Dead or Alive #3 - Herve Villechaize

Today, we continue our morbid and controversial series by asking viewers if Herve Villechaize, the co-star of the ABC hit series "Fantasy Island" (1978-84, remade in 1998) is dead or alive.

Villechaize was born in Paris in 1943 to Filipino parents. He made it big with "The Man with the Golden Gun" (1974) and he joined "Fantasy Island" in 1978.

He got fired in 1983 for asking producers to pay him as much as his co-star Ricardo Montalban. The show was cancelled a year later.

He was famous for the line: "The plane! The plane!"

Answer to last entry: Dr. Ruth Westheimer is indeed alive and well. Her web site is drruth.com

They seem to have lots of ads for sex toys for some reason.

Know Your Senators and Congressional Reps (13 of 21)

Everyone knows that Pennsylvania Senator Arlene Spectre (R-Pa) became Sen. Arlene Spector (D-Pa), but fewer people seem familiar with his counterpart, who is actually the ever unusual pro-life Democrat.

Is this Senator, who spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Denver and is pictured here:

A) Chuck Schumer

B) Norm Coleman

C) Bob Casey Jr.

D) Mark Warner

NOTE (6/6/09): The answer is Bob Casey Jr. We had initially butchered Sen. Spector's name, but we sincerely apologize for that error although I'd be surprised if he stops by this blog.

Very Silly Photo to Fill Space

Hmmmmm, no caption neccessary.......as it is, it's been a very long day!

Summer Concerts 2009

I am anticipating a hectic week at work starting tomorrow, so I am posting this tonight.

Here is a partial list of some hip (and perhaps not-so-hip) acts who are hitting the road this summer with some select dates on their respective tour schedules.



May 31 REO Speedwagon (w/Styx and 38 Special) Morrison, Col. (Red Rocks)

June 6 Coldplay, Nashville, TN.

June 8 Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Phoenix, Ariz. (Marquee Theatre)

June 13 Depeche Mode, Munich, Germany*

June 18 Huey Lewis and the News, Vienna, Va. (DC) (Wolf Trap Performing Arts Center)

July 16 Journey Walker, Minn.,(Moondance Jam Festival)**

July 27 Gogol Bordello St. Petersburg, Fla. ,(Janus Landing)

Aug. 7 Def Leppard (w/Cheap Trick and Poison), Raleigh, NC

*-Depeche Mode will come to North America in July

**-Marks the debut of their North American tour

Quote of the Week-Dennis Hopper

My sister, brother-in-law and I went to the Denver Art Museum while I was out in Colorado last week and we saw this groovy exhibit of sixties era rock posters (it runs through July 19). We then rented the 1969 biker classic "Easy Rider" to complete our 'hippie experience.' (For the record, we did not listen to "Puff the Magic Dragon.")

Since today is Memorial Day, which is road trip time here in les etats unis, I thought I would go with a quip from Dennis Hopper, a hippie turned Republican who voted for Obama (what a transition!) who recently turned 73:

"My whole written history is one big lie! I mean I can't believe my history."

We have a quote from Hopper's "Easy Rider" co-star Peter Fonda on our sister blog "Politics, Culture and Other Wastes of Time."

Political Confusion Test (19 of 21) Dijon Mustard or Buffalo Beef Jerky?

It appears that right-wing talk show hosts will get ticked with President Barack Obama for virtually anything he does. Case in point, Sean Hannity recently whined about Obama putting French Dijon mustard on a hamburger during his visit to a burger joint with Vice President Joe Biden in Arlington, Va.

So, this leads me to ask those of you independent voters out there which way you lean politically. If you prefer imported mustard over buffalo beef jerky which one can at Jackson Hole Meat in Jackson Hole, Wyo. (do we need to mention that it's located in Dick Cheney's home state), then might be a Democrat.

Remembering the American Newspaper- Letters to the Editor

While I was in flight to Denver, I stopped at Chicago O'Hare International Airport where I was able to pick a copy of "The Chicago Sun-Times," and I saw this neat letter-to-the-editor written by Sybil Hoffman of Evanston, Ill:

"Excuse me, but why is ex-Vice President Dick Cheney getting so much airtime? His party was voted out of office! Might that mean that most Americans no longer want to hear his views?"

Misadventures in Boulder

In case you were wondering if I had been abducted by a UFO, I was in Colorado visiting my sister last week and despite my best efforts I was unable to blog from there, which is perhaps a good thing!

Here are some highlights of the trip:

*I made all my flights, and only one delay the whole trip- that was in Chicago because of a broken windshield

*Went to Denver Art Museum and saw a kewl exhibit on sixties rock posters

*Watched "Easy Rider" with my sister and brother-in-law on Friday night to go along with the art exhibit......still hard to believe Dennis Hopper became a Republican though he did vote for Obama.

*Went to Boulder and shopped for gifts. Highly recommend the Boulder Bookstore and that funky place that has an assortment of Buddhist stuff.

*Went to a sock store in Estes Park. Got a friend some Denver Broncos socks. They didn't seem to have any NFL teams east of the Mississippi, but they have just about everything else.

* Ate sushi and other Japanese food

*Spent four hours at Zigi's coffee shop in Longmont where I read Scott Smith's thriller "The Ruins." Not exactly "Alice in Wonderland."

*Watched a pro lacrosse game, but alas the home team (the Denver Outlaws) lost.

