Classic Rant #353 (October 14, 2010): Random Thoughts

I have a bunch of random thoughts today, nothing really that could fill up an entire entry, but noteworthy nonetheless.

Chilean Coal Miners Rescued: This is a great story, but let's see what happens now that the miners are out and about. You can bet that lots of offers will come their way, like movie deals, TV appearances, books, etc. And you just know that there will be squabbling between the principles.

This reminds me of what happened to the survivors of a plane wreck in the Andes ... remember, they had to resort to cannibalism to survive. There was that famous book, "Alive," that purported to show their story, and there were at least two movies, but there were murmurs that a lot of what was featured in the book and movie was actually fictional.

Let's hope that these miners don't lost their heads over their new-found fame.

Cliff Richard Turns 70: This is a big thing in most parts of the world, but not in the U.S. Over here, he had a couple of hit records in the 1970s and that was pretty much it.

However, worldwide, and especially in England, Sir Cliff is to the Brits what Elvis is to us. He is their all-time hitmaker, and nobody is even close. His musical resume spans the last 50-plus years, from rock to pop to standards to religious music.

He is one of the few celebrities who have pretty much kept themselves off the gossip pages for years, because he got on them years ago when he said he was celibate. And the rags just left him alone, as opposed to ...

Gavin Rossdale Admits to Gay Fling: Rossdale admits he had a sexual encounter with gender-bender Marilyn years ago, but he is now married to Gwen Stefani. Why anyone cares about this at this juncture is beyond me, but yesterday, the media was ablaze with headlines about this.

Don't you think it's now between him and his wife, and nobody else?

Paladino Loses Rabbi's Support: This was splashed all over the New York papers yesterday. Carl Paladino, who is running for governor of the Empire State, said the other day that kids were being brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality was a good thing, and then he recanted.

Well, one of the Hasidic rabbis who participated in this news conference, and supposedly wrote part of Paladino's speech, is incensed over Paladino's recanting, and has stopped supported the Republican candidate.

Paladino sticks his foot in his mouth every time he opens it. Even some Republicans are distancing themselves from this guy. Personally, I don't know what to think of him, but governing with foot-in-mouth disease leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Yankees to Face Rangers in ALCS: Now we're talking. This should be a great series, and it might even go seven games. I think the Yankees will win out, but the Rangers have a terrific team and I wouldn't overlook them at all.

My prediction: Yankees in seven, and they will go to the World Series against ...

The San Francisco Giants. This will be a matchup of the teams that played in the 1962 World Series, and it will be a good one.

Let's see what happens.

Rant #1,707: Sights For Sore Eyes

My allergies are getting the best of me today.

My nose is running like an open faucet, and my eyes are bothering me.

It feels like someone punched me in my right eye.

So after I write today's Rant, I will hopefully be able to read the newspaper, probably with some difficulty, and watch a few minutes of the morning news before I trek off to work.

And it is the morning news that I am going to focus on today, and if you are female, you can probably leave this column now, because you aren't going to get much out of this today.

I watch the local news on Channel 2 here in New York, and let me tell you, this station during the morning, and overall, has the best looking female newscasters around these parts.

Yes, I am a male chauvinist, I agree to that, and I won't deny it.

In the morning, when I am just up from sleep yet ready to go for a rough workday, there is nothing nicer on the eyes than seeing these newscasters greet me each morning.

And not only are they good looking, they are very talented, too, which makes their coming into my living room each morning even more special.

The list begins with Mary Calvi, who I think is the best looking newscaster on New York TV. She is great to look at, has a nice voice and demeanor, and when she greets viewers like me in the morning, I am happy.

Then there is Alex Denis, the traffic reporter. who came back to the air a few weeks back after being pregnant and having her child. She has about the nicest smile you will ever see, and she often does news and feature reports, too, so she gets plenty of screen time each morning.

And these are not 20-somethings, either. They are both in their late 30s or early 40s, by my estimation, have been doing their jobs forever, it seems, and just get better looking as they get older.

The reporters in the field are a bit younger, and it seems that the station weens these newer reporters by giving them the early morning rotation spot, and as they get their feet wet, move them to better times in the morning and during the day and evening.

There are several good looking young ladies among this bunch, and the newest one is Magdalena Doris, a blond who looks like she could be a model. She is as easy on the eyes as ice cream is easy on the throat.

