-one of my faves-the late great Marty Robbins
White Christmas (just a mere 10 months and one month before all the Dems take office after the 06 election)
Barry White

Well I guess that's about it
Orange you glad it's over (uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh).

cue Kermit's "Rainbow Connection" that was sung by Jim Henson ( don't we still miss him, wasn't the world a beter place while he was in it?) in the Muppet Movie(even though I was too old for the Muppets when they first appeared)
©g4a da fix is in©

Very colorful this week, Graham.

Who could forget Cousin Brucie?

I think he is still around.

Must have a good taxidermist.

Once again Graham, I love this column and think you ought to be pinned so we don't lose your clever posts!

PS: Isn't "Green, green grass of home" one of the saddest songs you have ever heard?

jeff-cousin brucie is now on sirius radio
heart-thanks. Tell Sandra. Yes, that song is. Porter Wagoner, Elvis, Tom Jones any version of it.

this weeks will be up today or tomorrow.Got sidetracked.

I have my coffee, in the self heating can. I still don't know the name of the star in my avatar....but alas, no Grumblings from Graham yet? I guess I have to wait until the muse inspires yes?

hopefully tonight that other thing here is wasting my time too much

It needn't...

we don't consider your grumblings a waste of time, Graham.

G- anxiously awaiting the next installment.

Will be gone tonight, but will be looking for it.

Oh Mod..ADMIN..

This is a topic that needs to be pinned. Pretty please...

I didn't mean this,(but you knew that) If I don't fall asleep early it will be up tonight if I do around 5am in morning

Thanks -G,

Looking forward to it...

and a few minutes off to another adventure I go..

you G4a - and I hope you know I mean it...

#6
March 19-22, 2006

That's allstate stan
You know the ad...well this is a big riot to me
I have mentioned before I love reading Commander Coconut in the Orlando Sentinel
Before I knew it was online I used to have someone in Florida mail the Friday section to me each week, and I actually made sure if I were going on vacation or business to Florida I would be there on a Friday and hopefully two Fridays just to see the column.

So anyhow.
The great actor Dennis Haysbert the President on 24, even better as the leader of THE UNIT on CBS
third episode is tonight(Tuesday)
Actually my favorite role of his was LOVE FIELD which used the back story of the John F. Kennedy shooting to have an inter-racial love story between Dennis Haysbert and Michelle Pfeiffer. Really great movie from the early 90s I think, well worth renting.
He does the all-state commercials.

And wouldn't you know it Commander Coconut opened her column last Friday using the line
That's AllState Stan and talking about how she or is it he thinks he is saying that.
He really is saying that's AllState's Stand.

Now, ask anyone I know, and I have said that 100 times while watching the commercial and other times.
I might have mentioned it on line, or maybe I haven't. But I swear, I have said it 100 times

And there it is in the great Commander's column.

I am not the only one who thinks he is saying That's allstate Stan.

Am I nuts or what?But I am not Commander Coconut, not stealing the words of the Commander(which is of course © Commander Coconut Orlando Sentinel, but it's just so weird ...and we still don't know if the great Commander is a he or a she
As said in the first column, though,she/he is not the inspiration for this, Dick Young was.Wonder if the commander read Dick Young. He used to spend the entire late winter early fall in Florida after all.

I want to get Sirius radio. I mentioned last week Cousin Brucie, he has 2 or 3 shows on Sirius radio. We no longer have a country or oldies station in NYC, no place to hear Elvis or the Beatles and Sirius has both Cousin Brucie and the Grand Ole Opry

I still don't have an IPod. But I have my own cassette with my top 20 songs on it.However, it has gotten possessed. Side A all of a sudden goes nuts and gives a liltle bit of each song...But I didn't hit seek, and I thought that was only for the CD? And its only side A. B works fine

And spring is here.And our bulbs survived the cold(so far)

I saw Richard Donner's directed Bruce Willis Mos Def starrer 16 blocks and really loved it. I predict a supporting actor nod for Mos Def

Anhow, when Karl Rove is finally indicted, and his trial is on, I want a democratic Bruce Willis to escort the star witness who will turn on him to the trial.
Knowing those people, it will be just as dangerous for the star witnesses.

I have been on this darn laptop too long, my eyes are really going. I'm gonna have to one of these days get glasses or a magnifying glass
My 20/20 vision is no more.

About the most relaxing thing I do is this "column"...keeps me focused and gets me out of the political stuff for a little bit.It's getting just a little too scary.

The house behind our back yard is about to be renovated, nice people, they were suppose to do it last spring, but delayed it a year. So from next week to October there is going to be noise, time to turn the air conditioners on early to drown that out, which is fine with me. I love it cold.
Of course, my wife likes it warm...but she can always put another sweater on, right? There is only a certain number of layers I can take off...

