Clint Eastwood Turns 80!

Clint Eastwood turns 80, today. Reports are that he is refusing to celebrate. I would say that 80 is "just a number." I'd also say, "Hey Clint - chill out - some people your age are dead!"

My favorite screen memory of Clint Eastwood was his work in the original "Dirty Harry." It was a role which had been written for Frank Sinatra! Sinatra had some kind of a leg injury, at the time, and wasn't up to making a movie.

Anyway, it's interesting to note that Eastwood has fans from multiple generations...from the early days and the Spaghetti Westerns, to the Dirty Harry movies and to his more recent stuff.

By the way, Eastwood is his real name. Good actor...happy birthday!

Beer Sales Slipping

Enough with the sour economy! My personal leading economic indicator is indicating that we are headed for some deep doo-doo! In the past month, overall beer shipments from breweries have fallen by 4%!

On top of that, Advertising Age reports that in the past month, sales of premium light beers fell 11%! Instead of light Coors, Miller, or Bud brands, people have been buying cheaper brews like PBR, or saving up for fancier brands. But we're not just spending our beer money differently--we're also drinking less of the stuff.

Needless to say, this is a bad sign. We are talking about the national neglect of one of the major food groups - beer!

I don't like to do this, but I feel that it's my duty. This is your homework assignment. Withing the next six days, you must spend some time outside - away from the air conditioning. Thirty - sixty minutes should do. During this time you must drink at least one cold beer. It's time to appreciate the good and traditional wholesomeness of beer!

I'll leave you on your honor to perform this task.

A Thought On Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day. A day filled with cliches honoring military personel who died during wartime so we may be free. Andy Rooney pointed out that these men did not "give" their lives...their lives were taken from them.

I found an interesting quote from my Facebook buddy, Gary Miller..."It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived." — General George S. Patton

Mark Kirk - Lack Of Intelligence

I have no patience for politicians who openly lie about themselves. Recently I wrote about a Democrat candidate for senator from Connecticut. Today, it's a Republican - Mark Kirk of Illinois. He's a U.S Representative who is seeking the U.S. Senate seat which was held by Obama. Kirk's been saying that when he was in the Navy he was named "Naval Intelligence Officer Of The Year." Nope - never happened. The sad thing is that he is probably the better of the two candidates. It's sad when politicians start lying before they are elected.

Guys, please get it straight!

- Before you are elected, you are supposed to make lottsa promises.
- After you get elected you can lie all you want.

That's how it's done!
Thank you.

Dennis Hopper Dies at 74

Dennis Hopper lost his battle with prostate cancer, today, he was 74. The American actor and director will probably be best remembered for "Easy Rider", a low budget blockbuster that did much to change the movie business. I'll leave it to other sites to detail his acting and directing accomplishments. My favorite memory of Hopper was in the movie, "Hoosiers." Whether his part was big or small, his was usually the most memorable character. He was a strong actor. It's sad, but it seems he was more successful in his professional life than he was privately. R.I.P.

Gary Coleman Passes

Sad news for fans of Gary Coleman - and there are a lot of us. Coleman was the child sitcom star of Diff'rent Strokes from 1978 until 1986. He was the highest paid child actor of his time. That was then. After Diff'rent Strokes his career went nowhere. His earnings were squandered by his family and his business associates. He sued them and recovered $1.3 million. He later filed bankruptcy. Gary died today at 42, from a brain hemorrhage resulting from a fall at his Utah home. He didn't have an easy life. He was recently quoted as saying,
"I haven't had the highest highs and the lowest lows yet. I'm still looking for that," Coleman said. "I got 40 years in me yet. I ain't going nowhere."
Thanks, Gary for the good times, R.I.P.

Friday Foto - Jennifer Ellison

This is Jennifer Ellison. She comes to us from England, Liverpool to be exact. She models, acts, and sings. Jennifer will be celebrating her 27th birthday on Sunday. As usual, click the picture to get the full effect and have a nice weekend!

Why Are Greek Frogs Crossing The Road?

I am not making this up. They have been having problems in Greece. The financial mess has been man-made; but what about the frogs? Police said Thursday they were directing traffic around thousands of frogs on the Egnatia Highway about 20 kilometers outside Greece's second largest city, Thessaloniki. They had closed the highway on Wednesday as cars were skidding off the road as drivers tried to dodge the frogs.
Why is this happening? Should we ask Al Gore? The locals think that the frogs are searching for food - leaving one pond and hopping to another hoping for food.