Yes, there is a dearth of men on the early morning broadcast, and I think the reason is that the women newscasters snare the male viewers ready to go to work, and women viewers do not find these ladies threatening because they are so good at what they do.

And as you move through the day, well, the pretty get even prettier, and the talented get even more talented.

Dana Tyler and Kristine Johnson do the late afternoon and evening broadcasts, and these women are timeless in their looks.

Also veterans at what they do--Tyler is the "dean of newscaster prettiness," as far as I am concerned, and in her late 50s, looks like she is in her 30s, and Johnson looks like she is in her 20s but is actually in her 40s--you can't go wrong by watching these women deliver the news.

And again, the in-the-field reporters are as good looking as they come throughout the day. Yes, there are more men doing the city beat as the day goes on, but the women simply grab you and don't let go, and for pretty much the same reasons that I listed above.

Every city has its news broadcasts, and traveling around as I have done, in a limited way, I have seen lots of news women ply their trade, but I have to say that New York TV has a lot of news "hotties," and Channel 2 here seemingly has the most.

Again, they are talented ladies who just happen to have a look that is perfect for TV. The camera simply loves them.

And you can't go wrong with that, and don't tell me that photogenics isn't part of the equation when these women are hired.

And it always has been this way, and probably will continue this way.

So yes, I am not being PC perfect here, but I warned you.

I am a male chauvinist, even when it comes to TV news, and you can't beat Calvi, Tyler and the rest on CBS TV here in New York.

You just can't.

Classic Rant #352 (October 13, 2010): So Long

Yesterday, my wife and I attended a funeral.

My wife's longest lasting friend was laid to rest. She had battled cancer for several years, and after a brave struggle, she succumbed over the weekend.

The funeral was held at a cemetery in New Jersey. It was actually a very pretty location, with rolling hills amidst all the headstones and plots.

The service was held at graveside, and the official leading the service was very eloquent in his presentation to those assembled.

He basically said that her death should not be held in vain, that it simply ended a life of resiliency that carried over to her son, her daughter, and the love of her life, her granddaughter.

My wife grew up with her friend, and they remained life-long companions, through thick and thin. There were good times and bad times between them, but they remained friends to the end.

My wife said that the last time she spoke with her friend, just a few weeks ago, it was very difficult to talk with her. Due to her treatment, she was going in and out of coherency during the conversation.

I know my wife told her to keep a positive attitude, but there is only so much that a positive attitude can do.

During the graveside service, there were tears, and some laughter. This person, who I honestly barely knew, left a lot of memories for the assembled, and they let it out, as they should.

The woman's legacy is her family, and they are good people. I know they will make their mother, and grandmother, proud of them as they live their own lives.

And for the others, including my wife, there are lots of memories to behold. And I am sure that those memories will last a lifetime.

Rant #1,706: All-American Passing

How was your Fourth of July?

Mine was good, a bit of relaxation after a couple of busy weeks and months.

We swam in the backyard pool, we barbecued, we had fun while celebrating our country's birthday.

And for me, I went to sleep pretty early, maybe by 8:30 p.m. yesterday night, so I missed all the fireworks.

I was pooped.

But during the day, I heard some bittersweet news. An icon of the Baby Boomers had passed.

If you don't know who Noel Neill was, well, it is time to find out, and you can do it here.

Neill was the first on-screen Lois Lane, playing the role in the serials opposite Kirk Allyn as Superman, and continuing the role in the beloved television series of the same name. She was 95 and died of natural causes.

Ironically, Neill originally set out to be a journalist, pretty much following in the same footsteps as her father. She even wrote for Women's Wear Daily early on in her career, but Hollywood beckoned for her.

She was a singer, and was discovered by Bing and Bob Crosby, signing with Paramount. With her voice, good looks and fantastic figure, she was a natural for the movies, and way before Superman came into view, she played in dozens of Westerns.

She is also the answer to a trivia question: after Betty Grable, whose cheesecake poster was the most popular for G.I.s during World War II? Yes, it was Neill, whose figure graced millions of pinups during the period.

Then, in the late 1940s, she was signed by play Lois Lane in the serials, and her legacy was cemented.

However, she did not play Lois Lane when that role was cast for the TV series. That role went to another talented and beautiful actress, Phyllis Coates.

However, fate won out here too.

