Midspan of the Poplar

Thank you!

2010-02-22T15:10:00.002-06:00

A big "THANK YOU" goes out to those that made the "Mouse Races" fundraiser for Young People's Theatre a success. It was overwhelming to how many businesses and individuals so generously donated prizes and money to help the Young People's Theatre in their time of need.

While I'm not sure what the final outcome was for the evening in terms of dollars, I do know a good time was had by everyone who attended and a lot of funds were raised. The next step, of course, will be to attend one of the upcoming performances of Disney's Beauty and the Beast in March at St. Charles Community College. I will be posting specifics later but the shows will be at 7PM on March 19, 20, 26 & 27 and at 2PM on March 20, 21, 27 and 28.

We hope to see you there!

Weasel Stomping Week Again!

2010-02-10T17:56:00.004-06:00

It seems as if it was only yesterday... Yes, it's that time of year again when the University of Meat-chicken takes on my beloved UN-Omaha Mavericks. This year, I think we have the firepower to really take it to them. Dean Blais will have the boys primed and ready to go.

In case you don't understand the this deep seated hatred for the Meat-chicken hockey team, watch the video as my friend, Rick explains...

Here is the play he was describing:

UNLEASH THE FURY!

Beauty vs. Beast: Save the YPT from the Economy

2010-01-31T14:09:00.007-06:00

Let me start by saying I may not be the best person to put this story forward. I have been around Young Peoples’ Theatre of St. Charles for only the last three years. The program is celebrating its 20^th year and is now affiliated with St. Charles Community College.

There are many youth theater programs but this one is special. They take the time to teach each child and help them develop their skills. At the same time every child feel like a star because they find small ways to give them a special moment on stage, even when they are part of the chorus. The children’s ages range from 8-18 so there's a wide variety of maturity levels.

There's a reason I feel the need to express this. Each Saturday, there is a parent meeting to discuss what is going on with the current production. The crew, sets, costumes, marketing, are handled by parent volunteers, so there are many people that help make the shows successful. Many of us spend upwards of 50 hours per show, not including duties during performances. At yesterday’s meeting we were discussing a "Mouse Races" fundraiser we were planning for February 20th. This one is pretty large in its scope. Many people almost came to tears when hearing about the way funding has all but dried up. Unless this fundraiser is huge a success, the program will be forced to change things in any number of ways. One would be to charge higher fees for each child. which are currently at $100-150 per show, this will allow fewer low-income families to participate and put a larger burden on families with multiple children involved. They will also consider smaller shows with fewer children, cutting back from three shows per year to one or two or worse, eliminate the program.

In my limited time around the YPT program, I have seen many of the children mature, not just on stage but off stage as well. Being part of a team environment does wonders for these young people. Many of the high school graduates of the program, have gone on to college scholarships in theater. Most make special trips back each year to watch the performances and encourage the younger children. The YPT program is true gem of our community.

Some ways you can help: The most fun would be to attend the "Mouse Races" event on February 20th or if you prefer, donate prizes for that event. Email me at randav2@gmail.com and I can help with that. You can also make a direct donation at the main webpage for the program here. And of course, buy tickets for the upcoming performances of Beauty and Beast. I'm sure we will be able to sell-out all eight shows with your help. A very deeply talented cast will make this one of the best amateur productions in St. Charles this year.

Thanks for your help!

Triplets Separated at Birth?

2010-01-11T07:52:00.009-06:00

I ran across these three photos in different places recently. I noticed a striking similarity. Were these three separated at birth?

You decide:

Beautiful (and funny) Christmas Song

2009-12-22T10:14:00.002-06:00

Thanks to my friend, Jason at jasonblogz.com for sharing this video. As I told him, this song really makes me miss my Dad. He loved Christmas and that made it infectious.

LOCAL YOUTHS TO PERFORM “SCROOGE, THE STINGIEST MAN IN TOWN”

2009-12-15T17:45:00.003-06:00

LOCAL YOUTHS TO PERFORM “SCROOGE, THE STINGIEST MAN IN TOWN”
DEC. 18-20 AT SCC

I had the pleasure of watching rehearsals this week and this will be a terrific performance. Well-cast with great music, singing, dancing, talented acting well-designed sets and snow.

This is very good production for all ages. An easy to follow and fun to watch musical version of Dickens' classic tale.

The show will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Dec. 18-19, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19-20. Tickets are $7 general admission and $6 for children and seniors. The campus is located at 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in Cottleville.

Cast members from St. Peters include: Jennifer Brown, Nicole Cuneo, Mallory Degenhardt, Will Distl, Andrew Henke, Jessica Kahn, Connor Larabee, Samantha Taplin, and Sarah York. Cast members from St. Charles include: Zac Cary, Drew Crask, Jordan Dunahue, Annie Gardner, Charlie Gardner, Sean Gundersen, Tate Gundersen, Kayla Kochan, Emma Koehler, and Amelia Martin. Cast members from O’Fallon include: Alia Aaron, Sylvia Buso, Jake Condilerre, Mikayla Evans, Jacob Feldt, Grayson Jostes, Becca Krauss, Annie Marion, Nick Noto, and Ali Pinkerton. Cast members from Dardenne Prairie include: Troyer Coultas, Daniel Maasen, James Maasen, and Patricia Villegas. Additional cast members include Allison Engelage of Lake St. Louis, Sarah Engelskirchen of Wentzville, and Eddy Hahn of Winfield.

The Young People’s Theatre is a performing arts program by kids and their families for kids and their families produced by the SCC Corporate and Community Development Division. This year, Young People’s Theatre is celebrating 20 years.

For more information or tickets, contact the SCC Division of Corporate and Community Development at 636-922-8233, or visit the YPT Web site at www.stchas.edu/ypt.

PARSE THAT!!!

2009-12-09T18:23:00.002-06:00

It's always good to see a former UNO Mav do well in the NHL. Here's Scott Parse doing his best Bobby Orr imitation.

LOCAL YOUTHS TO PERFORM ORIGINAL SHOW

2009-10-11T14:11:00.004-05:00

LOCAL YOUTHS TO PERFORM ORIGINAL SHOW “HALLOWEEN: THE MUSICAL” OCT. 16-18 AT SCC

The Young People’s Theatre of St. Charles Community College will present the original production of “Halloween: The Musical” Oct. 16-18 in the Donald D. Shook Fine Arts Building theater on the SCC campus.

“Halloween: The Musical” was written by Sean Andrews, YPT assistant director and choreographer. The thrills and chills of Halloween come to life in this upbeat musical celebration for the whole family.

The show will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 16-17, and at 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 17-18. Tickets are $7 general admission and $6 for children and seniors. The campus is located at 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in Cottleville.

Cast members from St. Peters include: Cadence Bippen, Carlin Bippen, Jennifer Brown, Mallory Degenhardt, Jenni Fischer, Allie Hammond, Jessica Kahn, Rachel York, and Sarah York. Cast members from St. Charles include: Zac Cary, Jennifer Ferry, Annie Gardner, Ali Gibbs, Madi Gibbs, Kelly Gleeson, Sean Gundersen, Tate Gundersen, Kayla Kochan, Amelia Martin, Ellen Modglin, Angel Moore, Nicole Porter, Kelsey Quargnenti, Claire Sanford, Corinne Wilger, and Cidney Woodson. Cast members from O’Fallon include: Alia Aaron, Joelle Aaron, Allie Call, Mikayla Evans, Emily Feldt, Crosby Jones, Grayson Jostes, Becca Krauss, Nick Noto, Allie Pinkerton, Riley Reedy, and Brooke Villhard. Cast members from Dardenne Prairie include: Katie Amrhein, Troyer Coultas, Sydney Thomas, and Emma Troxell. Additional cast members include Ben Stanley of Cottleville and Sarah Engelskirchen of Wenzville.

The Young People’s Theatre is a performing arts program by kids and their families for kids and their families produced by the SCC Corporate and Community Development Division. This year, Young People’s Theatre is celebrating 20 years.

