BOG IT BLOG

Democratic Party Up In The Air!

I do not envy the authorities in the Democratic Party. With the current groundbreaking primary winding down, the worst-case scenario for Democrats is coming to pass. Most pundits are predicting that the party convention will be probably the most devisive in history! What do you expect when you have the first electable African-American and the first bonafide Female candidate going head-to-head. This remarkable race has become a remarkable nightmare for the super delegates of the party.

On one hand, you have Hillary Clinton, someone that ultra-conservatives vilify on a daily basis. Also she has the unique baggage of being a rather assertive female. The b-word has been used often when conversation is directed toward the candidate. Sometimes it seems to be more a chauvinistic knee-jerk reaction by people (mostly men) still not comfortable with the idea of a woman president. It is a no win situation. She is being portrayed either as a 'ball-buster" or a "wimpy female". So she has her own balancing act to perform.

If all the controversy wasn't enough, add her opponent, Barack Obama. A gentleman whose father was of African descent, while his mother was Caucasian. Obama is a very brilliant politician. But his possible downfall may not be of his own doing. As being labeled as an African-American he comes up against the lingering shadow of racism in this country. Let's face it. There is still an outline of what Black-Americans have experienced over the years. It is sad that we seem to be still one generation away from brushing away the Jim Crow racism of the south. Most indications show little animosity among younger voters against the man. However, there isn't the same overall acceptance with older white voters. And to make matters worse, Reverend Wright's ranting has brought out the sores on both sides, which still hasn't totally healed. How we even label race in this country needs to change.

To show you how racism is institutionlized, consider this.. Obama is half white, and half black, but since the system considers him 'tainted' with African-American ancestry, we as a society, consider him a Black-American. It is not fair to consider him that way, since he is just as much Caucasian as he is of African descent. As long as we agree to such classifications, there will always be unintentional racism practiced in this country. It will only change when race becomes irrelevant and meaningless in our daily lives.

Battle For Pluto

Even though the main-stream media hub-bub has died down, there still is a very active campaign to reinstate dwarf planet Pluto to the solar system top dog list. In 2006, the Astronomical Union decided to demote the planet because it is similar to other outer edge rocks in a different type of orbit than the other eight established planets. It was decided that it would be unfair to keep it as a full planet when there are other rocks just as small.

There is an active group of astronomers who are not complying with the IAU directive. Many of them believe that the planet should still be considered a full planet just because it should be their decision to make that determination, and not a group of scientific administrators in a far-away boardroom. Many believe that the way classifications are made should be overhauled.

Mark Sykes of John Hopkins University, one of the Pluto lovers, is planning a symposium on the subject in the near future. It will be centered on how classifications are coded, and what will they do if these disagreements become a permanent fracture in the scientific community.

In the mean time, little on that cold dwarf planet could notice the firestorm it has created among so called 'smart people' here on this warm planet.

Saturday Comedy: Jeff Dunham

I thought it would be a nice idea to get away from the weekday mundane for a little treat on a Saturday morning. Since there is a plethora of good comedy routines being 'U-Tubed', thought it would be nice to highlight one on the ole blog. This week's edition is Jeff Dunham. Who said Ventriloquism is dead? Dunham has helped keep this form of humor on the comedy stage for quite a few years. His characters are well known around the world. His previous 'Comedy Central' Special "Arguing With Myself" was one of the most highly rated shows in the channel's history. He has another special slated for September called "Spark Of Insanity". Well anyways here is a small clip with his best known character 'Walter'....

"Arguing With Myself" is currently out on DVD and his next special is scheduled for Comedy Central on September 23rd.

The Eternal Joys of Bubble-Wrap!

As an old guy, I take special enjoyment in the simple things in life. Usually because they are cheap and readily available. One of the greatest pastimes in my meager existence these days is the delivery of my life-sustaining medicines. Since they are delivered in a cooled box, I have the overwhelming pleasure of recieving a regular delivery of Bubble-Wrap. To hell with the drugs, the wrapping is what is really important. The delivery usually puts me into a euphoric state of glee for at least a day. Like I said, I revel in the simple things in life. Especially since I am a cheap .......!