We hope that the drivers will remember to use their frog lights.

On Huggies And Poop

This is something that I know a little bit about. I have written well over a thousand commercials - mostly for radio with a handful for TV. The object for the commercial is to sell the product or service. THAT'S IT! Simple? Usually. In writing the commercial you must be familiar with the product or service. In this case it is disposable diapers. BINGO! I've got experience with this, too! If you ever changed a diaper, the Huggies commercial controversy will probably seem like nothing more than a pile of....let's not go there. The commercial in question promotes Huggies' new Jeans Diaper. It is scheduled to run on May 31, and was accepted by 13 networks, including NBC, TNT and E!, three others, ABC, ABC Family and Sprout, objected to screen text at the end of the spot that included the word “pooping,” according to Huggies. For those networks, the text was changed to, “When you gotta go, go in style.”(The brand did not seek to advertise on either CBS or Fox.)

Silly? Of course it is! We all poop. (I did, last Tuesday.) Besides, if we are forced to watch commercials for the prevention of erectile dysfunction, feminine products, dating services, The Bender Ball, etc, what's wrong with talking a little "baby poop?" After all, if they did not poop in their pants, they would not need diapers. Grow up kids, this is not offensive. Offensive is historic budget deficits...but that's a subject for another post...

Art Linkletter Passes On

I know that I'm going to sound like my father. There's a good chance that you missed one of the most loved and engaging figures in the history of television - Art Linkletter. Mr. Linkletter died today in his Los Angeles home. He was 97. His wife of 75 years, Lois was at his side. The don't make 'em like Art, anymore. A show business star, married to the same woman for 75 years? There is no television host, today who comes close to the dominance that Art Linkletter enjoyed during his career. He hosted network shows on TV for 36 years. "House Party" began on radio in 1944. It went on to TV for more than a dozen years, followed by "People Are Funny." Women loved him, men loved him and kids loved him! He is probably best known for interviewing kids. He was eager to share the spotlight with the kids. Some very funny stuff resulted.
The man had a sense of humor and a willingness to entertain. You may want to check him out on YouTube. I chose a black & white picture of him because this is how I remember him. The TV was black & white, the entertainment was pure and colorful.
It's a shame that TV is too sophisticated and/or too fragmented (or something) to provide us with someone, anyone like Art Linkletter.
R.I.P.

Super Bowl 2014 Site Selection: Super Stupid!

The location of a Super Bowl is a bonanza for the chosen city. Local businesses thrive with tourist business. The game is played in February. For this reason, the Super Bowl is usually played in the south. Florida has been a favorite location - it is relatively warm in February in Florida and there's no state income tax in FL! (Players and coaches appreciate this.)

Well the decision was made today. The "Big Game" will be played at the Meadowlands in northern New Jersey. This is great news for North Jersey and the New York metropolitan area. It is filled with enthusiastic sports fans and they deserve it! HOWEVER, there's just one problem. Remember, this game is going to be played in February 2014. February is a very cold month in an area of the country that gets very cold in the winter. The Meadowlands is an open air stadium - no dome. Does this decision sound stupid to you? Well, it did to me, for a while, but not anymore! You see the decision was made by uber rich people who will be attending the game and watching from HEATED LUXURY BOXES!

Ann Curry Slips Up

I like Ann Curry. She appears to be bright, friendly, pretty and smart. On big-time network TV, appearances are very important.

This weekend, our friend, Ann, is picking up some spending money by speaking at the commencement exercises at Wheaton College in Norton, Mass. After taking the stage to launch into the school's 175th commencement address, she sought to drive home the inspirational content of her speech by ticking off the names of a few of the school's more illustrious alums. Among the entries on the Curry honor roll: "60 Minutes" correspondent Lesley Stahl, evangelist Billy Graham, slasher-film director Wes Craven, and United Airlines Flight 93 passenger Todd Beamer. There was just one problem: Apart from Stahl, everyone on that list actually graduated from another Wheaton College, the Christian liberal-arts college in Wheaton, Illinois.

Whoops! Right speech...wrong school?

