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Tributes to people who have changed my life.
**// A reprint FROM December 18th, 2001. It’s my homage to female designers on the web.
The madness and mayhem begins when I successfully tap INTO my “inner-woman” for help in a design project… unfortunately, our young hero discovers that his “inner-woman” is a psycho headcase with PMS (joy!).
Dedicated to Jann, and Deb… who can use some cheering up today. //**
“It is the soldier, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.”
Father Dennis Edward O’Brien, Sergeant, USMC
(Blatantly stolen from The Ville)
Nothing more to say… except “Thank You”.
Damn.
For almost two decades, RUN-DMC broke down racial barriers, fused rock and rap, brought it to the streets and the suburbs, and put Hollis, Queens on the map.
Now one of them is gone.
He was a man of peace. A husband and a father of three.
Could have lived anywhere in the world, but he kept Queens as his home, because he was all about giving back to the community.
Like someone just posted in their memorial:
“Rap had just lost their first Beatle”
Rest in peace, Jam Master Jay. 🙁
(A conversation in the darkness)
“I did good, right?”
“You didn’t have to. We would have fought the armies of Hell for you.”
“I know… but there’s enough going on.”
“You didn’t have to do this. You were meant to be.”
“Apparently not. Hey, there’s an reason for all of this. We just don’t know it yet.”
You inherited my uncanny ability of bad timing…
And my sense of self-sacrifice.
Off to the Heavens, my little warrior angel….
Daddy will always love you.
This page is closed today in loving memory of the Patriots and Heroes who lost their lives on this day last year.
Say a prayer, light a candle, and remember….
But most important of all… live your life to the fullest.
We will never forget.
-e-
(Originally printed December 23, 2001)
I really don’t talk about September 11th much.
I remember the grueling 12-hour day I put in checking the latest AP wires and keeping live coverage on the website, amid rumors that NY and NJ may have no way of communicating with the outside world… way before some of the events even made it on TV. Walking into work that morning, never suspecting for a second that this would lead to the devastation and unspeakable horror that we’ve all stared in a state of shock over the past few months.
I can’t think about it.
I won’t think about it.
I did a pretty damn good job at avoiding it, until this morning.
Joe Flounders lived only a few miles from me. His wife Pat begged him to flee his World Trade Center office after the first plane the other tower… He stayed behind to help a co-worker, suffering shock; trying to get him out also…
Moments later, the second plane crashed and exploded right through his office…
Continue reading “Ground Zero: Goodbye, Pat”
I know what you’re thinking, based on all the bull you were fed from Hollywood in the 60’s that The Green Hornet and Kato was a ripoff of Batman and Robin, right???
… well stop that right now! It’s almost painful to think how 20th Century Fox f**ked both of these characters up!
The first “Green Hornet” radio program aired in 1936, created by George W. Trendle… a whole three years before The Dark Knight appeared (Actually putting Bob Kane still in high school…). Well, he is sort of a “spin-off”, but of The Lone Ranger, not Batman. John Reid (aka The Lone Ranger) had an older brother, Dan Reid. Dan is grandfather of Britt Reid (aka The Green Hornet)… you following here?
Britt Reid is publisher of the Daily Sentinel, filling out the pre-requisite that a superhero *MUST* work in a newspaper (Superman and Spiderman does it, it’s the best way to get information, and breaking news stories… unless you’re a seriously-disturbed billionaire obsessed with bats, or a college professor… then beating the piss out of a crackhead in an alley in the middle of the night will do just fine.).
His whole schtick involved getting the news of some major drug/weapon/criminal activity going down, The Green Hornet appears as a feared gangland character, comes in, and threatens the mobsters with extortion (which is hilarious irony, when you think about it.), if they don’t cut him in on a “piece of the action”. Nine times out of ten the criminals decline and orders his men to “waste them”… Kato kicks all their asses, they’re all handed to the police… and the money is anonymously dropped off to some charity in town.
Going over to Britt Reid’s home, he eventually marries his secretary (because sometimes sexual harrassment at the workplace *does* work out.), and you would never suspect that the oriental butler serving you your drink is, in fact, Bruce Lee… and he can probably kill you where you stand in two moves or less.
What’s *not to love* about these guys???? Like my other idol, Zorro, they pose as criminals, f**k authority every chance they get… and kick bad guy’s asses with style and panache.
In the 1990’s Now Comics re-introduces a totally revamped Green Hornet (But of course can’t mention The Lone Ranger because of licensing issues.) And Bruce Lee/Hayashi Kato is alive and well in this world (an alcoholic hollywood actor, who blames himself for the death of the third-generation Green Hornet… but alive.).
If they ever get around to making a new movie about The Green Hornet… it better be good. We’ve already seen Jet Li in the Kato Costume…
And stop calling them “Batman & Robin” ripoffs dammit.
Sources:
Say or believe what you want about the man.
But whether it was the fireworks show every fourth of July in Ozone Park, or the streets of Little Italy…
He was the heart and soul of New York City, as far as I’m concerned.