For more information or tickets, contact the SCC Division of Corporate and Community Development at 636-922-8233, or visit the YPT Web site at www.stchas.edu/ypt.

St. Charles Community College is a public, comprehensive two-year community college with associate degrees and certificate programs in the arts, business, sciences, and career-technical fields. SCC provides workforce training and community-based personal and professional development as well as cultural, recreational, and entertainment opportunities. For more information, visit www.stchas.edu.

Lessons to be taken to heart for the Tea Party

2009-09-17T11:46:00.000-05:00

10 Lessons for Tea Baggers | Crooks and Liars: "'If you want to live like a Republican, vote Democratic.'"

Please quit acting like lunatics and come back to earth. We miss you guys.

Andrew Sullivan is Right!

2009-09-14T12:51:00.001-05:00

Wisdom from a believer in small government:

Dissent Of The Day - The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan

Shared via AddThis

Health Care Rally in Mercer Island, WA

2009-09-02T19:43:00.001-05:00

My fellow blogger and friend Jason, of jasonblogz.com attends a healthcare rally. Not bad for using a cell phone camera.

Question, Jason: Do they say IN Mercer Island on ON Mercer Island?

It's Really This Simple. REALLY! It is....

2009-09-01T12:59:00.003-05:00

Hall of Shame

2009-08-01T18:24:00.000-05:00

If you are a Democrat and live in one of their districts, I strongly urge you to vote for anyone who runs against these Congressmen in their primary. They are Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee who voted against the health care bill. At least write them and let them know you are disappointed in them. As members of the Democratic party they need to be held accountable:

John Barrow of Georgia
Rick Boucher of Virginia
Jim Matheson of Utah
Charlie Melancon of Louisiana
Bart Stupak of Michigan

Anthony Weiner: My New Hero.

2009-07-31T11:34:00.001-05:00

I don't know if the idea was fully his, but it was brilliant. I'd like to find out if anyone voted in favor of his amendment.

Here's a link to Michael McAuliff's blog on the subject.

And this was Rachel Maddows interview with Weiner last night:

Nice Move!

My Early Endorsement

2009-07-05T18:48:00.006-05:00

Just a quick note:

I am going on record as endorsing Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and Missouri State Representative Cynthia Davis as the Republican Presidential ticket in 2012. Please, please, please, Republicans, listen to me on this one.....

From Blogger Pictures

Domaine de Couron Côtes du Rhône Villages 2007

2009-07-04T12:14:00.002-05:00

Last night my house guest uncorked a wine that was recommended by a trusted advisor at The Wine Merchant in Clayton. My house guest is a founding member of the Wednesday Institute of Neighborhood Oenophiles, so I usually trust him. He informed me that the price was about $15 (or so). This is the blurb I posted on Snooth:

Based on the price I was not prepared for this wine. Right off the bat, it was velvety on the tongue. Then the fruit forward flavor came bursting through. Black fruit and leather were easy to discern. Nice balance with a little complexity. Not a lot of finish, but at this price, I wasn't expecting that. The nose was amazing, though. I kept avoiding finishing the glass because I wanted to keep smelling. This will become one my "house" reds. myRating 4/5

I'm guessing that food-wise, this would be very versatile. If anyone is looking for a good, inexpensive wine that will pair nicely with a variety of cheeses, or even a good BBQ-grilled chicken or pork. This will work. Last night I didn't pair it with anything and it was terrific on it's own.

Patriotism

2009-07-01T11:10:00.006-05:00

Typically, I delete the "patriotic" emails I get from well-meaning friends and relatives. They don't read my blog so they may not be aware of how left-leaning I really am. It amazes me that the right-wing writers of these things always seem to assume they are the only ones who love their country. Today I received one of these from my mom's email address, and with July 4th around the corner, I decided to have some fun.

Below is the email with my commentary in red:

YES, I'M A BAD AMERICAN

I Am the Liberal-Progressives Worst Nightmare.

I Am the Liberal-Progressive, YOUR worst nightmare.

I am an American.

I am an American, too. So far we're in agreement?

I am a Master Mason and believe in God.

I am a master out-of-work sales professional and believe in people.

I ride Harley Davidson Motorcycles and believe in American products.

I drive a Ford Focus and applaud the fact that you ride a Harley Davidson. It helps with our energy dependence on foreign countries. Do you drive it year round? If you do, it's nice that you live somewhere where the climate is warmer. Of course, before long we all will, unless we start driving vehicles with better mileage and using mass transit.

I believe the money I make belongs to me and my family, not some Liberal governmental functionary be it Democratic or Republican!

I am a proud American taxpayer, who helps pay for roads, bridges, schools, law enforcement and those less fortunate than myself.I also pay the salary and medical expenses for the brave men and women of our armed forces who defend my liberty. A true patriot is happy to pay for these things.

I'm in touch with my feelings and I like it that way!

Me, too, I guess. Just remember, though, if you touch your feelings too often people will begin to talk.

I think owning a gun doesn't make you a killer, it makes you a smart American.

It's your right to do so! I don't, however, think you need a nuclear weapon or an assault rifle to defend your property, or to hunt deer for that matter.

I think being a minority does not make you noble or victimized, and does not entitle you to anything. Get over it!

You and the other people whining about it, are the only ones saying it does.

I believe that if you are selling me a Big Mac, do it in English.

More importantly, just be smart enough to get the order right and give the correct change. If you must count it back in spanish, that's OK as long as you can count. Most of the english speaking kids can't.

I believe everyone has a right to pray to his or her God when and where they want to.

Agreed! My muslim friends pray five or six times a day, but they don't try to make me pray with them. What nice people they are.

My heroes are John Wayne, Babe Ruth, Roy Rogers, and Willie G. Davidson that makes the awesome Harley Davidson Motorcycles.

My heroes are Albert Einstein, Robert Reich, Bill Gates (for his philanthropic endeavors), Ghandi, teachers, US soldiers, our founding fathers, and my parents.

I don't hate the rich. I don't pity the poor.

I do pity those less fortunate than my self and want to help them. The government has a large reach and ability to help on a massive scale so I'm glad our tax dollars help them out. I'm really glad right now because of my out-of-work status.
I don't hate the "rich". I despise the "irresponsible, greedy rich" who have preyed on others and ruined our economy, rather than making their money ethically.

I know wrestling is fake and I don't waste my time watching or arguing about it.

Wrestling? Really? You felt the need to throw that in there?

I've never owned a slave, or was a slave, I haven't burned any witches or been persecuted by the Turks and neither have you! So, shut up already.

As a proud American, I think we have to learn from the past mistakes of our country and be proud of the fact that we have moved forward together. That's where teachers come in.

I believe if you don't like the way things are here, go back to where you came from and change your own country! This is AMERICA .We like it the way it is! If you were born here and don't like it you are free to move to any Socialist country that will have you.

Me too! I like it the way it is. What I love is the way we have freedom to change. Since I'm from "here" and don't have anywhere to "go back to", if I don't like something, I have the right to seek change. If enough people agree with me, it gets changed. There's always recourse to the law, as well. Democracy is a beautiful thing. I'm sure there were people who thought segregation was just fine "the way it is" at one time. We changed that. If YOU don't like it here, I hear Somalia is looking for some rugged individualists who know how to use a gun.

I want to know which church is it exactly where the Reverend Jesse Jackson preaches, where he gets his money, and why he is always part of the problem and not the solution. Can I get an AMEN on that one?

He became an ordained Baptist minister in 1968. His civil rights efforts took up so much of his time that preaching was put aside. He did play an important role in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He actually helped solve a lot of problems during the civil rights era and deserves respect for that. I think even his biggest fans know he has been marginalized in recent years. Income in 2001 was $120,000 salary plus travel expenses from his charitable organizations. Not much different from the heads of a lot of mega charities. I'm sure other income comes from speaking engagements, etc. But of course you can find this information pretty readily on the internet if you could bothered with the truth.

I also think the cops have the right to pull you over if you're breaking the law, regardless of what color you are. And, no, I don't mind having my face shown on my drivers license.

