Saturday, August 31, 2002

The Vib's Are Silent   Beloved Jazz Great Lionel Hampton, Dies at 94: Lionel Hampton, the vibraphone virtuoso and standout showman whose six-decade career ranked him with the greatest names in jazz history, died Saturday at a Manhattan hospital. He was 94.   Hampton worked with a who's who of jazz greats, from Benny Goodman to Charlie Parker to Quincy Jones. But over the last decade, Hampton battled health problems and a fire that destroyed a half-century of his musical arrangments and all of his clothes. Two days after the 1997 blaze at his Lincoln Center apartment, Hampton was forced to borrow a suit, socks, shoes and underwear to receive the Presidential Medal of Arts at the White House. Over the years, Hampton established various personal philanthropies, including an ear research foundation and a college scholarship endowment fund. The University of Iowa's music school is named for Hampton. 4:49:27 AM

Do you Quilt? Sew? Want to do something for something that will make you feel good and do something nice for kids for whom going to camp is nearly impossible? Well I have a project for you. Through friends I learned that The Lake Hughes (California) Women's Club volunteered to coordinate the making of several thousand turtle pillows, afghans, lap quilts and bed quilts to help outfit the Painted Turtle Camp, founded and funded by actor Paul Newman, through his Newman's Own Brands of Food. This very small group of women have all ready worked thousands of hours making items they are going to need for camp's opening, however there are none of their members have a great deal of experience in making a quilt or comforter. The camp need nearly 400 quilts and 1000 blankets to supply the camp when they open next year.  For more information on how you can help click here. 4:28:17 AM

I see Rageboy has finally found his Guru and getting some help.  I'm wondering if Rageboy's going to the iWoman Conference in Indianapolis? Or will he make a guest appearance on Dr. Phil's Show being taped in LA now. Either he'll get it or he won't. Yeah. 2:58:27 AM

Why I Am Not Flying For years it was nothing for me to drive down the road to the local airport and hop on a jet to somewhere. I've logged more than my share of airmiles. With a couple pilots in the family, I've flown all of my life with little or no concerns. But since early September 2001 I have not set foot on an airplane.  All of the travel we have done has been by car or train. The major reason I haven't flown was because I did not want to subject myself to the way I was going to be treated by the airlines post-September 11th. Tonight ABC News released a story or group of stories about the airlines and their latest round of new rules and regulations. Airlines are charging me for a paper ticket. Airlines want me to arrive over 2 hours before a flight to be frisked and searched by a group of high school drop outs, masquerading as security guards, who are about as clueless as a rock and high on power. American Airlines says if I have a discount ticket and want to fly standby to get home sooner, I have to cough up an additional $100. Other airlines are saying if I miss a flight, I'm hosed and have to buy another ticket, even if the reason for my delay isn't my fault. One airline tells me I can't use my computer or listen to my CD player onboard, while other allow me to. They are reducing the number of flights and destination cities, making it harder for me to get where I want. And the final straw is when the certain airlines are making me "ask" for a plastic knife to spread creamed cheese on a rubber bagel. Give me a break! Despite September 11th... and all the problems it left the American traveling public... When will the airlines get it through their thick corporate heads that many travelers like me, who used to fly over 50,000 miles a year, WILL NOT BE FLYING their un-friendly skys until we get treated like human beings again.  Jeeze! Editorial note: It appears I'm not the only one complaining. Chris Woodward at USA Today writes "Pay toilets and napkins for a nickel? Some creative ideas for Continental" It's a hoot and right on target. 2:30:53 AM

© Copyright 2002 Mary Wehmeier. Last update: 9/3/02; 2:03:37 AM. Comments by: YACCS