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It practically gallops!

Houston Problems

Entertainment Tonight’s report on the death of Whitney Houston would have received a failing grade in any journalism class. The audio alone might have passed but the combination of pictures and graphics shown on screen during their “Whitney Houston Death Investigation” was inaccurate.

They recapped the singer’s final days beginning with video of her leaving a nightclub at 1:10 a.m. Friday. Then they showed old footage of Whitney arriving at a party with Clive Davis while saying that she had checked in to the Beverly Hilton on Wednesday for this year’s pre-Grammy party. They had video from Thursday night, when Whitney jumped on stage for an impromptu performance with Kelly Price.

The misleading images started with a slide that read, “Friday Night Heavy Partying?” The accompanying audio said “reports that Whitney and her entourage are heard partying hard in the rooms on the fourth floor of the hotel” but the picture of a sweaty and disheveled Houston was taken by paparazzi out in public.

The next slide read “Saturday 3:43 p.m. 911 Called” with a photo of Whitney looking normal. After that, a slide saying “Saturday 3:55 p.m. Pronounced Dead” with a photo of a body bag on a gurney inside the coroner’s van. That image was nine hours premature.

Next came an accurate slide reading “Sunday 12:49 a.m. Whitney’s Body Goes to Coroner” along with the same photo of a body bag. Anchor Mark Steines hyperbolized: “a media frenzy surrounds the truck but only ET has the sobering shot that proves the sad news is indeed true: we have lost a legend.” In reality, the shot only proved that somebody had died at the hotel.

Houston’s body was still in her hotel room while the pre-Grammy party took place in the ballroom. On Saturday night, I looked at the Twitter feed for the Beverly Hilton. At 9:43 p.m. they wrote, “The Beverly Hilton wishes to extend its profound sympathies to the family and fans of Whitney Houston.” Eleven minutes later they posted, “Arrivals starting for Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/neXyyv0I“

February 13, 2012 | Filed Under Uncategorized | 1 Comment 

Heart Murmurs

Naturally they asked me to deliver a line about end-of-life stories. Janene Satterfield and I recorded a promo for SMOMOtv last week. In it, we asked viewers to submit their Valentine’s Day stories. They might be about Smoky Mountain Sweethearts or Not-So Romantic Confessions of the Jaded. The final category is for tear-jerking stories about the elderly or those who have passed away. Call toll-free 855-SMOMOTV ext 105 to tell your story.

February 6, 2012 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Comments Off 

Zahn Meditation

A tragic Knoxville murder was the subject of an hour-long report on the Investigation Discovery show “On the Case with Paula Zahn” last night. It’s been seven years since Johnia Berry was stabbed in her apartment.

I often think of Johnia when I drive by her apartment complex and the Weigel’s store where her roommate ran for help. The show made me realize I had forgotten many details of the case. At the time, I followed the case in the news and tried to help Johnia’s brother and mother spread the word as they kept pressure on the police to make an arrest, which they did almost three years after Johnia’s murder. “On the Case” pointed out that Johnia’s roommate was a strong suspect until he was finally cleared by a DNA test and by a revised analysis of his polygraph test.

In case you missed it, the Johnia Berry episode will be repeated on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Investigation Discovery is on HD channel 387 and SD channel 111 on Xfinity TV in Knoxville.

January 30, 2012 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Comments Off 

One Who Presides

Dennis Reedy, president of the FBI Knoxville Citizens Academy Alumni Association, asked for a motion to approve the slate of new officers on Thursday night. The motion was made, seconded and then approved by voice vote. With that, I was elected to be the new president of the group.

The rest of the evening consisted of making plans for the year ahead. Our next meeting will be held in the William M. Bass Forensic Anthropology Building, which should insure a good turnout. Special Agent in Charge Richard Lambert said he would give us a briefing on cyber-terrorism threats at an upcoming meeting.

A few events are already on our calendar. The Alumni Association will help promote the Law Enforcement Memorial Run on May 12. Our annual field trip to FBI Headquarters and Quantico is locked in for August. I found out that one of my responsibilities as chapter president will be to attend the National Citizens Academy Alumni Association annual conference in Denver this September.