When the data shows that the rates of being pulled over are as skewed as they are, then something is wrong. I do believe most police are good about not profiling. Although it's not pretty, I don't mind my picture on my driver's license either. It actually looks a little better than the one on my profile.

I think it's good.... And I'm proud that 'God' is written on my money.

Yeah, we need to pray that the people who hold all the money do the right thing with it. Also please note, it doesn't say Jesus anywhere so it could refer to Brahman, if you are of that religion.

I think if you are too stupid to know how a ballot works, I don't want you deciding who should be running the most powerful nation in the world for the next four years.

Agreed! But what's too stupid? Non- college degree holders? Non-newspaper readers? If you watch Fox News Network are your voting privileges automatically revoked? Maybe if you can pass the citizenship test that our naturalized citizens do, then you can vote? I'm ALL for that.

I dislike those people standing in the intersections trying to sell me stuff or trying to guilt me into making 'donations' to their cause.

Free market at work!

Get a Job and do your part!

I'm trying but the last administration saw fit to let Wall Street bring down our economy. We will be back on our feet soon. I am a hopeful, hard-working American who believes in our country.

I believe that it doesn't take a village to raise a child, it takes two parents.

I believe any good parenting, one or two. I do think more is better, hence the village. There would be fewer single parents if our children were taught all methods of birth control in our schools. There are studies that show this is true, but it is easier to remain ignorant and complain about single mothers.

I believe 'illegal' is illegal no matter what the lawyers think.

What the hell are you talking about? You lost me there. I believe an 'elephant' is an elephant no matter what the zoologist thinks? I think lawyers and judges are well-educated enough to understand the law.

I believe the American flag should be the only one allowed in AMERICA !

Try to sell that to the local Irish neighborhood or to the Sons of Italy hall in Little Italy. Hope you bring that firearm of yours.

If this makes me a BAD American, then yes, I'm a BAD American.

No, not a BAD American, just intolerant. I really want to share my country with you but you won't accept it.

We want our country back!

Trust me, after the last eight years I know EXACTLY how you feel.

patriotism, humor, bad american, liberal, progressive,

Chocolate Pie

2009-06-27T16:11:00.003-05:00

Some of my son's theater group friends are bored with summer already. When they get bored, this is the kind of thing they do. Not your typical teenagers are they?

What a talented group of kids. I'm happy this is the kind of friends he hangs out with.

A Big Whoohooo in College Hockey

2009-06-26T11:45:00.003-05:00

Kevin Pates of the Duluth News Tribune is reporting that it's a done deal. According to him, Bemidji State University and the University of Nebraska-Omaha will join the WCHA (Western Collegiate Hockey Association) starting in 2010 and 2011.

Seemingly confirming the report, the WCHA has posted a media alert on their website announcing a press conference at 5pm CT today. The subject will be expansion.

This is very exciting news and good for college hockey in general. It is expected that the University of Alabama-Huntsville will now be admitted into the CCHA (Central Collegiate Hockey Association) to replace the departing UNO. All of the teams in the CHA (College Hockey America) now have a new conference alignment after the league disbands at the close of this season. Conference alignment is necessary for most smaller schools to keep playing the sport. This move will allow Bemidji State and UAH to continue their programs in the future.

It's a very happy day in the college hockey world! Can't wait to hear the details.

Obama Asks the Logical Question

2009-06-24T15:05:00.001-05:00

Our "Spock in Chief" had a most logical moment at his press conference yesterday. But because I didn't see anyone else cover it on the news last night, I thought I'd share it here.

Obama was answering a question from reporter, David Jackson, about the "public option" part of his health care plan. He outlined why he thought it was important. Jackson followed up with, "Won't it drive private insurer's out of business?"

President Spock answered with, "If private insurers say that the marketplace provides the best quality health care, if they tell us that they're offering a good deal, then why is it that the government, which they say can't run anything, suddenly is going to drive them out of business? That's not logical." He then went on to acknowledge that, yes there would need to be discussion about the specific form such a plan would take. He was then quick to add, "Just conceptually, the notion that all these insurance companies who say they are giving consumers the best possible deal, that they can't compete against a public plan as one option, with consumers making the decision (as to) what's the best deal, that defies logic."

After I picked myself up off the floor from laughing at the way he pummeled all the free-market cheerleaders with their own arguments, I realized something more. The public option as discussed would need to cover all the uninsured, underinsured and uninsurable. I'm thinking that it's something that the private companies would be happy to see. Those are the high-risk consumers aren't they? That should free them up to make more profits.

We need more Vulcans.

Leisure Travel Entering a Deep Hole?

2009-06-22T11:40:00.003-05:00

Earlier this morning I got an email asking me to take a leisure travel survey. As someone who spent sixteen years working for Marriott, I was curious about what the questions would be.

I went through several pages of questions about favorite vacations destinations, activities while on vacation, household income, and ages of my family. Then we got to questions about future vacations. You know, "How likely are you to take a trip to destination A in the next two years?" "How likely are you to travel to that destination in the next five years?" As I answered these questions it suddenly occurred to me: vacation destinations are likely to see decreased business, not just for the duration of the current downturn, but for a long time to come. Why did I come to this conclusion? Let's use my case as an example.

My wife and I had planned to take a 10th anniversary trip to Europe next year. Most likely going to Spain and Portugal for two weeks. I am currently unemployed, for about six months now, so that requires that we think about changing our plans and downsizing.

Maybe we go to New Orleans instead. We could drive. Maybe we could come up with discounted hotel rooms through some of the connections I still have. Otherwise, maybe a vacation home rental somewhere through vrbo.com, which is fast becoming one of favorite websites. We could drive and save money on dining by making some of our own meals.

The lack of disposable income in many households is a bad thing for the travel industry. Until the unemployment rate comes back down, it's not going to get any better for airlines, hotels, restaurants and transportation providers in destination areas. Nothing new here. I think we all understand this.

Here's the kicker. I was thinking that if I got a job tomorrow, we would still be able to go to Europe next year. But it hit me, I probably won't have enough vacation time to make that happen. When I left Marriott, I had nearly five weeks of paid-time-off per year. Using a couple of weeks in one chunk was not a problem. It will probably take five years to get back to the level where my wife and I can take a long vacation again.

With more and more people losing jobs, their vacation time will also be "reset" when they are finally able to find another. It's going to take five years into a full recovery before the leisure travel industry gets back to the levels from a couple of years ago.

In the meantime, keep your eyes open, we should see some pretty good deals. Don't expect a lot of extras or particularly great service for some time to come. This is going to be long and painful in my former industry.

Pentagon Takes Bugging To A Whole New Level

2009-06-17T11:15:00.001-05:00

	OK, I like good spy stuff as much as the next guy. According to Wired Magazine the Pentagon is ready to deploy WMD-sniffing moths. During testing the insects were 100% accurate when WMD's were hidden inside of bright lights.
From Midspan of the Poplar

A Very Impressive Hire at UNO

2009-06-12T11:58:00.008-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

I didn't realize Trev Alberts and Mike Kemp were this serious. The new hockey coach at the University of Nebraska-Omaha is Dean Blais. WCHA entry, anyone?

Limbaugh Claims that 83% of Americans are Nobodies

2009-06-09T11:55:00.005-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

Rush Limbaugh must be back on the Oxycontin again.

Limbaugh stated on his show that, "nobody wants to support an Obama company." He cited a poll that shows that 17% of Americans back the idea to boycott a government-supported General Motors. I guess that means the other 83% are nobodies.

When did GM become an "Obama company" anyway? Last time I checked, we all own a piece now. Any input on running the company will largely come from congress, not the President.

By the way, I'd love to see an IQ level on that 17%. That idea would be like an ice cream shop partner going down the street to Ben & Jerry's to get his "Rocky Road" fix, because he is having a disagreement with the other partner. Do they think at all before they take these stances?

