Thanksgiving and Thankstaking

I, and my family, had a rip roaring thanksgiving. We spilled beer all over, woke the dead and lit things on fire. But, like all holidays, we must return to the mundane world known as real life.

For starters, did you check out the ads? My paper, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, left something to be desired. There were seriously only a handful of ads. It was pathetic! Besides that, there is an interesting change in store policies. Some stores are remaining open and then others, will open for abbreviated hours this evening. Comp USA will be open tonight from 9 till midnight. I think this is shitty. These retail employees usually bask in the joy that at least they ain't working on Thanksgiving. Tomorrow they will work in the hell known as Black Friday. I feel they are being cheated. But thats just me.

Earlier this week I posted that an article about an ailing former Russian Spy was a complicated story. It is, but it is further complicated by the fact that the spy, Alexander Litvinenko, has died. At about 3.30 CST, he passed away in a London hospital. It is believed Litvinenko may have been poisoned by the Russian Government whom he is also quite critical of. Anyways, I feel bad that he has passed away. He was an upstanding guy who was holding firm on his principles. There are few who would take the path he did and I totally respect that. I offer my condolencses to his family.

And CNN finally wrote an article about him that didn't need rereading.

Back on this day in 1954, the DOW finally got above its previous peak set before the crash of 1929. It only took 25 years to do it. We have recently accomplished a similar feat but in a much shorter period.

Also on this day, in 1963, Doctor Who, one of the best Science-Fiction television series (and stories... its always about the stories), ever, premiered on the BBC.

And since its Thanksgiving, with football games and all, on this day, Doug Flutie, when he was a quarterback for Boston College, threw a Hail Mary against the University of Miami with 6 seconds on the clock. He succeeded and Boiston College won the game 47-45. Flutie also was awarded the Heisman Trophy that year. What year was it? It was 1984.

That's all. Hope everyone's Thanksgiving was good and safe. Have a good start to holiday shopping. And remember to buy me something for Chanakah! Or Christmas depending on what you believe...

Don't touch me!

I swear to G-d, I woke up and found myself in the news of the 80's. It just sounded like the average news of like say 1986. Here's a run-down!

Lebanese Christian Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel was assasinated. This can only be bad news for the already politically fractured nation. To top it off, he was a part of the anti-Syrian majority. President Bush has declared this a further act by Iran and Syria to promote instability in the unstable nation.

A school bus went off an overpass in Alabama, Monday. Up to now, four people have died, all teenage girls. The bus was carrying 40 students from Huntsville' Lee High School. THe accident may have been caused by another Lee High student driving a Toyota Celica that drifted into the School bus' lane and forced the bus into the barrier where it drove for 100 feet before dropping off. The Celica had two flat tires but it is unclear whether these caused the accident or were caused by the accident.

Political News: As if President George Walker Bush needed more bad news.... In a recent poll, only 1 in 4 respondents felt he was a better president than his father, George Hebert Walker Bush (Where do they get Walker anyway? Is it a Texan thing?).

UCLA, the conspicuous new Ivy out there near the San Diego Freeway (how I miss you LA!), has had an interesting incident involving tasers, a library and an Iranian-American student. No joke! Mostafa Tabatabainejad, 23 and a student using the Powell Library on campus, was tasered 5 times by UCDP officer Terrence Duren. The incident in question occured late, around 11:30, on November 14th when Duren asked to see Tabatabainejad's student ID. At 11 the libraries close to the public and only staff, faculty and students are allowed to use the facility. It is a common practice to assure that those remaining in the building have the right to be there. Apparently, Tabatabainejad was singled out and told to leave. Whether he was able to produce proper ID is unknown. There is a video of the incident here. Tabatabainejad has filed a lawsuit against the school and an investigation is underway.

If you do go to the YouTube site keep in mind these facts when reading the comments: 1. It is public proberty, thereby a collective good. This means all can use it without directly contributing to its upkeep (though Californians do through high taxes). At certain times however, access is restricted to staff, faculty and students only. 2. At most colleges, particularly state schools here in the US, a student ID is required and security or campus police may ask for it when ascertaining whether you are a student or faculty or whatever. 3. We do not know if the UCDP were requesting to see other patrons' IDs at the time. Racial profiling may have occured. It also may not have. 4. Tabatabainejad is not a Muslim, contrary to popular belief. He is of the Bahá'í Faith. If your knowledge of this cool religion is meager, please go here. 5. the Police officers are in the University of California Police Department, not the Los Angeles Police Department. 6. The type of Tazering used was the Drive Stun which uses direct contact rather than electrodes that shoot out and attach themselves to the victim. It is incredibly painful but shocks a body part rather than the whole body and nervous system. It is possible to remain standing upon being tazered in this manner. Keep these facts in mind when viewing the clip.

Winner of most complicated article that cannot be understood on single reading: Ex-Russian spy 'may have radioactive poisoning'. Go CNN!

Traffic: It will suck. 83% of Thanksgiving travellers are predicted to drive rather than fly, take the train or steamship. We like our cars and global warming has now made November snowfalls obsolete. Enjoy!

TomKat: please go away. They were married in LA and then flew to Italy to have their religious ceremony there. Brooke Shields, despite Tom Cruise's allegations that her use of anti-depressants to combat post-partem depression was ludicrous on national television, was in attendance. As was most of the starry-eyed Italian public and papparazzi the world over. Now, can we stop paying attention to them? Or do we have to convert to Scientology?

For all you nerds out there, Peter Jackson will not be making "The Hobbit". New Line Cinema has decided to go in a different direction and it will not be with the Oscar-winning New Zealand directior (who is looking quite a bit better these days). There is an ongoing dispute betwixt NEw Line and Jackson over salary. He reportedly was shorted a cool $100M in payment over the Lord of the Rings and the subsequent DVD grosses. Its kind of sad because he'd at least keep a consistent style.

Sad Note: Robert Altman, the guy who made M*A*S*H* (I even got all the asterisks in there!) died yesterday in Los Angeles. He was 81.