Coates was cast in another series, and this left a void in the show. Hollywood legend has it that the producers didn't know who to cast for the role, but then, remembered Neill from her work in the serial.

They could not remember her name, and legend has it that one of the producers blurted out, "Get me that actress with the big t___!"

The rest is history.

Neill became the quintessential Lois Lane, hard as nails on the inside, but soft on the outside. She was always in competition with Clark Kent for the hot story, and along with her sidekick, Jimmy Olsen, she more often than not beat out Kent for that story.

She also had the hots for Superman, and the chemistry between her, George Reeves as Superman, Jack Larson as Jimmy Olsen, and John Hamilton as Perry White was extraordinary.

Neill played that role for several seasons, and then went into relative obscurity.

She and Larson ended up portraying their most famous characters several times in later years, and also made appearances in the Superman movies with Christopher Reeve.

She spent pretty much the rest of her life lecturing on college campuses, appearing at nostalgia shows, and for better or worse, living the life of an icon to Baby Boomers and succeeding generations, as the "Adventures of Superman" has been on the air almost continuously for the past 60 years. It is currently on MeTV.

Neill married a few times, and had no children, and she had no immediate survivors.

But she left a legacy that will endure the ages. Neill was the prototypical Lois Lane, and all the actresses that followed her used her portrayal as a template for their own portrayals.

Goodbye, Noel, you enriched us all by your presence, and like George Reeves with Superman, when talking about Lois Lane, she WAS that character.

Others can portray Lane, but Neill WAS, and will forever be, Lois Lane.

Classic Rant #351 (October 11, 2010): Hope Knicks Eternal

I am a big Yankees fan, which means I pretty much always root for a winner, or at least a team that will compete (for the past 15 years or so, but not during my childhood, when they were terrible).

I am a big Knicks fan, which means I pretty much always root for a loser, or at least a team that will not compete (for the past 10 years or so, but not during my childhood, when they were great).

I took my son and his friend to a preseason open practice at Madison Square Garden yesterday. What it amounted to was a pep rally for a team that nobody really knows.

I believe there are 11 new faces on this team this year, led by All-Star Amare Stoudemire. The rest of the team--16 players currently, which will have to be pared down by four before the season begins--are a mixed bag of draft choices, holdovers, a few players obtained in trades, and players looking to hang on.

This practice, which was open to the public, was a decent effort to bring the Knicks directly to their fans. Tickets were free, but you had to have tickets to get in. About 6,500 tickets were given out, and most of those having tickets actually attended.

We saw various drills, a couple of back and forth scrimmages, and we witnessed pretty much what the team does in a controlled environment without fans in attendance.

It was interesting and boring at the same time. How many times can you see players doing the same drills over and over?

What's more, the low moment of this two-and-a-half-hour showcase was when one of the hosts, former Knick Allan Houston, who is now a team executive, said that fans don't realize how hard it is to be a player, to paraphrase him. No, but do players know how hard it is to be a fan of this moribund franchise? Or better yet, do players know what it is to work a 9-to-5 job? I mean, c'mon, no matter how hard it is to be a player, they can take consolation in the paychecks they get.

My bit of advice: Allan, please don't talk down to the crowd.

Anyway, since I am a hopeless fan of this team, my son and I will be going to three games this season--including opening night on October 30--so you will read more about this team in future rants.

Thank goodness I have the Yankees to root for.

But hope springs eternal, so maybe the Knicks have something to bring to fans this season. Maybe they can endear themselves to these frustrated fans by actually bringing a winning, competing team to New York.

We have suffered long enough. Let the season begin!

(Note: I will not be adding a new rant to this site tomorrow, as I have a funeral to attend. Check back on Wednesday, when a new rant will be in place.) 

Rant #1,705: Happy July 4

Today is July 1. We finally made it to the first full month of summer!

It has been warm in these parts. It hasn't hit 100 yet, but the summer is still young.

My allergies are bothering me, as I had an allergy attack yesterday on the very day I was supposed to get my allergy shots.

I went to the office, and they had a big sign on the door saying that they closed early.

Very nice of them to tell me that.

Anyway, on Monday, it will be July 4, Independence Day, and it will be a welcome day off for many, many people, myself and my wife included.

But it is not a day off for everyone--for instance, my son has to work.

So while not everyone is off, everybody can get into the spirit of the holiday, one where we celebrate our nation and what it stands for.