Now, as a good grandfather, I try to instill in my grandchildren the lessons I have learned in life. High on that list is that you NEVER EVER throw away a sheet of Bubble-Wrap before all are popped. It is a moral imperative! Every so often they even ship me the new tiny bubble versions which could last me a couple of days. Ah, the wonders of modern society! Once they sent the package filled with those stupid styro-foam peanuts which I swear are actually alive! They tend to spread out in every nook and crany of your room, daring you to hunt them down. That delivery was one of the low moments of my life. But thank goodness, they went back to wrap!

I got word recently of a new gadget from our friends across the Pacific. It seems that the Japanese are just as addicted to the Bubble-Wrap High as I am. They have come out with a key-chain toy that simulates the popping of a plastic bubble. It is called the "Eternal Poppety-Pop". Also in Japan, this addiction has helped launch a whole new product line including 'Scented' Bubble-Wrap, Star and Heart shaped Bubble Wrap, and even sheets that are engineered to make an exceptionally large pop when squashed. Most of these inovations come from a toy laboratory called the Poppety-Pop Culture Laboratory. The laboratory has even released a CD with various 'Bubble-Wrap' songs.

It is sad that there are no plans at the moment to import these products. But you never know. In the meantime, I got another delivery coming this Friday. I can just feel my heart pitter-pat at the thought!

New York Mets has been 'Rickrolled'!

The New York Mets are the latest casualty in the Internet phenomenon called "Rickrolling". For some stupid reason beyond my mental faculties, there is an evil campaign to spread the Rick Astley 80's song called "Never Gonna Give You Up". This reject of the me-generation Leisure Suit Larry era has been building up momentum around the world. It is a prime example of the Blogging phenomenon in which hundreds of well-read bloggers ask their readers to irrevelantly vote for a contest, placing their approval on some obscurity.

The latest campaign:

The New York Mets started an online contest to change their 8th inning sing-a-long song. The ballot selections included the Monkees, I'm A Believer, Foundations, Build Me Up Buttercup, Livin' On A Prayer by Bon Jovi, Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline and Movin' Out by Billy Joel. The "Never Gonna Give You Up" write-in vote garnered over 5 million votes, overwhelmingly out-pacing the competition. Since then, the tally has supposedly made the organization to claim that the Internet vote was only to 'help' select the song, not the final decision. The baseball club will have a series of 'auditions' of various songs at the stadium. The one with the best crowd response will be selected.

"Rickrolling" actually started last year when, as a joke, people put up links to popular websites.The links instead would play Rick Astley's video. It became such a massive joke, that it even started spreading into the real world. Anti-Scientology groups of the UK started using the song as their anthem.

Rick Astley is a British singer from Lancaster England. He has stayed rather low-key about the whole thing. Recently he stated the campaign has been "a little spooky". Anyways, here is the offending video...

It will be interesting to know where this mindless aberration will turn up next. It is a common fact that my brain refuses to remember most of the 80s... so tell me, was the music really this bad then, or is this a unique scourge on modern society???

'Old Folks At Home' Will Stay!

A little note this morning... if you haven't heard, the year long campaign to eliminate 'Suwanee River' as the state song has been concluded. Considering how much backlash there was of people not wanting it changed, and as a compromise, the newly selected song "Florida - Where Sawgrass Meets The Sky" will become the State Anthem, while the old Stephen Foster tune will stay as the State Song with a few well-placed alterations.

It is nice to see that a reasonable compromise has been agreed upon. Considering some of the local media outlets were really pushing the change, it is satisfying to see that it all came down to what the public wanted. And not what was suggested by some who had little regard for Florida tradition.

This state's racist past needs to be remembered. And the historical reminders and traditions of multi-generational Floridians need to be preserved also. Native American history here in Florida is woefully ignored. The Calusa and Carib tribes were pretty much wiped out here in this state. Also very little is taught of the Seminole Nation. Most residents have little knowledge of them these days, except for the casinos. It is shameful how little is taught about the native people of this peninsula. Just as there is a Black History Month designation to further the knowledge of what African-Americans suffered through, there should be something similar setup for the Native-Americans and their history in Florida.