If anything it makes me more likely to consider a GM product. GM's gamble on the Chevy Volt has largely brought them to this point financially, but it was the right direction for the company to go. The future of GM lies with that vehicle and the public's acceptance of it. I should be in the market for a car about the time Volt hits the market and I will consider it over the Prius I was considering before.

But who cares about my opinion, I'm a nobody.

Twitter, Meet Windows Mobile!

2009-06-04T16:52:00.000-05:00

I've recently discovered the joys of Twitter. I actually joined about a year ago but just didn't "get it". I had installed an application on my Windows Mobile phone that allowed me to "tweet" directly from the "Today Screen" of my phone. The problem was that it seemed to drain my battery very quickly. Having to twitter by opening explorer and signing in, just seemed to defeat the purpose of micro-blogging in 140 characters or less. So I gave up.

I came back to twitter recently and started looking around for a new app that would work from my Windows Mobile phone. At the suggestion of a fellow "twitterer" (or is it "tweeter"), I checked-out Trinket Software's "Twinkini". Am I ever impressed! The interface is extremely simple to set up and even easier to use.It allows you to quickly tweet, reply, retweet, and direct message. It does add a quick way to switch between accounts if you have more than one.

Twinkini also has a location function which can be used with other apps to make it easier to find other tweeters near you. This can make it easier to find your local tweeters and connect with them. You can also easily view user profiles, and mark your favorites. The interface seems to work in near-real-time.

Starting at $4.95 this app is a steal. You can find out more information and download Twinkini at http://www.trinketsoftware.com/Twikini

The Tipping Point?

2009-06-02T12:27:00.001-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

Tonight at 8PM (Central) ABC will broadcast "Earth 2100" which promises to be an interesting look at the "worst case scenario" for civilization. Hosted by Bob Woodruff, the show is not about climate change alone, but population growth and resource depletion, as well. It makes dire predictions based on the alarming trends our planet faces in these areas.

Think about possible water, food and energy shortages due to exponential demand from exploding population around the globe. All of those consumers producing more and more greenhouse gases at faster rates. WOW! The potential is staggering.

It will be interesting to see if any possible solutions will be recommended.

Cheney's Head Nears Harmonic Resonance

2009-06-01T17:04:00.001-05:00

Is he serious? According to an article by Jon Ward of the Washington Times says that death is the only option for some detainees if the Gitmo facility is closed.

"If you're going to be engaged in a world conflict such as we are, such as the global war on terrorism, if you don't have a place where you can hold these people, your only other option is to kill them," Mr. Cheney said.

"And we don't operate that way."

Really? We don't operate that way? He better look back at his own suspect actions over the previous eight years before making that kind of statement. He neglects to mention that if we operated under the law and set the moral and ethical example for the rest of the world, we might not have as many enemies to begin with.

The former vice president said that the Guantanamo Bay prison is "a fine facility" and that the White House will have a "very difficult" time closing it, because of the legal, political and diplomatic challenges associated with indefinite detention.

And who's decision was it to hold them indefinitely? Oh, he must have forgotten. And those challenges? HE's the one spearheading them.

Everybody stand back...

Universal Healthcare?

2009-05-29T12:34:00.002-05:00

I've been asked a lot lately about why I hold such strong views about universal healthcare in our country. Invariably, the argument against adopting it is, "talk to people in the countries that have it. They don't like it." My question is why they don't like it? Do they have anything to compare it to? If the only discount store in my town is Target, and that's the only place I ever get to shop, eventually I'm going to have a gripe.

On the other hand, I don't feel we have much to brag about here, either. People are denied life saving treatments by insurance companies every day. Those who are lucky enough to be insured. Even the small stuff is bad. Recently, my wife and I waited for SIX hours in an emergency room (from 9:30 PM until 3:30 AM) when she sliced open her finger and needed stitches. We had someone look at her finger after the first hour and were told "ooh, that's pretty bad. You're going to need some serious stitches. Now go sit back in the waiting room and we'll be right with you." After waiting a couple of hours, I asked the receptionist when they would see her. She said she had no idea. Finally, my wife insisted we leave. The bleeding had finally stopped. This is not an indictment of the people who work in the emergency room. I know they had their hands full. However, under a single payer, they could have told us, "Hey, St. Generic's emergency room is slow, why don't you zip over there and they will be able to help?" Our insurance would have been just as good at either one.

I think what it all comes down to is this question: Would you rather have a bureaucrat from a non-profit government agency deciding on your healthcare or, a bureaucrat from a huge for-profit insurance conglomerate deciding on your healthcare with profit as the main priority? Give me the government every time. At least I get to vote on the leadership.

Below are the links to a series of articles that illustrate why I feel the way I do and why it's the best direction for this country.

Universal Health Care Can Save Our Economy

Universal Health Care Can Save Our Economy Part II: Quality Control

Universal Health Care Can Save Our Economy and Keep 1.7 mill

Obama on Health Reform: The Dog That Didn't Bark

The Health Care Cave-In

The Only Sure Way to Fund Universal Health Care

It's a Generational Thing...

2009-05-26T14:38:00.002-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

The battle of musical tastes continues between the 14 year old in the house and his older, wiser male role model. Score the last round to older and wiser.

I've been hooked on Green Day's new release "21st Century Breakdown" since it came out on May 15th. It was downloaded on itunes and burned immediately so it could have near-permanent status in the CD player in my car. Much to the dismay of the younger male in the clan.

See, being an actor and the age that he is, it's difficult for him to have much rock-and-roll taste. I accept this. Around his peer group, he is constantly exposed to broadway tunes, sappy R & B, Disney tunes and and the latest in bubble gum rap, as I like to call it. He calls it hip-hop, but that's an argument for another time.

With his musical taste as a weapon. he has become one of the most annoying teenagers since Macaulay Culkin. Currently taking vocal lessons, he walks around the house and, without even realizing it, bursts loudly into song. Sometimes he sings actual lyrics. Sometimes he hums. Always it is loud. Usually it is some song I can't stand, or at the very least interrupts a good movie or hockey game.

For my part, I try to make sure that the time he spends in the car with me is quality time. We either discuss news stories on NPR or I expose him to real music. As you can imagine, much of his time is spent rolling his eyes during these excursions. Undeterred, I feel like it's my duty to develop his tastes and to make his eyes roll. It's really the fun part of being a dad. Of course, the best part is when I play a song and he says, "hey, that song is on my Guitar Hero game!" Or "that is a song by (insert sampling, bubble-gum rap artist here)" and I have to explain that (insert sampling, bubble-gum rap artist here) couldn't come up with a bass line that good so they ripped it off from The Who.

This brings us to yesterday. On the way home from his vocal lessons, I had the Green Day CD playing and he begged me to turn on NPR. That is all part of my master plan to increase his intelligence level. However, I was really rocking out to the Green Day, so I denied his request. He rolled his eyes all the way home, heaving sigh after sigh, in between complaints, of course. I was not aware he had the capability to multitask like that, but I learned something new.

After we got home and had dinner, he was cajoled into helping clean up the kitchen. While cleaning he had one his burst-into-song moments. He was humming the tune "21 Guns" ...from the Green Day album ...in front of me. I stopped and looked right at him. At first, he thought I was annoyed because he was humming loudly. Starting to laugh, I asked "What was THAT?"

Slowly a look of realization came over his face. He looked like he wanted to spit some foul tasting drink out of his mouth but had nowhere to spit it. He blurted out, "see what your crappy music has done to me?"

It may take years and cost thousands of lives but I will win.

Champagne Tastes on a Beer Budget? I think not.

2009-05-20T09:46:00.009-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

Last night KSDK St. Louis aired an investigative report by Leisa Zigman exposing a lavish meeting held by Anheuser-Busch executives. At this meeting decisions were made about job eliminations. An anonymous employee was outraged over it. The story was hyped on teasers for a few days and then aired on the 10 o'clock show.

I'm impressed with KSDK news and their investigative team. They work very hard and sometimes face hostility and physical threats to get the story and get it right. And Ms. Zigman got it right in this case. My question is the relevance of this particular story because of the way it was hyped.

