Now you know I look for these because the numbers show readers of this blog like them.
OK, so do I.
I just want to know where to get in line.
James Arness of Gunsmoke dies
James Arness, the 6-foot-6 actor who towered over the television landscape for two decades as righteous Dodge City lawman Matt Dillon in “Gunsmoke,” died Friday. He was 88.
The actor died in his sleep at his home in Brentwood, Calif., according to his business manager, Ginny Fazer.
Arness’ official website posted a letter from Arness on Friday that he wrote with the intention that it be posted posthumously: “I had a wonderful life and was blessed with some many loving people and great friends,” he said.
“I wanted to take this time to thank all of you for the many years of being a fan of Gunsmoke, The Thing, How the West Was Won and all the other fun projects I was lucky enough to have been allowed to be a part of. I had the privilege of working with so many great actors over the years.”
The actor was 32 when friend John Wayne declined the lead role in “Gunsmoke” and recommended Arness instead. Afraid of being typecast, Arness initially rejected it.
“Go ahead and take it, Jim,” Wayne urged him. “You’re too big for pictures. Guys like Gregory Peck and I don’t want a big lug like you towering over us. Make your mark in television.”
“Gunsmoke” went on to become the longest-running dramatic series in network history until NBC’s “Law & Order” tied in 2010. Arness’ 20-year prime-time run as the marshal was tied only in recent times, by Kelsey Grammer’s 20 years as Frasier Crane from 1984 to 2004 on “Cheers” and then on “Frasier.”
I grew up with Gunsmoke running forever.
Video: New Kids On The Block & Backstreet on Today Show
The New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys teamed up on Friday morning to give the fans at the Rockefeller Center as well as at home a concert to remember on the ‘Today Show.’ NKOTBSB took to the stage to perform several medleys that combined the music the fans would remember plus a dance routine.
The stage, set in the middle of the plaza, was surrounded by screaming women who definitely have grown up with NKOTBSB and know the music so well they were singing along. Reaching out to try and grab the hand of one of the performers, the free mini concert was a chance to see two groups that have been on tour around the country.
Sarah Palin: Paul Revere warned the British….
Moved by the historic importance of Boston as she takes her “summer vacation bus ride”, Palin decided to recognize the Boston’s own Paul Revere and his famous “Midnight Ride” in which he hung two lanterns and rode to Lexington to warn Patriot leaders that the British army was arriving “by sea.”
Palin, however, offered her own take on the revolutionary tale:
PALIN: He who warned, uh, the British that they weren’t going to be taking away our arms uh by ringing those bells and making sure as he’s riding his horse through town to send those warning shots and bells that we were going to be secure and we were going to be free and we were going to be armed.
Not exactly the History Channel’s version of things, but hey, she doesn’t read much as she’s already admitted.
Palin has already portrayed the question put to her as a “gotcha” question. Here’s the actual question: “What have you seen so far today, and what are you going to take away from your visit?”
Yeah – that sure is a trick question…
John Edwards indicted on misuse of campaign funds
A federal grand jury has charged John Edwards with breaking campaign finance laws by using political funds to cover up his affair and out-of-wedlock child with Rielle Hunter while he was running for president in 2008.
He was indicted Friday in North Carolina on six counts, including conspiracy, four counts of illegal campaign contributions and one count of false statements. Edwards is expected to make a court appearance Friday afternoon in Winston Salem Middle District Courthouse.
Edwards’s wife Elizabeth stood by her husband for three years after the allegations of an affair first surfaced, but they split for good in January 2010. Elizabeth Edwards died in December after a six-year battle with cancer.
(more at People.com)
Olivia sends a message to Ellen Degeneres
Let’s see if Ellen responds. For some reason, Olivia hasn’t been on her show, but maybe Ellen will dance to Olivia’s new “Magic” to help raise funds for the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre!
Write in to Ellen and ask her to dance to Olivia’s new version of “Magic”
Olivia Newton-John’s new “Magic” is now a music video with what looks like the world’s largest music video cast!
