Turns out that I was completely wrong about the verses in the Producers jingle; what I thought was the second verse is actually the first, and what I thought was the first is the third, and there’s a second verse I don’t think I had ever heard – that is, until I found this!

So sorry to say that I’ve changed the comment tool yet again to allow for trackback functionality – unfortunately, this means that all previously posted comments are now unavailable. Try the new comment tool and tell me what you think.

Well, I’ve walked out two mornings in a row to find my car still in its stall – it’s a good thing.

There’s someone here in the office who is trying to impress the girl he’s dating, and he’s in the market for Cher tickets. She’s appearing at the Hollywood Bowl tomorrow night, then again on April 29 & 30. The box office tickets have long been sold out, so I’ve been helping him locate some ticket brokers. Tickets that originally sold for $41.00 are going for $115 at the cheapest, which doesn’t seem that unreasonable for lawn seats at a high-demand concert. But if you want to sit up front, the $260 tickets are going for over $1300 each.

So how many do you want? I can fix you riiiight up!

I can’t get that damn jingle out of my head now – so much so that I’ve remembered the second verse!

Ev’ry cow on Producer’s herd
Vows to give her solemn word.
She’ll maintain the standard of
Producer’s quality!

(Everybody, now!)
P-R-O, D-U-C, E-R-S spells Producers,
When you know quality, you’ll say YES to Producers!

You’re not going to get this kind of stuff anywhere else on the Web, I guarantee it!

I cannot find my keys.

I came home from an errand on Saturday afternoon and haven’t left the house since then. When I was ready to leave for work this morning my keyring was nowhere to be found. Suffice it to say that I have looked e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e to no avail. I suspect that I left the keys in the door when I came in on Saturday and someone took them out of the lock. That means that whoever has them knows where they came from, which means not only are my posessions at risk, but also my car. So now I’m waiting for the landlord to come and get the locks rekeyed, then try to figure out what to do about the car. All I see are dollar signs dancing in my vision…

UPDATE 2:30 PM -The locks in the Apt. have been rekeyed – that, and a new mailbox lock and key cost me $65. The car dealership estimates $1400 to rekey my vehicle. I’m going to wait a few days, then if nothing turns up I’ll get a kill switch installed (approx. $200) – not perfect, but I only need the extra protection when I’m home. Plus I have OnStar to tell me where my car is. Guess I’ll be renewing that next month…

Can you see them?

(hee hee)

Now George Lucas want to release Star Wars in 3D!

Two thoughts – one, when will he let it go? Two, if you’ve ever seen a 3D movie in an Imax theater, you knwo what he’s talking about – the effect is amazing! Viewmaster to the max!

A new look for the blog in the last few days – I also made the bottom of the post a little clearer regarding what could be done with a post – you can add a comment (and read what others have said), and you can send the post to someone via email.

I note with sadness the passing of Al Radka on March 11. He was a big fish in the Fresno radio and TV pond back in the 60s and 70s. My admiration of him played a part in my pursuit of my own short-lived career in radio in the 70s. My earliest memory of him was listening to his long-running morning show on KFRE with his engineer Andy Kay (that name came to me just as I was typing this). My brush with his greatness was in mailing him a joke which he read on the air; I got a coupon for a free six-pack of Coke in return. I also remember that he was the emcee the night that KFRE-TV changed from VHF channel 12 to UHF channel 30. Bob Denver, who played Maynard G. Krebs on the Dobie Gillis show (and was later star of ‘Gilligan’s Island’) was the special guest, on hand to press the big gray button (at least it was gray on our TV) to make the switch – suddenly there was static on the screen until we switched the set to UHF and figured out how to tune in channel 30.

I also remember Uncle Al’s morning kiddie show, Channel 30 Funtime, on which my brother Steve made an appearance with his school class. With all that personality, I hadn’t realized that his real strength was as a good old ad man.

He was responsible for Lesterburger’s commercials: “‘What’s this green stuff, Les?’ ‘Well, Al, that’s lettuce.’ ‘Lettuce? Lettuce? Lettuce eat it!’” That always cracked me up.

How about “‘O-B-E-R-T-I — Only Better Eaters Really Taste It, taste the difference in Oberti Olives.’”

Then there’s “Whenever you’re hauling near or far, always haul with HTR – Halwood Truck Rentals!”

And of course, who could forget “P-R-O D-U-C E-R-S spells Producers, When you know quality, you’ll say yes to Producers!”

He wrote all of those. He wore loud sports coats, white shoes, and spent the last years of his life suffering from Alzheimers. So long, Big Al.

(6/16/10 – be sure to check out this fantastic tribute to Uncle Al, as well as this YouTube video of the dedication of Al Radka Park in Fresno in 2009)

UPDATE: I can’t believe that I’ve remembered the opening verse to the Producer’s jingle:

Would you like to come away
To Bar 20 Farm someday?
See the cows and just see how
Producer’s Milk is made!

P-R-O…

The Bar 20 was the name of Hopalong Cassidy’s ranch – he endorsed Producer’s Milk, and his picture appears on their cartons to this day.

I managed 30 WPM on my first try, my third yielded 50 – how about you?

Well, I guess this is what winter in ElLay is all about – 80º outside today, and warmer temps forcast for later in the week.

Last weekend I decided to get rid of the hammock and stand that was taking up the whole of my balcony, so I posted a note on craig’s list of free stuff offered. Almost immediately I had 20 or so willing to take it off my hands. The first one I contacted didn’t show up, so number two got it the next afternoon.

Yesterday I went to Costco and picked up the Adirondack Chair with Ottoman, dragged itsa 40-pould bulk home and up the stairs and assembled it without too much difficulty. Now I’m living in San Fernando Vally style! (picture to come).

Did you know that Costco’s web site carried coffins?