Was the meeting lavish? It didn't appear so to me. Off-site meetings where large scale HR initiatives are discussed are common. A sensitive meeting should not take place somewhere where a misplaced proposal or a hallway conversation can be overheard and rumors initiated. So the fact that this type of meeting took place off-site was actually prudent.

The lake-side facility is owned by Anheuser-Busch, so otherwise, it sits empty. The same goes for the "yacht" which was used to transport the group to a dinner at a lakeside restaurant. The meetings did involve an overnight stay so feeding your employees is proper. As someone who worked in the hotel industry for several years, trust me, there are much more expensive ways to hold a meeting. As far as the drinking that went on, as long as they weren't drinking a competitors product, I don't see a problem with that either.

Currently out of work myself, I don't begrudge companies doing this sort of thing at all. Many of the workers and managers who do have jobs, have unrealistic expectations placed on them. Getting out of the office where there are fewer distractions is a good way to get them to focus and be creative.

We are letting the public hysteria over corporate spending grab hold like a runaway train. If corporations cut all of these type of events, will there be any jobs worth returning to when the economy rebounds? If anything, it provides stockholders ammunition to keep cutting perks in the workplace to the point where a coffee pot in the stockroom is considered "lavish". No surprise that someone like Juli Neimann, who is one of the best financial analysts in the St. Louis area, and someone who I admire, would come down on the side of corporations cutting expenses. In the meantime, with reduced spending, who gets more profits? Stockholders and CEOs.

Keep up the good work, Ms. Zeigman. Your report was mostly balanced as you presented some of the Anheuser- Busch PR departments facts about the meeting. I might suggest an independent expert meeting planner be consulted to give the audience an idea of how cost effective the meeting really was.

The problem with the story was the hyping of it. If the teasers had been presented as a question, "Did these Anheuser-Busch employees go too far?" the same report plays with a more balanced tone and creates a forum for civil discussion on what constitutes "corporate greed". Instead we get an emotionally charged debate leading to the memo released yesterday at Anheuser-Busch attacking Ms. Zigman personally.

Unfortunately, that increase in the rhetoric around the issue makes the piece irrelevant.

Just my $0.02.

New Word Project

2009-05-18T11:59:00.001-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

Taking a cue from an article I read recently, I thought it would be fun to coin new words to add to lexicon of everyday life. I would like people to submit their ideas for words or phrases to cover life situations that don't have their own words.

For instance, I ran into one yesterday (not literally) when I approached a traffic light and suddenly the light turned yellow. I was too close to stop but too far away from the other side of the intersection to clear it before the light turned red. There MUST be a name for this situation. The one that popped to mind immediately was "amber inert" but I'm sure others can be more clever than that. So let's hear it. Send me an idea and I'll post the best ones next Monday.

Feel free to submit ideas for things you'd like to name, as well.

St. Louis Is on the College Hockey Map

2009-05-08T12:17:00.005-05:00

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It's nice to see that I won't have to travel as far after next season to get my NCAA hockey fix. The St. Louis Sports Commission announced yesterday that St. Louis will host the 2010 and 2011 Ice Breaker Tournaments. In between those two events, the city will also host an NCAA Men's Ice Hockey West Regional.

Less travel for Randy! Whoohoo!

Bird Brain

2009-05-06T11:22:00.001-05:00

For three straight years, we have seen the return of the first robin of spring at our house. Our first robin is little "different" than most.

This video clip is just a short sample of the bizarre behavior or this bird. Each year this robin shows up in April and starts to pound on our window endlessly. All day, every day for a couple of months. The only time it stops is when someone walks through our great room. Then, five minutes later, it starts again. I kid you not.

As I type this entry, it's there. Smack...smack...smack...smack. It's like something from an Edgar Allen Poe story. You know, "The Robin".

From Bird_Brain_

Boston University Must Change Their Mascot

2009-04-20T12:02:00.002-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

The Frozen Four ended a few days ago with a thrilling, come-from-behind, overtime championship for the Boston University Terriers. I was in attendance and I'm still stunned at the way the game ended. The devastating heartbreak of the Miami University contingent, who were a few seconds away from the first national championship of any kind for their school. The absolute elation of the BU fans as their team pulled off a win for the ages.

What sticks with me most is the BU nickname, Terriers. What were they thinking? Imagine if you will, thousands of Boston fans trying to chant "let's go Terriers!" Now think about a Boston accent, replacing the "r's" with "ah's"...

What you get is more like, "let's go teh-wee-uhs!" I spent half of their games looking around for the chorus of Elmer Fudd's.

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Congrats to BU! Now change your nickname or avoid all cheers that
actually use the term Terriers. It really makes you look silly.

The Best Museum EVER!

2009-04-20T10:21:00.002-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

When I was visiting Washington for the Frozen Four a few days ago, I took the time to visit the Newseum. As an avowed NPR junkie, I had heard shows broadcast from the Newseum from time to time and was intrigued by a museum dedicated to the first amendment. It was on my "must see" list.

If you are ever in Washington, DC, please take the time to visit. Put aside a minimum of five hours. You may feel like that wasn't enough. Museums are the first thing I look for when I travel. Yeah, I know, it used to be bars and restaurants. The Newseum is better than any museum I've ever visited. It's interactive, with video, audio, archives, exhibits, and even a 4D movie. It's all laid out very logically and is interactive enough to keep a teenagers interest.

For more information visit the Newseum website.

The New Beaver Pride

2009-04-16T14:22:00.001-05:00

A simple thank you. That's all I can offer to the boys from my alma mater's hockey team. Thank you for bringing Beaver Pride back to the forefront.

Back in the 1980's when I was attending Bemidji State University, the hockey team at the school brought the community together for one magical season. They accomplished the near impossible, going 31-0-0 on the way to the NCAA Division II title. The championship series was played on home ice. The town, and particularly, the university community celebrated wildly. Not many outside of the participating schools paid much mind, though, and life was pretty normal in a day or two. I never forgot the feeling of being in the arena that night, a feeling of pride in the school and the city.

You see, there's always been a bit of a divide between the “townies” and the university community. Even though they depend on each other, it's too often grudgingly. The “townies” feel that it's their home and the students are just badly-behaved visitors between tourist seasons. For their part, the students don't always help themselves with the mischief they create. The university is the largest employer in the area, the alumni do create jobs, and the students do spend money. The university community often feels that the townies don't always appreciate the good things the university brings to Bemidji. Since I grew up in Bemidji AND graduated from the university, I saw things from both perspectives and always wondered why the relationship wasn't more symbiotic.

That brings us to last week, when the current version of the hockey team and a series of coincidental events may have had a lasting impact on the school and the city's relationship. The hockey team currently plays at the NCAA Division I level and had qualified as the lowest seeded team for the tournament. In their regional tournament they handily upset athletic giant Notre Dame and then traditional hockey power Cornell to capture the regional title and make it to the semi-finals of the national tournament, also known as “The Frozen Four” to be played in Washington, DC.

The entire city of Bemidji came together to celebrate the accomplishment. Not just the university, but the ENTIRE city. The pride has been palpable. The national media picked up on the cinderella Beavers' story and ran with it. Suddenly a lot more people knew where Bemidji was located and that the name translates as “waters crossing waters”, a reference to the Mississippi river flowing across Lake Bemidji.

A couple of other stories were developing at the same time. The Bemidji Regional Events Center had it's groundbreaking the following Friday. The building of this convention center/arena has been controversial in the city. The townies have resented a new arena as a tax burden mainly for the university's benefit as the main tenant will be BSU hockey. The university has claimed that it will provide economic stimulus for the area. It will also allow the hockey team to remain a viable athletic program at the university by allowing them to join a major conference. Right now, they play in College Hockey America (CHA) which is disbanding after the 2009-2010 season. They have applied to the ten member Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA), arguably the premier conference in college hockey. It is unlikely the WCHA will accept them without another hockey program applying for membership at the same time to round the conference to twelve teams. The WCHA commissioner, Bruce McLeod, has indicated that scheduling for an eleven-team conference will not be balanced enough. For the first time in more than a decade the WCHA did not have a team in the Frozen Four. As recently as 2005, all four participants were from the WCHA. Guess who was attending the groundbreaking?

