I Got Robbed

It's no joke. My apartment was broken into today. Not to quote the Beatles, but they came in through the bathroom window -- cut right through the screen with a sharp blade of some kind.

Fortunately, they didn’t get away with anything of significant value. They took only a handful of things like spare change and a few things that are probably easy to exchange for cash. Based on the circumstances, I would guess the person is homeless.

The items missing include:

-- a collectible silver dollar my Dad gave me for Christmas. It was in my desk drawer (they left the case)

-- a huge amount of loose change that I deposit daily into a giant plastic cup on my kitchen counter (they left the cup and took only the change! )

-- a blue knit cap that was hanging on my closet door (they left the scarf and sweater which were also hanging there)

-- something from the closet (I can see the circular dust ring where it sat, but I can't recall yet what I put there.)

-- a bowl's worth of pot stashed in my bathroom drawer (they left the pipe, screens, and lighter)

-- Worst of all, they took my guitar and its gig bag (carrying case). However, they were kind enough to remove my music book and from the gig bag and throw it on the floor before they left.

Strangely, the thief left something behind. I found a dirty sock, not one of mine, sitting crumpled up on my bed. No idea what that's about.

Here’s the irony of the whole situation: my front door was completely unlocked since I was expecting the plumbers to arrive to clear out a clogged drain. The plumber was actually working in my apartment when I arrived home and noticed some things missing. After interviewing the plumber, I don’t think he had anything to do with the robbery.

What a day, huh? Because of the clogged drains, I haven't been able to use the toilet or take a shower for two days. And I thought it was bad enough to have raw sewage backing up into my shower and bath tub, but to get robbed on the same day.... Talk about adding insult to injury!

So lock your doors and windows, kids. Although my neighborhood is generally very safe, we are clearly vulnerable to theft at any time.

Happy Birthday, Wolfgang!

You may know that today, January 27, 2006 is the 250th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Most folks are at least vaguely familiar with Mozart's life as a child prodigy, his adult life as a professional musician and composer, and his tragic death at the age of 35 years old.

It's hard to believe that in his short life, Mr. M. composed over 600 compositions, many of them masterpieces. He was proficient in all forms of classical composition: keyboard sonatas, chamber music, concertos, dance and ballet music, songs, marches, operas, oratorios, and sacred music such as Masses and his infamous Requiem. Oh yes, he also wrote dozens of symphonies -- at least 30 of them by age 20!

I had the great privilege during my early musical career to sing tenor with a professional orchestra for Mozart's final and most haunting composition, the Requiem. It was an extremely challenging and emotional experience, considering that Mozart wrote it for himself during the illness that would end his life. Although he was unable to finish the piece alone (a student of his completed the orchestration), it remains one of his most inspiring pieces.

For more information about W.A. Mozart's life and music, check out the Mozart Project.

Why Not, "Emily"?

CNN.com - Why did ABC cancel 'Emily' after 1 show? - Jan 23, 2006

TV executives make me sick. They must be the stupidest people on planet Earth. Why else would they spend millions of dollars on a new sitcom and then cancel it after only one airing? Could it be they hadn't even read the script before OK-ing the huge publicity campaign for the new show?

That is exactly what happened, according to ABC entertainment president Stephen McPherson. Six episodes of "Emily's Reasons Why Not" starring super-cutey Heather Graham were filmed, but only one episode aired, to poor ratings. Once the powers that be finally bothered to watch the show, they decided they didn't like it so they pulled plug. That takes balls. It takes even more balls to flagrantly waste your corporate shareholder's money and then casually admit the fact without batting an eye.

Actually, I don't give a crap about network television, but I did watch the first episode of "Emily" and although it was not Shakespeare, it certainly wasn't any worse than the rest of the garbage polluting the airwaves. Besides, I really like Heather Graham and I was hoping the show would be a big hit for her, especially since her face is plastered on dozens of billboards advertising the show all around Los Angeles.

Oh well, I guess it's a big disappointment for everyone concerned and not a nice birthday present for Heather, who turns 36 on January 29th. Happy Birthday, Heather!

War's stunning price tag - Los Angeles Times

War's stunning price tag - Los Angeles Times

Oh my god, we must be the stupidest country on Earth. This LA Times op-ed piece reveals the economic results of the war in Iraq, estimated to cost somewhere between $1 and $2 trillion, with no end to the conflict in sight.

It's a very interesting and well-written article. Free site registration may be required to view it.

King Day

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."
Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thank you, Dr. King, for sacrificing your life so that the rest of us can have an extra day to rest and shop.

He'd be turning in his grave.

Iraq IS in a Civil War

At last someone has finally admitted that Iraq is already in a civil war, not just "threatened" by one as the administration keeps warning, and it's no surprise that the brave soul who has admitted the truth is Rep. John Murtha, who last year blasted the Bush-ies and called for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

Murtha is now blogging on The Huffington Post and you can read his statement here.