Rant #1,444: So Begins the Memorial Day Weekend ...

And so it does.

I know that many of you have off from work today, or will at least get a partial day off, and others will have to work the entire day, leading to the fruits of a holiday weekend.

I am happy to have the upcoming Monday off, but let's face it, few of us really think about what the holiday really means, we all crave the day off because, well, it is a day off.

Memorial Day is the federal holiday honoring those Americans who have died fighting in wars and conflicts our country has been in.

But does anyone really think about that when they are flipping the burgers on the barbecue?

Memorial Day might be a "memorial" day for these brave Americans, but how many of us really think about that while we are relaxing that day.

But the ultimate sacrifices these men and women made actually allow us to sit on the chaise lounge and take in the sun and the hot dogs.

Our way of life is assured by the actions of our military, who often fight in unpopular battles but do what the have to do to make sure that we are free.

I know that it seems such elementary, but these men and women are our real heroes, the people who do the dirty work so we all can be free.

With our very existence threatened by those people and countries who are jealous of our way of life, and the constant struggles we have in every day life to begin with, a day like Memorial Day should be savored, because a lot goes in to having a life like we have.

Sure, it is not perfect, but is there anywhere else where so many freedoms that we have are enjoyed?

So on this Memorial Day, yes, flip those burgers, enjoy the sun, shop those sales, and enjoy your day off.

But if only for a moment, think about what went into this day, why we celebrate it, and why that is more important than anything else.

Have a nice holiday and I will speak to you again on Tuesday.

Classic Rant #95 (September 23, 2009): I’m Off To See the Wizard

Seven decades after its original release, can anyone deny that “The Wizard of Oz” is probably the greatest film ever made?

Oh yes, I know about “Casablanca,” “Citizen Kane,” and “Gone With the Wind.” However, “Oz” stands heads and shoulders above these films for one major reason: it can be viewed and enjoyed by a range of people from five to 105. Do the other films appeal to such a demographic?

And fans of “Oz” have a treat in store for them tonight, for one night only. Seventy years after its first screening, the film is headed back to theaters nationwide today for one night as Warner Bros. unveils a technologically updated and improved version ahead of its release on Blu-ray Hi-Def.

When I heard that one of my local theaters was going to show this film in this manner, I bought tickets to tonight’s show without hesitation. I have never seen the film on the big screen, and the chance to see it in all of its HD glory cemented the deal for me.

With my wife and son accompanying me, I know I will see all of the elements of the film that I have seen countless times over: Judy Garland in probably her greatest role along with Jack Haley, Burt Lahr, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Billie Burke and Margaret Hamilton in perhaps their greatest roles; “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”; the yellow-brick road; the adorable Munchkins; the Flying Monkeys; and the famous finale highlighted by “There’s No Place Like Home.”

But this time, it will be on the big screen. HD aside, since I have never seen the movie in a theater before, it will add to the experience. It will be almost like I have never seen the film before.

I can’t wait. And in addition to the movie, there will be some special add-ons, including one documentary, which will enrich the evening.

And no, “The Wizard of Oz” is not my favorite movie of all time. That personal honor goes to “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World,” which blew me away as a kid in 1963 and is a movie that I still howl at today.

But it is not the greatest movie of all time, not by a long shot.

“The Wizard of Oz” is that movie, and I stand by what I say—and I can’t wait to see “Oz” tonight.

P.S.: We saw the movie, and although there were seemingly problems with its presentation at various points across the U.S., the theater we saw it in had no problems whatsoever. The place was about 75 percent full.

The HD experience was very, very good. The clarity of the print was amazing, especially since this is, let's remember, a 70-year-old film. The colors were vivid, and while the black and white sequences paled in comparison, they appeared to be as clear as can be. I saw things I had never seen clearly before, such as a brook that is near the yellow brick road. The clarity was so good that you could see the water running there.

The sound quality was excellent.

Overall, a great experience.

The documentary that they showed beforehand was not new, and the extras that were advertised were, I think, in that documentary, so they weren't "never before seen" as had been advertised (I paraphrased, but so be it).

There were no souvenirs, such as T-shirts, to mark the occasion, which I was slightly disappointed about, but seeing the film in all its majesty on the big screen for the first time was fantastic!

Rant #1,443: Insomnia

Have you ever had a night where sleep was seemingly not an option?

Well, tonight is my night to feel that way.

It is after 1 a.m. in the morning right now as I type this, and I am not in my bed sleeping.

I am not tired right now.

Oh, that is not to say that I did not have a few hours sleep this evening.

I fell asleep about 8:30 p.m. while watching wrestling on TV with my son.

WWE's "minor league," known as NXT, had its monthly special show, and I watched it with my son.

What usually happens when I watch pro wrestling during the week is that after a varying amount of time watching, I invariably fall asleep.

Yes, the excitement is so exciting that I pass out, especially after a busy workday, and that is what happened to me this evening.