So, we have a cinderella hockey team doing it's best Jefferson Smith imitation and heading to Washington against all odds; a groundbreaking for a controversial, new arena originally resented by some in the city; and in attendance, the commissioner of the league upon which the future of the university's hockey program may depend. What to do? BSU and the city did the right thing. They combined the groundbreaking with a rally for the hockey team! All sides built a lot of good will and hopefully the WCHA will accept BSU with or without a partner.

When I traveled to Washington last week, what I saw amazed me. Bemidji natives and the university community alike decked out in so much green and white that even NPR took notice. They packed the streets, bars, restaurants, parks and museums advertising their loyalties. And even though the hockey team was defeated in the semifinals, this unity should not go unnoticed. It's a huge step in the right direction and I couldn't be more Beaver Proud! Thank you.

Thoroughly Talented Cast

2009-03-24T12:32:00.001-05:00

I had the pleasure of sitting in the audience for Sunday's Young People's Theatre production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie". Pleasure might not be a strong enough word. To quote James Lipton, "It was a delight!"

I've never cared much for the movie version of the musical so I had pretty low expectations. The performances by the principal actors were absolutely as good as any I've witnessed. Olivia Threlkeld as Millie, Zac Erhardt as Jimmy, Ryan Anderson as Trevor Graydon, Lauren Lamey as Muzzy, Alissa Brooks as Mrs. Meers and Mallory Degenhardt as Dorothy are truly talented actors and singers. Besides Young People's Theater, many of the actors (ranging in age from 8-18) have also participated in the Muny Kids and Stages St. Louis programs. Young People's Theatre is supported by St. Charles Community College but attracts talent from all over the area. They are a non-profit organization but you would never know it from the product on the stage.

Set in New York in roaring 20's, the play tells the story of Millie who arrives in the city fresh from Kansas with dreams of finding a job and marrying her boss. What entails is a story of speak-easys, high society and white slavery. The play was very funny, especially Mr. Anderson, Ms. Brooks and her henchmen played by Nick Noto and Jacob Feldt. It is also entertaining. Check out Ms. Threlkeld as Millie, Mr. Erhardt as Jimmy, and Ms. Degenhardt as Dorothy, all tremendous singers. Ms. Lamey took on some pretty torchy numbers that were very challenging and made it look easy. Along with a tap-dancing steno pool, some great speak-easy numbers and and whiz-bang opening number by the rest of the cast, the show zipped along and was never dull.

Brisby Andrews, her staff, and the programs volunteers (mostly parents) put together a very complex and challenging palette of staging and costumes. I can't begin to imagine what this program could do with more funding.

There are four performances remaining at the St. Charles Community College's Fine Arts Building. Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28th at 7PM. There are matinees at 2PM on Saturday, March 28th and Sunday, March 29th. I strongly urge people to attend and judge for themselves. You won't be disappointed. You will probably be delighted.

Right Whale?

2009-03-16T13:37:00.001-05:00

According the associated press, monitoring for endangered right whales is ending because funding was lost.

In order to help with tracking, if you see one of these creatures (see picture below) please report it to the local wildlife authorities.

Economy Down. Customer Service Up.

2009-03-12T15:20:00.001-05:00

s it just me, or is customer service improving with the economic downturn? With

Image via Wikipedia

one glaring exception, my recent interactions with the service industry have been more pleasant and efficient than anytime in recent memory.

When I need to stop at the local fast food joint, I actually get a smile and the correct items in my order. No rolling eyes. No heavy sighs. No looks of annoyance. In general, no attitude.

When I call for help with something the person on the other end of the line sounds helpful, confident and competent. It's exactly what I want to hear.

Here are a few theories:

With more people out of work, there are a lot of overqualified people out there taking these jobs either on a part-time or temporary basis. They actually take pride in their work.

With more people out of work AND with the average American rate of saving now at 5%, there are fewer customers to serve. This helps with shorter lines and wait times. It also makes over-worked service personnel less stressed. Let's face it, the "service industry" has been more about "industry" and less about "service" for several years now.

With high competition for the consumer dollar, companies are realizing the value of service again. The customer is no longer feeling tied to a minimal level of quality service because the location is more convenient. Their competitor has short lines and low wait times and guess what? They don't have an attitude.

Of course, I need to point out the exception that proves the rule. Borders.com. Back in early January, I ordered a book and a DVD from them. Both items said they usually ship in 3-7 days. I had an email later the same day indicating the book had been shipped. Sure enough, it was on my doorstep within three days. The DVD? No such luck. It was still listed as "in process" on my account.

After about a month, I sent an email to customer service listing the order number and explaining my situation. Nothing. Not even an auto-email acknowledging my request. About a week later, I sent another. Again, no response. Deciding that the emails weren't working, I called their customer service number and got a pleasant, helpful sounding woman on the other end of the line. She looked at my account and said something like, "Hmmm, that's odd. Let me take your email address and see if our supplier for that DVD is having difficulty getting it in stock. You will have a response within 24 hours." Finally someone was going to straighten this out! Well, it's been about three weeks now and I haven't heard anything back.

I did see last week that Border's was laying off some 700 workers and many of them were in customer service.

Hmmmm. That's odd.

What's the Deal With These People?

2009-02-27T10:26:00.001-06:00

Image by M. Keefe via Flickr

Start preparing. The seventh sign of the apocalypse has appeared. Jerry Seinfeld is producing a reality show. That's right. The man who brought us nine seasons of a show about nothing, is bringing us a reality show.

NBC has announced that Mr. Seinfeld will attempt to become master of a new domain next year. The new show is titled "The Marriage Refs." The show's premise is based on married couples having arguments analyzed and ultimately judged by a panel of comedians.

What is this? Springer for the Comedy Central set? Who would actually volunteer to have their marital spats aired in front of a prime-time audience, opening themselves to ridicule by professional comedians? The same people who would appear on Springer, that's who. I thought the spread of reality TV was bad enough. Who would watch? The same people who watch Springer.

Keep in mind, I'm a huge fan of The Seinfeld Show, so I hold out hope that I'm wrong. Maybe they'll find a way to keep it cute and funny. Personally, I getting my asbestos suit ready for the rapture.

Prepare now!

My Oscar Prediction: A Millionaire Will Take Home Oscar Gold

2009-02-22T13:42:00.000-06:00

Heath Ledger is a posthumous lock.Image via Wikipedia

The following statement may be sacrilege to any of my golf buddies: I enjoy the Oscars more than the Superbowl. I'm not not talking about the Red Carpet parade and all the celebrity gossip, etc. What I love is that it's a celebration of an art form; one that's truly popular.

During the 20th century, film replaced books as the most popular form of story telling. Now, we can argue whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, but it is reality. The people dedicated to making a truly good film, take just as much care and exhibit as much passion as any author.

I think it's fun to watch people who've worked a lifetime with that sort of vision and passion have that moment of ultimate achievement in front of an audience of over a billion people worldwide. My pet peeve with the Oscars is when the winning director for best documentary has their speech cut off by the orchestra. This person probably started making films when they were a kid. They worked hard to achieve this moment and then the orchestra cuts them off before can thank mom and dad? It's really quite rude. Get rid of some of the production numbers and the bantering that takes place between the presenters. It's not about them. It's about the artists and celebrating their achievements.

