Death is weird.

It's strange how death comes and takes not one, but many. In just a week, two well-knowns from my hometown passed away, and just today, two people I looked up to also returned home. David Brinkley was not necessarily one of my journalistic idles, but I respected him as a pioneer of the industry. He was a veteran in all respects, and was a true transitionist being one of the first radio reporters to make the big switch to TV when the "tube" made its debut. He badgered Clinton on air, which I thought was unnecessary in the sense it was presented. He later apologized, and acknowleged the fact that the U.S. has enjoyed more prosperity in the Clinton years, than any other presidency in history...true.

I was saddened to learn of Gregory Peck's passing. Once I saw To Kill A Mockingbird, I was hooked on watching this man perform. He carried the style and elegance of many of his contemporaries like Cary Grant and Clark Gable, but was able to distinguish himself as someone who emitted a sense of humility that others could not live up to. He captured sensibility in the best of all ways, and played characters in his movies that led me to believe that chivalry still exists...or at the very least, can exist if you will it. Just recently, his most famous character, Atticus Finch, was named the number one hero in film by The American Film Institute. He and Brinkley will both be missed.

And speaking of the AFI's list, the following characters (in my opinion) should have been ranked higher on the hero list:

Moses (The Ten Commandments) and Lou Gehrig (The Pride of The Yankees)

Erin Brockovich (Erin Brockovich) should not even be on the list...the film was too recent, and not Julia's best work at all...give another Oscar to an undeserving performance why don't we?

The following villains should also be ranked higher:

Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare On Elm Street) and Joan Crawford (Mommie Dearest)...oooh...both are equally scary. No more wire hangers!!

Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs) beat out Norman Bates (Psycho) and The Wicked Witch of The West (The Wizard of Oz)...go figure. Terminator (Terminator) shouldn't be on the list, because he eventually switches sides.

Enough! Until next time!

SONG OF THE DAY: Questions - 50 Cent
PERSON OF THE DAY: Erica Dermer - for all the crap she has to put up with in ASASU, and for her hard, dedicated work in all that she does. ASASU would be lost without her.