So do you think it's gonna be Clinton Vs. Rice?
No not Hillary.
Bill vs. Condie for next NFL commisioner, although she said she is not interested even though at one point she said it is her ultimate fantasy.

Hey the terrific documentary "League of Ordinary Gentleman" comes out on DVD today. A look at the Pro Bowlers tour I thoroughly recommend it.
Only played in a few theaters in the nation.
While everyone is watching the NCAA, not me...its bowling.

I love the Boondocks comic. Looks like Aaron MacGruder is about to get political again. Been a few months.

Talking about the bird flu...So how many cans of tuna fish do you have stocked up? We are up to 80. You know something funny,
my conservative father in law and brother in law are really almost as paranoid as I was about it...until I found out they were worried.
Somehow, if the rightwingers are worried, then maybe its just a Fox fantasy like every other scare. Of course, still got a long way
to go on supplies. More soda cans, deer park water. crackers. Charmin with aloe.

Anybody ever here of this guitar player Esteban? He is in a geiko commercial. I thought he was just an actor, seems he actually has
released records and teaches. As I was flippin' the dial, saw an informercial with him in it. Was interesting for an infomercial, although
sometimes I listen to those 30 minute time-life greatest music of the 50s or 60s or love songs...

Is your mail service like ours? On days of really bad weather, they deliver the mail at 10am, about two hours early, and no mags are deliverred that day.
What a coincidence, every time it rains there are no catelogues or mags.What are the odds?

Third week in March and the papers are still saying this could very well be the NY Mets year.
As long as this one don't get hurt, and this one don't get arrested it would be about time.
Of course they said that about the football Jets and the QB Pennington got hurt right at the start
At least baseball still has some money to pay their players

You don't have to worry about the pro bowlers like that. Sure the top 100 get paid, but there are millions who bowl who nobody would pay a penny to see. The way it should be, in a perverse way

So I keep complaining I don't have any time to do anything anymore, and my wife said if you would
turn the darn computer off you would have time to do other things
The computer has an off button? Where is that?
Doesn't everyboy sit and refresh the rawstory 300 times a day?

Should start a thread what the top thing is everyone who is on this political board isn't doing because
they are here.
Think mine top would be getting some exercise and losing weight. Six years of moping around...
Well at least its spring. I can at least see the leaves start coming in, through our bay windows,while sitting on the computer moping around

It's back on schedule for next weeks. This one was way too late
Because I don't have time for anything anymore...because I am too busy sitting on the computer moping around, right?
©2006.g4a.

Graham...didn't where else to put this.....for you...

"President Bush's dog Spot passed away, so they took Spot back to the ranch in Texas and buried him next to, I believe, 10,000 Al Gore ballots."
-David Letterman

Trouble with Tuna Fish is that nothing kills the taste.

Let me know if you find a useful flavoring additive. Like Chocolate syrup or something. Maybe Taco Sauce.

Or both.

Still a big improvement, IMHO.

Mustard, jeffmoskin...mix any type of flavored mustard with Tuna (mustard lasts a very long time)..and it actually is quite good.

An afterthought..can of powdered mustard would work quite well..for those worried about shelf life.

I worry a LOT about shelf life because I have some very old shelves.

How long does a shelf live?

Speaking of "shelf life"..it's all right here....

http://www.msnbc.com/OnAir/nbc/Dateline/Food/shelf.asp

and

http://www.a1usa.net/gary/expire.html

Came over to the thread to read and was also thinking this ought to be pinned. I enjoy reading G4A's grumblings.

Thanks ! Very handy listings- I bookmarked these. Wow- I need to dig into my hurricane supplies and replace some things.


Note: tabasco sauce last like forever !

Great resource, isn't it? Lots I didn't know.....

there used to be a site for MRE's (meals ready-to-eat). Mainly for campers.

http://theepicenter.com/mre_military_meal_ready_to_eat.html

Not gourmet, mind you.

Will sustain life.

Make that existance.

We should have a separate pinned thread for what is needed for emegencies like the bird flu or hurricanes...that is very important...It should be in the regular part of the cafe pinned...I am going to ask Sandra.

Did anyone hear Graham Grumble this week? Maybe he's all grumbled out?

#7. 3/29/06.

Last week in March, next week BASEBALL, and the NY Mets finally have a chance of winning again.
Pedro's toe staying well is of course going to be the key to the entire season.
Hasn't been this much anticipation for the Mets in many years now

Baseball could use a good year by the NY Mets
Seems everyone is happier when they win, well, at least I am, and its not all that often they do
1969,1973, 1986...
Exactly how many different drugs did the 1986 Mets use?