OK, now that I've got that off my chest, here are my predictions:

ACTOR, LEADING- Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler”
ACTOR, SUPPORTING- Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight”
ACTRESS, LEADING- Kate Winslet in “The Reader”
ACTRESS, SUPPORTING- Penélope Cruz in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
ANIMATED FEATURE- “WALL-E”
ART DIRECTION- “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
CINEMATOGRAPHY- “Slumdog Millionaire”
COSTUME DESIGN- “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
DIRECTING- “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE- “Man on Wire”
DOCUMENTARY SHORT- “The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306”
FILM EDITING- “Slumdog Millionaire”
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM- “Waltz with Bashir”
MAKEUP- “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
ORIGINAL SCORE- “Slumdog Millionaire”
ORIGINAL SONG- “O Saya” from “Slumdog Millionaire”
SHORT FILM, ANIMATED- “Presto”
SHORT FILM, LIVE ACTION- “Auf der Strecke (On the Line)”
SOUND EDITING- “WALL-E”
SOUND MIXING- “WALL-E”
VISUAL EFFECTS- “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
SCREENPLAY, ADAPTED- “Doubt”
SCREENPLAY, ORIGINAL- “Frozen River”

And finally,

BEST PICTURE- “Slumdog Millionaire”

Just a note, "Slumdog" is a tremendous movie but was my second favorite this year behind "Doubt". I loved the dialogue in that movie, but it shows what I know.

You can download your own ballot here

Tune in and see how wrong I am.

Want to Know Where All the ARRA Money is Going?

2009-02-19T08:28:00.000-06:00

Image via Wikipedia

You can disagree all you want with the details of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. But let me ask you this question: Do you really know what the details are?

Now, there's no excuse NOT to know, thanks to the President Obama and his administration. If you want to know where your dollars are going, just visit Recovery.org to find out. Want to read the entire bill, in all it's glorious 210 pages, for yourself? The link is provided.

This administration has really taken the "transparency" issue to heart. The hope is it will encourage people to look-up ACTUAL facts, rather than take what they hear on talk-radio or opinion shows as fact. This makes it very easy for us lazy citizens to do so. And think about this: it's a great way for Obama to keep either party from trying to tack on pet projects.

Unlike the first phase of TARP at least we will know where the money went. Check back frequently and watch the dollars flow.

Hey, it might be going down the drain, but we'll be able to wave at it.

Sad HBO Documentary

2009-02-17T22:42:00.000-06:00

Have you ever watched "The Office" and had that fingernails-down-a-blackboard shudder as Michael Scott announces another inappropriate and remarkably misguided idea? Well, I got it while watching real "Americans" in Right America, Feeling Wronged- Some Voices From the Campaign Trail on HBO Monday night. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry or just feel disgusted at some of the people that Alexandra Pelosi uncovered.

I realize that some of you may have a knee-jerk reaction to the daughter of Nancy Pelosi doing a documentary on the McCain campaign. Let me just point out that this is not her first documentary. In the others I have seen ("Diary of a Political Tourist" and "Friends of God: A Road Trip with Alexandra Pelosi") she gives people who feel their voices aren't being heard, a chance to speak their mind. Despite that fact, because of her name, she was spit on and harassed at many of the events she covered. She is quick to point out that she was also thanked at many of the events. Many recognized her effort to give voice to people who feel they weren't being given fair coverage by the "liberal media"; a term that clearly covers everyone with a press pass that doesn't say "Fox News" on it.

In one scene, a McCain supporter pleads with the rest of America to vote for someone who's more "like us". The supporter goes on to point out that anyone who was raised in Hawaii and attended Columbia and Havard Law School just won't understand the needs of everyday "folks". Like who? George Bush? His father? A movie star from California? A naval officer who attended Annapolis and married into so much wealth he doesn't know how many homes he owns? Yeah, they all have everyday concerns. When hiring someone to run my country, I look at the resume. The education counts for something. Just because someone proved their heroism as a POW, does not ALONE qualify them to run the country. It qualifies them for a medal. It qualifies them to have stadiums, streets and schools named after them and as far as I'm concerned they should never have to work a day in their lives again. It qualifies them for my gratitude. Admiration for John McCain oozes from every pore of my body, but some of the people who show up in this documentary are foolish. One truck driver said he would never vote for a (n-word) for president. Welcome to the twenty-first century, folks! These "folks" should be tried, convicted and sentenced to watch the video of their own statements in four years. I mean, really.

Now, there were a few reasonably intelligent people who expressed their views, as well. It was nice to hear from them. I understand their disappointment and frustration, having lived it myself for the last eight years. They are entitled to their opinion. I'm obliged to disagree.

Truly, though, they have nothing to worry about. It will take at least that long to undo one-tenth of the damage the last administration did.

I encourage you all to watch this film and make up your own mind. It's at least worth an innapropriate chuckle or two. You might even think of Michael Scott or Dwight Schrute.

I Really Hate the University of Michigan. No really...

2009-02-13T13:04:00.000-06:00

Image via Wikipedia

Since the latest hockey match-up between the UNO (University of Nebraska- Omaha) and the University of Michigan Weasels takes place this weekend, I thought it would be a good time to express my sentiments on this subject. Instead, though, I'm going to tell you a heartwarming, touching story about my step-daughter.

In 2006 on the last day of regular season, I took Paige, then 13 years old, to a Cardinals game. Since the Cardinals were in a playoff race, the stadium was packed to the rafters, which is where our seats were. They were good seats though, in the very last top row directly behind home plate. We were actually at the top of an aisle with no one seated directly in front of us. It was a fairly hot day but we were in the shade with a nice breeze blowing from the open area right behind us. We got settled in.

After some discussion about the starting line-ups and the current standings, the game got underway and our focus turned to that. The Cardinals fell behind early, but the Braves were beating Houston. Everyone was keeping an eye on the scoreboard because a Braves win would put the Cards in the playoffs. Paige wasn't saying much at all. I thought it was pretty cool that she was so into the game and the atmosphere of a pennant chase.

Without a warning, this quiet, focused teenager bellows out in her best Boston accent, "Yankees SUCK!" loud enough to damage most eardrums within a 60 foot radius. As the entire section turns to look up at us, I see a college-aged boy about 10 rows down from us wearing a Yankees t-shirt and making his way back to his seat with some suds. As the entire section started to figure out that the line had been shouted by this heretofore unheard-from little girl they all started laughing, even the kid in the shirt.

After the laughter settled down, I turned to Paige and discreetly explained to her that I didn't think it was appropriate for her to use the word "sucks" that way in a public place, adding "unless, of course it's preceded by the word Yankees"! She smiled at me.

After about fifteen seconds, she looked at me and and asked, "Or Michigan, right?"

My heart melted and I gave her a big hug. Sometimes it's really rewarding to be a parent.

I'm Ready for My Minority Status

2009-02-09T09:06:00.000-06:00

OK, ladies, let's hear it: "Men! Who needs 'em?" According to the bureau of labor statistics, apparently not the workforce. Included is a link to NY Times article published on February 5, 2009. In it, author Catherine Rampell points that women were already on the path toward reaching a tipping point in percentage of the workforce. In November, by one measure, women held 49.1 percent of the nation's non-farm jobs. With more and more layoffs happening in the mostly male dominated industries of manufacturing and construction. The job losses are currently 82% male. Wow!

The truly interesting shift may be cultural. Slowly, over the last decade or two, it has become fully acceptable for the woman to be the breadwinner in a family. I don't mind saying it happens to be the case in my family. With the job losses occurring in some of the more male-centric industries, perhaps it will open the eyes of some of the more culturally conservative segments of our society. I'm actually quite proud of my wife's success and am more than grateful that she has such a terrific career.

So all I can say is, "You go girls!"

What do "The Music Man" and "Macbeth" have in common?

2009-01-30T15:54:00.000-06:00

Answer: Both may soon be performed in the nude. Seventy-six trombones, indeed! OK, probably not nude but sans costume at least. According to the Southern Oregon Mail Tribune burglars recently broke into the costume shop of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and made off with the costumes for both shows. They left behind a video camera and some cell phones.

The show's are scheduled to open on the 15th and 13th of February respectively. Since my wife helps with costuming at Young People's Theater, I understand how much work goes into getting a costume just right. I hope they come to their senses and return the costumes.

What are they doing with them anyway? Making their own movie?

Harold Hill: A man can't turn tail and run just because a little personal risk is involved. What did Shakespeare say? "Cowards die a thousand deaths, the brave man... only 500"?

Lady Macbeth: Screw your courage to the sticking-place.