On a sad note, we learned of the death of FBI Chief Division Council Martin J. King. We all knew Mr. King from his annual presentation to the Citizens Academy on the legal powers and limitations of the FBI. The Alumni Association voted to make a donation to the memorial fund being set up to benefit his family.

January 27, 2012 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Comments Off 

Living Room

Today is the 29th anniversary of my father’s death. I was 21 when he died, which means that he’s been dead about 7½ years longer than I knew him. He was 50 years and 8 months old when he died. I am currently 50 years and 7 months old. The Good Lord willing (as my grandma used to say), I will start outliving him next month.

I’ve tried to do a few things differently in order to live longer. My father died from a cerebral hemorrhage, so I try to keep my blood pressure down by eating and drinking in moderation. He and his father were both heavy. I lost weight and I try everyday to keep it off. My quest to visit all 50 states was just something I wanted to do. However, the self-imposed deadline to finish by the time I turned 50 was inspired by my father’s death at age 50.

So, what’s next? The year ahead promises to bring at least one big change as my son graduates from college and starts a new job. This anniversary is a good opportunity for me to think about how I want to spend the time that my father didn’t get.

January 21, 2012 | Filed Under Uncategorized | 4 Comments 

Happy Disposition

The opening scene of last Wednesday’s episode of “The Middle” should be enough to earn award nominations for each of the five main cast members. The actors playing the Heck family displayed great comedic timing while driving home from Aunt Ginny’s funeral. Frances Bay, the actress who played Aunt Ginny, died in September. The characters talked about how Aunt Ginny looked less wrinkled laying down. Embalming will often make an elderly person appear younger.

Like the Hecks, my family’s tradition is to choose embalming and burial. In the old days, the question of whether to be buried or cremated rarely came up. With the rise in popularity of cremation, the question is a valid one, as pointed out in a blog on NPR’s website last Thursday. The writer, Barbara J. King, adds a third choice of donating one’s body to science, specifically the Body Farm. Because I sometimes volunteer as an emcee for Bone Zones events, I am often asked if I want my remains to decay at the Body Farm. I respect those who choose differently but I have repeatedly said that I want my remains to be exhumable. I haven’t purchased a cemetery plot but my inclination is to choose one a Catholic cemetery.

A “NIMBY” controversy has erupted over plans for a new crematory in Fountain City. Eric Botts, the manager of the Gentry-Griffey Funeral Chapel was my guest on the public affairs program that aired this morning. You can listen via the podcast link below. We spoke about the controversy, about changes in the funeral industry and about the increased demand for cremations. The people who have complained about the crematory are uninformed. Newer technology means there will be no smoke or odor. In fact, the neighbors won’t notice anything. After the interview, Eric and I exchanged Facebook messages. He invited me to tour the facility once it’s up and running.

Frank Murphy Interviews Eric Botts of Gentry-Griffey Funeral Chapel [ 30:00 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

January 15, 2012 | Filed Under Body Farm | Comments Off 

By the Old Familiar Name

Because she was out of town at the time, my mother missed the news that her former pastor, Monsignor Tom Cassidy, died in October. She found out at Christmas and then told me. Had she been home, she would have attended his funeral at St. Mark Church in Vienna, Virginia. The following sentence in the November issue of the parish newsletter caught my eye: “Following an Irish tradition of mourning for 30 days in special memory of the deceased, his remains were interred in the Memorial Garden on November 2.” I’m not familiar with that tradition, nor did I know that the parish now has an area for the burial of cremated remains.

Msgr. Cassidy preferred to be known as Father Tom. Before my wife and I were married, we went to Fr. Tom to sign up for preparation classes and to take a compatibility quiz. We appreciated his help and his kindness toward us.

We had my father’s funeral at St. Mark in what is now the “Msgr. Tom Cassidy Activity Center.” Back then it was the sanctuary. After my father died, my mother and my grandmother went on a trip to Europe with a church group led by Fr. Tom. They visited several famous shrines including Fátima and Lourdes.

It may be three months late, but I remembered Fr. Tom when they prayed for the dead at Mass in Knoxville today. I’ll make an effort to visit the St. Mark Memorial Garden this summer when I’m visiting the D.C. area.

January 8, 2012 | Filed Under Catholic | Comments Off 

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