I slept for nearly 90 minutes, waking up at about 9:50 to see Samoa Joe finally come into the WWE pantheon (if you are a wrestling fan, you know what a big deal this is).

Then, now fully awake, I crawled into bed at 10 p.m., and tried to go back to sleep.

I forced myself to sleep, which is not good, and I don't know when I got back to sleep, but here it is past 1 a.m., and I am up and about.

I figured I would write this column, and perhaps doing so would put me to sleep, or at least make me tired.

Yes, even I can be lulled to sleep by this column, not just you.

Anyway, I don't know if my ploy is going to work, but I am giving it my best shot.

And yes, I do feel a bit more tired than I did when I signed on here.

I would suspect that just about everyone has nights like this every once in a while.

I haven't had a night like this in some time.

I usually do not sleep the night completely through, get up maybe once and then am able to go back to sleep, but not tonight.

I don't know why this is happening to me tonight, but for whatever reason, it has, so I am just going to have to deal with it.

When I am done here, I will try again to go to sleep, and I hope I can doze off a little bit, at least, because you just know what is going to happen during the day--I am going to be very tired, more apt to doze off at probably 1 p.m. than 1 a.m., but that is also not an option.

Wish me well ... the sheep are lining up and ready to go ...

(Followup Note: It did work, and I was able to get to sleep for probably about two hours or so, so when I say this column can put you to sleep, I really mean it--from my own experience.)

Classic Rant #94 (September 23, 2009): ESPN Turns Me Off

As I previously said, I hate football (Rant #85, September 14, 2009), or more to the point, I hate all the blather that surrounds this sport, but it gets even worse during fall weekends on Saturdays.

Ever try finding a score or highlight other than college football on ESPN News during the college football season? It is an impossible task indeed.

The crawl at the bottom of the screen is supposed to supply quick summaries of games that are being played during a particular day. On Saturdays during college football season, there are literally hundreds of college football games being played.

ESPN has chosen to provide their scores at the bottom of the screen, and I do mean seemingly every one of them.

Thus, if you are looking for a baseball score during the most important part of the season, you literally have to wait for many minutes at a time before a score comes up. And if you miss the baseball scores, you are sunk, because the college football scores come up again, and you have to wait once again.

Look, I understand the popularity of college football, and for that matter, college basketball, especially in areas without major league sports. These are those areas' major league teams, so to speak, and people do follow them religiously. I do believe the vast majority of people outside of these areas follow college football because of betting and betting pools, but that is another story left for another day.

The baseball season is coming down to the wire, and not only am I interested in the Yankees, of course, but I am also interested in the other teams that will be in the postseason, including the wild card teams.

If I have to wait many minutes for the college football scores to finish their latest wave, it is ridiculous amount of time wasted.

And forget about highlights on Saturday … does ESPN play any other highlights than college football?

I think the way to get around this is for ESPN to list in the crawl about 10 games at a time, then move onto other sporting news. This way, you don’t have to wait so long if you are interested in something else.

But those shows that only talk about college football … those really have to be either pared down or removed. They go on incessantly during the weekend, and are followed up by shows looking at the NFL, which are equally as tiresome.

And no, you can’t switch to the flagship ESPN for relief, because they basically do the same “blitz.”

The whole thing is a big bore, if you ask me. And yes, the same thing happens during the college basketball season.

Again, these kids are supposed to be in college to be educated, aren't they?

Sorry, the whole thing turns me off.

Rant #1,442: Another Day, Another Razor

My electric razor broke over the weekend.

I was cleaning it out, and the attachment that keeps the blades in place evidently snapped, and I cannot get it in place anymore.

This has happened to me countless times. In the old days, when this piece was made of metal, I could get it back in place, and I would not have that many problems, even though once it fell it out, it would fall out intermittently.

Today, with this part being made of plastic, once it breaks, it breaks, and another electric razor needs to be purchased.

As I have said in the past, I have tried to shave with a regular blade, and the results are terrible.

I have very sensitive skin, and honestly, I look like a wrestler who has been punched around senselessly after just one shave.

There are not enough bandages--or pieces of toilet paper--in the world to close me up once my face looks like I put it though the shredder.

So I use an electric razor at least three times a week, and usually, after about two years, the razor dies on me for one reason or another.

Sometimes the inner workings crack, like what happened to me over the weekend, and sometimes the battery/motor goes.

I had one razor that actually overheated, if I remember correctly.

So I had to go out and buy a new razor (not shown), and the cheapest one I could find cost me about $35, less the tax.

Most of these things that I saw were at least $50 on up, and I saw one or two pushing $200.

I love my face, but I don't love it that much.

And yes, the one I bought came with a sideburn trimmer, which, as I have said in the past, some of them don't include anymore. They even proclaim its inclusion, followed by an asterisk, on the side of the box it came in.

So I now have a new razor that I didn't realize that I needed prior to Sunday. I am hoping it gets rid of my whiskers easily. Some razors you really have to work with to get the job done.

The last thing I want is for an electric razor to fight me, not when I am shaving at like 4 a.m. in the morning during weekdays and after 6 a.m. on Sunday.