Bye, John. 🙁
Welcome to my Metropolis: The bustling city of Stroudsburg, PA… the epicenter, the “command center” (if you will) of the Poconos. Where the plans for a new resort are presented, where the judges decide your fate, where all things “Pocono” are first presented before a committee, where the news reports it all…
The town I left NYC for. I lovingly refer to Stroudsburg as “The city that goes to bed at a reasonable hour.” :0)
My job is to present the news online to 60,000 people a day. What goes on the front page is my call. In lieu of the Three part AP series “The man without a face”, I opt to feature Dr. Kirit Kothari and his work.
It’s politics mostly. Dr. Kothari is a big advertiser at the Pocono Record. He’s the sponsor of our Pocono Weekend site, and I had the pleasure of finishing his Pain Management site last month. He takes care of us, we take care of him. Simple.
It’s “race weekend” here in the Poconos. Despite my personal feelings toward Jeff Gordon, I still put him in as Top Local Sports. Gotta be objective in the news biz. :0)
Since Thursday, the front page was covered with the tragic death of Dominick Lockwood. Struck down while crossing the street, three blocks from me. An area where two men were sprayed with bullets from an uzi a few weeks ago.
The story of Lockwood’s death was touching. The photo featured the motorist breaking down and crying, clutching a parking meter… seeking solace and forgiveness from the cold metal object.
He was a prominent man here in the Poconos. A lawyer, a developer… truth be told, the first time I ever saw the words “beloved” and “landlord” used in the same sentence. The sad countenance of the newsroom all this week let me to believe that all of today’s columns and editorials would be about him. What a great guy he was… yadda, yadda, yadda.
Truth be told, I never understood why it was such a “big deal”. It was sad. It was tragic. But was it front page news for three days? While I am slowly growing in power, and meeting the key players here in the Poconos…
Still, I eshew the conventional, if I can help it.
I gravitate toward the quirky and offbeat.
*They* make life interesting.
My mind travels back to certain lunch hours, where I’d trek down to the A-Plus convenience store (former place of employment of Carole & Melissa.). I think of this funny-looking little man, with wild hair & a bow tie. Truth be told, he looked like he wandered out of a time machine from the late 1800’s.
The girls behind the counters giggled, as he tied the line up with one of his anecdotes, or his stories. He made people smile though.
He fascinated me.
Once upon a time I loved meeting the colourful characters that put that extra “zing” in life. I spent lunch hours as a messenger in NYC buying a homeless person something to eat, and sitting with them for a while. To get inside their minds, see life though their eyes, to absorb a little bit of their psyche and keep it within me forever…
But that was then. Now… I’m nothing more than a broken and bitter warrior who posted a “No Vacancy” sign over my heart. No one was getting in. Not even the wierd little guy that I couldn’t stop staring at.
… and don’t think he didn’t try. :0)
We came to an understanding that he could say “hi” and make me smile when he saw me… and that was it.
Today, it seemed my world and Stroudsburg’s collided. As I assembled the touching stories, and the fond memories, and the obituaries for today’s edition…
It turns out, I knew Dominick Anthony Lockwood all along. He was that strange, charasmatic character that tried to make me smile at A-Plus the whole time.
Dammit.
All the missed opportunities, the chance to be stimulated by such a brilliant mind. Gone, because I wont let anyone in anymore.
Few men will leave the legacy that he did in the Poconos.
His friends are all at the funeral today to say goodbye. The powerful and elite, the man that didn’t mean to kill him, the people that he made smile on the streets. But rather than mourn his death… they will celebrate his life.
… because sometimes life is about living.
… siezing the day.
And making people smile.
This was just submitted to me at work, it seems like it also went to the Daily News as well:
| "Hero Day"
We have enough walls and memorials in just about every city of this great nation, you will see signs in an emergency dial 911. I offer that our elected public officials set in motion a bill that 9/11 (September 11th) henceforth be known as Hero Day. A day set aside to honor all the police, fire, emergency service technicians, and all those who put their lives on the line each day for the benefit of their fellow man. I further submit that a law be invoked, appropriately named the "Blue Law." This law would require that all stores and businesses to remain closed. No Business, no sales, no holiday. A day set aside for family, friends, and communities to gather together. Due to greed we have lost the meaning of Memorial, Labor, and Veterans Days let this day remain 9/11 forever. We should never forget. Dedicated to The Twin Towers NYFD - NYPD God bless the victims and the families Proud to be an American, |
What do you guys think? I think it’s a hell of a great idea…
Help is on the way – A large convoy of trucks is lining up right here in Stroudsburg with medical supplies, and a whole bunch of other goodies from states going as far back as Indiana… on it’s way to NYC. Just waiting for clearance from the George Washington Bridge.
Disclaimer: The views expressed herein are solely those of Eric Brooks. They do not necessarily reflect those of his employers, friends, contacts, family, or even his pets (though my cat, Puddy, seems to agree with me on many key issues.). In accordance to my terms of use, you hereby acknowledge my right to psychoanalyze you, practice accupuncture, and mock you incessantly with every visit. As the user, you also acknowledge that the author has been legally declared a "Problem Adult" by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and is therefore not responsible for any of his actions. ALSO, the political views and products advertised on this site may/may not reflect the views of Puddy or myself, so please don't take them as an endorsement. We just need to eat.
