What On Earth?-Column #46, March 2006

Well, here we are in March. And it's all about GREEN. Yes, some say consider Cash to be green, or to plant a green garden in honor of spring. But there's more to Green than just the glory of spring and the money "springing" out of your wallet. It's St. Patrick's month (and the day itself is always a week before my birthday, in which I turn 23 this year!), where we deck ourselves out in green!

I'll start this column off with a little history on the holiday. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, although he wasn't born there (sources say he was born in Wales). He introduced Christianity in Ireland, which makes the holiday a national one in Ireland, and even has Irish-Americans celebrating. Even non-Irish people dress up in Green on this festive day (and if you don't you'll get pinched!) And why so much Green? Because green is a pretty big color in Ireland, especially with those festive shamrocks. And while legend has it that St. Patrick drove snakes out of Ireland by beating on a drum, some say Ireland never had any snakes. St. Patrick was a good man though, and snakes have long been connected with evil and evil doings. So some say that he was the one who drove them out.

I've also decided to give a little history on Mardi Gras, too. "Mardi Gras" is "Fat Tuesday" in French, and dates from the time when Christians had to use up all animal fat before Lent. The day is also known as "Shrove Tuesday," with Shrove being an old word that means "to confess sins." They'd go to church, confess their sins, and then head home to party. The New Orleans party lasts ten days, and consists of parades, costumes, beads, and masks. Lent itself is the 40 day period (not counting Sundays) which remind Christians of how Jesus spent praying and fasting in the wilderness, and lastas from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. On Ash Wednesday, some people wear ashes on their heads as crosses, which remind them of their sorrows for committing sins. Those ashes are made by burning the palm branches of the previous year's Palm Sunday (a week before Easter).

Let's start off with the POLITICS. Last month marked the first Mardi Gras party in New Orleans since hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast. The clean-up continues, and some residents are returning. And some residents staying in hotels have had their financial assistance cut off by FEMA, because they didn't refile for more assistance. Still devastating, one might say.

And, of course, it's still devastating in Iraq; especially 3 years later. 3 years ago this month, Iraq was "shocked and awed" when President Bush (the son) decided to finish up what his dad began, by sending US troops into Iraq to liberate the country of Saddam. And of Saddam, Bush claimed "this is the same person who tried to kill my dad." Bush still claims there was a link between Saddam Hussein and 9-11, AND that he had WMD's (now we know those are FALSE). And, while we are still debating whether or not it was right to go to war with Iraq; there's also a debate on whether or not supporting the war means supporting the troops. Here's my take on it: You can oppose the war and support the troops at the same time (like Cindy Sheehan is doing). I've opposed the war myself, and I still support the troops. But, like everyone else, I'm hoping the leaders in DC will come up with some sort of timetable for the troops to come home. Now, it will take time to bring the troops home, but we're starting to get weary of watching the news, only to hear of more and more casualties in Iraq (one example, of course, being Cindy's 24-year old son Casey who died in the war in '04).

Next event that happened one year ago: The death of Terri Schiavo at the end of March (about a week after my 22nd birthday)at age 41. She was the Florida woman that had been in a vegetative state ever since a 1990 collapse from cardiac arrest that left her brain damaged, and the vegetative state didn't come until 3 years later. In 1998, her husband and legal guardian Michael Schiavo wanted the courts to remove the feeding tubes that kept her alive, saying that she wouldn't have wanted to live in that state anymore; but Terri's parents Mary and Robert Schindler opposed that move. It made some local attention, and by 2003, it had garnered national attention. 2 years after that, the it really picked up steam. After many battles in the courts and Congress, it was finally agreed by the courts, that Schaivo's tube removed (and removed it was; after the Schindlers legal options, including urging the President and his FL Gov. Jeb Bush to re-insert the tubes). And, as I stated before, as the tubes were removed, she was off life support, and her life ended at the end of the month. Of course, we all heard that Bush wanted the country to "err on the side of life," and then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay say that "The time will come for these judges to answer for their behavior." But that didn't stop the pro-choice community, but that comment did provoke more violence on judges (especially with 2 judge-related crimes that occured later in 2005).

Next category: NEWS. Another event that happened a year ago that sparked national attention: The Wendy's chili-in-finger case. While eating at a California Wendy's restaurant Anna Ayala, who had a history (if not rap sheet) of filing frivolus lawsuits, alleged that she had found an amputated human finger in her chili and sued the restaurant. After an investigation by the Santa Clara County medical examiner's office and San Jose Police Department, it was determined the finger did not come from a Wendy's employee, or from any employee at the facilities that provided ingredients in the chili. Though early reports suggested that the finger was "fully cooked," the Santa Clara County coroner's office initially concluded that the finger "was not consistent with an object that had been cooked in chili at 170 degrees for three hours." The police investigated the woman's home in Las Vegas, Nevada; in relation to the case, but what, if anything, was found was not immediately disclosed. Rumors ran rampant that Ayala had a dead aunt who might be related to the case, although she denied anyone recently passed on. Ayala claimed the police treated her and her family "like terrorists," acting against her violently, but neighbors downplayed the event. Later, it was also discovered the woman had filed numerous lawsuits against various retail establishments in recent years, adding another level of mystery to the case. But the case was far from over, and you'll find out in the next column.