Mayor Shinn: Not one poop out of you, Madame!
Mrs. Shinn: I think he means "peep"!

Second Witch: By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes.

Harold Hill (agreeing): Mothers of River City, heed that warning before it's too late! Watch for the telltale signs of corruption! The minute your son leaves the house, does he rebuckle his knickerbockers below the knee? Is there a nicotine stain on his index finger? A dime-novel hidden in the corncrib? Is he starting to memorize jokes from Captain Billy's Whiz-Bang? Are certain words creeping into his conversation? Words like "swell" and "so's your old man"? If so my friends, ya got trouble!

Macbeth: I am in blood. Stepp'd in so far, that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o'er.

Zaneeta: Papa, please! It's 'Capulets' like you who make blood in the marketplace! Ye Gods!

Macbeth: Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

For God's sake, please bring back the costumes!

Snow in St. Louis

2009-01-28T12:31:00.000-06:00

We had some snow in St. Louis. It didn't take long for Cards fans to make their feelings known. These are shots of the vacant lot next to Busch Stadium. They were emailed to me so I don't know who get's credit. Nice job and GO CARDS!

From Blogger Pictures

College Hockey

2009-01-28T12:13:00.000-06:00

I'm a huge fan of college hockey. There are some interesting things happening in that sport this week.

First, the death knell has sounded for the College Hockey America (CHA) conference. The conference was down to four teams after some defections the last couple of years. With Niagara University and Robert Morris University jumping ship to join the Atlantic Hockey conference, only Bemidji State and Alabama-Huntsville are left. Bemidji as made it clear they intend to apply for membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) and the WCHA has temporarily lifted their ban on expansion. This clears the way for them to apply for membership. It is unclear if they have the support of enough of the other schools to allow them to become members for men's hockey. Their women's hockey team already plays in the conference so it would seem like a natural fit. What happens to Alabama-Huntsville's program? Will there be a re-alignment shuffle with a team from the Central College Hockey Association (CCHA) joining Bemidji in the WCHA? The two CCHA teams most likely to make the switch are the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Northern Michigan University. If that happens will this allow Alabama-Huntsville to join the more geographically advantageous CCHA? Without a conference alignment it would be very difficult for either program to survive for long. That would be a shame as both teams have good history and loyal fans.

If UNO and Bemidji make the move to the WCHA this would put my three favorite teams (Bemidji, UNO and Minnesota) in the same conference. What will I do, then? Oh, the humanity!

The other news big news is the departure of Andrew Conboy from the Michigan State program after he was suspended for throwing a cheap shot at a Michigan player last weekend. I think he will turn pro and leave the college ranks all together. Good riddance.

You Decide

2009-01-23T09:11:00.000-06:00

I'd like you to look at these photos. These are photos of my 15 year old daughter's room. They are posted here because I'd like a couple of hundred opinions. Is this room messy or clean? Pretty simple, huh? But not it my daughter's eyes. That lovely young girl who used to be charming and smart and NEVER told a lie, has suddenly become, well, a teenager.

Every two weeks my wife and I hire an outside company to come in and do a good house cleaning. Being a double career family it gets to be too much to keep up with some of the chores and still have ANY time to spend as a family. So call it a "perk" we granted ourselves and our children. In order for the cleaning team to do a good job we need to prepare by making sure that things in the house are put away so they can vacuum, dust, etc. They come to the house every other Thursday and the reminders start on the Sunday before they come. Is your clean laundry all put away? Is your dirty laundry in your hamper? Is your room clean? Since the kids' rooms are upstairs and the master bedroom is on the main floor, we don't walk by their rooms everyday.

Wednesday night as usual, we asked the final question: "Is your your room clean and ready for the cleaning crew tomorrow?" The 15 year-old rolled her eyes. She considers this nagging. She sighed, "Yes, my room is clean."

After everyone else had left the house yesterday, I noticed one last basket of my daughter's clean laundry sitting at the bottom of the stairs. Figuring I would do her a favor and carry the clothes up to her room, I headed up the stairs. You know those cartoon characters with the steam coming out of their ears? Well that's probably what I looked like when I got to her room. The pictures are my evidence.

She STILL insists her room was "clean" enough for the cleaning crew to do their job. I leave the final decision in your hands. Please vote below.

From Room photos

<a href="http://www.buzzdash.com/polls/does-the-room-in-the-pictures-qualify-as-145081/">Does the room in the pictures qualify as </a> | <a href="http://www.buzzdash.com">BuzzDash polls</a>

What a Day!

2009-01-21T10:46:00.000-06:00

I love our country. Watching on television as Barack Obama took the oath of office, yesterday, I was overcome with awe at the site of all the people on the National Mall. That alone spoke volumes about the hope the American people are pinning on our new leader.

President Obama did not sugar-coat things. He outlined the work ahead, and called on all Americans to do their part. He said, "What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility, a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task."

I love that part of his governing philosophy: government as leader, but not as provider. He also added, "In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom."

He offers the United States an opportunity to rebuild it's respect internationally. The most memorable line of the speech was, "To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."

Did anyone else cringe with awareness that his predecessors were sitting a few feet away when he said, "On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and
false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics"? Again when he added, "Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint."

It was a terrific speech. It's nice to feel more pride about being an American again. Good luck, Mr. President.

National Day of Service

2009-01-20T10:17:00.000-06:00

Typically, I'm not a big volunteer kind of guy. What little spare time I have is usually reserved for reading or watching movies.

Recently I received an email from the Obama campaign with a video appeal from Michelle Obama linked to it. I briefly watched the video but what was more compelling was a link that was included. The website is called usaservice.org and it's a clearing house of sorts for volunteers looking to help out. I plugged in my zip code and several volunteer opportunities appeared on an interactive map. Suddenly I felt compelled to contribute some time. There was an event taking place Monday morning at a county park nearby. It required two hours of commitment walking the parks trails and picking up trash. The fruits of our labor would then be recycled. My thirteen year old son, Troyer, decided to join me so we signed up to be there and pitch in.

We showed up on a chilly morning at 9:00 AM to do our part. We met up with about two dozen people of varying ages, races, and economic situations. The event organizers were a very nice couple, Mary and Chuck Schubert. Mary is a park ranger in the national park system and Chuck is a retired Boeing engineer. They had everything set to go. We all signed in and recieved name tags and split into four groups to cover more ground. My son and I walked with Steve, who works at Pfizer and is from Michigan, his dog Blake, and Kevin who we later discovered is an out of work electronics worker. We covered a lot of ground, but quite frankly, it is a VERY clean park already. Troyer and I only filled about a half a kitchen-sized trash bag in a little more than an hour and a half.

Afterward Chuck and Mary invited everyone for coffee to the local St. Louis Bread Company restaurant. About eight or nine of us took them up on their offer. While we warmed up with some warm beverages we started to learn more about each other. Karen is a professional singer who offered Troyer encouragement with his love of theater. Chuck and Mary have been to a lot of national parks and shared their travel recommendations and adventures with us. Kevin is a very nice guy and I wish him the best in his search for new career and possibly going back to school. Troyer enjoyed the feeling that came with participating. I think it reinforced in him that there are a lot of nice people out there. I've never felt more like part of community.

This is one of the reasons I admire the Obama organization so much. They really know how to use the tools at their disposal. From facebook to twitter to asking for donations, they hit all the right notes. Now they possess a database of email addresses of people they can mobilize with a quick video email. Say what you will about race, I think the true change in this administration will be how they utilize that advantage. All I can say is that I have every confidence in our new president to bring us together.

451 degrees of stupidity...

2006-11-04T21:29:00.000-06:00

Does this really require comment?

Banning books about banning books

Whining about having to exhibit cultural sensitivity is found in the op-ed pages nearly everyday. Here is an example of why many people in this country feel they have so-called "Christian values" shoved down their throats. His daughter was given an alternate book to read. Why not drop it? No, he wants to force his personal views on everyone else.

I have to assume this was unsuccessful. This book should be required reading if anything.

Especially for people who are this close-minded.