Previous Blog Entry:

Way Down Upon The "Ole Brother"!

Scream-A-Rama

You know, I tend to gravitate towards the quirky B-movies when it comes to my video collecting. Afterall, a copy of Bwana Devil would be far more interesting on your shelf than an often-bought copy of Pirates of the Caribbean. My DVD library is at 600 plus and many are of the less viewed offers. If you are going to buy a DVD, look for what the herd has passed by. In the long run your library would be more valuable and much more enjoyable. The best genre for collection is the 50s Sci-fi and Horror films. There are quite a few available on DVD these days.

Some of my favorites are The Thing (From Another World) in 1951, in which James Arness (Gunsmoke) plays a plant-like alien killing his way through a group of scientists near the North Pole.

Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954), in which a gill breathing 'missing-link' gets the hots for a girl who already has a boyfriend. It has it all, love, slime, wet ugly monster, screams, and many deaths. What else would you want in a movie!

Invaders From Mars (1953) was one of those Saturday afternoon movies that left an imprint on me. After watching the scene where the little girl falls underground through the sand , for months afterwards, I would not step on open sand. When you are seven years old, these old movies could do a lot to your psyche.

There is a reason I am reminiscing about this aspect in my library. I read recently that one of the 'Scream Queens' has died. It is almost universal, that a grade B-monster movie had to have one really good blood-curdling scream somewhere between the credits. There was a group of ladies that were experts in putting out a real gully-washer for the audience. In most cases, their acting ability was poor. But they made up for it by their blood-vessel popping yells. The fame has been rather fleeting, their names barely remembered.

However, there were main-stream actors that did the scream thing such as Elsa Lancaster, Fay Ray, Caroline Munro, and Jamie Lee Curtis. But they were not known for their screaming ability. That was not their forte. The true 'Scream Queen' was one who was hired specifically for that singular capability. Some of these remarkable ladies were Ingrid Pitt, Soledad Miranda, Beverly Garland, Barbara Shelley, Alison Hayes and Hazel Court.

Now Hazel Court was known as the "Queen of Screams". The British actor was best known for The Raven and the Masque of The Red Death. She even wrote an auto-biography called "Hazel Court - Horror Queen". She died of a heart-attack on Tuesday, she was 82 years old. One of the trademarks of monster/horror movies of the time, there was very little blood and guts. Unlike many of the later films, 50's movies were strictly under the Hollywood censorship umbrella. Directors had to use inuendo and other means to get the fear into the audience. One of the best tools was a well placed ear-popping scream from one of these grand ladies. Having some of these films in your library helps spice up your selection.

Like I said before, the value of these films will increase over the years, especially when they are no longer available.

The 'Nine Old Men' Are Gone!

Last of Walt Disney's core animators has died. Ollie Johnston was one of the group Disney called his "Nine Old Men". These men were responsible for much of the golden era of animation. Ollie Johnston started working for Walt in 1935. He animated or directed on over 20 feature length films, including the prize of the Disney Vault, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. He worked on company projects up to his retirement in 1978. He also co-authored 4 books including a landmark definitive book on Disney animation.

It is sad to hear of their final passing, but they do leave a legacy that will be honored for centuries to come. Each of the nine were responsible for developing various characters at Disney. To better know who they were, here is a rundown of each and what they became known for...

• Les Clark: started with Disney in 1927, he was responsible for the animations of Mickey Mouse. He died in 1979.




• Eric Larson: started in 1933, he developed Peter Pan's flight over London, Character Peg in Lady and the Tramp, and Braer characters in Song of the South. His death came in 1988.




• Frank Thomas: started working for Disney in 1934. He developed the characters of Captain Hook in Peter Pan, the Queen in Alice In Wonderland, and the wicked Stepmother in Cinderella. He died in 2004.




• Ward Kimball: he also joined Disney in 1934. His characters were the Chesire Cat in Alice In Wonderland, Lucifer, Jaq and Gus in Cinderella. He left us in 2002.




