“Badges?! Badges?! I don’t have no stinkin’ badges!”

That’s probably what Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O’Neal is saying right now. Shaq, who’s made no secret of his law enforcement aspirations and who previously served as a reserve police officer during his stint with the Miami Heat, has had to give up his badge. Seems that Maricopa (Ariz.) County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, for whom Shaq has served as a special deputy (mostly ceremonial), has told O’Neal that he has to turn in his badge.

Seems that Sheriff Arpaio was upset at O’Neal’s use of profanity and racial slurs during a “free style” rap in which he makes fun of former Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant. Shaq insisted that he was merely having fun and that since it was freestyling, it was nothing serious.

The sheriff disagreed, saying that his deputies would be fired for engaging in such racial conduct.

Yes, Arpaio’s the same sheriff who makes his inmates wear pink underwear, work in chain gangs and have access to only the Disney and Weather Channels on cable.

The Day the Music Died

Currently, I'm working on what I hope to be 2 columns for publication in February 2009 to mark the 50th anniversary of The Day the Music Died. On February 3, 1959, in Clear Lake, Iowa, a plane crashed shortly after takeoff, killing these three musicians:

Charles "Buddy Holly" Holley, 22, frontman for Buddy Holly and the Crickets
Richard "Ritchie Valens" Valenzuela, 17, solo artist known for his songs "Come On, Let's Go", "La Bamba" and "Oh, Donna"
J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, 28, disc jockey, songwriter and singer known perhaps best for his hit "Chantilly Lace."

Originally scheduled to be on that plane was a young man who'd go on to become one of the leaders of country music's infamous Outlaw Movement: Waylon Jennings. However, Richardson was feeling under the weather and wanted to get to their next gig early to visit a doctor, so Jennings gave up his seat on the plane.

George Carlin's passing

He wasn't one of my favorite comics, but I'm saddened to hear of the passing of George Carlin. My prayers are with his family.

Giving writing advice

I got to do this recently to someone who's relative new to the freelance field. Among the things I told her:

1) Be persistent. You will likely get rejected for most of what you apply for.
2) If someone wants to work with you, make absolutely certain there is no ambiguity in the payment. I did this once and ended up doing a $100 press release for free. That stunk.
3) Did I mention persistent?
4) For paying sites, look at how much they charge and the services offered and ask yourself if it is a worthwhile investment. If it's not, then you could keep the receipt and write it off at tax time.
5) Don't shy away from free sites like www.freelancewritinggigs.com. One absolutely wonderful, lucrative freelance relationship came from that site.

Here's something else I picked up while doing one of my all-time favorite freelance jobs of sports gathering at the San Antonio Express-News. The guy next to me was phonr interviewing a coach or player for an upcoming story. As he spoke, I learned three important things to do while interviewing somebody:

1) Be professional. Keep it business--especially if the person you're interviewing is a complete stranger.
2) Be polite.
3) Be to the point. Don't rabbit trail, and don't get into discussions that have nothing to do with the interview--unless it's a brief discussion that could possibly uncover a future story idea.

Great day at work

After finishing my day job, I got home and was able to conditionally complete a writing assignment (I sent in a pending final version to the editor and will send her the official final version by mid next week). Got to submit the invoice. Woo-hoo! Praise the Lord for publications that pay on acceptance rather than publication. Also got off to a great start on the next one. Looking forward to doing interviews tomorrow for this next assignment.

Busy busy day today

Worked on deadlines for three different articles,including one that will get us caught up on rent and help us get caught up on a few utilities. Funny thing: while interviewing an Arizona State athletic official, one of the kittens in our house climbed up my shirt and started licking the inside of my ear. Put it on the floor, and the little stinker climbed back up. Thankfully, the gentleman I spoke to didn't hear the meowing and ask aloud, "What the heck..."

Interview tomorrow for what would be a full-time writing job.

Actor Gary Dourdan gets slap on the wrist in drug arrest

First, there was sportscaster Marv "YESSSSSSSS!" Albert getting his wrist slapped years ago; after being arrested on sexual assault charges, Albert plea bargained his way into a sweetheart deal that expunged the charges from his criminal record if he kept his nose clean and didn't arrested within a year.

Now, it's CSI star Gary Dourdan's turn.

Remember? He was arrested last month outside Palm Springs when police reportedly found heroin, cocaine and ecstasy in his car. All three are felonies.

Dourdan pled guilty to two of the three counts. Not only will he not go to prison (he could've served more than three years), but after completing 30 hours of a diversion program, his case will be dismissed completely.

