Weekly Poll - How are race Relations in America?

With a nod towards Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. whose birthday is celebrated as a holiday today I figured that this week's poll would be about race relations in America. How are we doing as a country? I know we have come a long way from the days of segregated bathrooms and denial of voters rights but where are we today?
I don't think that the election of an African-American as President means we have reached the end of the racism tension in America. I think maybe it has just galvanized the extreme edges of the debate. Within the past 3 months I have still heard someone in casual conversation using the 'n-word' in reference to our President. I have always been puzzled and disturbed by people's reaction to race and what I perceive as an emphasis on the things that divide us instead of the things we have in common. Anyone who has read here for years knows that. You can read previous posts on this here.
Tell me what you think of the state of race relations in our country. The poll question answers are this: We are moving on the right track and We have a long way to go but I would like to hear what you think about this topic as well. Let me know what you think.

-Doc

Short Video of my son playing in the snow

When we were up in New York for the wedding last weekend Patrick got to play in the snow. He loved it. I figured on a Sunday I would share a quick clip of him running around making snow balls.

-Doc

"I'm gonna buy some belts after this"

I have seen some great stuff on American Idol but this is the best so far. Good news article about the General Larry Platt and his causes here.

Enjoy and have a great weekend.

-Doc

Hitting the High Notes 1/15/2010

Stuff I have read about recently:

-Back in 1920 who would have ever thought that someday Canada would have to change the name of it's national pastime's magazine called "The Beaver" about the fir trade because Internet filters think it's about porn? Did they even have porn back in 1920? Anyway if you are a subscriber to "The Beaver" look for future publications to be called "Canada's History."


-The new list of words that should be banned from the English language is out from Lake Superior State University. Included are tweeting, teachable moment, toxic assets, shovel-ready, unfriended, any new czar, sexting, and anything that starts with Obama- such as Obamacare and Obamanomics. Now I have heard of most of these but not sure about sexting. If any woman knows what this is and wants to teach me about it I will be glad to give you my cell #. LOL!

-Did you all hear about this drunk driver in South Dakota with a blood-alcohol level of 0.708 percent ? Isn't that legally dead? Her mugshot is here to the right... YIKES she even looks like she should be dead.

-If you are thinking about pulling a practical joke let me just tell you this. It is a really bad idea in these days of Nancy Grace and Amber alerts to pull a prank by driving your 12 year old daughter down the road in your truck bound and gagged with duct tape. Idiot.

-One last one. This is a great story about the wife of one of Britain's parliamentary representatives from Northern Ireland whose wife Iris who is 60 just got caught having an affair with a 19 year old friend of the family. Talk about a Cougar! What's the ironic part of this story? Their last name is Robinson. Iris truly is Mrs. Robinson!

-Oh yes and I stole the Idea for Megan Fox Naked from my buddies Matt-Man and Jayman. Let the Hits roll in!

Later!

-Doc

Hey Lurkers... Come Say hello!

It's Delurker Day 2010! So come out and say hello... you can post a comment anonymously without signing up for an account or anything. Just Say hi an where you are lurking from. We know you are there....It's ok to lurk, we just want you to comment and say hi every once in a while.


-Doc

Thursday Random Thoughts 1/14/2010

Stuff I have been thinking about:


-OK here it is, The picture of me in my mother in law's Snuggie. I look and felt like some cult member or something. My wife actually liked it and says she wants one for her birthday next week. Should I actually get her one?


-So I came into work this morning and found the Mexican leftovers from yesterdays lunch here waiting for me on my desk that I forgot to take home yesterday... Yuck!


-Stat Counter info of the week. Had someone visit the blog from someplace called Romeoville Illinois last week. Sounds like a cool enough name for a town. Oh and I am pretty sure that the people I wanted to read my rant about the radio show getting cancelled at least read the post.


-We had a great trip to NY for my Brother in laws wedding this past weekend. The wedding was great but it was also great that my son got to play in the snow. He got to make his very first snowman and really enjoyed it. Maybe this weekend I will post some pictures or video.


-Why do women need so many shoes?

-I generally try and ignore Pat Robertson and his comments yesterday are no exception to this policy I have. Just go away Pat... please.


-So I have found something more awesome than Cheetos. Target Market Pantry version of Cheetos! All the awesome taste but with a generic price!


