Established A.D. 2000, March 19. Now in our eleventh calendar year! Number 536 (Vol. 11, No. 27). This edition is for the week of June 28--July 4, 2010.
Crazed Fanboy's Most Memorable Moments, 2000--2009 As submitted by PCR writers, compiled by Chris WoodsDINOSOLDIER
From 2003, original fiction written by Jason L. Liquori which is an adventure series originally written in 1994, but was published for the first time on Crazed Fanboy.
JULY BIRTHDAYS Brandon Jones, July 1, 40 yrs. Christian Dumais, July 11, 36 yrs. Juanita Smith, July 15, 47 yrs. Phillip Smith, July 26, 25 yrs.
U.S.A., July 4, 234 yrs.
The manhunt for Dontae Morris (see story below) ended last night, Friday July 2, when Morris surrendered to authorities around 10:00pm, with help from a "third party" (suspected to be a lawyer). Morris is currently in custody at the Orient Road county jail. Since the officers' final funeral service is today, Saturday (I originally stated it was Friday; that was the wake), the capture is well-timed. The funeral is being broadcast live on local TV.
Despite the grim economic situation, the Gulf Oil Spill, wars abroad, and a particularly grisly crime in Tampa this week (see below), I want to wish everyone a happy and safe Independence Day. Our country is 234 years old this week. It is the greatest country in the world and I am grateful to be one of its citizens.
This has been a sad week for Tampa. Two young police officers were gunned down in cold blood during what was originally a routine traffic stop.
First Jeff Kocab, then David Curtis, both 31, arrived at the scene near Martin Luther King Dr. and 56th St (east Tampa) last Tuesday around 2:15am to investigate a car whose license plate was not clearly visible. A woman was driving, but the male passenger had a warrant out for his arrest. That particular charge, as I understand it, was minor, but he also had a lengthier record of violence. As the police were close to making an arrest, Dontae Rashawn Morris, 24, took advantage of a minor distraction to shoot both officers in the head before getting back in the car and speeding off. Two female bystanders heard the shots and went over to see what happened. Alarmed at the scene, a call went out to 911. Officer Kocab was pronounced dead at the hospital, Officer Curtis lasted until about 8:00 in the morning.
Four days later (as I write this) Morris is still on the loose despite one of the most massive manhunts I've ever seen mounted in the Tampa area. There are billboards with his picture all over the place. The first reward for information leading to capture was $5,000. As of this writing, the reward has jumped to $100,000. In only four days Morris has gone from a neighborhood hoodlum to one of America's Most Wanted (including an FBI profile).
The funeral services for the fallen officers is today, July 2nd.
I had to laugh out loud. I was sitting there a couple days ago watching the ABC Morning News show, the one with George Stephanopoulos, when a piece came on regarding a family so addicted to technology, they sought counseling. Seems their recent family vacation was marred when they realized they'd spent nearly the whole time on their laptops and cellphones, particularly the father.
A therapist was interviewed and the family was set right, agreeing to certain times of the day when everyone would "unplug" as it were, like for dinnertime.
All fine and well, but here's the kicker: Stephanopoulos closed the segment by saying something like, "for more information on this segment, please go to our website and click on the relevant link to this story!" HAHAHA! In other words, in order to find out how to unplug yourself from the computer, go to the computer right now and plug back in! I have to believe George himself had to be suppressing a laugh getting that out before cameras went to black.
This week we welcome guest movie critic Phillip Smith, the 24-year-old son of PCR's Michael Smith, to our hallowed halls! We are proud to sponsor this young man's first foray into movie journalism and honored that PCR's where it's happening. Welcome aboard, Phillip! Check it out.
WEEKEND VIDEO
POSTED BY NOLAN B. CANOVA, TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 2010
PCR's "Video of the Week", since re-christened "Weekend Video" (to prevent confusion that there's some kind of contest going on), is still on track, believe it or not. There was no video last week due strictly to last-minute and extremely frustrating technical snafus suffered by Ye Olde Editor, and time simply ran out. Weekend Video should....theoretically....be posted on time this Friday afternoon.
MESSAGE BOARD
POSTED BY NOLAN B. CANOVA, TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 2010
As we phase out Readers' Comments over the next couple weeks, my co-editor and I are planning a return to an emphasis on our original Message Board for reader feedback and, hopefully, more troll control. I'm not sure I want to return to the maintenance-heavy "On the Message Board" graphic I used to post on here, but at least links will be posted to help steer traffic.
NEWS BITS
POSTED BY NOLAN B. CANOVA, TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 2010
I wish to acknowledge the passing of Senator Robert Byrd, 92. The longest-serving statesman in US history, I admired how he was, well, admired. He managed to escape any stigma of his alliance with the KKK in the '40s, later changing his position on integration (kind of like Gov. George Wallace did). He was one of a kind.
The Gulf Oil Spill I haven't written about in weeks because I figured everyone was tired of hearing about it. It is still not capped and the damage could reach Biblical proportions. The near-approach of Hurricane Alex is, at this writing, a threat to the oil-skimming boats off the Louisianna coast, which may have to return to port.
Please consider making a donation to help support Crazed Fanboy! Click on the "donate" link below and give whatever you can. I sincerely thank you for any and all consideration.---Nolan
Crazed Fanboy.com is a Tampa-based fan outlet for many creative endeavors, including, but not limited to, independent film, video, music, original artwork, and media commentary.
To send me anything like books, posters, VHS tapes, CDs, or DVDs for review or to simply correspond non-electronically through regular mail, please send all relevant material to:
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Otherwise, if you have any questions, email me at nolan@crazedfanboy.com. I appreciate your support.
Sincerely,
Nolan B. Canova
"
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY
First Jeff Kocab, then David Curtis, both 31, arrived at the scene near Martin Luther King Dr. and 56th St (east Tampa) last Tuesday around 2:15am to investigate a car whose license plate was not clearly visible. A woman was driving, but the male passenger had a warrant out for his arrest. That particular charge, as I understand it, was minor, but he also had a lengthier record of violence. As the police were close to making an arrest, Dontae Rashawn Morris, 24, took advantage of a minor distraction to shoot both officers in the head before getting back in the car and speeding off. Two female bystanders heard the shots and went over to see what happened. Alarmed at the scene, a call went out to 911. Officer Kocab was pronounced dead at the hospital, Officer Curtis lasted until about 8:00 in the morning.