Rangers File Bankruptcy

The Texas Rangers are for sale. They filed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy today. They did this so that the sale would appear more appealing. Only in America! The idea that a Major League Baseball Franchise should need to go bankrupt is a "head scratcher" for me. Of course, things have changed. For example, the Rangers owe $24.9 Million to Alex Rodriguez for deferred compensation. They also owe big money to other players.

The team is being sold to an investor group led by Pittsburgh attorney Chuck Greenberg and by Hall Of Fame Pitcher Nolan Ryan. Price tag is (if you have to ask, you can't afford it) $575 Million. Lotta money for a business that's losing money and has just gone banko...

Bill Clinton Rear-Ended Over The Weekend!

Over the weekend, Bill Clinton was rear-ended! It happened on the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut. The former prez was en route to delivering the commencement address at Yale when traffic slowed. The vehicle behind Clinton's Secret Service Van did not.

Nobody was injured, Clinton gave his talk and the Yalies are ready to face the world!

WC Upgrade For The WC (World Cup)

Most of us use the bathroom facilities at least once a day. With that in mind, and with my concern for the comfort of all peoples all over the world, comes a tidbit from South Africa.

The head of the University of Pretoria's High Performance Center, Argentina's base camp for the June 11 to July 11 World Cup tournament, said their staff had received a special request from the Argentine national association and Coach Diego Maradona to remodel the football legend's bathrooms. The upgrades include new wash basins, toilet bowls, cisterns, taps and E-Bidet luxury toilet seats. The E-Bidet features a heated seat, a warm air blow-dryer and front and rear bidet wands. It sells for 450 dollars (358 euros) at online retailer sandman.com, which bills it as "the world's best toilet seat".

I'm waiting for a sale at Menards.

Friday Foto - Bianca Holland

This week, the Friday Foto spotlight shines on Bianca Holland! Bianca is a Latin model/actress coming out of Boston and now living in Florida. The 27 yr old beauty stands at 5'5" weighing 115 pounds & sweet as ever!

For the full effect, click the picture and have a nice weekend!

WWII Vet Ordered Not To Display His Flag

Joe LeVangie is an 88 year old World War 2 Navy Veteran. He was recently told that he cannot display the American Flag outside his Hillsborough, NH Apartment. What the hell is going on in this country? The management company that "runs" his apartment complex says that displaying the flag is against the rules. Mr. LeVangie's rent is subsidized by the federal government. A representative from the Department of Housing and Urban Development said that the management company is complying with the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005.

There is a happy ending! Local Police said that under a preliminary agreement reached with management company (to allow apartment residents to display the American Flag) the Hillsborough Police Association in partnership with American Legion Post 59 agreed to keep an eye on the flags and make sure they are in good condition. If not, the police association will talk to the owner of the flag to see if it can be replaced.

If the owner can't replace it, the police association will cover the cost to replace the flag at no cost to the town or owner of the rental property.

Police said all parties are in agreement, and the details will be worked out with the property custodian.

A tip of the hat to the Hillsborough Police, the American Legion and, of course, to Joe LeVangie. To Mr. LeVangie, I say that I am sorry to see him forced to go through all this crap. You would think that he saw enough crap in the war!

Art Theft In Paris

Five paintings were stolen this morning from the Museum Of Modern Art in Paris, France. Experts say that the works are valued at up to $600 million. Just one problem...who would be dumb enough to buy them...ar any price? Possession of stolen property is a "Go Directly To Jail Card!" One of the valuable (now worthless) paintings is Picasso's "Le pigeon aux petits-pois." I added a picture...I think it's right-side-up, but, I'm not sure.

In case you're wondering, the museum's security system was disabled. Video cameras caught a lone masked intruder. Three security officers saw nothing.

The Museum people should do what I do. My house has the best security system in the world! Neighbors - retired neighbors, across the road. They miss nothing! Yeah, the French should hire some old couples and house them near the Museum. Buy them some binoculars and let nature take its course. Problem solved!

Lifelock CEO ID Stolen

Todd Davis, President & CEO of Lifelock proudly displays his Social Security Number in his advertisements. Well, his identity has been stolen. Not once or twice, but a total of 13 times! The Phoenix Sun reports this irony plus the fact that the Federal Trade Commission fined his company for $12 Million in March for deceptive advertising.