Barry Bonds needs 7 home runs to tie Babe Ruth for 2nd then try to surpass Hank Aaron, while no one wants him
to do either, especially the fans, and Barry keeps whining and whining

Baseball, where statistics are the one constant throughout life and everyone in a second can name their alltime favorite players like

Willie Mays
Sandy Koufax
Tom Seaver
Dave Kingman
Willie McCovey
Johnny Podres
Gil Hodges
Ed Charles
Dwight Gooden
Vida Blue
Johnny Blue Moon Odom
Juan Marichal

to name a few

There is nothing more relaxing than a hot August day, sitting in a major league ballpark capacity crowd,(Shea Stadium, with the planes going overhead having just taken off from LaGuardia Airport down the block)... with a pennant race looming in the air, and a great pitcher's match, and the bottom of the ninth, 2 on down by 2 and the star home runner hitter at the plate...

or listening to the late Bob Murphy call the "word picture" and as the Mets win, give the "Happy Recap" like he did so many times before retiring in 2003 and passing last year.
Who can forget the Murph along with Ralph Kiner and Lindsay Nelson

or like the excitement in the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest when Jack Nicholson had all the other patients in complete rapture as he called the game on a non-existent tv

Baseball...where politics is forgotten, the world's problems are forgotten, and one can argue from morning to night
whether the Mets or Yankees are better, or the Yankees and the Sox, or whatever match-ups are your memories

The 17 inning Mets Astros game in 1986
The almost no-hitter Tom Seaver threw in 1969 I listened to on a little transister radio (something we all should still have)

Baseball, where you always are a wide-eyed kid, everytime you enter the ballpark and see the field

Next week, opening day, then the day after, 1/2 the teams will be in 2nd place...

Back before big money took over, when the game was played for the love of the game

And even though big money has taken over now, because of baseballs stats, a consistancy holds and the game truly is eternal
Is there any better place to eat a dirty water hotdog and get a $4.00 coke?
Or have the vendor bring a little icecream cup, and give you a wooden spoon that instantly will crack in half, as it is so hard?

without baseball, it's back to being grumpy
Or should I say, when inevitably the Mets start losing, it's back to being grumpy
Ever notice Winner's shine, loser's whine, and the Mets sure whine alot over the years. (or insert your favorite losers in here).

Anyhow...
I see I have been pinned. In the old days, that would have meant something altogether different.

With baseball comes April 15 and Taxes are due. Talking about wasting a bunch of hours getting them done and everything together.

So the Pat Sajak watch continunes. It's like sport...watching him and the way he puts his hands all over the women
contestetants...this week he seemed to move in for the kill twice and neither one stopped him. One of these days he
is going to get slapped down...it's more shameless than Richard Dawson used to be on the Family Feud

Purchased the new Willie Nelson cd last week, a tribute to songwriter Cindy Walker who wrote a ton of songs from the 1940s-on. Some real classics like "Bubbles in my Beer", and "Not that I care", "You don't know me", etc...and then a few days later, hear she has passed away.
Super album, and kind of ironic.

willie left Nashville and became a superstar in Texas with his first album of standards, "Stardust", and this album is recorded solely in Nashville with all the finest studio musicians...what a great album, especially if you like REAL country music like it used to be

Sharon Stone, who this week advised high school girls to have oral sex as a way to lower the need for abortions and unwanted babies,
has a sequel coming out...how many people are clammoring to see a Basic Instinct sequel all these years later?

Buck Owens died, one of the real greats...I put something on the board up about this, but in short, he helped influence the Beatles, and
Dwight Yoakam, and the whole Byrds sound, and Gram Parsons. Devastating loss for country music.
I read the night before he passed in his sleep, he was at the club he owned in California, and he wasn't feeling well, left early, and was walking to his car, when he bumped into 2 fans who had driven from Bend, Oregon to see him. Buck turned around and performed.
that is something. Went home and died peacefully in his sleep.
If one has to go, that's the way to do it.

Did you see that Patrick Duffy, who played Bobby Ewing is going to be on a soap opera? (Bold and Beautiful)...

Everybody making their own ITMFA buttons? Official ones are out too and this was the creation of Dan Savage and are popping up
all over
Saw 4 different people wearing there own versions of this. Imagine if the entire nation could wear em

Talking about bowling, and if I didn't I don't hear anyone else talking about it
I purchased my DVD of the great documentary "League of Ordinary Gentleman" about the Pro Bowlers Tour and starring four bowling greats
including Hall of Famers Pete Weber, Wayne Webb and Walter Ray Williams

Walter Ray this week finally tied the late great (and oh so robotic) Earl Anthony with his 41st. victory and what a match it was against
second place finisher Pete Weber (who has 32 victories and is behind Mark Roth with his 34 victories for third and forth place in bowling history).