-Saw a billboard recently for Belmont Abbey College a Catholic college near where I live that is run by Benedictine Monks. The billboard simply said "Got Monks" and I thought it was interesting so I googled it. Turns out http://www.gotmonks.com/ is their website! Hilarious! They sell Got Monks T-shirts and hats and everything. I love it when religious organizations have a sense of humor and don't take themselves to seriously.


-So yesterday I got a credit card statement in the mail from a credit card company that I don't (or didn't think) that I have a credit card with. It turns out that I do apparently have an account from 2002 with them. I never had the card and it's never been used. Wheew, I was worried about identity theft and other stuff for a bit. Now I am just not sure what to do. Should I cancel it?


-American Idol update: After the first 2 shows of Season 9 here are a few thoughts: The show is still sticking to it's formula with the bad auditions and production done to be funny interspersed with really good singers. The "pants on the floor" bit was really good and I bet we see that guy in the season finale. From the people shown so far I have 3 that sound like they have a shot to make it in Hollywood. Ashley Rodriguez, Luke Shaffer, and Mallorie Haley. Haley was so good I think she may have been a ringer planted there. The tough luck stories are being really played up this season as always and Simon seems to be a little less edgy. My thought is that this season a female will probably win. The last two winners were male and 3 of the last 4. More auditions coming up next week and once we get to Hollywood rounds the real fun begins.


-Doc

Motivational Poster of the Week 1/13/10

-Doc

The YJKOBT Curse... An Open letter to 107.9 The Link

Everyone has heard about the Sports Illustrated curse and the Curse of the Bambino. I am here to offer a new curse to add to the list. The YJKOBT curse. This curse struck while I was away in New York. You will remember back just a week or two ago to this post detailing my 'Best of" list for 2009. In this list I had high praise for the very topical and funny Candy and Potter Show on 107.9 the link in Charlotte, NC. I praised it for being the best of the three main shows they offer there. I like Bob and Sheri and The Matt and Ramona show on this same station, (previously praising them on this blog) but in my estimation in the past year the Candy and Potter show really stepped up their game including a late year admission that they were expecting their first child in May of 2010.
Late last week while I was in NY this show was cancelled by 107.9 The Link with a simple statement saying that they were "moving in different direction."In response to that I decided to give this new show a listen to see what that direction was. Apparently that new direction involves pretty much just music. The new host Kelley McKay gives abrupt one liners and little quips in between endless back to back songs. She asks for calls but takes very few. (possibly because it didn't take people long to figure out it's not worth calling) and the ones she does take are brief and ended awkwardly. This does not follow the mantra stated by Greater Media's Bill White who thinks that, "Her style is fun and interactive which enables our listeners to be the "co-host" of the show." Also this new direction lasts an extra hour (10 am - 3 pm) taking an hour away from Matt and Ramona (admittedly this was their original start time).
Basically what The Link and their parent company Greater Media have done is tell the public that music and drive by commentary are more important than a pair of folks who not only moved to Charlotte to take a job but at the same time really dove in and immersed themselves in this city. Candy and Potter dedication to the area and their community involvement wasn't just done as a part of their contract. You can tell that they did these things because they enjoyed them and felt a sense of dedication to charities and those less fortunate in this area. Apparently to Greater Media, not the same company that originally owned the station when they were hired community involvement is not what matters. I suggest that this decision is wrong and that the other shows will suffer because they cancelled Candy and Potter.
Like I previously stated I like both Bob and Sheri and Matt and Ramona but I don't listen to the radio during work days for music. I listen to be informed and entertained and I can certainly find that elsewhere from 10 -3. I just hope that I can remember to change the channel back unless I like really like what I find somewhere else. Now I know that this blog is not the most wide read thing on the web but I can almost guarantee that every time I mention one of the radio shows that someone (probably Angela) from 107.9 the link will read it. Please pass on to Neal Sharpe, Bill White, or whoever is in charge now that there has been a change in management. At least this member of the music advisory panel is not happy with this decision. I am not one who makes ultimatums because who knows what the future holds, but your station's listeners have certainly be hurt by this decision and by extension your advertisers as well. I will certainly be listening less.
Oh and let's hope this YJKOBT curse doesn't continue because I also said recently that I like the Jay Leno show... Oh Whoops!

-Doc

Your regularly scheduled YJKOBT snarkiness will return tomorrow.