Update 7-13-04


Hey,

It was a comfortable 100 degrees today in the part of Los Angeles where I live. An uncomfortable 100 would have had high humidity, but that, fortunately, was only 9%. End of weather, start of letters:

From Jerry Bittman: Hello, alum. I am sure that you all saw that Marlon Brando, the greatest actor of our generation, recently passed away. Of course, you all knew he was born and raised in Omaha. As a matter of fact, back in the 1920s Brando's mother and Henry Fonda's mother opened up a theater together in Omaha. Now you may ask yourselves, "What other famous people came from Nebraska?" Of course, the greatest talk show host ever, Johnny Carson, was from Norfolk, Nebraska. Also, the klutziest President, Gerald Ford, was born here. And let us not forget Dawn Wells, who portrayed Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island. As for current famous Nebraskans, we cannot forget that the biggest lying Vice-president of all time, Dick Cheney, is from here.
     As of this moment, while you are reading this with your favorite beverage and Barbara Blitfield's famous Krispy Kreme recipe, I am in the operating room having a pacemaker and a defibrillator hooked up. I thought about asking the surgeon to put in two pacemakers -- then I could organize an English rock band and call it "Jerry and The Pacemakers." Anyway, I hope I'm still around next week so I can continue to read these updates.

[Rich -- On behalf of us all, in advance, I've wished Jerry well.]

Also from Jerry: If anyone is undecided on who to vote for in November's election, go to: www.presidentmatch.com Take the test. And be honest.

From Marc Jonas: As Steve Gootzeit pointed out last week, around Philly, SEPTA is the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. http://www.septa.org/. But the only award they usually give is for the most decrepit railroad or subway car.

RoseMarie Cassillo forwarded a long Internet piece that's been going around for several years, and, according to Urban Legends, has a number of possible sources. Among other things, the essay highlighted the difficulty many people are having in sorting out present-day world politics. It also included the thought, "What good is it if the teachings in the Koran are good and pure and true, when some of your leaders are teaching fanatical interpretations, terrorism, and intolerance?"

From Liz King Giordano, South's secretary: Vanessa Spica and Paul Ianniello prepared something for you and the class and sent it along with their heartfelt "thank you's." Graduation was on Friday, June 25th, and I thought you might like to see our commencement program. I would send photos, too, but I need to have Vanessa's and Paul's parents sign permission slips first. We take very good care of our children.

From Vanessa Spica: I would like to start off by saying how incredibly honored I am to be the first recipient of the Booker Gibson Music Award. Music has been an essential part of my life throughout my high school career, Ever since the ninth grade, I have been part of basically all musical and theatrical activities that South High had to offer.
     In the fall of my freshman year, I began studying with a private vocal instructor. In my freshman year, I played the lead role in the fall Junior High musical. I was also a part of South's music group, The Long Island Connection, NYSSMA, and the All District-Chorus. In the summer of 2001, I attended the musical theater program at the BOCES Cultural Arts Center. In my sophomore year, I was part of the Senior High drama, the Women's Choir, the Senior High one-act plays, the spring Senior High musical, and the All-County Chorus. In addition, I continued with The Long Island Connection, NYSSMA, and the All-District Chorus. I was also inducted into the Tri-M Music Honor Society, and I won the award for Best Character Actress in the one-acts plays. I continued these activities -- which soon became a part of who I was -- all through the duration of my junior and senior years.
     After my experience with community theater, I knew that musical theater was something that I wanted to pursue for sure. This past fall, I played the role of Bonnie in the Rockville Centre Guild of the Arts production of Anything Goes. I realized that my love and passion for music and theater could also be shared with complete strangers whom I grew to love. Not only did South introduce and welcome me into the wonderful world of music, but I gained so much knowledge from being so involved with the school. I also grew a family within the music community, and that will be one of the hardest things to leave once I begin college next fall. Music is the love of my life, my one true passion, and I have South High to thank for that. I should award them with an award. I only wish there was something I could do to repay them.
     After careful consideration and many auditions, I decided to attend Manhattanville College next year. I got accepted into Manhattanville with a $9,000 music scholarship. My major will be theater with a concentration in musical theater, and my minor will be dance. Hopefully, from there, I will successfully pursue a career in the performing arts.
     Once again, I would like to express my gratitude for receiving this prestigious award. It's a great honor, and I am incredibly grateful. Thank you!

Vanessa's awards and scholarships, as listed in the program for South's forty-seventh commencement: Manhattanville College Music Scholarship, Pace University Incentive Award, The American Musical and Dramatic Academy National Scholarship Award, The Booker Gibson Music Award, Theatrical Troupe Award
     Also: BOCES = Board of Cooperative Educational Services, and NYSSMA = New York State School Music Association
     Paul Ianniello's note and awards list will be here next week. South's Class of 2004 had approximately 180 graduates. And "Valiant Falcons" was credited in the commencement program to Robert Liest, but not to Anne Clark -- Ann Clarke? Of course, Francis Scott Key didn't get credit for the national anthem, either.

Finally, some topical financial filler, greatly condensed from a piece by Lydia Polgreen in the July 9, 2004 New York Times: A new study, covering New York City and Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam Counties, found that the New York area had an average hourly wage of $23.10. That's 32 percent higher than the national average. New Yorkers doing almost any job made more money than they would anywhere else, with the exception of many factory workers. Predictably, management and legal professions are in the top tier, surgeons are the highest earners, with an annual wage of $186,350, and chief executives, stockbrokers, and internists also made the top five.
     Professions that attend to New Yorkers' vanity do relatively well: fitness trainers and aerobic instructors make $50,170, massage therapists $58,260, dental hygienists $64,320, and registered nurses make almost $2,000 more. Though appealing to vanity doesn't always work: manicurists and pedicurists are fifth from the bottom, making just $16,640, or $8 an hour. Hairstylists need your tip, as their mean salary is $22,680, and the person who shampoos your hair makes only $16,370. Better specialize in skin: "skin care specialists," not including dermatologists, make $35,880.
     Food service ranks dead last in average wages: fast-food cooks make $14,700, and though chefs make $42,080, that's still well below the city average of $48,050. Bartenders make just a bit more than $10 an hour, and waiters and waitresses $11. Service station attendants make $16,020, cashiers $17,180, and the area's 55,000 home health aides just $18,650. A substance abuse counselor more than doubles that to $41,170, and actors lucky enough to work full time take in an average of $57,190.
     Real estate brokers make $90,880, construction managers $71,230, and preschool teachers $31,750. Reporters and correspondents take in $60,500, editors $58,720, and writers and authors $53,620. The 104,000 retail sales clerks in the city make just $23,000, baby sitters $22,030, maids make $14.03 an hour, and child care workers $10.59. Butchers do slightly better than bakers, cobblers make just $21,590, and sewing machine operators $17,940. Finally, it apparently pays more to fix watches, at $43,990, than to install locks, at $34,940.

The home page: http://hometown.aol.com/vssouth65


Rich