• Milt Kahl: started working also in 1934. He also worked on Snow White, and created Shere Kahn in the Jungle Book. Also credited for creating Edgar the Butler in Aristocrats, and Madame Medusa in The Rescuers. His death was in 2000.




• Wolfgang Reitherman: started working for Disney in 1935. He created the Crocodile in Peter Pan, The Dragon in Sleeping Beauty and the Rat in Lady And The Tramp. He directed all the films after Disney's death until his retirement in 1980. He later died in 1985.




• John Lounsbery: began working for Disney in 1935. He was an inspiration to many animators that followed him. He created Ben Ali Gator in Fantasia, the Elephants in The Jungle Book, Father in Peter Pan, Tony and Joe in Lady And The Tramp. He was later promoted to director. He left us in 1976.




• Marc Davis: He started in 1935. He is another of the animators that worked on Snow White. He created Bambi and Thumper in Bambi, Maleficent and the Raven in Sleeping Beauty, and Cruella Deville in One Hundred and One Dalmations. He is also responsible for developing the characters in the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of Caribbean rides at the Disney Parks. He died in 2000.




• Ollie Johnston: He also started in 1935. He created Mr. Smee in Peter Pan, the Stepsisters in Cinderella and Prince John in Robin Hood. He was co-author (with Frank Thomas) of four books on the animation trade. His death on Monday closed the book on this remarkable group of people.

It is sad to hear that they are all gone now. But lets face it, very few of us actually knew them. But it is comforting to know that we will never forget the 'children' they spawned. Can any of us have our life's work immortalized like theirs? Long after all of us are vague memories to our descendants, the product of their love will still be known and admired.

Peace River Cleanup!

Lorrie Delk Walker of Tales From The Dark Side went on a canoe trek down the Peace River recently and was disgusted at how much trash along the waterway. Being the whirling dirvish she is, she has created a cleanup day in conjunction with "Keep Polk County Beautiful". All the gloves and bags will be provided. Even a dumpster by the City of Bartow will be available at the Canoe Landing on Hiway 60 in Bartow. It all takes place on Saturday, April 26th, starting at 9 a.m. At that time a safety briefing by the Polk County Sheriff's Office Environmental Crimes Unit will be conducted and then the fun will begin.

This is a good moment for one of my vaguely relevant memories of my younger days. Back in my Scuba days, I used to go artifact diving down various rivers here in Florida. Used to get indian arrowheads, petrified ivory and mastadon bones. I don't ever remember being in the Peace River, but do remember being in it's sister river the Alafia many times. Once I dived under the bridge on Hiway 640 near Lithia Springs, the shore at the time looked a lot like Lorrie's pictures of the Peace River. It was to my amazement that there was a battered old Volkswagen Beetle, a couch, a chair, and a couple of washers sunk in the river. The trash was worse under the water than it was on top. I am afraid that the Peace River might be the same. It would be nice if someone with the equipment and credentials could do a little collection from under the waterline. That might be too much to hope, but it isn't too much to ask.

Anyways:
If you have a Jon Boat, Kayak or Canoe, and would like to help out, be sure to email Lorrie before 5 p.m. Monday, April 21st.

• What: Good Natured People with small boats needed for Trash Cleanup


• Date: April 26, 2008
• Time: 9 a.m.
• Where: Peace River Canoe Landing
• Address: Hiway 60 in Bartow
• Contact: Lorrie Delk Walker
• Email: lorrie@lorriewalker.com
• RSVP: contact her by 5 p.m. Monday April 21,2008


Be sure to help out, it is a very worthy cause.

Raul Means Change In Cuba

There is a new wind blowing across the Caribbean island of Cuba. Ever since Fidel Castro stepped down and relinquished power to his brother, a new wave of reform has gripped the empoverished island. Whether all this is because of Raul himself, or the inevitable disapearance of the older generation, no one can say for certain. And maybe it is an unconscious acceptance that with Raul only a few years younger than Fidel, change will come, one way or another.

Even though there is a long way to go, the island's citizen restrictions are starting to fall away. Here is a list of what has happened recently....

