New Simon Templar TV Movie On Long Delay

Last April I blogged that James Purefoy had signed on to be the next Simon Templar known in fictional detective history as The Saint.  Shooting in New Orleans was delayed from July untill October. Then delayed for an undetermined time. Trust me I have good sources on this one. Arguements over script and Purefoy as the main actor and what various groups wanted for an updated character. Money halted and that was the final straw that broke this latest attempt at a comeback for the once well known character. So as of this writing this project is at best months away from production. I write this considering that my last blog on this subject received a fairly large number of hits. So Saint fans as was stated in the back of many a Saint story......Beware The Sign Of The Saint .....He Will Be Back. At least we can only hope so...... Be Seeing You

Blaupunkt AM_FM_SW Radio Discovered

 In early November I spent a couple of days exploring a couple of potential sites for further archeology  exploration in the Schodack NY area this spring. I also spent time in Columbia County in the Niverville area where I came across a garage sales three neighbors were putting on. I did a quick look , bought a small Ikea alarm clock still in it's wrapping . Then I spotted an automotive item. A relic from cars past I was familiar with. Selling for $ 2.00 a Blaupunkt VW car radio. Came out of a 1967 or 68 VW Karmen Ghia In remarkably good shape . I bought it. Later on in the week sold it to a repair and restoration shop in Oceanside area of Long Island. Made a $15.00 dollar profit. That's not this blog's point , however , I bought a memory.  My early work years after my Vega died a rather painful death of meltdown on Interstate 90. I needed a car fast and obtained a Karmen Ghia  at a reasonable price. Something to get me through till I could save up some real money. In those days I drove about 80 miles round trip to work and back. An unusual aspect of the car was the fact that the car radio had short wave reception capabilities. No one really pays attention to this part of the spectrum  anymore but it was once quite active with various overseas and USA stations. Now just so you know I have a thing about the news. I  have a mild addiction to the news. Growing up in a political family the news at dinner time was a big deal. One day I discovered the BBC on short wave. So part of my long morning commute became the news from London on the BBC world service. Most early mornings it came in quite well. This habit continues as I sometimes listen to BBC on my computer. Anyway , it is a minor memory but one that has a  certain independence to it. A rusted semi sports car , yellow , air cooled engine , little in the way of heat driving off in the early morning with a British voice saying this is London.

Andy Rooney : Goodby From Albany New York

Well.......Andy Rooney died last night. As I sip my morning coffee at my daughters home near Albany I do feel a sense of loss. Rooney came from Albany born January 14 , 1919. A few short months from the end of World War One. That is a long life. The thing is he seemed a man I knew though I didn't.  The fact that he grew up and was nurtured near from where I grew up probably makes me feel the kinship. I hope they lower the flags to half staff for atleast a day in the city.  But as I age and have gone in the last few years to more funerals that I care to count I feel older this morning because that World War Two generation that nurtured my generation has all most departed in total. There is a voice missing at the table this morning. A man I admired , read a couple of his books , listened to his commentaries. Now he is gone.

John Lennon's Tooth

 Yes......on 11/05/11 a tooth purported to be a former tooth of  John Lennon is going up for auction. It is up for auction at an auction house in Sweden. Speculation is it could fetch upwards of 15,000 dollars. This discolored tooth with cavities and all was the property of his former 60's era housekeeper. Being a potfinder archeologist of sorts I must say this fascinates me. I have sold a couple of finds over the years such as a ring found on AtlanticBeach on Long Island's south shore. But a tooth .....WHY ? Well .....various churches and religions have icons and purported body parts of saints. All sorts of claims are made for these items....being cured of a disease and the like by praying near them etc. To some ,  people of that era and other hangers on perhaps Lennon has taken on role of a modern type saint. I think that is atleast partially the answer. Something that brings back the vigor of youth and what it represented. Of course for some it might be a speculative investment. Lennon as a Rock & Roll saint appeals to me the most as an explanation. So it goes as society roles on.