What On Earth?-Column #25, June 2004

Well, here we are in this 2nd anniversary column. And not much has gone on with me, other than to say that I'm doing OK with my job. And speaking of jobs, well, I'll talk about that later. We celebrate by waving our flags on Flag Day, and surprising our dads on Father's Day. That much is obvious on the holidays of this month. Also, we celebrate Juneteenth, where on the 19th of the month, we celebrate the end of slavery. But for now, Let's begin the column.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of D-Day, and one of those events is the Invasion of Normandy. If you learned this in history, and I'll bet you did, like I did, well, I won't have to explain it to you.

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of OJ Simpson's arrest on charges that he murdered his ex-wife Nicole Brown, and her boyfriend Ronald Goldman. Well, we all know what happened, so I'll talk about that at another time.

This year ALSO marks another 10th anniversary: The death of former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, whose life was taken at 64 due to cancer. We all know what happened 40 years ago back in November. Her husband, JFK (D), was assasinated in Dallas. Onassis died in May, so I'm a month off.

This year ALSO marks yet ANOTHER 10th anniversary, this one in April, so I'm 2 months off on this one: The death of former president Richard Nixon (R), the US President who was at the center of the Watergate scandal, which led to his resignation in 1974, and was the ONLY President to resign so far. He died in 1994, due to a stroke. His wife, Pat, died in 1993.

OK, now that I've covered some of the politics, I'd like to focus on something else in that category: THE GAS PRICES! Kerry says it is Bush who's causing us to pay more than $2 a gallon for gas. And I agree. Bush thinks that Kerry supports a 50-cent hike in gas prices. I don't think he would do that! I saw that in Fullerton, they were paying as much as FOUR dollars a gallon, and that's a huge chunk from the wallets to the registers. Come on, seriously, are we gonna have to pressure the Bush admin to lower these prices? The answer is Yes.

I'd also like to focus on the jobs. Bush says that the job rate goes up under him, but Kerry says that Bush's lying. And I take his word on that. As long as Bush and the Republicans stay in office, the job rate will just go DOWN. That's why we need Kerry and the Democrats. They lost control of the White House in 2002, and will do anything to take it back. And we are gonna help them, no matter what it takes! And you should know by now why I'm the only Democrat in my Republican family!

If you're a Massachussetts native or vistor, you just witnessed a huge moment. After seeing California do something similar to this in February, Gay marriages are now being held in Massachusetts, the first state to actually legalize these marriages. We all know the Republicans will do anything to pass a Constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and definining "Marriage" only as "a union between ONE MAN and ONE WOMAN." Well, the Democrats aren't gonna sit by and watch that happen, and neither are we! We don't need a stinkin' amendment. What we need is equality under the law. And Bush and the right wing don't care for equality under the law. All they care for, is, you guessed it, the SPECIAL INTERESTS, AND THE BIG COMPANIES!

Speaking of those Special Interests and Big Companies, the new Medicare Discount Cards are saving seniors some money, but just very little. The Democrats are saying that this a scam just to give the money to the drug companies. Well, we're not gonna let that happen. We're gonna find a method to show these seniors that they CAN save Big Bucks on their prescriptions with those cards, no matter how many come out!

Here we are at the halfway point, and summer's arriving. Soon, kids will be heading to the beachers, donning their swimwear, and parents will ensure that the little ones are safe from drowning and sunburn. Wear PLENTY of sunscreen out in this weather, and you're boating, don't forget the life jackets!

And, of course, there's the busy travel season. I am going to San Francisco to attend my sister Karen's graduation over at Stanford. This is my first time flying since 9-11, so it's gonna take me some time to get used to the new security procedures at the airports (Waving the wand over your body, detecting your shoes to ensure they're not dangerous or have anything dangerous in them, etc.). It all depends on what happens at your airport, so be prepared for anything surprising coming you way.

And, with the travel season comes word that another terrorist attack in the US could come this summer. We don't know if that's true or not, but the government says potential attackers could be wearing heavy clothing, or hiding themselves in that clothing. Be on the lookout, and be careful.

And speaking of security, it is tight over it Athens, Greece, for the upcoming Summer Olympics. Just as the case as it was for Salt Lake City in 2002, it's tight, all stemming from the 9-11 attacks.

Speaking of 2002, 2 years ago, the A-Teens (who just released their Greatest Hits album last month) released their 3rd album, and their 2nd of original material since Teen Spirit: POP 'TIL YOU DROP. And a few of THOSE songs were featured on NEW ARRIVAL, their 4th album and 3rd of original material. That album was released in January 2003. As I pointed out in the last column, the Greatest Hits album is a collection of songs from their previous albums (1999's ABBA Generation, 2001's Teen Spirit, 2002's Pop 'Til You Drop, and 2003's New Arrival). Like all other artists, they do this to increase cash, popularity, and their fan base. Not bad for a group that formed 5 years ago, did remakes of ABBA's songs, and then let their creativity cave in during the 21st century.