• Agriculture has now limited privatization. Farmers now have more say on what they can grow, and what to buy for planting.
• Yesterday, for the first time, an average citizen can now own a cell phone. Even though it cost 3/4 years wages, there was a large line down the street at ETECSA, the state-run telephone company.
• Cubans now can stay (if they have the money) at the best resorts on the island. Before, only tourists with foreign cash could stay at the resorts.


• Household and electronic appliances can now be bought and used. Due to limited energy sources, a ban had once been in place restricting all use by most island residents.
• An individual has no restrictions on how much they can earn. Before, the state controlled how much a person could be worth. This freedom may someday help bring this nation out of its niche as one of the most empoverished countries in the new world.
• Cubans will be able to actually own their home, and farmers will be able to lease unused land so to increase their crop.

Also some of the reforms hinted at for the future, is the easing of traveling restrictions and the ability of buying new cars. All these changes are good. And I believe it will eventually help bring the political structure to something more democratic.

As for what all this will do to us, Cuba's closest neighbor, is anyone's guess. For what I have seen and heard over the years, it would be a great destination for many of us in the years to come. And the opening of such a needy market right in our own backyard will probably bring a great boost to Florida's economy.

Taxing Excuses

Tomorrow is the day that many of us dread each year. After the much publicized trial of Wesley Snipes, and with our Federal Income Tax Returns again due in the mail, it always amazes me that there are individuals out there willing to claim they don't need to file. On this occasion, I'd like to take a moment to show you some of the top excuses used for not filing according to various sites on the Internet... here is a synopsis..

• Wages aren't really Income: That labor or personal service wages is a barter, not a profit, so it cannot be considered income. Trust me, the government makes no such distinction.
• IRS is not a Real Agency of the US: Even though Congress didn't vote on its creation, the Treasury Secretary has the right to make any agency that helps him accomplish his constitutional obligation.
• Income Tax Laws are Unconstitutional: Your right, there is no place in the constitution that provides guidelines for tax collection. However, the Sixteenth Amendment does give the government the right to create and enforce income tax laws. (NOTE: Florida did not ratify the amendment)
• I will not Pay Taxes, it is Against my Religion: The First Admendment ensures that everyone can worship as they believe, but it doesn't allow a person to negate their obligation to pay for the privilege of living in this country.
• Filing A Return is Optional: Since it is a 'Volunteer' Tax system, don't file, you won't owe... however, the statement of a 'Volunteer' system is meant that you must volunteer your personal data, not whether you have a choice in paying what you owe.

Well, that is some of the top ill-fated excuses given to the government these days. A couple of them seem comedic. I assure you, these people are dead serious. If you look around the Net, you will find quite a few more. Just remember, whatever your justification, the government makes the final determination. Many will rue the acceptance of such excuses when law-enforcement comes knocking at their door.

Land Speed Battle

London papers are touting a battle-royale for the world land-speed record currently held by Great Britain. A legitmate opponent has finally developed a car for a run at the record here on this side of the pond. The North-American Eagle team, a conglomeration of Canadian and American engineers and hobbyists are expected to attempt to capture the speed record this fall.

Recently, the Times in London announced that this new-world upstart is looking for a pilot for the craft. And they report that the team is even willing to consider a European entrant. Of course the article is written in the customary stiff-upper lip air of superiority. Now whether this team has a chance still remains to be seen.

The North-American Eagle is a 56 ft. 42,500 Horsepower craft which was molded from an old F-104 Starfighter Jet literally rescued from the garbage heap. Everytime a test run is done, it will use up nearly $18,000 in parts. So having enough money for this attempt has been the biggest hurdle. It has taken the team nearly 10 years of work on this craft and are confident of its ability.

If everything is finalized they should make the jab at the title in Nevada later this year. US teams have held the title from the mid sixties until 1983. Another Brit broke the record again in 1997 being the first to go faster than the speed of sound on the ground.

Other than the Times report, I find no other mention of a talent search. It could be a little bit of British humor on their part. Hopefully, there will be some national media coverage of the attempt. Afterall, it took them 10 years to prepare for this event.

