Pasadena @ MindSay 
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Red Star Enterprises Limited, Gibraltar is being awarded a maximum $720,568,375 fixed price with economic price adjustment, sole source contract for fuel deliveries. Other location of performance is Bagram Air Base Afghanistan. Using service is Army. This was proposal was originally Web solicited with one response. This contract is for a period of two years with a one year option. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Sept. 1, 2011. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va., (SP0600-08-D-1017).
BMI Defense Systems, Inc., College Station, Texas, was awarded on Jul. 31, 2008, a $6,995,365.20 firm fixed price, contract for driver protection package, ballistic blanket kit for light armored vehicles. Work will be performed in College Station, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Mar. 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There was one bids solicited on Jun. 10, 2008, and one bid was received. U.S. Army TACOM Office of the Program Management for Light Armored Vehicles, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-08-C-0488).
General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded on Jul. 31, 2008, a $24,171,854.00 FFP/CPFF production contract, contract for production of vehicles to meet anticipatory war loss requirements. Work will be performed in Ontario, Canada, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There was one bids solicited on Mar. 17, 2008, and 1 bid was received. TACOM, LCMC, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-06-C-0255).
Inglett and Stubbs, International, Smyrna, Ga., was awarded on Jul. 31, 2008, a $34,975,000.00 firm fixed price, contract for construction of a power plant for Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Work will be performed in Afghanistan, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There was one bid solicited on Jul. 18, 2008, and one bid was received. Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (W912BU-05-D-0004).
Clark/Hunt, Joint Venture, Tampa, Fla., was awarded on Jul. 31, 2008, a $126,101,402 firm fixed price task Order, contract for construction at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas. Work will be performed in San Antonio, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Jul. 15, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two bids were received on Dec. 21, 2007. US Army Engineer District, Fort Worth, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9126G-08-C-0036).
Lockheed Martin Corp., Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded on Jul. 30, 2008, a $68,950,208 firm fixed price and cost plus fixed fee, contract for guided multiple launch rocket systems. Work will be performed in Dallas, Texas; East Camden, Ark.; and Orlando, Fl., and is expected to be completed by Nov. 30, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There was one bid solicited on May 31, 2007, and one bid was received. US Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-08-C-0021).
Navistar Defense LLC, Warrenville, Ill., was awarded on Jul. 30, 2008, an $11,310,971 firm fixed price, contract for heavy equipment tractor truck tractors and spare parts. Work will be performed in Sunnyvale, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was received on April 3, 2008. TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-08-C-0435).
BAE Systems, Anniston, Ala., was awarded on Jul. 31, 2008, a $21,561,457.21 cost reimbursement, contract for long lead items for the reset of M113 vehicles. Work will be performed in Anniston, Ala., and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There was one bid solicited on Jun. 23, 2008, and one bid was received. TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-05-G-0005).
Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group, Pasadena, Calif., was awarded on Jul. 31, 2008, a $15,072,345 cost-plus award fee, modification for balance of the closure of the Newport Chemical Agent Disposal Facility. Work will be performed in Newport, Ind., and is expected to be completed by May 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There were 32 bids solicited on Mar. 9, 2008, and two bids were received. US Army Sustainment Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (original contract DAAA09-99-C-0016; Modification P00166).
BAE Systems Analytical Solutions, Huntsville, Ala., was awarded on Jul. 30, 2008, a $12,733,800 cost-plus-fixed-fee, IDQ, task order, level of effort, contract for support for the Training and Doctrine Command Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2 in strategic, operational and tactical program analysis. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Ala., and across the continental United States, and is expected to be completed by Jul. 24, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two bids were received on Jun. 12, 2008. US Army Space & Missile Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, is the contracting activity (W91260-06-D-0005).
Veterans Enterprises Technology Services, LLC, was awarded on Jul. 31, 2008, a $19,100,000 firm fixed price, contract for designing and building dining facilities at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Work will be performed in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and is expected to be completed by Jul. 31, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There were six bids received on Nov. 4, 2007. US Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk, VA., is the contracting activity (W91236-08-D-0055).