Makes me sick. When John Q. Public gets arrested on drug charges, most likely he will have to figure out how to avoid becoming a girlfriend of one of the prison's most feared inmates. All Dourdan has to wonder now is whether or not he'll be returning to CSI for its ninth season (his character was shot in the season finale).

Some justice.

$4.09 per gallon

That's how much I paid today at the Simon's Citgo gas station in Arbela Township (about five miles west of the village of Millington), Michigan.

It's cold in them there hills!

It got into the upper thirties last night up here in Michigan. Chilly at around 55 degrees.

And to think June's almost here.

My mother, who lives in South Texas, told me that a few days ago it was 101 degrees there.

Memorial Day thoughts

I had posted a blog of actress Jessica Lange's scathing comments about President Bush and the war during her daughter's college commencement address. After some thought, I've removed the posting for a few reasons. One, it's Memorial Day. Two, Lange is entitled to her opinion and I've grown tired of constantly addressing celebrities' thoughts on war and peace. Three, frankly, I found her comments to simply not be worthy of dignification.

I think Ms. Lange is a great actress and, yes, 20 years ago, I had a huge crush on her. I'll leave it at that.

I wish everyone a very happy Memorial Day.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day

I'll be thinking about Specialist Larry Dahl, father of an Army buddy. Spc Dahl posthumously won the Medal of Honor in Vietnam by throwing himself onto a grenade to save the lives of his comrades.

Wow.

There's more thoughts I have on the day, but this thought deserves its own blog post.

My newest column preview--new Dirty Harry movie

Just sent out my latest column "Will Dirty Harry follow Indiana Jones’ in his walker-aided footsteps?" to my hometown newspaper, the Beeville Bee-Picayune. When Clint Eastwood announced there would not be another Dirty Harry film while the latest Indiana Jones has been released, I just couldn't resist.

Below is an excerpt. If you don't get the Bee-Pic and would like to read the rest, or if you're interested in syndicating my column Richard's Ramblings, feel free to drop me a line at richardzowie@gmail.com:

Among the scenes:

1) A TV reporter (played by Eastwood’s real-life wife, former reporter Dina Eastwood decides to interview Harry to get into his sensitive side.

Reporter: Inspector Callahan, your adoring female fans that haven’t died yet from natural causes have a question for you: Boxers or briefs?

Harry: Depends.

Reporter: Depends on the situation? Such as briefs for cold days but boxers for—

Harry: No, Depends as in Depends Undergarments!

McCain rejects Hagee's endorsement

Republican presidential candidate John McCain has rejected the endorsement of San Antonio megapastor John Hagee.

Hagee, pastor of the Alamo City's Cornerstone Church, endorsed McCain three months ago, sparking a controversy among Christians who view the Arizona senator as a RINO (Republican In Name Only).

McCain was said to have formally rejected Hagee's endorsement due to Hagee's controversial comments on the Catholic Church and on the state of Israel. His rejection reminds me of Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama finally getting around to rejecting the controversial statements made by his pastor Jeremiah Wright.

According to the Huffington Post, McCain's decision stemmed from a controversial statement Hagee once made about God allegedly using Adolf Hitler to usher in the State of Israel. Hagee, according to HP, has claimed his comments have been taken out of context. Maybe so, but it really illustrates for me that ALL pastors--from the staunchest conservative to the most ardent liberal--should focus on three things: preaching the Gospel, encouraging believers in their growth and teaching what the Bible says.

A very interesting tombstone

I saw this recently while writing a story about changes in store for Clio, Michigan's Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery. It's one of those pictures I take because there's something very, very unusual about it. Can anyone tell me what's so unusual about this tombstone?

Voting in 2008--go third party?

My brother-in-law Jason, like me, is politically conservative. Like me, he's not very impressed with John McCain.

Jason told me recently that he will likely vote third party for these reasons: he doesn't see much of a difference between McCain and Hillary Clinton/Barack Obama and he'd rather vote for a candidate that better reflects his own views.

At present, I am still leaning towards McCain. However, it would be that lesser-of-two-evils thing. I keep thinking that in the future I could certainly go third party. Perhaps I'll do it if I see a truly viable candidate, or I might do it to show my disgust at the GOP continuing to ignore their conservative base.

Interesting note: Michael Reagan, the son of Ronald Reagan, bills himself on his radio show as "The very independent Michael Reagan." Mike (one of the very best talk show hosts in terms of content) said he left the GOP because it's no longer the party of his father.

As for my wife, the lovely Jennifer, I've told her that if she's voting for the candidate she feels is the best one, she has nothing to be ashamed about--as long as it's not Barack or Hillary (or, as Jay Leno calls them, The Pleaser and The Freezer).