I would think that his identity would be safe, protected by his own product, and who would be brazen enough to steal a famous identity?
Apparently at least 13 people would...

Dumb Dad

This guy is so dumb that it's sad...and probably criminal.

24 year old Matthew Brace of Northampton, MA was at a convenience store and put his child in a stranger's truck and offered to trade his 3 month old daughter for a couple of "Fortys." Police are not sure if he was talking about 40 ounce beers or if he meant crack cocaine. Either way, he's been arrested and the child is in protective custody. Brace's girlfriend hasn't been charged. Police found Brace hiding behind a dumpster at the Econo-Lodge where the state was paying for him to live with his girlfriend and the child.

I'm at a loss. What do you do with someone like this?

Blumenthal - YOU LIE!

There's really nothing unusual about a politician lying to us, is there? Well, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is running for the U.S. Senate and he's going around telling people that he served in Viet Nam. The only problem is, he did not! This is an insult to every brave American boy who risked his ass in 'Nam. It's an insult to the families of these brave ones, too. Lying about being in combat is beyond shameful. To me, it's more disgraceful than being caught having an affair while holding public office.

I hope that the good people of Connecticut will wake up and see to it that this guy spends the rest of his life chasing ambulances...

Talk Ain't Cheep For Bristol!

Bristol Palin is available to speak at your company's next meeting, or, I guess, for High School Graduation exercises. Her fee runs between $15,000 and $30,000! Babysitters in Alaska must be really expensive! I can't tell you if she is booked or not. I can tell you that I recently spoke to a Driver's Ed class at a local High School. No money involved, but you have to realize that my credentials fall far short from young Bristol's.
The picture is a shot of Bristol drinking a beer, in public. Since she's 19 now, she was probably underage when this picture was taken. Of course, I'm just guessing. What the hell do I know - nobody pays me to speak!

Sheen Cool For Season Eight

Charlie Sheen says he's OK with another season or two of Two And A Half Men. With a paycheck of up to $2 Million per episode, there's proof that the guy's not entirely crazy. He's been having some trouble "at home." Imagine that! With a history of drug abuse and hookers and probably some other bad habits, who is really surprised?

The show's very funny and nicely produced. This is an interesting case where you don't have to be anywhere near perfect to be a success!
Congratulations to the remainder of the cast & crew.

Nashville Relief Telethon

Last night, some country music stars got together and performed on the GAC Cable TV Network in an effort to raise money for the recent Nashville flood victims.

In the picture, we see hosts Kimberly Williams-Paisley and James Denton of the Music City Keep On Playin’: A Benefit For Flood Relief, at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Roughly $1.7 million was raised. This is good and if you are interested in contributing, you can click the GAC home page.

Back in the old days, we would have the President visit the disaster and declare it a "Disaster Area." Federal money would become available to help out.

It is not my purpose, here, to hand out blame. With 48% of adult Americans getting a regular check from the government, it's a wonder that we're not belly-up already!

General Tom has a tip for you: If you are a homeowner, buy insurance...all kinds of insurance! If you rent, buy insurance for your possessions. And if you have any money left over, buy a Taylor Swift CD. She is one classy kid. She donated $500,000 to the effort. Cynics would say that she can afford it...well, she could also afford to keep it!

The Latest Radio Reincarnation Of Ronn Mott!

It happened, it really happened! Ronn Mott is back on the radio! I must confess that he told me this would happen, I didn't believe him. Last week, he visits me on the car lot to give me the news - he's doing mornings on WPFR 1480AM in Terre Haute. He offered me an open invitation to join him at any time. While I know I'll take him up on the offer, I can't tell Mrs. General Tom. She doesn't want me anywhere near a microphone.

Actually, I'm listening to him, right now. I must say that I have never heard him sound better! He just played Joe Williams - "Don't Get Around Much Anymore!" Where the hell else will you hear stuff like that? He'll also play some newer stuff...like from the '60s and the '70s!

So, why's he doing this? The guy's no spring chicken! He wakes up in the middle of the night and travels half an hour to work and plays music for three hours and then hits the road to sell commercials for tomorrow's show. I'll tell you why he's doing this - he does it because he loves doing this. You can tell when you listen to him on the radio. What is this? A guy who loves his job? If you ever listened to the guy on the radio or if you are lucky enough to know him, you'll know that Ronn Mott is no normal human.