Navistar Defense LLC, Warrenville, Ill., is being awarded a $29,355,367 firm-fixed-priced modification to delivery order #0007 under previously awarded contract (M67854-07-D-5032) for sustainment items needed to support Category I Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) vehicles in theater. This order will also be used to support several Engineering Change Proposals to increase the vehicles' capabilities. Work will be performed in West Point, Miss., and work is expected to be completed Apr. 2009. Contract funds will not expire by the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
Navistar Defense LLC, Warrenville, Ill., is being awarded a $27,394,820 firm-fixed-priced modification to delivery order #0002 under previously awarded contract (M67854-07-D-5032) for sustainment items needed to support Category I Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Low Rate Initial Production vehicles in theater. This order will also be used to support several Engineering Change Proposals to increase the vehicles' capabilities. Work will be performed in West Point, Miss., and work is expected to be completed Apr. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
Complex Solutions, Inc., Kailua, Hawaii, is being awarded an $18,091,192 time and materials, indefinite-delivery modification to previously awarded contract (N00244-07-D-0035) to exercise an option for technical and educational support services to the Naval Postgraduate School's Center for civil military relations education and training program. Work will be performed in Kailua, Hawaii, (6 percent); Monterey, Calif., (8 percent); various locations in the United States (24 percent); and various locations outside the Continental United States (62 percent), and work is expected to be completed by Jul. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This offer was awarded competitively through Navy Electronic Commerce Online, with two offers received. The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.
Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Keyport, Wash., is being awarded a $5,965,173 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-04-C-6101) to provide cost growth funding for the P2U NRE (Producibility 2nd Year Upgrade) completion efforts and to convert the effort to Firm-Fixed Price (FFP). This effort is a continuation of MK48 ADCAP, MK48 CBASS and MK54 torpedo programs under contracts N00024-98-C-6107, N00024-00-C-6100, N00024-00-C-6102 and N00024-03-C-6104. Work will be performed in Keyport, Wash., (50 percent) and Portsmouth, R.I., (50 percent), and is expected to be completed by Sept. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
General Dynamics Land Systems, operating through its division General Dynamics Amphibious Systems, Woodbridge, Va., is being awarded a $766,816,525 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for the development and manufacture of System Development and Demonstration two (SDD-2) Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) prototypes. In addition, the contractor will modify existing EFV prototypes, procure preliminary spares and repair parts, long lead materials for the SDD-2 prototypes, and conduct systems engineering, studies and analysis, logistics support and test support. Work will be performed in Va., (55 percent), Ind., (10 percent), Mich., (9 percent), Germany, (9 percent), Ohio, (4 percent), and various other states (13 percent), and work is expected to be completed Sept. 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively awarded. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-08-C-0003).
Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded a $91,805,665 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-08-C-0025) for Phase II of the CV-22 aircraft Block 20 Upgrade consisting of follow-on efforts to the CV-22 Block 20 Phase I, effort including the design, development, integration, and testing of the CV-22 Block 20 improvements and enhancements. The modification includes performance upgrades to enhance the CV-22 aircraft, such as Terrain Following (below 50 knots), Terrain Following Logic Improvements, Communication Co-Site Interference, Advanced Mission Computer (AMC) Thru-put, flight test engineering support, and logistics and supply support. Work will be performed in Hulbert Field, Fla., (70 percent); Ridley Park, Pa., (15 percent); and Amarillo, Texas, (15 percent), and is expected to be completed in Sept. 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $12,639,173 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-06-C-0086) for H-1 Upgrade logistics products and services. This modification includes logistic management support, technical material for maintenance planning, design interface, supply /material support, support of support equipment, technical data, distribution and inventory management/packaging, handling, storage & transportation, configuration management, supportability analysis, aircraft acceptance discrepancies, and contractor logistics support/technical liaison. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in May 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $9,979,205 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-04-C-0569) for the procurement of 22 each Tomahawk Block IV Mid-body Range Safety System (M-RSS) kits and Flight Test Kits (FTKs) for the U.S. Navy, (20) and the United Kingdom, (2). In addition, this modification provides for one set of RSS components for the U.S. Navy. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz. (25 percent); San Diego, Calif., (14.5 percent); Bristol, Pa., (10.7 percent); Westminster, Colo., (10 percent); Largo, Fla. (5.8 percent); Middletown, Conn., (5.3 percent); Lancaster, Pa., (1.8 percent); Los Angeles, Calif., (1.1 percent); and various locations within the United States (25.8 percent), and is expected to be completed in Jun. 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $6,773,166 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the U.S. Navy, ($9,090,171; 91 percent) and the United Kingdom, ($889,034; 9 percent) under the Foreign military Sales Program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
