New Years Eve is approaching

New Years Eve just ain't the same anymore. Dick Clark is gone, Guy Lombardo is gone, how can we enter into the New Year without hearing and watching Dick Clark drop that crystal ball, followed by Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians. Lombardo's orchestra played at the "Roosevelt Grill" in the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City from 1929 to 1959.

I saw him on one occasion in Dayton, Ohio at what I think was called Miami Shores. A river South of Dayton. I had my own boat then that my Dad and I had built, The Dood, and often took it down to Miami Shores to go up and down the river. He had his boat in town for a race, and I happened to be down in the pit area and had an occasion to see him working. Lombardo was also an important figure in hydroplane speedboat racing, winning the Gold Cup in 1946 in his record-breaking speedboat, Tempo VI, designed and built by the legendary John L. Hacker. He then went on to win the Ford Memorial competition in 1948 and the President's Cup and the Silver Cup in 1952. From 1946 to 1949, he was the reigning US national champion. Before his retirement from the sport in the late 1950s, he had won every trophy in the field.

Seems like Dick Clark has been around forever. I remember him from both radio and television. His New Years Eve show was a major part of the the celebration, it was an institution. He passed away on April 18, 2012.

New Years, many years ago always consisted of "Kippers" and Guy Lombardo, and then Dick Clark became a big part of the night. It will never be the same without them.

A Request, If I May

Why is it necessary, for news persons, when talking about the deceased, to mention their age?

Last night, somewhere, a tribute to Dick Clark, "he died at 82." I am 80, well, at least I have two years left.

It doesn't matter when they are younger, it's those 80 plus that I seem to notice. He died, that's enough, there is no reason at all to give his or her, age. He or she is gone, that is all we need to know.

There is no prize for living the longest. We are born, we live, and eventually we all die, the age is immaterial.

If you are young, it doesn't matter and you don't think about it, if you are old, like me, it does.

Please pass this around so all the news media becomes aware of this sensitive issue.

DICK CLARKS HOME WAS IMPRESSIVE (FLINTSTONE HOME)

An iconic celebrity needs an equally impressive home, and that is exactly what television legend Dick Clark has had. The 82-year-old’s Malibu retreat home is for sale. The house looks just like the Flintstones home in the famous cartoon.

Sitting on top of a very steep hill, the specially designed home is on the market for $3.5 million but it’s appearance from the outside is not the biggest selling point it has to offer. The unusual architectural retreat has huge glass windows in every room which give amazing views of the nearby Pacific Ocean, Channel Islands, Boney Mountains and Serrano Valley.

Although the property only has one bedroom, it boasts Two bathrooms and looks like a cavern throughout the whole house. The cave like structure and high ceilings add to the Flintstones feel as does the log burning fire place and it’s wine cellar.

Set in a 23-acre estate the luxury and extrovert home is an architectural marvel and is classed as one of Malibu landmark buildings.

The listing agent describes it as “art as architecture at it’s finest.” They said it is ”Truly exceptional and one-of-a-kind from within and without. The architecture of this home seamlessly marries form and function. The interior space is extremely voluminous and features an expanse of glass to capture the views from every room of this home.”