Here’s the link to a semi-interactive version of the photo describing what you’re seeing.
Unfortunately, no. This is not the setup I have in my office.
‘West Wing’ Actor John Spencer Dies at 58
By LYNN ELBER
AP Television Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Actor John Spencer, who played the role of Leo McGarry in “The West Wing,” mirrored his character in several ways: Both were recovering alcoholics and both were driven.
“Like Leo, I’ve always been a workaholic, too,” he told The Associated Press in a 2000 interview. “Through good times and bad, acting has been my escape, my joy, my nourishment. The drug for me, even better than alcohol, was acting.”
Spencer died of a heart attack Friday. In a sad parallel to life, his character on the show had earlier suffered a heart attack that forced him to give up his White House job.
Spencer died after being admitted to a Los Angeles hospital during the night, said his publicist, Ron Hofmann. He would have been 59 on Tuesday.
He was “one of those rare combinations of divinely gifted and incredibly generous,” said Richard Schiff, who plays Toby Ziegler on the NBC series.
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Christmas Season 2005
To keep in the Christmas spirit, here are the lyrics to Leary’s famous seasonal song. Sing along now!
Old St. Nick’s got bourbon breath,
It’s so cold you could catch your death,
A cop just sold me some crystal meth,
It’s a Merry F&*#@!g Christmas.
Everything’s so Christmassy,
The streets are twinkling with frozen pee,
My priest just sat on Santa’s knee,
It’s a Merry F&*#@!g Christmas.
(chorus)
All the kids go to bed each night, to dream what Santa brings ’em,
Unless you’re jewish or muslim or some other gyp religion.
Crappy toys flying off the shelves,
Midgets dress up to look like elves,
Spread good cheer or burn in hell,
It’s a Merry F&*#@!g Christmas.
(chorus)
Crackling fire to keep me warm,
And my collection of asian porn,
Cradle my bells and work my horn,
It’s a keep on trucking, last year’s sucking,
Midget chucking, slap the puck in,
How much wood could a woodchuck chucking,
Merry F&*#@!g Christmas!
James Doohan 1920-2005
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) — James Doohan, the burly chief engineer of the Starship Enterprise in the original “Star Trek” TV series and motion pictures who responded to the apocryphal command “Beam me up, Scotty,” died early Wednesday. He was 85.
Doohan died at 5:30 a.m. (1330 GMT) at his Redmond, Washington, home with his wife of 28 years, Wende, at his side, Los Angeles agent and longtime friend Steve Stevens said. The cause of death was pneumonia and Alzheimer’s disease, he said.
The Canadian-born Doohan fought in World War II and was wounded during the D-Day invasion, according to the StarTrek.com Web site. He was enjoying a busy career as a character actor when he auditioned for a role as an engineer in a new space adventure on NBC in 1966. A master of dialects from his early years in radio, he tried seven different accents.
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Johnny Carson 1925-2005
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) — Johnny Carson, the “Tonight Show” TV host who served America a smooth nightcap of celebrity banter, droll comedy and heartland charm for 30 years, has died. He was 79.
“Mr. Carson passed away peacefully early Sunday morning,” his nephew, Jeff Sotzing, told The Associated Press. “He was surrounded by his family, whose loss will be immeasurable. There will be no memorial service.”
Sotzing would not give further details, including the time of death or the location.
The boyish-looking Nebraska native with the disarming grin, who survived every attempt to topple him from his late-night talk show throne, was a star who managed never to distance himself from his audience.
His wealth, the adoration of his guests — particularly the many young comics whose careers he launched — the wry tales of multiple divorces: Carson’s air of modesty made it all serve to enhance his bedtime intimacy with viewers.
“Heeeeere’s Johnny!” was the booming announcement from sidekick Ed McMahon that ushered Carson out to the stage. Then the formula: the topical monologue, the guests, the broadly played skits such as “Carnac the Magnificent.”
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Carl called
Last night, Carl called. Since I moved from home nearly six years ago, I talk with him on the phone only about once per year. From the sound of his voice, he doesn’t seem to have aged a day, even though his 78th birthday was last October. Carl’s the guy that had a key to my place and, while I was at work (doing “911” from 7pm until 7am), would go on in, make a pot of coffee, and watch the races on my satellite tv. I didn’t mind at all, I thought it was great. I remember during my nights off, hearing his truck pull into my driveway, usually around midnight. He’d walk up to the deck, rap on the door with that “shave and a haircut” knock and then come on in. If I was asleep on the couch, he’d let me sleep while making himself a fresh pot of coffee. When it would be finished brewing, he’d pour himself a cup and then wake me up, saying it’s too early to be sleeping and there’s fresh coffee in the pot. We’d sit there, watching tv, and he’d catch me up on the daily goings-on with the old-timers and Lake natives.
If you were to ask Carl how long he’s been retired, and I’ve asked him many times because I like his answer, he’d tell you, “Shit, I retired when I was 22. Left the Navy after World War II, became a plumber [which by the way, he’s one of the best in Missouri, it’s how he was given the nick-name “shitty-fingers” sometime back in the 50’s or 60’s] and went out on my own. I’m not working for anybody that doesn’t know their ass from a hole in a ground. Don’t need ’em.”
At around 3am, Carl would get, put his cup on the counter and say it’s time to go home. He’d say the usual goodbyes while walking out the door. Sometimes, an hour later, he’d call me up on the phone and tell me to change the channel to something that might make me laugh. Usually related to toilet-humor, firefighting, or dispatching.
Catching me up on the happenings in the ol’ hometown, he says I wouldn’t recognize the place now. So terribly busy, traffic-wise, major businesses have sprung up everywhere and the towns have sprawled in to nearly twice the size they were when I left. His truck was wrecked a year or so ago and a tree fell over onto his old trailer. He’s now living in a retirement community, apparently very comfortable. Arthritis has set into his hips now, so he doesn’t so much walk as shuffle.
Carl said that Elmer has a new girlfriend. Elmer’s nearly 80 and is wife Lorraine died of lung cancer a few years ago. I knew them both very well. Well, Elmer now has lung and liver cancer as well, apparently in a bad way. Carl says Elmer’s nasal cannula and O2 tank set aside, he always has a can of beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other. That’s Elmer, wild, mischievous, ornory, and raunchy. Anyway, he met this new girlfriend a few months after Lorraine died. He had hired her to work in the shop and they ended up in bed that same night. She stays with Elmer five nights a week and then goes home to her husband two nights a week. Her husband works out of town for the five nights she’s shacking up with the ol’ man. Convenient.
I’ll need to call Carl more often to keep caught up on what’s going on in the ol’ hometown.