Grady Judd, Media Star!

Yesterday, Circuit Judge J. Michael McCarthy put a gag order on Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, effectively limiting a media jauggernaut that has monopolized national law enforcement news the past 30 days. Sheriff Judd's mug has been disseminated high and low with four national profile investigations. It sure makes you wonder what he has on the docket for May. If you have been in hermit mode lately, here is a rundown of media sightings of the man and his department...

• March 20, 2008: The Polk County Sheriff's Department announced the arrest of 21 suspects after a six month investigation into Internet child pornography. The investigation collected over 100,000 photos and 500 videos.
• April 4, 2008: An investigation into a motorcycle theft crime ring netted 11 suspects and that now-famous image of Grady Judd holding that rocket launcher which has been seen all over the world.
• April 7, 2008: A two-week sex sting netted nearly a dozen men on various charges of internet solicitation when they arrived at a 'sting' house expecting an underage girl to answer.
• April 8, 2008: Polk Sheriff Grady Judd releases in a press-conference, the now-famous video of a brutal beating by a group of girls on a former friend. In the process, Judd did the national media circuit of morning talk shows all over the world. It was an impressive tour-de-force by the county sheriff.

Now many are complaining, including a circuit judge, that the sheriff is doing all this for the publicity. Afterall, he is an elected official. But myself personally, I welcome his efforts. I would rather be informed than ignorant of the crime in this county. And maybe by speaking out, the sheriff might discourage others from doing the same.

My only misgiving is that people will hear of Polk County so much that they would think that we are a hot-bed of criminal activity. As for the meth trade, they might be right. However, for everything else, I'd say we are far less lawless than our neighboring big city counties. But I am impressed by the massive agenda that Judd's department has taken on. It is tough to keep all the plates in the air at one time... but adding more is downright impressive.

Of course I am truly biased in my praise of the Sheriff's Department. I have a son working in Law Enforcement and see what the toll of such work can put on a person. More often than not, most county sheriffs are elected and usually are not as aggressive as Judd has turned out to be. Most wait for crime to come to their desk. Judd and the Polk County Sheriff's Office has repeatedly went out searching for criminal activity. I as a citizen, take this moment to applaud their efforts!

Tradition at Sun N' Fun

It is an annual ritual for most of us here in Lakeland. And an absolute necessity for thousands of airplane enthusiasts around the world. The Sun N' Fun EAA Fly-In is one of the biggest happenings in the Tampa Bay area. I, along with thousands of others will trek to Lakeland's Linder Airport for some of the air shows and over 500 exhibits that will take throughout this week. To find out more about what is happening the rest of the week, be sure to check it out on the web..... Sun N' Fun

Being a history hound, I love the warbirds the most. There is nothing more fascinating than going up close to a gull-wing F4 Corsair, or watching the takeoff of a P-51 Mustang. To hear the heavy sound of those engines, you can just feel the power within these wonderful beasts. If you only get to go once to the Fly-In, be sure to catch one of the shows this weekend when the Thunderbirds are expected to perform.

Classical Music Stand-Up

I thought I'd highlight one of the more unique comedy teams in the world. Exposure here in the US of Igudesman and Joo is rare. However you can see a lot of their stage act on YouTube. They are unique by adding slapstick with classical music.

Aleksey Igudesman and Richard Hyung-Ki Joo have been buddies since childhood. Each are accomplished musicians with resumes of composing, comedy and conducting. Igudesman has done work for Disney and Colombia Pictures. Joo has worked on music with Billy Joel and has worked with various Philharmonic Orchestras around the world.

Their break-out concert tour "A Little Nightmare Music" started in 2004 in which it is currently working it's way around the world. It is expected to finally arrive in the UK and here in America. A play date has not been announced yet for our neck of the woods, but it shouldn't be long since a poll at their official site is 90 percent FOR their next tour area to be North America.

Well anyways, enough talk.. here is a clip of this most unusual comedy team..

