Mary, I want to thank you for selling us your Saturn!
It has proven to be quite a wonderful upgrade for us!
I cannot tell you how many people have asked me about my thoughts on Don Imus. As a student of broadcasting, I know Don Imus was one of the original shock jocks. I listened to him growing up in New York City in the late '60s and early '70s.
He is a radio icon.
That said, it is time for him to go.
I, for one, am really tired of the diatribes, the humor at others expense, the cruelty that passes for funny. Don Imus isn't the only one doing this, but today he's the one in the hot seat.
What he said was vile and disgusting. It denigrated an entire team and by extension, a community and its pride in a group that had excelled.
This controversy started and grew during the week. At first under the radar, we even had Dons wife, Deidre, on the program, talking about green cleaning. I thought she was so good I wanted to talk to her about a television program for my production company.
Don and his wife have done a lot of good things raising money for charity, including a ranch for children suffering from cancer and blood disorders.
Yet, Don Imus needs to be fired for what he said. And while were at it, his producer, Bernard McGuirk, needs to be canned as well. McGuirk is just as guilty, often egging Imus on.
The I'm a good person who said a bad thing apology doesn't cut it. At least he didn't try to weasel out of this by hiding behind alcohol or drug abuse. Still, he said it and a two-week suspension doesn't cut it. It is, at best, a slap on the wrist. A vacation. Nothing.
The general manager of Cartoon Network resigned after a publicity stunt went wrong and caused a panic in Boston. He did the right thing. Don Imus should do the right thing and resign. Not talk about taking a two-week suspension with dignity. I don't think Don Imus gets it.
After watching and listening to him this morning during an interview with Matt Lauer (video), Don Imus doesn't get it. Maybe its being stuck in a studio for 35 years or being stuck in the 1980s. Either way, its obvious that he needs to move on. Citing context within a comedy show is not an excuse.
He has to take his punishment and start over. Guess what? Hell get re-hired and well go on like nothing happened. CBS Radio and NBC News needs to remove Don Imus from the airwaves. That is what needs to happen. Otherwise, it just looks like profits and ratings rule over decency and justice.
Remember that controversial Olympic logo for the 2012 Olympics in London? Some folks have complained that the campaign actually sent them into epileptic seizures, Well, we asked you to weigh in on our Web site in an informal poll; those of you who could get up off the floor after shaking around were able to actually log in . . .
I started joking about [the logo]. I want to make this clear - I was not joking about epilepsy or anyone who suffers from epilepsy. We understand and know that this is a serious affliction and would never joke about that. We were joking about the logo - not about epilepsy. If anybody was offended, I heartily and really humbly apologize.
The general manager of Cartoon Network resigned after a publicity stunt went wrong and caused a panic in Boston. He did the right thing. Don Imus should do the right thing and resign. Not talk about taking a two-week suspension with dignity. I don't think Don Imus gets it.
This is my cousin Bob. Bob is a "Bigwig" music buyer for a Corporate Electronic, Computer, Music, Software, and appliance mega retail giant.
1. Being a father of five, when you have a "horribly slow draining bathroom sink" it may behoove you to check the drain first before calling a plumber. You never know which missing toy you may find!
The reason I bought this clock radio is because it was one of the first (affordable) "Nature Sounds" clock radios. What a great concept - drifting off to a blissful state of slumber to the relaxing sounds of a babbling brook, ocean waves, or from deep in the heart of the forest. It sounds all well and good, but in reality, the "low-res" digital sounds that are "oh-so-cool" in the store, start to show their ugly faces in the dark reality of the bedroom while trying to fall asleep. You see, the nature sounds (brook, ocean, or forest) are each about a five second recording that loops. They loop over, and over, and over, AND OVER. When you are at the store (with all the other background noise, and the stress of the crowds) the soothing nature sounds call to your inner spirit like a siren (not the police car type), telling your spirit this clock is what you need, what you want, and what you should have. When you get it home, and turn it on in the quiet bedroom, laying there trying to fall asleep, you can hear the ever-so-subtle background sounds (like that little birdie chirp of "forest", or that back-to-back bubble sound of "brook", or the seagull in "ocean") that you start to hear the sounds repeat. That "cycle" of repetition starts to drive you crazy! I think I used the "Nature Sounds" on the radio for about a week, and since - have never returned.