And while we're on the subject of music, 1 year ago THIS MONTH, was my introduction into the world of Belinda Carlisle's solo work, her Go-Go's work , and the influences they've put on the music world, from the 80's to now. As I stated in my last column, I've moved all links of said subjects, and put them into their very own section of the site they so very well deserve. Whether it's "Heaven Is A Place On Earth" that's got you singing, or "We Got The Beat" that's got you dancing, Belinda's work in both areas are influencing many more in the 21st century, even if it's been 3 years since she and the Go-Go's released God Bless The Go-Go's, their first album in 17 years, and their first album of new material since 1984's Talk Show. And, since the 1985 break-up, it looks like, to me, this all-female pop quintet from LA will probably never break up again, at least not for now!

Now, let me focus on Game Shows, while I'm at it. 20 years ago, THIS MONTH, game show fans from all over the country turned on their TV's to CBS, and tuned into PRESS YOUR LUCK, the most competitive game show in the history of TV game shows. They watched in surprise as Michael Larsen, an umemployed ice cream truck driver from Ohio, defeat the big board at its own game, memorize its patterns (by taping the shows and watching the patterns before he appeared on the show), and spin his way to $110,237 in cash and prizes. While CBS executives and the show's producers claimed that his actions were wrong, Larsen was eventually paid his winnings, and the board's patterns were changed to prevent any more players from duplicating his feat. And that worked. Later that same year, Michael lost all of the money that he had won. Originally, he had told TV Guide in 1994 that he blew it on a bad real estate investment. However, this was not the case. As shown in GSN's documentary Big Bucks: The Press Your Luck Scandal, Michael was actually robbed of his cash one Christmas night after leaving it all lying around the house in an attempt to scan serial numbers on $1 bills for a radio contest. He was thrown out of his house by his common law wife, and was hardly heard from by his family again until his passing on February 16, 1999, and is survived by 3 children from 3 different women, and is also survived by his brother James, who went on Whammy, and played against his older brother's two challengers Ed Long (who won $11,516 on his Classic PYL apperance before Larsen ultimately took his crown) and Janie Litras (Dakan, since she got married before this special), and won a $6,695 Digital Grand Piano. Michael Larsen is a legend in the hearts of many game show fans, and is the big talk around the game show community. God Bless Michael Larsen!

And speaking of those shows, GSN aired snips of them in the Big Bucks documentary, and then the entire shows, for real, one year ago THIS MONTH. It's about time, too. Why? Because after the original CBS airings were locked up after their airings, and not even USA Network (which aired repeats of the show from 1987-1995), could get them. Remember, PYL didn't come to GSN until 2001, so, we had to wait for those 2 shows to come.

And while we're on the Game Show matter, I would like to send my congratulations to KPSP-TV (CBS) weatherman RICH FIELDS, for becoming the new announcer of THE PRICE IS RIGHT. After months and months of auditions to fill the seat vacated by the late Rod Roddy, and months and months of voting by the fans, Rich won his way to the Announcer's Booth in April. Way to go, Rich!

Now, let's move onto SPORTS. One year ago, this month, controversy was surrounding Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa and a corked bat he used. When the bat broke, and the cork was revealed, Sosa was suspended for 7 games, pending an investigation. And I don't think that investigation's going on much longer, because the public wants this incident put behind them! And believe it or not, it's already behind them!

And about this time a year ago, but off by a month, We saw Rafael Palmeiro hit 500 home runs as a Texas Ranger, before he headed back to Baltimore this year. Also, Roger Clemens pitched 4,000 strikeouts and won 300 games. Now, you may think this is reminiscent of the Nolan Ryan days as a Texas Ranger, but see, Ryan also won 300 games, but he pitched 5,000 strikeouts (that's right, FIVE THOUSAND). So, Clemens has a long way to go to catch up to Ryan.

Now, let's keep going, by talking about what's gone on in Iraq recently. Last month, an American civilian named Nick Berg was beheaded by a group of Al-Qaeda terrorists and Iraqi insurgents, bent on, you guessed it, undermining our efforts to turn over power back to the Iraqis. The turnover is to occur at the end of this month. And, with the new goverment now in place, expect the best AND worst to come. The fighting will take a long time to end, people. Brace yourselves.

Last, but not least, and I haven't done this yet, but I also want to send my congratulations to Fantasia Barrino for becoming this year's AMERICAN IDOL! She now joins 1st year winner Kelly Clarkson and 2nd year winner Ruben Studdard in the Winners' Hall Of Fame. This year's runner-up, Diana DeGarmo, joins 1st-year runner-up Justin Guarini, and 2nd-year runner-up Clay Aiken.

And, for Survivor, I'd want to congratulate Amber Brkich for being the million-dollar winner of SURVIVOR: ALL-STARS. The runner-up, and her best friend all along, Rob Mariano, proposed to her the night she won the million, and it looks like the two are planning to get married. On a viewers' vote night, The most popular of all the players, Rupert Boneham, who previously was on SURVIVOR: PEARL ISLANDS (won by Sandra Diaz-Twine), was ALSO a Millionaire! My congratulations to them both!

And that wraps up this edition of What On Earth. This is John Lee saying, "Go HOME!"