SFA Inc, Crofton, Md., is being awarded a $9,910,834 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the research, development and applications-oriented activities in the generation of sensing systems, integrated optics and communication systems. The contract is for "Optical Techniques, Devices, and Measurements." This contract contains options, which if exercised, will bring the total contract value to $52,879,393. Work will be performed in Washington, D.C., and work is expected to be completed Jul. 2009 (Jul. 2013 with options exercised). Contract funds in the amount of $1,475,232 will expire at end of current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured under a Request for Proposal No N000173-08-R-JR03, with one offer received. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N000173-08-R-JR03).
WareOnEarth Communications, Inc.*, North Charleston, S.C., is being awarded a $9,452,343 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, performance-based contract (with provisions for firm-fixed price orders) to provide technical services supporting U.S. tactical and strategic operations with emphasis on Information Assurance (IA) and automated sensor systems for military health systems and require expertise in the full range of the IA disciplines, architecture development, requirements management, vulnerability management, electronic key management, IA and sensor security logistic and life cycle management, certification and accreditation, risk management, security awareness, training and education and security engineering. This contract includes options, which, if exercised, will bring the total cumulative value of the contract to the estimated amount of $48,815,599. Work will be performed in Charleston, S.C., and is expected to be completed by Jul. 2009 (July 2013 with options exercised). Contract funds will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured and nine offers were received via the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center E-commerce website. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Charleston, S.C., is the contracting activity (N65236-08-D-6809).
Seyer Industries, Inc.*, St. Peters, Mo., is being awarded a $7,051,226 firm-fixed-price contract for the manufacture of various pieces of Peculiar Support Equipment for the U.S. Marine Corps, (332 pieces) and the U.S. Air Force, (218 pieces), to support the V-22 Aircraft at the Organizational and Intermediate (I&O) levels of maintenance. Work will be performed in St. Peters, Mo., and is expected to be completed in Jun. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured by electronic request for proposals, with two firms solicited and one offer received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-08-C-0346).
Gyrocam Systems, LLC, Sarasota, Fla., is being awarded a $6,665,204 firm-fixed-priced delivery order #0002 under a previously awarded contract (M67854-07-D-5075) for the purchase of sustainment services, parts, training, and the replacement of six camera systems due to battle loss. Work will be performed in Sarasota, Fla., and is expected to be completed by Aug. 2009. Contract funds in the amount of $6,665,204 will expire by the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $6,515,699 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-06-C-0086) for non-recurring engineering necessary to build, install and test of the combining Gearbox Test Stand in support of the H-1 Upgrades Aircraft. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in Jun. 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
Z Corp,* Norfolk, Va., is being awarded a $5,695,000 firm-fixed-price contract for design and construction of MP (military Police) Co., Operations Complex, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, N.C. The work to be performed includes the design and construction of multi-story and single-story operations facilities for the MP Co., 2D Marine Logistics Group. Construction will include administrative space, storage space, drive-through equipment maintenance bays, communications/electronic equipment repair; secure weapons armory, dedicated NMCI telecommunication rooms, showers and locker areas and all incidental related work. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, N.C., and is expected to be completed by August 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured among the four contractors on the eight (a) Multiple Award Contract with three proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity (N62470-05-D-6832).
General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Mich., is being awarded a $5,500,493 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for research and development for applications of Intelligent Machining (IM) of Advanced Defense Materials at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC) Lima, Ohio. Work will be performed in Lima, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by Jul. 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $2,914,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity for contract (M67854-08-C-0009).