Preface: I misplace things. Often. As my closest friend Ed, my wife, and many of my co-workers can attest to, my keys are the most frequent victim of my "scatterbrain" traits. More so when I was younger - an incident of misplaced keys would trigger to an all out “melt down”. I would not rest until the keys were found. I would go into a state that almost resembled “shock”. I would stammer around, yelling, walking in circles, looking in the same places over and over and over, and ranting and raving like a lunatic. I would begin to ransack drawers, closets, cabinets and cupboards. It was not a pretty site, and honestly, quite embarrassing (as Ed and my wife can tell you from having lived through a few of these "melt-downs"...) Ed can even tell a story of how once (for strictly entertainment purposes) he hid my keys just to watch me get worked up! He sat and watched, and laughed while I went ballistic for about thirty minutes. It was not until I found my keys (in a toolbox in the bed of my pickup truck – and Ed REALLY started laughing even harder) that I suspected he may have hid them on purpose - Which was later confirmed… (Butthead!)
Hello folks, it has been a little bit since my last post. I apologize, but the last week (prior to the first day of school) was a bit hectic. It was pretty full of things to keep me busy, and the blog is the first thing to "suffer". The week's activities culminated last night - When I went to my father in law's house, and between myself, Ben (1 of 5), Michael (brother-in-law), and Joe (my father-in-law and owner of the house in question) started hanging the ceiling in his basement that he has been finishing. I spent 11 hours hanging drywall ceilings. It was a long day.
Also, my very close friend Ed's dad is scheduled for surgery. And not just a surgery, but a very significant and dangerous surgery. He goes in this morning at 9:30 and will be in for between four and six hours. I would like to try and get together with him while he is in town, and perhaps give him diversion for the stress of his day.
Now, on to what I have been up to.
Like I said. I have been busy. But, I also have been busy enough that getting a blog entry in was not going to happen. Thankfully, it worked out well that I really had nothing to post about. So, instead, I spent my blog time reading. Bill had some really good things going on this week. Jeff has been updating his blog with more contest photos. Eric has been working on some home projects, and on his lifejournal he has had some very interesting stories from work. And, last, but certainly not least, was Lisa's flurry of posting. Not only has she been in "Jolly ol' England" on a trip, but she has also been dealing with her mother's estate. You will see (in my opinion) the beautiful tribute to her mother there too. A truly fitting monument, to a wonderful, loving and warm woman. Lisa, if your are reading this, know that your mother would be very pleased!
In addition to my bloging friends, many of my other "friends" out in the blogsphere have been writing about their kids first day of school. Many of these blokes are stay at home dads, and have their first kids just starting school for the first time. I have been enjoying reading and reliving all the concerns, worries, joy and excitement of having the first child attend school for the first time!
Where I am in my life I have had many "first days of school". I did a little bit of counting (it required me to take my socks off and use my toes too!)
Ben (1 of 5) is graduated now, and so he had two years of preschool, two years of Kindergarten (repeated it), and twelve years of school. That is a total of 16 "First days" for Ben.
Jonathan (2 of 5) is in sixth grade. He did one year of preschool, then Kindergarten, and 6 years of school. That is a total of 8 "First Days" for Jonathan.
Zachary (3 of 5) is in fifth grade. He also did one year of preschool, then Kindergarten and 5 years of school. That is a total of 7 "First days for Zachary.
Rebecca (4 of 5) is in first grade. She did 2 years of preschool, then Kindergarten, and now 1 years of school. That is a total of 4 "First days" for Rebecca.
Melissa (5 of 5) is in her first year of preschool. She is a "Littlest Angel". That is a total of 1 "First Days" for Melissa.
So, as you can see, having been through a total of 5 true "never have been to school before" first days, and a grand total of 36 first days of school when added all up. So, it's pretty "old hat" for me, and I have grown quite accustom to the ritual of getting rid of sending the kids off to school.
So, to all the "Father Bloggers" out there that I have been lurking and sometimes commenting on (Most of the ones I read are on my sidebar under "More Fathers"- I want to thank you for taking me back a bit, and giving me a chuckle for all the "first time" jitters, concerns, joys and excitement of being a dad sending their first kid off to school for the first time!
So, as today marks the first day of the school year for 2007. To your right is a photo of three of my five, along with a close neighbor Friend. (Left to Right) Rebecca (4 of 5), Zachary (3 of 5), our neighbor and friend Ryan, and then Jonathan (2 of 5).
The first day of school always brings about mixed feelings for me. You see, I do enjoy the company of my children... But.....
I also enjoy the peace and quiet of our house and neighborhood when the kids are in school too! It is an internal turmoil.
I tell the kids that as soon as they get on the bus for school on the first day, the parent's party starts! I don't think they believe me. Thank goodness.
Well, I am on my way to this year's "Parent's First Day of School" party mow the lawn!!
One other quick note: A "Blog of Note" - WWI: Experiences of an English Soilder is a pretty cool blog that the writer is posting letters "real time" as they came in and were sent out each day to and from a WWI soldier back in 1917 (90 years from the date they were sent). It is pretty cool, and if you are into history and WWI, it wil be an enjoyable read for you! (P.S. The author does not revel the fate of Harry Lamin (the soldier) -they make you wait and read all the letters.)
