Blackwolf the Dragonmaster's Diary of Magecraft

Being a Chronicle of the Inner Secrets of, and Spells of Magick as Wielded by, the Philosopher of the Internet and Unofficial Sorcerer-in-Residence of the City of New York

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Location: New York, New York, United States

As New York's Unofficial Wizard, my mission is to encourage the Mortals of Manhattan to imagine responsibly!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

A Tale of Two Indys

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, 2008 --- and believe me, Mortals, you couldn't ask for a more spectacular year, much less weekend, than this to have the word Indy in your face!

The most obvious of our two Indys is, of course, Lucasfilm's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull; and while your Dragonmaster looks forward to checking the film out, I do so with the possibility of a tear trickling down me cheek, as this will be a bittersweet installment of Indy's adventures: we won't be treated to the traditional showdown between Dr. Jones and mighty, burly Pat Roach this time out. Sadly, Pat Roach died on July 17th, 2004, after an extensive battle with throat cancer. Denholm Elliott won't be in on the fun, either, having passed away in October 1992.

Nevertheless, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull looks to be quite the merry adventure one expects of A Lucasfilm Ltd. Production, A Steven Spielberg Film. So I should be remiss if I didn't say to the naysayers: Shut up, you dum-dums, and know that Indy has everything, and I do mean everything, under control! (Or so one hopes.) Besides, Steven and George are clearly out to have one last fling of being kids before they take proper stock of their respective mortalities --- and in that event, I won't begrudge the lads one little bit! So there! Nyahh!!!

The other of our two Indys to be saluted hither is, no doubt, the 92nd Indianapolis 500 --- The Most Powerful Automobile Race on Earth! And ABC Sports and ESPN will have a field day --- make that a field weekend --- taking on the coverage. For ABC Sports per se, the Indy 500 represents the second-longest running partnership between a major sporting event and a broadcast television network. Brent Musberger anchors, along with Marty Reid, Scott Goodyear and Eddie Cheever, plus Jack Arute, Jamie Little, Brienne Pedigo and Vinnie Welch.

As for the Indy 500 Festival, ESPN2 will devote a tape-delayed 90-minute special to the annual Indy 500 Festival Parade, featuring 2008 Parade Grand Marshal and Emmy Award-winning character actress Patricia Heaton; 2008 Indy 500 Festival Queen Karle Schaefer and Princesses Corianne Warrick and Savahanna Lien; the O'Jays; Oscar winner Marlee Matlin; heavyweight boxing champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr.; Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger; Holocaust survivor and Medal of Honor receipient Corporal Tibor Rubin; Greg Ballard, Mayor of Indianapolis; plus the Indy 500 Gordon Highlanders Bagpipe Band; the Fred Hill Briefcase Brigade Drill Team; the Indy 500 Shriners --- and much more!

The Festival's more serious moments are reserved for the 500 Festival Memorial Service at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, this year to be telecast live over Indy's own WNDY-TV. Dedicating the Festival to those members of the Armed Forces from Hoosier Country who died serving our nation, the keynote address will be delivered by General Victor Renuart, Commander of NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command). He'll be joined by Lt. Col. Bruce Crandall (Retired), Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, the Indiana National Guard's 38th Infantry Division Marching Band, and the Capital City Chorus.

So there you have our tale of two Indys. I trust you will have as much fun watching the race as you certainly will seeing the movie. If I may --- ZOOOOOOOOM!!!

As ever,

Master Blackwolf