BAE Systems Advanced Information Technologies of Burlington, Mass., is being awarded a cost plus fixed fee contract for $21,490,727. This effort will develop, demonstrate and deliver a single platform and multiple platform software system that enables long term maritime and ground target tracking. The effort will involve development in Technology areas including advance radar sensor networking and communication. The performance of the single platform and multiple platform configurations will be evaluated and demonstrated in a laboratory simulation environment utilizing real and simulated data. The software system will also be used and evaluated during a series of flight tests and demonstrations. At this time $7,688,926 has been obligated. Air Force Research Laboratory/RIKF, Rome, N.Y., is the contracting activity (FA8750-08-C-0217).
Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., of Herndon, Va., is being awarded cost plus fixed free contract for $11,494,519. This action will provide technical and analytical support to the Program Executive Office Combat Support and the Tank and Automotive Research and Development Team. At this time $135,266 has been obligated. 55th Contracting Squadron, 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt AFB, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-03-D-1380, DO 0264).
Entereza Network Solution, Inc., of Albuquerque, N.M., is being awarded a firm fixed, cost reimbursement contract for a maximum of $6 million. The overall objective of the work effort under this training services contract as defined in Performance Work State of Word dated Mar. 4, 2008, is to effectively and efficiently meet the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC) mission. AFOTEC is responsible for planning, executing, and reporting independent Operational Test and Evaluations (OT&E). AFOTEC supports Air Force (AF), Department of Defense (DoD), and other government agencies by evaluating operational capabilities and limitations to meet warfighter mission needs. The mission of AFOTEC is to assess the capability of new systems and provide operational effectiveness, operational suitability, and operational impact expertise from concept through system employment in the battlespace environment, AFOTEC's Test and Evaluation University (T&EU) was formed to provide in-house course development, updates, and instruction to support the technical training needs of the OT&E workforce. The contractor will provide subject matter experts (SME) to instruct, develop courses, and maintain/update course materials using Instructional Systems Development (ISD) methodology. In addition to performing instructional duties, the contractor will up existing courses as required, as well as develop, instruct, and update emerging courses and associated courseware. Instructional staff may, within the discretion of the Government, include augmentation from Government SMEs. At this time $284,529 has been obligated. Headquarters, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, HQ AFOTEC/A7K, Contracting Division, Kirtland AFB, N.M., is the contracting activity (FA7046-08-D-0002).
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), of San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a cost plus fixed fee contract for $5,913,886. The action will provide for Air Force Research laboratory/RYZT requires the use of R&D support contract to accomplish specialized research, analysis, test, and development for combat identification work. At this time $1.5 million has been obligated. AFRL/PKSR, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-08-C-1373).
I think the first Robert Altman movie I ever saw was Nashville at age 19, while living in Nashville. My parents had told me I wouldn’t like it, so when it came to the Green Hills theater for a limited time, I went to see it.
I really hated it for the most part. I liked the woman with the deaf children, the British woman who was making a documentary on country music, and the mental country star who was supposed to be Loretta Lynn.
The movie drove me crazy, because there was this guy carrying a suitcase throughout the whole entire thing. I had the feeling that someone was going to pull out a gun during the whole entire movie. It was a really weird feeling to have, and I thought I must be crazy. So when at the very end, someone takes out a gun and starts shooting everyone at the Parthenon, I felt like Altman had redeemed himself somehow.
Right around that time, I found myself unable to get through M*A*S*H. I decided to see Shortcuts, because I like the whole interconnected plots things. But I hated that as well.
Thinking that Robert Altman must not be the director for me, I saw Gosford Park when it came out, expecting the worse. However, I loved it. That movie along with Three Women and The Player remain my top favorite Altman movies. I can’t really choose just one for my favorite. I’ve always meant to go to The Rialto in Pasadena, because of the murder scene in The Player. I’ve never made it yet, but I probably owe it to Altman to check it out.
