On what to pounce this Saturday morning

There has been a flurry of topics that have crossed my path this week... a bevvy of ammo and other sheer nonsensical mish-mash that blows the mind really.

Let's start with the WGA. The writers are still on strike and it is simply incredible that they are--NOT because I do not agree, but that what they are asking for is not all that significant. I love that the Golden Globes were reduced to a 30 minute affair. Fashion has now lost out as a result... and given some of what I've seen on the runways, we are far better off.

The big news this week has been the upcoming Grammy's. Several musicians are also members of the Screen Actor's Guild (SAG). The news yesterday was that Beyonce (or, as I like to call her, Bouncy) will be crossing the picket lines, and I have to say, happier I could not be. I hope this means that fewer roles will be coming her way... the woman, as beautiful as she is and as fabulous a singer as she is, cannot act her way out of a paper bag.

Those who will not cross the picket lines for the Grammy's include Justine Timberlake and Jon Bon Jovi. Both fine musicians and actors. Mr. Bon Jovi really could not conceive of it--you don't come from Jersey and cross a picket line, your residency gets revoked in a 4-state radius. And Timberlake is really getting into the groove on his acting chops... he can't always be a hottie-pop-star-rapper-buddy, it would be career suicide for him any other way.

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Mind-fuckingly-numbing Election Coverage 2008: Michigan, oh Michigan, WHAT were you thinking? Romney? I know he's a homeboy of sorts, but c'mon, to borrow an old Janet Jackson: what has he done for you lately?

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Air travel: So, this should be the last of my observations on air travel as I have no intentions of flying again for a while... or at least no plans to soon as my next two trips are going to be via train (so stay tuned for rail travel in the coming weeks).

While my flight into and out of Minneapolis this week happened with relatively little incident, I noticed that I almost always end up sitting next to an undesirable. On the flight to Michigan over the holidays, I was sitting in the same row as the "Smith" family. Poppa Smith, apparently, was the 900 year old man sitting across the aisle from me and was deaf in one ear, but not the one facing me... all I could think 20 minutes into the diatribe by Mr. Smith was Poppa Smith was a lucky bastard.

On the flight out to Minneapolis, I was on a very full flight, so much so, they bumped 4 people. It was also a smaller plane--just 76 passengers. I got the one with narcoleptic sleep apnea who was over 6 feet tall and decided since I was smaller, I didn't need all the space allotted me. I was in a window seat because apparently the travel agent felt that my aisle preference wasn't really a preference. My need to use the bathroom was apparently of massive inconvenience to him--despite the fact I thought I was being nice and waiting until he finished his beverage and put his tray table up. But whatever.

The ride home, the plane was not full. Mr Charm from above was on the same flight back, but thankfully, no where near me. Instead, I got fidgety flem-guy. At least this time, I had the option to change to an aisle seat and was not trapped in. Flem-guy also had really obnoxious acne... I realize this was not his fault, but with the mucus-issue, it certainly did not help matters.

I'm sure I'm not the ideal person some people want to sit next to, either. Though, honestly, I cannot imagine that.

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This is supposed to be a long weekend for me with the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday being Monday. But, a work project really is not going to allow me the holiday proper, I will take the time later. I do feel, however, that I embrace and reflect in some way the work MLK everyday of my life. And, considering the work that I do to help promote a healthier life, MLK would understand... I often wonder what he would think of a day of not working in his honor. I'm fairly certain that he would promote the use of the day to do something good, do something to help others. I hope in the end, I achieve that vision.

Sadly, the news out of Philly today is not a police shooting, but the shooting death of a child at a rec center named in honor of MLK. It was an open gym, basketball for youths under 16. Someone walked in and opened fire. A boy died at the hospital. No one... not a single person has yet to come forward to identify the shooter. It is completely unacceptable and very saddening now and anytime it would have happened.