Duckburg Gazette

NASA last night safely landed the latest unmanned space craft called Curiosity on to the surface of Mars, the 4th planet in our solar system.  Mars is distinguished by its redness as the surface looks like a barren wasteland.  The previous mission to Mars was deemed a failure but it still proved possible and the information from that land rover that was sent back was still tremendously valuable.  It is believed that Mars could sustain some kind of life and that it has in the past.  Hopefully this mission will prove successful and send back all the data and proof needed as well lead the way to a manned flight to the red planet.

Weekly Update:

Spent the majority of the week on the set of Disney's "Pair of Kings" again as they quickly wrap-up their season.  They said they have about 2 to 3 more weeks and then they are done for this year and completed season 3.  No word yet on a season 4 but the ratings are good so it has a 50/50 shot at coming back. I hope it does because it is a well put together kids and family show.  The cast and crew are amazing as well as their guest stars.  While there this week, I got to meet some of them and snap a couple of pics:

*Logan Browning - best known from the TV series "Meet the Browns" and tremendously sweet.

*Damion Poitier - does a lot of stunt work but has had some minor roles in various sci-fi films lately.

*Eric Petersen - fairly new face but a good goofy looking comedic actor.

All the days on set were really long, longer than expected.  I spent the majority of the weekend just napping!  For not getting paid to help out, it sure felt like work.

At the movies:

No surprises at the box office this week as the "The Dark Knight Rises" continues to dominate at the #1 spot for at least another week as it earns an additional 36.4 million and reaching a cume of over 350 mil so far.  New at #2 is the remake of Total Recall with an opening of 26 mil for its debut.  Also new at #3 is the family film series Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days as it opens to a nice 14.7 mil.  Slight drop down to #4 is "Ice Age: Continental Drift" with 8.4 mil extra as it struggles to reach the 150 mil cume mark.  Rounding off the top 5 is "The Watch" with 6.4 mil more as it just struggles.  Interesting to see three 20th Century Fox titles in the top 5 but then again, they were almost released in three consecutive weeks.

Quote of the week:

"Nothing recedes like success." - Walter Winchell

Other News:

Here is an interesting list that came out last month but I forgot about it.  It is the top 20 TV's most powerful moments.  Looking at the list, I have either seen it or was around when it happened.  Going from bottom up ... #20) Funeral of John F. Kennedy (1963), was not around for it. #19) Casey Anthony verdict (2011), was around but didn't care and this shouldn't have made the list! #18) LA Riots (1992), was around and lived during it, it was scary. #17) Bush/Gore election results (2000), and shocking. #16) Oklahoma City bombing (1995), vaguely remember it. #15) Assassination of John F. Kennedy (1963), again not around.  #14) The Royal Wedding (2011), didn't care. #13) Barack Obama's acceptance speech (2008), remembering it happened but nothing of the speech itself. #12) Capture and execution of Saddam Hussein (2006), remember it well. #11) Death of Whitney Houston (2012), remember it well and drove by the hotel a day later to see the crowds and news vans. #10) Princess Diana's funeral (1997), I remember the accident more than the funeral. #9) BP oil spill (2010), remember more of the aftermath. #8) Columbine High School shootings (1999), again another case of remembering more of the aftermath.  #7) Earthquake in Japan (2011), remember it well. #6) O.J. Simpson white Bronco chase (1994), remember this very well because he drove by the theatre I was working at on the 91 FWY. #5) Death of Osama bin Laden (2011), remember it well. #4) Challenger space shuttle disaster (1986), I remember the incident but not where I was at when it happened. #3) O.J. Simpson verdict (1995), remember it but not much of it. #2) Hurricane Katrina (2005), I remember more of New Orleans devastation than the cause of it.  #1) Sept. 11 tragedy (2001), remember this well and first thought it was a radio joke.

Facts & Tips:

In Albania, nodding your head means "no" and shaking your head means "yes."

"Are they going to help us?" - Beth Grant as Helen in "Speed."