Here is what I wrote in Rant #769 on July 3, 2012, and I think it still holds true as we sashay over to Independence Day 2016:

"With all the baseball games and barbecues, I think we often lose sight of what the day actually means, as the birthday of the greatest country in the world.

Sure, we have problems, we aren't a perfect country, but is there a better place to live on earth?

I don't think so.

And on July 4, we celebrate those who are serving now, and those who have served in the past, all of whom have kept this country strong.

But we don't only celebrate service members. We celebrate all those who have brought our industrious nature to this country, all of those who have made a name for themselves here, and all of those who have contributed to make this country great.

That means all of us, every American can take a bow on July 4.

So on July 4, we celebrate the greatest country in the world. It's a coast to coast celebration, and I know you'll probably hear firecrackers either on the TV or in your own neighborhood during the holiday.

So, at least for one day, put aside your work mode, and enjoy the day."

I couldn't put it better than that, so I didn't, and thus, the slight rerun of what I said about the day four years ago.

So have a great holiday, have a frank or a burger on me, and I will speak to you again on Tuesday.

Everybody into the pool!

Classic Rant #350 (October 8, 2010): They Got Their Man

Many months ago I told you about the saga of my doctor, who was picked up for selling drugs to cops working undercover as teenagers to buy prescription drugs from him.

His medical practice was right across the street from the local high school, and he had been pegged by authorities as the distributor of oxycodone, a powerful, addictive drug, to teenagers without prescriptions.

Well, yesterday, the authorities got their man.

My former doctor, Dr. Saji Francis, was sentenced to six months in jail for his indiscretions.

The sorry thing is that he could have gotten two years, which is what prosectors were going for. What's more, under state law, he could have received a maximum five-year sentence.

And as I surmised, he basically plea bargained his deal down to the bare minimum. He supposedly gave up his medical license--which, according to someone I spoke to in Albany, where the state government does business, is not true, since he keeps the "Dr." before his name--the building that he practiced in--which has a "For Sale" shingle in front of it again after months of inactivity--and some other things.

What's more, since he is not a naturalized citizen, he may also be deported back to his native India when his sentence is over.

In a statement the prosecutors read yesterday, one mother described the pain at seeing her son, who she claims rarely took aspirin before visiting with Dr. Francis, become addicted to oxycodone and die of a heart attack at a young age.

Francis was reported to have said to the judge while being sentenced, "I do not make any excuses for my conduct. I apologize to anyone I hurt. I lost everything."

Yes, he did, but this monster could conceivably get out of jail and practice again ... as long as he has that "Dr." in front of his name.

I just don't get it. Maybe I am not understanding what happened, but he supposedly gave up his medical license, which I was told is simply not true.

And yes, I still can't get my medical records from him, and I was told that since he is still a doctor, even if I could get them, he would be able to charge me per page for them--since he is a doctor. And since my medical records go back nearly 40 years ... well, a week's salary probably wouldn't be enough to get them all back.

Now, if this makes sense to you, you are better than me. Heck, even the attorney generals of the state and Nassau County, where I live and where Francis practiced, told me they couldn't help me.

I can't make sense of it; maybe you can.

But at least this guy is off the streets, unable to sell any more of this crap to kids or anyone else.

I am going to be honest with you. I liked Dr. Francis. He had a great personality, and seemed to be a fine doctor.

I personally never had any trouble with him, although myself and my wife did notice some odd tendencies with him from time to time.

There was one point where he basically gave up his practice and went into holistic medicine. When you went there for an appointment, he talked to you more than he did anything else for you.

This went on for a few months, but then I thought he saw the light, and his practice steered away from holistics and got back to the everyday medicine people counted on him to practice.

He was very flighty, talking about golf as much as what ailed you.

But he seemed to have a booming practice. He also had a high rate of elderly patients.

Why he did what he did is beyond me. I guess he became greedy, totally enamored of his own success, and wanted more.

I feel for his family. He has a few young kids. I think of what they will go through for the next six months and probably for the rest of their lives, especially if their father is deported.

We were all let down by this doctor. It took my wife and I several months to find another one.

We are confident that this doctor is A-OK, but I have to tell you, after the experience with Dr. Francis, there will always be some doubt in my mind that about whether my doctor is doing the right thing.

And that really hurts.