The vast majority of the USA does not know what they are missing.
You can take your NCAA championships, give me a good bowling tourney anyday
At least I can get a strike...forget about me dunking a ball

Just about time to move the car, find my ole mitt and spaldeen and play stoop ball. First thing I did when moving out to NJ in 89 was to build me a concrete stoop so anyone who wanted to can come over and play stoop ball.
The neighbors at the time looked at me like I was nuts. Never heard of the game.
Guess you had to actually live in NYC or one of the boroughs to know it.

You threw the ball at the stoop, if it was a bounce back and you caught it, 5 points, on a fly 10 points, but if you got it to come back
at just the right place, it was 100 points. 500 (or 1000) wins.

When I was a kid used to play it ever day, as did all my friends, then mine did too
That is what life is for. A game of stoop ball with your kids, no matter what age you are on a beautiful spring day (come the heat of summer,
and its too hot). You can take your million dollar vacations or cars or yachts...just give me a mitt, a spaldeen and a stoop or a bowling ball or tourney on tv. That is priceless to me.

©g4a 3/29/06.

That's what I find priceless about you Graham

I like the Oakland A's....I'll buy you a cyber beer if you can tell me why?

Loved Willie Nelson's Red Headed Stranger release too.

#8...Week of April 5, 2006

Only Love Can Break a Heart, and my heart is breaking...

Gene Pitney,65,died today in the UK after giving a concert last night. What a voice. Born and raised in Rockville, Ct
Had the #1 song "Only love can break a heart", "It hurts to be in love", "Town without Pity", and wrote "Hello Mary Lou" for Rick Nelson and He's a Rebel and Rubber Ball.

Is there anyone left to entertain us? Another Rock and Roll Hall of Famer deceased. Must be having a great jam up there tonight.
Always thought he would have been a good one to replace Roy Orbison in the Traveling Wilbury's. His voice was the same yesterday as it was 40 years ago.
It's too bad. And what is worse is, in the NYC area, there are no longer any radio stations that play his type music, so most people won't even know he died. This probably won't make too many newspapers at all. R.I.P. Gene.

Well, the Mets are 1-0. Dreams are still possible.
Always fun to hear Terry Cashmen singing Willie, Mickey and the Duke. At one point he recorded a version for just about every single team,
but they are all dated now.

Anybody see the way Kenny Rogers looks lately? From a distance looks 20 years younger, up close, he looks like he is from another planet.
Must be his mid 60s now, still releasing mainstream records and having hits. Not easy this day and age. But what is with his face?

Meredith Vierra is going to replace Katie Couric on the Today show. She is the current host of the syndicated version of Who wants to be a millionaire"...great resume, isn't it?
But Katie Couric on CBS? ewwwwww. I would Rather have Dan back. Or Jack Cafferty. Or Bob Schieffer. Katie? No thanks. Gonna watch Lou Dobbs and the BBC news I guess.

I don't much like Tom Cruise movies, but seeing Philip Seymour Hoffman is going to be the super villian, looking forward to MI3.

Has Barry Bonds exploded yet? Looks like he's going to pop any moment now
I personally think the opposing pitchers should WHOOPS hit him in his knee every time he is up at bat WHOOPS OOPS POW
Or intentionally walk him each and every time
Don't let him hit. That will show him cheaters never prosper (unless their name is Bill Clinton)whoops, oops, pow

And putting George Mitchell in charge of the inquiry...fair and balanced as FOX is...Never liked George Mitchell. Still Don't.(isn't it obvious)?

Anybody listen to Buck Owens' funeral live on the net?

So it snowed a little this morning, nothing too bad, which is good as our flowers are coming out in full force, way too early, and the trees are starting to bud...

Speaking of Dennis Haysbert,last week, I really like the new show "the Unit"...do you know it's a David Mamet show. Very intense. Last night mostly character development.And yup, right at the end, there was his Allstate Stan commercial. I don't recall any other current star having a commercial every time his show was on

Has William F. Buckley said if I would make a good President yet?

Damn, I missed it this morning 01:02:03 on 04/05/06...and Mr.Jim reminded us on the board...now I have to wait another 1000 years

Did you know Steve Earle is now married to Alison Moorer? Wow, what a pairing. She is vastly underrated (but so is he.) Both tried to be mainstream country, and decided they had dreams alot bigger than the narrowcasting country radio allows.

Sam Elliott alert- he will be in a new movie about an AVENGER on Sunday night on TNT.

What I would love to see on West Wing-(have no idea what they have in store, nor do I want to, no spoilers please)...I would love to see
Santos name Vinnick as his Vice President after Leo dies and have that end the show ...too bad they both can't run in real life, same with Martin and Charlie Sheen.(and Kris Kristofferson, who has a great new CD out too).

And that guy with grey hair on Idol, something different.(I know, I shouldn't be watching Fox, but did you stop?And I was overruled anyhow.)

I am still tired from the time change.How about you?