And continuing with the News, the next event that happened one year ago this month was the end of Martha Stewart's prison sentence, after being convicted of lying about her Inclone stock sale. She was sentenced in October 2004 to 5 months of prison time, and 5 months of house arrest. After all that was said and done, she went on to host an unsuccessful one-season version of The Apprentice (you know who won, look in the January column). She blames Donald Trump, executive producer for his version as well as her version, for her version's dismal ratings. Of course, he says it's her fault. Who's at fault for the show anyway?

And wrapping up the events that happened one year ago this month is the departure of Dan Rather of the CBS Evening News. He plainly had said it was time, after a lot of criticism about his story on Bush's time in the National Guard that aired on the now-defunct 60 Minutes II. He left the network's newsmagazine 48 Hours in 2000, handing over the reigns to Lesley Stahl (a regular on 60 Minutes). Bob Schieffer, who had anchored the weekend edition of the CBS Evening News took over as anchor for the time being. A permanent successor is expected sometime later this year. Stay tuned.

Next category is SPORTS. Another event that happened a year ago and is still sparking some controversy, is the use of Steroids. We watched as Rafael Palmeiro and other stars testified to Congress about whether or not they used steroids or not (with Palmeiro saying "I have never used steroids. Period. I don't know how to say it any more clearly than that. Never."). Even a new book on Barry Bonds says that Bonds himself used steroids. He's denied those allegations, as you are aware. However, with that issue behind a few people, baseball is still going at it, especially with the World Baseball Classic this month. This tournament brings in international MLB greats, like Alex Rodriguez and Roger Clemens, just to name a few. Baseball season starts next month. Stay tuned for that.

Next category is GAME SHOWS. Last month, I talked about the Jeopardy Ultimate Tournament of Champions, and some of the players. For the next few months, I'll be profiling a few of the best competitors. You all know about Ken Jennings, since he's been in the news a lot.

Let's start with Eric Newhouse, who, at the time of his Teen Tournament win in 1989, was a junior from Sioux City, IA. He had seen the first Teen Tournament in 1987; and Michael Galvin of Shaker Heights, OH, became the first winner of the $25K top prize. After watching that, Eric decided to try out for the show. He sent in the requesite number of postcards, and didn't make it that time. He tried again next season, and made it. By the end of the tournament, he would take home $28,100 (that's $3100 more than the top prize!). He wound up returning for the Teen Reunion Tournament in 1998 (which broadcast from Boston and featured the past winners of every Teen Tournament), and won $50,000 (double the usual top prize for the tournament). He would also make it to the finals in the Million Dollar Masters Tournament in 2002 (which broadcast from Radio City Music Hall in the Big Apple and brought back every single memorable player of past TOC's). You'll find out how that goes in a later column.

Another competitor I'd like to focus on is Brad Rutter. He was a college student who first appeared on Jeopardy during the 2000-01 season, and won $55,102 and a pair of Camaros (from '97-'03, those who won 5 days in a row also got a brand new car. For the first few seasons, winners chose from Chevys, and '03 winners got a Jaguar). He then came back for the 2001 TOC, and won the $100,000 top prize; and then came back for the Million Dollar Masters Tournament (which you'll find out more about in a later column), and at the time of that, he was a network administrator. He then went onto host his own quiz show "InQuizitive with Brad Rutter" at his local high school, and he would put those skills to the test once again; as he got a bye into Round 2 of the Ultimate Tournament Of Champions (and you'll only get the results for the Finals, as those are the games that matter and are the only ones on the DVD. Those results shall come later).

Another recognizable Jeopardy name is Frank Spangenberg. He was a transit cop from Flushing, NY at the time of his appearance on the show in 1990. He was the first player to win over $100,000 (actual total was $102,597; adjusted to reflect clue values of that era of $100-$500 in first round and $200-$1000 in second). He also had the highest one-day record of $30,600. On the DVD, he mentioned that with his winnings, he would've used it for a down payment on a house and would also go back to school (and like other contestants, he brought 3 changes of clothes; that included 4 neckties. He used all 4!). He would come back for the Tournament of Champions later in the year and win $5K for being a semifinalist, ABC's Super Jeopardy and win $5,000 from that. He then popped up in the 10th Anniversary Tournament in 1993 and win $41,800 (his total score of $16,800+$25K bonus). He would then get promoted to NYPD Lieutenant and then appear on the Million Dollar Masters Tournament and get $10K for being a quarterfinalist, and then appear in the Ultimate Tournament of Champions and win a total of $105,199 from that (got a bye to Round 2 and won $25,800 from that, $34,399 in Round 3, and made it to the Round 4 semifinals where he would get knocked out by Jerome Vered and add another $30,000 for his 2nd place finish).

Speaking of Jerome Vered, he's next on my list. A writer from LA, he first appeared on the program in 1992, and won $96,801 in 5 days (including setting a new one-day record of $34K). He then came back the following season for the TOC, and won $7500 as a semifinalist. He would then come back for the Ultimate Tournament Of Champions, and make it through all 5 rounds. You'll hear more from him in the later column.

Last on my list for this column is Bob Verini. An actor from NY, he appeared on the show in 1987, and won $46,802 in 5 days. He would later win the $100,000 grand prize in the TOC that season, and then come back to compete on Super Jeopardy, where he finished 2nd and won $50,000 (Bruce Seymour won the $250,000 prize). Later, he became a film journalism teacher and would then go on to compete in the Million Dollar Masters and make it to the finals (that shall come later, I shall not spoil it), and get a bye to the second round of the UTOC, and win $25K.

Well, that's it for now. I'll profile more players later. Until then, this is John Lee saying, "GO HOME!"