And these things simply do not last. I think my very first razor lasted around eight years, and I know I had another one that lasted seven years, but generally, with today's electric razors, if you get two years out of these things, you should consider yourself very lucky.

I actually wish I did not have to shave, but if there is someone put on this earth who absolutely must shave, it is me.

I have let my beard grow a few times, and, well, it doesn't look too good. It is like a crabgrass on my face, and it itches like no tomorrow.

So shave I will, and I guarantee this thing might last into 2017 if I am lucky.

Just what I want for my 60th birthday--a new electric shaver!

Can't wait.

Classic Rant #93 (September 23, 2009): Media Misuses Power of Free Speech

The recent incident where a student at Hofstra University on Long Island said she had been sexually attacked, and then recanted her story when a partial video of the incident turned up showing that the acts were consensual, speaks volumes about how the news media covers such horrific acts—and the unfairness of this coverage.

When the young woman made her charges, four of the five culprits were rounded up and put into prison. When the woman recanted her charges, the men were set free.

However, their names and where they were from were plastered all over the news. Their photos went from one end of the world to the other, and this is without any trial being held.

Sure, they were released from prison when the story was proven to be a false one, but everyone knows who they are because the media jumped the gun on their guilt, when they should have been questioning whether these men should have been in jail in the first place.

Funny, now that the story has proven to be false, many news outlets refuse to publish the woman’s name or photo.

Why was it OK to publish the men’s photos and other information, but not the woman’s?

I believe the media handled this case, and others, irresponsibly. Remember Richard Jewell, who was accused of the Olympic bombing several years ago only to be exonerated? Why was his name and picture plastered all over the place—and this was before the Internet really took hold of the news and almost everything we do.

And there were many other cases. One that comes to mind is the Tawana Brawley case, where several men were charged with a crime that didn't happen. One of the victims was so distraught that he committed suicide.

The Duke University case is another. Several young men were accused of attacking a stripper, but the stripper made the whole thing up. These young men have had to clean their names up since being falsely accused of rape.

I don’t understand the news outlets, and I don’t understand the Nassau County, Long Island, New York, district attorney office for letting the men’s names out.

Oh, I know, these guys are no choirboys, but they aren’t rapists either. The women only made up the story to placate her boyfriend, but it could have doomed these men to a false label—and to some extent, it already has doomed them.

I just wish the news media would show some restraint in cases like this. They jump the gun all too often, and innocent people get eaten up.

And I hope the young men in the Hofstra case are able to pick up their lives, think about getting into such a compromising situation, and move on with their lives. The woman ... well, I hope Nassau County charges her with something. She needs to understand that accusing these men of such a heinous crime is wrong.

Whatever the outcome, the media's abuse of its power just isn’t fair—to the victims (and yes, the men are now victims), to the families involved, and to the public at large.

I hope that the media understands this, but since it continually happens, I would severely doubt it.

Classic Rant #92 (September 21, 2009): I Choose You, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah

I often wonder how things get into my email mailbox. I have two boxes, one at home and one at work, and sometimes, I get the strangest emails sent to me. Yes, I get spam too, but one email that I recently received, and that I had no idea that I was going to receive, tickled my interest.

Zogby International is a public opinion poll tracker, and their latest poll, which was conducted Sept. 10-14, was very interesting. Based on its research, it has found that Americans like Paul McCartney as their favorite Beatle (27 percent), followed by John Lennon (16 percent), George Harrison (10 percent) and Ringo Starr (9 percent.

Also, 22 percent of those responding to the company’s Zogby Interactive Poll reported that they don’t like the Beatles and 3 percent said that they were not familiar enough with the Beatles to render an opinion.

First, I thought it was very interesting that the pollster conducted this poll during the latest incarnation of Beatlemania, which is being driven by the release of the Beatles Rockband video game and the re-release of the band’s newly remastered LP catalog.

Second, who would have thought that 45 years later, the foursome would be so indelibly etched in our consciousness that such a poll could even exist?

Other interesting poll results show that Democrats (25 percent) are far more likely than Republicans (6 percent) and Independents (15 percent) to say John is their favorite Beatle, while moderates (32 percent) prefer Paul. Liberals (14 percent) are more likely than moderates (7 percent) and conservatives (9 percent) to choose George as their fave moptop.

I don’t know how the individual Beatles would feel about this. They haven’t been together as “The Beatles” since 1970, yet people still identify them with their former band. They each had wide-ranging and successful solo careers, but I guess once you are a Beatle, you are always a Beatle.

I consider myself an Independent, as a don’t belong to a party but I do exercise my right to vote … and usually split my vote between the major parties. With that in mind, my favorite Beatle is … well it has always been Ringo, even when I was a kid and didn’t know a conservative from a liberal.

I guess this poll proves that “Yesterday” is always today, at least when talking about those four lads from Liverpool.

This is only a sampling of the survey. To learn more, go to http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.cfm?ID=1744 for more information.