Gary's weekly e-mail

Good morning all. Despite the horrible weather we have been having as of late, it is nice to be in NYC. For those of you who find the heat a little unbearable think about this: many public schools are not equipped with air conditioning at all. In fact, some teachers recorded temperatures as high as 103 in many of their classrooms this past Tuesday. This Sunday is Father's Day. This means Bar-B-Q's, family get togethers, ties, cologne and of course power tools. It also means that the lucky few who read through this message will know the history of the day. Mrs. John B. Dodd, of Washington, first proposed the idea of a "father's day" in 1909. Mrs. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. William Smart, a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife (Mrs. Dodd's Mother) died in childbirth with their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington State. It was after Mrs. Dodd became an adult that she realized the strength and selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent. The first Father's Day was observed on June 19, 1910 in Spokane Washington. At about the same time in various towns and cities across American other people were beginning to celebrate a "father's day." In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father's Day. Finally, in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day. Mazel Tov to the Spodek clan on the recent addition of Maya, mother (Michelle), father, baby and big sister (Shaina) are all reportedly doing well. Apparently, there is a new reality show on TV entitled "I want to be a Hilton". Is this really, what the world is turning into? The premise of the show: Kathy Hilton (mom to Paris and Nicky) hosts an engaging and humorous series that follows 14 eccentric young contestants as they vie for the opportunity to live the glamorous lifestyle of high society. Kathy Hilton guides the contestants through a variety of weekly challenges set in glamorous Manhattan and ranging from art and culture to beauty and fashion. Each week Kathy eliminates those who "didn't make the list." The finalist will win an extravagant prize package including a $200,000 trust fund! So apparently, the mom is now trying to cash in on the famous name. I thought these people owned a profitable hotel chain—do they really need our money? In addition, I am still trying to figure out what type of role model this woman represents? She married into a hotel business and never had a worry other than what her two daughters were up to. Have we run out of smart, innovative, creative or humorous writers? Are we all out of ideas? Worse yet, have audiences tired of watching 14 people trying to survive on an Island with nothing? Me--I will continue to pay up for HBO and watch 6 Feet Under, and Curb Your Enthusiasm--if I need to be in front of the TV. Best of luck to the 14 contestants.

Later all.

gt