*Saw the new Michael Caine film "Is Anybody There?," which was pretty good though it's a bit of a tear jerker

*Ate at a very good Vietnamese place in Boulder

*Saw "Star Trek." Quite good. Hard to believe Leonard Nimoy has now outlived my dead grandfather.

* Went hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, which was the highlight of the trip. My sister and I saw some sort of exotic wild bird there (probably a grouse) which was in pursuit of a lady friend......apparently, 'tis mating season.

*Saw lots of kewl Obama mercandise at Dulles (Washington, DC, airport) on the way, but alas no room in the luggage for anything else!

The trip had a few fiascos:

*-I actually lost one of my tennis shoes in the snow while hiking.

*-I actually lost shaving cream at the airport in Greensboro, which I knew not to pack!

*-I barely made it the returning flight out of Denver as security took a lot longer than I anticipated.

Remembering the Newspaper-Police Blotter

We are continuing to remember the falling newspaper industry with entries both here and on our sister blog "Politics, Culture and Other Wastes of Time."

Today we post an actual passage from the police blotter from the current issue of the Greensboro, NC, alternative weekly "Yes Weekly," which my friend Brian Clarey edits. Jordan Green is their ace reporter.

This story involves an unusual incident to say the least:

"Jile Maness told Greensboro police officers at about 3 a.m. on May 2 that three black men forced him into the trunk of his car and drove him to an ATM, and then left him in the trunk at Groometown Road and I-85 after he was unable to obtain any $$$ from them.

Hours later, Manes said, he was able to escape from the car.

The officers investigated the incident and concluded that Manes made the whole thing up. They charged Manes with filing a false police report, resist/delay abstruct and felong stolen property."

Silly Photo to Fill Space

I am finally done teaching for the semester, and I don't have to deal with this sort of thing for the next few weeks!

Quote of the Week- William Shatner....200th Entry

We are posting two quotes on our respective blogs (Politics, Culture and Other Wastes of Time being the other) with quotes from "Star Trek" actors in honor of the new "Star Trek" flick. We begin here with William Shatner:

"Captain Kirk has been a source of pleasure and income for a long time."

Special Quote of the Day from Joan Crawford

Today, in honor of Mother's Day, we are posting two quotes from Joan Crawford who was depicted by Faye Dunaway in the 1981 'classic,' "Mommie Dearest" on our two respective blogs. This is actually an annual tradition on this blog.

"Mommie Dearest" will be playing at Movieland @ Blvd. Square in Richmond, VA., this evening. We expect they will not be the only ones shwoing the film.

Here is the first of two quips from Crawford:

"I think the most important thing a woman can have-next to talent, of course, is her hairdresser."

For the other Crawford quote go to 'Politics, Culture and Other Wastes of Time" which you can access through our links.

I Have Joined e-harmony.......

After telling people that I would sooner join a cult for several years, I have decided to join e-harmony.

My first match was with a military officer in Fort Bragg, NC.

Oh, I suppose I should perhaps point out that the military officer is a woman. But, if they had hooked up with a male military officer, I suppose I could have demanded a refund.

Remembering the American Newspaper.....The Horoscope

Today, we are starting a mock tribute to the newspaper industry, which is definitely looking like it will collapse like the Collosus of Rhodes.

Since I am a former newspaper reporter, I thought I would start to showcase some of the exemplerary parts of the paper that we have all taken for granted for a very long time.

We start with the horoscope, which I have borrowed from Sunday's "Washington Post."

Here is what was listed for my sign Pisces:

"Your psychic pwers are strong now. Speak your prophecy aloud about what will happen next in your life. Your vision begins to fullfill itself in the moment the words leave your mouth."

I want to go out with Uma Thurman. Hmm....I'm not sure if that will really work!

NOTE: We have a related link on our sister blog "Poltics, Culture and Other Wastes of Time."

This is Exam Week!

MUHAHAHAAAAAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!

It's so nice to be a teacher this time of the year............

Quote of the Week- Rodney Dangerfield

I am hoping to throw a house party that will include a triple-header of Rodney Dangerfield films this weekend..........if everything goes according to plan!

In honor of the occasion, we are quoting the late comic who apparently failed to get respect here with this quip:

"I have good-looking kids. Thank goodness my wife cheated on me."

http://www.rodney.com

Silly Photo to Fill Space

There was a very negative development in my personal life over the weekend, hence we are posting an image of an ex-girlfriend voodoo doll here. If these things actually worked, I might be tempted to spend $24.95 on one.........and, I imagine the person reading this has contemplated similar things at one time or another as well!

Special Quote of the Week by Jerry Falwell

Since yesterday was both May Day, a day attributed to socialism around the world, and the National Day of Prayer, we thought we'd quote Ernesto "Che" Guevara (1928-1967) and the Rev. Jerry Falwell (1933-2007) on our two respective blogs.

I am neither a Christian or a socialist, so this should be fun!

We'll quote the Ayatollah of Lynchburg, Va., here (well, ok maybe he wasn't quite that bad, but close!).

However one feels about the man preached hate and intolerance as well as homophobia towards Tinky the Teletubby from the pulpit of Thomas Road Baptist Church, he did have a good knack with words.

Here are two examples of that.......and look what this loving Christian said about his fellow tv evangelist Billy Graham (yes, I couldn't believe it either!):

Quote One_ "Grown men should not be having sex with prostitutes unless they are married to them."

Quote Two_ "Billy Graham is the chief servant of Satan in America."

As the old cliche goes, with 'friends' like these, who needs enemies!