Earlier this year, they had an Altman month at the Aero. I caught an Altman triple-feature that day. That is, I caught Prairie Home Companion at the Los Feliz 3, then I went to the Aero to catch Images and The Long Goodbye (second viewing). I wouldn’t have done that for any other director, I don’t think.
My only regret is that Prairie Home Companion wasn’t as good as it could have been. I didn’t understand why he would introduce an angel of death to take care of the corporate executive if that wouldn’t have taken care of the problem. My other complaint is that all of Lindsay Lohan’s parts were in the previews, but her character didn’t really add much to the movie. It was a pretty decent film, and I have no complaints about Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin’s roles. They’re excellent!
Other Altman movies I’ve seen:
California Split (1974)
Vincent & Theo (1990)
Dr T and the Women (2000)
Cookie's Fortune (1999)
The Gingerbread Man (1998)
Movies I have left to see (roughly):
McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971)
Brewster McCloud (1970)
Thieves Like Us (1974)
Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976)
O.C. and Stiggs (1987)
Basements (1987) (TV)
Beyond Therapy (1987)
Fool for Love (1985)
The Laundromat (1985) (TV)
Secret Honor (1984)
Streamers (1983)
Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (1982)
Rattlesnake in a Cooler (1982) (TV)
Precious Blood (1982) (TV)
Popeye (1980)
HealtH (1980)
A Perfect Couple (1979)
Quintet (1979)
A Wedding (1978)
The Company (2003)
Kansas City (1996)
Jazz '34 (1996)
Other Altman movies I’ve turned off:
Prêt-à-Porter (1994)
Cris and I spent something like four hours on the phone yesterday. It was wild. You could definitely say we've caught up!
Talk about weird shit happening in threes, though... The same day I left the message on her answering machine, two other people did the same thing... and she hadn't heard from either of them in years, either.
She's certainly not the same person I worked with all those years ago, but then, neither am I. One thing I thought was new about her, but turns out to be just something I didn't know about her back then, is that she's really into shoes. She says she's practically Carrie Bradshaw. (That's a Sex and the City reference, for those of you with perplexed looks on your faces.) She recently did a "purge" and donated some of her shoes to Goodwill or something. How many? About 100 pairs. How many does she have left after this? Over 300 pairs.
Yeah, that's not a typo. There are no extra zeroes in those sentences.
And lest you think she shops at Payless... no. While she does have many pairs of what she calls "mid-range" shoes, she also has "couture" shoes. Her latest pair (at least, as of yesterday) was Gucci. The pair before that (which was within the last week) was a company I can't recall the name of... something Italian... that listed for $750. She got them at the bargain price of "only" $300.
One again... no extra zeroes there.
Does this freak me out? Yes. I feel guilty whenever I blow forty bucks on CDs, and that's not even a monthly occurrence. Cris buys a new pair of shoes every time she gets paid.
Cris lives in Brooklyn Heights and absolutely loves it. She's trying to convince me to hop a train to the city after my gig in D.C. in early May. Damn, it's tempting. But I just don't think it's in the budget. Then again, who knows? A train ticket would be over $100 probably, but less than $150. That's not terrible. I could visit with her for a couple days, then fly back to Sacramento on Sunday. Might be nice. And I could have real pizza! She lives about a 15 minute walk from Garibaldi's Pizzeria!
We'll see. Of course, this might piss off some of the Pennsylvania contingent, who've been clamoring to see me. (Yeah, that means you, beccapooka.)
So I'm typing this entry in my room at The Mission Inn. I got here around 4:00 this afternoon.
It was an okay flight, except for some nasty bumpiness when we were flying through the clouds, descending into Ontario. I tell you what, though... it's one of the coolest things in the world to see the clouds like that from an airplane. These today were huge, billowy, pure white clouds. At times, it seemed like we were zooming through canyons made of white cotton candy. Just stunning. I sat there with this big ol' smile spreading across my face. I just wish it were possible to experience such a thing outside the confines of a pressurized metal tube flying at hundreds of miles per hour. Oh, to be Superman...