Heston was Hollywood

As you probably have heard by now, Charlton Heston has died. He was considered Hollywood Royalty from the Golden Age of Motion Pictures. His latter-day activism discouraged many fans of his work. But overall his career should stand by itself. He was prolific with starring characters in many a blockbuster.

Most of you will remember him as Moses in The Ten Commandments, or the namesake in Ben-Hur. But when I think of Heston, characters such as General Andrew Jackson (The Buccaneer), Michelangelo (The Agony and the Ecstacy) come to mind. Of course his place in Science Fiction is set also.

At the time he portrayed George Taylor in "Planet Of The Apes", it was considered risky for a main-stream actor to get involved in a Sci-Fi pic. His acceptance of the genre helped open the door for others in Hollywood. The movie itself has since become a classic and another blockbuster in Heston's long resume. Of course he is known for one of those immortal lines in a movie. "Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!".

In his later years, his ultra-conservative views made friends and enemies around the world. Even though I didn't agree with all of his opinions. I did admire his resolve and respected his decision to risk his legacy for what he believed in.

His passing is just another step into history of the Hollywood we all have loved and grown up with. No matter how good future production is, it will never come near to the quality and quantity of the film industry of that Golden Age. And with Charlton Heston's contribution, he will be remembered for centuries to come as a definitive actor and a devoted man of conscience.

Drive-In Memories For 60 Years

Next Friday, Lakeland's Silver Moon Drive-In Theater will be 60 years old. It has survived all the tough times to become the only Drive-In Theater left in Polk County. It is one of only three existing in the Tampa Bay area. Also still in business are the Fun-Lan on Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa (which has been closed at times) and the Joy-Lan on Highway 301 in Dade City. It is interesting that all three were sister theaters under the Floyd Enterprise Theater Company which had existed a few years ago.

I remember my first Drive-In visit was when I was 6 years old, and it was the Lakeland Drive-In located down South Lakeland. It was located on South Florida Avenue near Haverty's Furniture Store. Of course, it is long gone with nothing left to show that it ever existed. That isn't the case for many of the other 'Dark' Drive-Ins. For instance, The Lake Haines Drive-In entrance is barely visible on Hiway 92 between Lake Alfred and Haines City. It has since been taken over by another business.

The second time I went to a Drive-In was later that year and it was at the Silver Moon. I, along with many residents in this area have a special love for the place. It was a great hangout for kids and young adults. And a cheap night out for many of us middle-class kids limited in entertainment dollars. And saying that a lot of debauchery took place at the theater is not very accurate. Most teenagers went to the drive-in in groups or with family. It was one of the few places where the whole family could go for fun. Now I won't say that young people didn't get a little rowdy at times. Once at the Lake Haines Drive-In, we stuffed 3 people in a trunk, so that eight of us could get into the place. But I don't remember anyone ever being thrown out for mischief.
Now it is a shame that most of the theaters of my formulative years have closed. I went to just about all of them at one time or another... Here is a list of the ones I do remember....

• Lakeland Drive-In Theater, South Florida Avenue, Lakeland Florida
• Silver Moon Drive In, Hiway 92, Lakeland Florida
• Filmland Drive-In, Lakeland Hills Blvd., Lakeland Florida
• Starlite Drive-In, Hiway 39, Plant City Florida
• Fun-Lan Drive-In, Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa Florida
• Skyway Drive-In, Causeway Blvd., Tampa Florida
• Hillsboro Drive-In, Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa Florida
• Tower Drive-In, Florida Avenue, Tampa Florida
• Haven Dale Drive-In, off Havendale Blvd., Winter Haven, Florida
• Lake Haines Drive-In, Hiway 92, Haines city, Florida
• Joy-Lan Drive-In Theater, Hiway 301, Dade City, Florida

In my life I have gone to all more than once, but went to Silver Moon, Starlite, and Lake Haines the most. There were few differences between them. Some had better concessions and better speakers. Others would have playground equipment under the screen, which would entice families to come early so the kids could play before nightfall. But I don't remember a bad time at any of them.

As for the 60 year anniversary of the Silver Moon, it will not pass without some festivities. You can expect the local media to do a sound-bite about it. And maybe even a larger piece about the plight of the Drive-In. Hopefully the Ledger will do something nice to mark this milestone. Now the theater itself is planning a big hoopla for next Friday and Saturday (April 11-12th) night too.