Take a look!
Get your copy of the song here: http://itunes.com/OliviaMagic – All proceeds go to the Olivia Appeal.
“Through the power of a song WACCI are making a difference.”
WACCI (We’re Australian Creative Collective Inc.) headed by Kerrie Stanley & Mathieu Salem have raised over $60,000 for the Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Centre through a variety of initiatives.
The latest project is a charity single. Olivia’s classic “Magic” has been remixed by DJ Dan Murphy & Steve Peach to create a brand-new dance version of the song.
Everyone has volunteered their time and talent which means *ALL* proceeds from sales of this new remix will be going to Olivia’s charity.
Cory Monteith New Face Of ‘Straight But Not Narrow’
It was just announced that Glee star Cory Monteith, will be the new spokesperson for Straight But Not Narrow and will be starring in their latest PSA.
Straight But Not Narrow is a new and different campaign aiming to help support gay youth with a special message to straight males.
From the website: There have been a number of great campaigns and charities that have recently emerged to show support to gay youth & teens. However, we noticed one significant niche missing in the efforts…. the message to the young, straight male. It’s an unfortunate reality that most of the bullying and harassment that gay teens face comes from them. It is for this reason that we are building a campaign that is primarily directed to the young, straight male by using comedy and their peers to positively influence their views on LGBT teens.
So, whether you like girls, you like guys, you like both, you like neither (well, you get the idea)…. what difference does it really make? There’s a whole lot more to a person than who they date. And yeah, we’re all different. But we believe that it’s those differences that make us interesting. Why would we all want to be exactly the same? Where’s the excitement in that?
Just be you. Cause that’s good enough for us.
Very cool ‘green’ disposable dinnerware
From VerTerra – environmentally-friendly plates, bowls and serving dishes are made only from two products: fallen leaves and water. They’re non-toxic, biodegradable, compostable, durable, lightweight, convenient and downright stylish.
(And no, I get nothing from this company. I just think it’s a cool product).
After collecting fallen leaves that would normally be burned, VerTerra apllies steam, heat and pressure to transform the leaves into durable products that will naturally compost in 2 months.
VerTerra products are made in South Asia, where our employees receive fair wages in safe working conditions and are provided access to health care.
A few more facts about this cool disposable dinnerware:
- BPI-certified 100% compostable
- No heat transference and maintains shape when in contact with hot substances
- Microwave-safe up to 2 minutes on high and oven-safe for up to 45 minutes at 350 degrees
Airman discharged under DADT April 29th – first since repeal process began
An Air Force spokesman confirmed today that the secretary of the Air Force approved a discharge under the military’s ”Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy on April 29 of this year. The discharge, according to a Pentagon spokeswoman, is the only such discharge since the Pentagon on Oct. 21, 2010, directed that DADT discharges would require the approval of the service branch secretary.
Pentagon spokeswoman Eileen Lainez wrote today to Metro Weekly, ”The only separation approved following the Oct. 21, 2010 policy change is an Air Force separation, approved Apr. 29, 2011.”
Air Force Major Joel Harper, an Air Force spokesman, clarified the specifics of the discharge to Metro Weekly, writing, ”On April 29th, 2011, the Secretary of the Air Force approved the discharge of an Airman under the provisions of 10 USC 654, after coordination with the DoD General Counsel [Jeh Johnson] and the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness [Stanley].”
Harper continued, ”Each of these officials evaluated the case carefully, and concluded that separation was appropriate. The Airman in the case asked to be separated expeditiously.”
Servicemembers United executive director Alex Nicholson, who stated that he was unfamiliar with this case, wrote, ”[T]he Department of Defense has made it abundantly clear that it is now virtually impossible to discharge someone who does not want to be discharged.”
Repeal will not occur under the DADT Repeal Act until the president, defense secretary and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify to Congress that the changes needed to implement repeal are ”consistent with the standards of military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention of the Armed Forces.” At that point, a 60-day congressional review period must pass before 10 U.S.C. 654 – the DADT law – is taken off the books.