Psycho Kitty!

Most cats are pretty nice. Sometimes they like to keep to themselves, but in general they tolerate humans ok. But there's the occasional feline terror. A cat that is just hateful. Lewis in Conneticut is one such cat. He attacks people with razor sharp claws. He injured the Avon lady (hey if this cat goes after door to door solicitors, I may adopt him!) Seriously, the town has put a restraining order on him. Read the story here. Don't blame Lewis though, his owner should be keeping him inside.

Make sure the VP is comfy

It seems most famous people have a list of things they want when they travel. For rock stars, they may want a case of their favorite beer, a bowl of M & M's (minus the brown ones) and a bucket of KFC. For Vice President Dick Cheney, it's an exactly 68 degrees hotel room, tvs tuned to (what else?) Fox News, Diet Sprite and a private bathroom. Read about it here. So if I was famous and people would listen to my demands, what would I ask for where I'm staying? Mmmm, well I'm with him on the private bathroom part. I'd like sheets, towels and blankets that have no stains on them please! A tv remote that actually works. And walls thick enough to block out the sounds from the next room (can they really go all night?) If my "demands" seem a little basic, well, I've stayed at some flea-bag places, including one where the room was so small I put my suitcase on top of the fridge so I wouldn't keep tripping on it. Come to think of it that was a pretty nice place, it actually had a fridge!

Parrots

I saw an interesting and entertaining documentary over the weekend called "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill." It's about a flock of birds not native to San Franciso that somehow has made their home there. Did they escape from a transport ship? Get released from someone's apartment or pet store? No one is sure, but year after year, the flock grows with only the occasional hawk or cat posing a danger to them. The film works on two levels. We get to learn a little about these red-headed birds and see their individual personalities. We are also introduced to an offbeat ex-musician, Mark Bittner, who feeds these birds and sometimes brings a sick one to the home he lives in, somehow rent-free. We see his joy of watching a baby taking its first flight and his sadness when a bird dies. One tip, if you rent the movie, be sure to watch the "flock update" extra. Otherwise you're left hanging about what happens to a few of the birds. This info should have probably just been included in the movie.

Happy St Patrick's Day!

It seems weird to say that with people still waiting for power or not being able to stay at their own house because of storm damage. But I hope you are able to enjoy St Pat's Day. And let's be thankful we all survived. In fact, the party is expanded this year because the parade has been postponed to next Saturday at noon. Meantime, here's some tips for those who've had one too many:
Symptom: Feet cold and wet. Fault: Glass being held at incorrect angle. Action: Rotate glass so that open end points toward ceiling.
Symptom: Beer unusually pale and tasteless. Fault: Glass empty. Action: Get someone to buy you another.
Symptom: Opposite wall covered with fluorescent lights. Fault: You have fallen over backward. Action: Have yourself chained to the bar.

Tornadoes!

Do you spell it with an "es?" I don't have time to look it up right now. Severe weather in Central Illinois tonight. This picture from the State Journal Register website shows how destructive the storm was. Thankfully, no reports of severe injuries so far. Lots of damage though. Our sister station, WMAY, had up-to-the minute coverage and we simulcasted all night. My heart goes out to everyone who has damage. And, yes, many people may be throwing out items from their fridges if they haven't had power all night. But I think one of my callers put it best as the lightning flashed and the rain poured down. He said the crews are out working trying to restore power in this weather and we'd rather have them be safe, even if it means waiting awhile for power. And by the way people, when there are weather warnings, power lines down and debris everywhere, stay home and don't try to drive around looking at damage!

Check these out

Sometimes I'm glad I'm not a big-shot, nationally known star. Oh, the private jets, jacuzzi parties and special treatment would be nice, but it seems these people always find a way to mess up. And when they do, their not-so-flattering pictures get plastered all over. Case in point, the infamous Nick Nolte mugshot above.
Or take a look at Glen Campbell not in his Rhinestone Cowboy glory.
And now this frightening picture of Eddie Van Halen. Evidently things aren't going so well with Valerie gone. It's just not the way I want to think of these stars.

Golf in space

Ads are everywhere you look now. I think it started with NASCAR and all the labels on the cars and the driver's clothing. Of course, the Nike swoosh is prominent in just about all sports. Brian blogged a few days ago about product placement in movies and tv. Now advertising has left the planet! On one of the first moon missions, Alan Shepard hit a golf ball just to see how far it would go in the low gravity. It seems a Russian cosmonaut will be hitting a ball in space. But it's the 2000's, of course there's money behind the decision. Apparently, a company is paying the Russian Space Agency to use one of their clubs and smack the ball into orbit while taking a space walk outside the International Space Station. It's estimated it will orbit for about 4 years before burning up, unless he hooks it. I'm not much of a golfer, but I admit I don't see much point in this. Will someone buy a club because "hey, it works in space, maybe it'll improve my game!" Hard to say. The whole idea makes me sick, so I'm off to get some Pepto-Bismol...the official stomach medicine of Steve Parker!

Two hour 24 tonight

Well, it's a two-hour episode tonight. Not too sure what's going to happen, but someone told me Jack's daughter is back. I probably would know that if I watched the "next week on 24" preview at the end of last week's. I never do that though. I don't want to know too much about what's coming up. It's one thing to sit in a theater and watch a preview of other movies that are coming out, but a tv show, you're either hooked on it or you're not. Why watch what's coming next and ruin the surprise?
Speaking of surprises, Crash beat Brokeback Mtn at the Oscars. I think it was a good choice. And Jon Stewart was funny, bring him back next year!