Even though the marquee is not totally set yet, the first movie on screen 1 will be Grease. I expect the rest will be picked in the next couple of days. As for the night, the first 60 cars into the theater will be given Free Souvenir Cups. Every automobile made in 1948 will get in for free. Also, if you wear a 60th Anniversary Shirt (which has been available lately at the snack bar) you get in for free. Popcorn for both nights will cost only 60 cents. Anyone 60 years old will get in for free. If you can prove that you were born on April 14,1948, you will recieve a yearly pass to the theater. And finally each night at intermission, there will be a $60.00 cash drawing.
I encourage everyone to come out to the Drive-In, if not next week, sometime soon. If you haven't been to one in a while, you will find that the experience has changed. Except for a row or two, the speakers are mostly gone. Nowadays You get your audio through a radio frequency. Also there are usually more than one screen. Silver Moon has two and Fun-Land in Tampa has (or had) four. All in all we need to support this business, or it will go the way of all the others. With limited entertainment diversity in Lakeland, it would be a shame to see this pass into history!

(Note: My first image in this blog is the painting called 'Now Playing'. It depicts the Silver Moon with many of the classic 'Movie' cars that starred in Pictures over the years. Prints are available for purchase at Amos Advantage)

April Fool Aftermath

It is a Springtime right-of-passage to get involved in the chicanery every April 1st. And hopefully you didn't get hood-winked on this annual practical joke day. April Fool's Jokes are something I guess all of us have been caught at one time or another. Perpetrating one is a lot of fun, and we all have gotten pleasure watching someone else get caught. Many an exceptional Fool's Joke has been reported over the years in the media. For the fun of it, here are some of my favorites....

• In 1993, DJ Dave Rickards stated on the air that San Diego's Montgomery Field Airport is the location for an impending emergency shuttle landing. Thousands of commuters headed towards the small airport, causing massive traffic jams lasting over an hour. The police were called in to divert the traffic. The 'gotcha' was increased because there wasn't even a shuttle in orbit at the time. The police decided to bill the radio station for the cost of the additional traffic control.


• In 1994, good ole John Dvorak at PC Computing magazine wrote an article stating that the US Congress was working on a bill that would make it illegal for people to surf the Internet drunk. The bill was described as #040194, with the contact person being 'Lirpa Sloof', which is April Fools spelled backward. The supposed reason for the bill was to stop all drunkeness on highways including the 'Information Super Highway'. Congressmen were so inundated by calls, that Senator Edward Kennedy's office actually sent out a press release denying a rumor that he sponsored the bill.


• In 1959, as Hawaii was becoming state number 50, a local radio station stated as a joke that all income tax paid by the islanders in the past year will be refunded. Thousands believed it, and when told of the hoax, they nearly rioted over the disappointment. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, which had nothing to do with the announcement, decided anyways to state they would never ever do an April Fool's Story.



• One of the most remembered hoaxes was in 1957 when the BBC announced that Swiss farmers have been blessed with a Bumper Spaghetti Crop. An image was displayed showing peasants pulling spaghetti from trees. Hundreds of viewers called asking where they can get their own Spaghetti tree. BBC authorities told them to 'place a spaghetti sprig in a tin can of tomato sauce and hope for the best'. It is acknowledged as the first April Fool's Joke on television.


• And finally, the markets may credit yesterday's rally from an April Fool's Joke gone awry. Doug Kass of Seabreeze Partners, a short seller who is known for his practical jokes, stated that he believed that the markets would bounce back by 26% this year. In reality, he has been predicting an overall drop of value up to 10% this year. He also stated in his memo that crude oil will drop back to $50 or less. Most that know him would of taken all this as a joke, however some of the largest news organizations scanned his memo and repeated his prediction as valid. If they had taken the time to read the last line, it said "Happy April Fool's Day".

I guess everyone has an April Fool's story they could tell, and I've got a couple, but sad to say...

I'm out of time...
(leering smile)