Anyway, the section of Riverside surrounding The Mission Inn reminds me a lot of Pasadena. It has a quaint, almost small-town feel to it. Very cool.
After checking in, I called my cousin Jim to let him know I was here. And he drove in from Irvine to have dinner with me. We had a great time, talking about relatives. It's interesting, because he and I both come from the same branch of the family tree, so to speak, but we keep up on totally different family members. He's in touch with our cousins Jackie and Darby, who live in Florida... whereas I haven't seen either of them since I was about ten years old or so.
I'd really love to see them. Jackie was closer to my age, but I have one memory of Darby that really sticks out. She was in a band when she was in high school. I only know this, because one time when we were visiting there, the band was rehearsing in their basement. Darby was the singer. The band's name was "Streamline." (I think they actually played for a dance at my high school, years later.) Anyway, I remember hearing them rehearse their eponymous song... and I can still hear Darby's voice wailing, "Streeeeeeeammmliiiiiiiiine!" in my head. She immediately became the coolest person I knew, right then and there. I never told her that, though. She was something like seven or eight years older than I was, I think. I was just a nuisance kid to her, I imagine.
It would be fun, though, to tell her today that she was one of my childhood heroes.
Anyway... it was great to finally meet Jim. I made him promise to bring his family up to Sacramento sometime.
Well, the next two days will be very busy. Tomorrow we've got a board meeting from ten until three, then a reception tomorrow evening. Tuesday, it's the symposium all day, then a 7:00 flight home. But the last thing I want to do tonight is sit here at the computer until it's bedtime. It's only 9:30 right now. Still time for a beer or two down in the lounge...
By SANDY COHEN, AP Entertainment Writer
PASADENA, Calif. - In the land of perennial youth and movie star beauty, most centenarians just can't compete.
That's why the Rose Parade is getting a major makeover — for the first time in 117 years.
With CBS having quietly decided after 45 years to drop its coverage, parade organizers, hoping to keep TV viewers and the remaining broadcasting outlets happy, have ratcheted up the rolling flowerfest's entertainment quotient.
So, the annual Tournament of Roses on Monday — a day later than usual because of a "never on Sunday" policy — will kick off with a splashy performance by Grammy-winning singer LeAnn Rimes — complete with dancers and aerial performers.
The extravaganza will be jazzed up further by mid-parade performances — yes, the whole parade will roll to a pause — by singer Toni Braxton and magician Lance Burton.
The fans along the parade route, however, aren't likely to see the entertaining new additions, which have been designed primarily for the TV audience.
"We look at it as we're putting on a parade for television," said Caryn Eaves, spokeswoman for the Tournament of Roses Association. "There are a million people on the parade route every year. Really, we don't need any more."
What the parade does need is television exposure. Broadcast coverage is a longtime tradition and a means of massive international outreach, said Bill Flinn, chief operating officer of the Tournament of Roses Association.
"TV is the way of taking this small-town festival in California and sharing it with the world," he said, noting the "tremendous marketing opportunities" associated with the parade, which, even without CBS' participation, will be broadcast to 120 countries. In the U.S., where it will be seen on ABC, NBC and a slew of other outlets, it is expected to be viewed in some part by about 50 million viewers.
"These are all audiences that companies want to reach (by joining the parade), and reach in a festive manner like this," Flinn said.
When companies such as Ivory and American Honda pay $6,250 to enter their flower-covered creations in the annual procession, they're guaranteed worldwide exposure.
Not that CBS' absence won't be felt.
Wayne Curley, a technician who has coordinated television transmission of the Rose Parade for 25 years, said the CBS pullout is the "biggest change" he's seen in his time with the parade.
As other outlets came and went, "you could just about count on CBS" to provide coverage, he said.
"This was strictly a business decision," said CBS spokesman Chris Ender. "With so many outlets covering it, we weren't giving the viewers anything unique."
The network's ratings for Rose Parade programming have steadily declined since 1988. Instead of showing the parade on Jan. 2, CBS will air its regular morning news program, "The Early Show," followed by "a soap opera or 'The Price is Right,' depending on the market," Ender said.
Still, there'll be no shortage of cameras along the parade route. Despite the declining ratings, nine cable and network channels will offer live parade coverage, starting at 11 a.m. EST.
"The (ratings) numbers have gone down, primarily because the number of outlets covering it have increased," said Curt Sharp, NBC's vice president of alternative programs and specials. "It will be interesting to see if having fewer broadcasters in the space increases our rating." NBC has televised the parade annually since 1954.
The tournament does not charge TV outlets for the right to televise the event, but each pays a fee to a local property owner for camera positions.
Tournament of Roses president Libby Evans Wright insists that plans to include entertainment elements in the 2006 parade were in place before CBS opted out. The additions were based on years of market research that found viewers wanting more entertainment from the petal-pumped procession, Wright said.
"When you're looking at yourself as a brand or a product or a business, you always want to keep renewing yourself," she said. "You want to keep yourself vibrant and interesting to your market."
The parade's new opening and other featured performances will be held at the intersection of Orange Grove and Colorado boulevards, known as "TV corner," Wright said. Fans situated there can behold the performances live. Others will have to catch them on TV.
Parade regulars don't seem to mind. Star power isn't what brings them to the event.
"People come to see it live so they can smell the flowers," said annual attendee Harvey Carey, 56. "It's the sense of being here; that's the attraction of the Rose Parade."
Albert Lee, who works at a restaurant along the parade route, said sidewalk watchers are "hardcore fans" who focus on the floats.
"I don't think they care if they see celebrities," he said. "They're here for the free show."
It's still smart for the Tournament of Roses to freshen up the festivities with made-for-TV elements, said NBC's Sharp.
"They need to continue to make it entertaining and relevant to today's audiences," he said.
The Tournament plans to explore Internet and telephone broadcast opportunities in the future, Flinn said.
Cheryl Ceccetto, producer of this year's Academy Awards Governors Ball and other Hollywood events, is behind the two-and-a-half minute opening. She was invited to "give the parade a kick-start and take it to a new level," she said.
"The parade is always fantastic," she said. "But jewels on any outfit always add."
The jewels might need an umbrella, however. On Wednesday, weather forecasters predicted a 50% chance of precipitation Monday. If they're correct, it'll be the first rain on parade day in 51 years. No matter: Rain or shine, the parade will go on, Tournament of Roses officials said.
As Hurricane Rita grows into a powerful Category
As some of you may know, I'm from Missouri City, TX (Fort Bend County). This city is only 2 miles from Houston, TX. and it is located near Stafford and Sugarland. The news on TV is considering this side of Rita's Path "The Dirty Side"...
Galveston began evacuating residents on Tuesday. Further inland, Houston Mayor Bill White ordered a mandatory evacuation of residents in areas prone to storm surges or major floods. Texas Gov. Rick Perry urged residents along most of the state's coastline, from the Louisiana border almost to Mexico, to leave. -ABCnews
The following images are the screenshots of Houston's Evacuation Zones as of Wednesday:
Evacuation Zone A: if Category 1 - 2
Galveston, Jamaica beach
Evacuation Zone B: if Category 3
Galveston / Pasadena Texas City, Hitchcock, La Marque.
Evacuation Zone C: Category 4 - 5
Galveston, Pasadena, Baytown, Southeast Houston, Brazoria County, Friendswood, Santa Fe
As of 3:03pm, it was reported that Rita is NOW a Category 5 Hurricane. I'm currently watching the news because I'm very, very near the Evacuation Zone C. I am in a zone meteoroligists consider "The Dirty Side" of Rita, which will be getting HEAVY rainfall. Southwest Houston, as in Harris County and Fort Bend County (including Sugarland and Katy) has been requested Voluntary Evacuation. However, that may change and right now, I'm getting ready.
My fellow Houstonians, I wish you all the best of luck. If you have to evacuate, please do so.
I might post more about Rita later. The 90's Song of the Day will be postponed all throughout the weekend. Consider this my "Emergency Broadcast System" interruption. THIS ENTRY may be updated with newer information.
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