Back From the Walking Dead

Isn't flu season supposed to be over? I guess my immune system didn't get the memo. I've been down for two weeks, and now I'm playing catch up on so many things in my life. I guess all of us have been there several times.

While I was among the walking dead, Beaumont got a new mayor.... and we had a relatively smooth election. That's smooth for Jefferson County. It's been a while since we have had an election without a SNAFU or a recount...or two recounts.... or all of the above.

Some folks tell me they were denied a paper ballot. From what I understand, that's a no-no, but I doubt much will come of it. The county's new high-tech voting machines counted the ballots and the “test votes” as well. I think I see a pattern starting here.

I know enough about computers in general to know if someone tells you a computer “cannot do that,” it probably can. When they say to me that the electronic ballots are safe because you "…cannot tamper with the computer." I don't believe it.

I want a paper trail!

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't the big push for electronic ballots come right after the hanging-chad fiasco in Florida?

So don't use the punch ballots! Use a #2 pencil. What's wrong with that? That is as long as you are given the option for a paper ballot!

I am convinced the push for electronic ballot push is just another example of typical American way of doing things... demand an unproven solution be forced into place. That seems to be the status quo.

Apparently the uncertainty over electronic ballots may... just may... lead to a challenge of the Beaumont city election. In case you missed it, Beaumont councilwoman Bobbie Patterson, after losing the recount, says she's considering it.

Ah yes, business as usual in a Southeast Texas election.

Is it wrong to ask?

Sorry for not posting anything last week.

Lately I've been going through internet withdraw!

WildBlue, my ISP, has had problems for over a week.

The outage has lasted so long I contacted the company to cancel my service.

Now they are trying to charge me for three months because my contract has not expired yet.

My take is that they breached the contract by not providing internet service...it's still out!
I guess it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

In the meantime I have to deal with an Earthlink dialup account until I figure out what I'm going to do about getting DSL again.

So, onto my latest perspective about things around this neck of the woods.

I walked into the front room this week and my daughter was watching a show called "The Amanda Show."

What caught my eye was a skit that involved stereotype hillbillies....buck tooth...heavy country accident...and over-the-top stupidity.

Something occurred to me as the show droned on.

Can you imagine the outcry from the Rev. Sharpton if this skit was based on a stereotype of poor black children rather than poor white kids?

I don't think I'm making too much out of this observation.

American society has reached a point where black entertainers can rap about hoes, call women bitches and yes, use the "N" word.

Let someone like Imus do that, and here come the outcries to have him fired.

I believe this is something that most people are afraid to admit.

A ten-year-old can figure this out, but it takes and adult to be afraid to ask about it.

We have words that are frowned upon... but accepted...if they come from a black person.

Those same words are never accepted from white people without an outcry.

This form racism has to be acknowledged before it can be addressed.

If it is not addressed, then I believe we will be hopeless to eliminate racism from the mainstream.

What would have happened to Imus if he used language like the performer 50 cent?

How fast would he be fired if he said this goes out to "all my ni__ers?"(from the title of a 50 cent song.)

Where is the outcry to get 50 cent off of the airwaves?

I hope readers of this blog will notice the heavy use of question marks.

I admit I might be missing something.

What concerns me are those who would call me a bigot because I dare ask politically incorrect questions.

Do we as a people (American people) REALLY want to get rid of ALL racism?

I have tried to have conversations on this subject before only to be abruptly interrupted with cries of "don't go there."

It appears to me, if we don't go there, we will never get to the root of the problem.

Racism, in both white and black people, usually thrives in secrecy.

There is a reason the Klan wears a hood.

Bigots like to congregate in secret.

If I were to start an organization called the "White Journalists Association," I would be called a bigot, no matter what the fictitious group did.

Do we really need the literally hundreds of groups that are for black members only, or appear to be for black members only?

I know I'm not the only one who has asked this question.

I'm not blind to the problems facing black people today.
Consider this.

There are more white people than black people.

That simple fact means if all people are basically the same under the skin, then there are more white bigots than black bigots because there are more white people.

This means a black person is more likely to be the victim of racism than a white person.
Is this the reason we have the black societies?

Is there no better way to tackle the problem?
Surely this does not justify racism against white people.

Why is racism against a white person called "reverse racism?"

All racism is wrong.

Most people say racism is the result of ignorance.

I agree.

How can we fight ignorance by isolating ourselves?

How can we fight ignorance by slamming people for asking the wrong question?

The only way for anyone to learn... the only way for me to learn... is to ask questions.
So, I'm asking.

Can anyone give me some non-judgmental answers to the questions I've presented here?

* If affirmative action is not "a quota system" then what is it?
* If racism is judging people or excluding people because of race, how do we justify the black associations?
* At what point do we quit giving special consideration to black owned businesses? Are bigots really calling the shots in the boardroom?
* Why is the "N" word still tolerated as long as the speaker is black?
* Why are we so afraid to ask questions?

Memories

I've always loved to keep old photographs.

I'm talking about pictures of everyday life.

Who knows how many pics I have (actual film pics) of radio folks from around this neck of the woods.

Looking through some of the old memories tonight I found a few faces that some may remember from radio history in this area.

I'm not talking about people who are still on the air in southeast Texas, but announcers who have moved away or passed away.

Some of the photos are of announcers that...well...I wonder what ever happened to them... a "where are they now" type thing.

I cannot post the photos because I do not have a scanner, but here are a few names you may remember... perhaps you know where some of them ended up:

• Lee Gower (KOLE & Others) - Passed away a few years back.


• Steve Merinuchi (Not sure of his last name spelling, B95, KDLF, KOGT, Others) When I last spoke to him he was working at a station in Hardin County.


• Don Hebert (KDLF,KTRM,KPAC) - Still living in a retirement home toward Houston.


• Terry Lyons (KOGT) - Passed away about a year after Lee Gower


• Berry Lackey (KOLE late 1980's) - I think he went into sales, but I don't know


• "Jeff Rivers" (KZZB,KTFA) - Still in the area, not working in radio that I know


• Bill Clark (KYKR, KLVI, Others) - retired and living in Bridge City


• Terry "Here" Chambliss (KTFA & Others) - Working in the medical field in Houston, making more than a radio job!


• Anthony Anderson (KAYD 1980's) - Became a Pentecostal preacher and has earned a PhD


• Joe Who!? (KOGT,KTFA, Others) - Last I heard he was still working for Enron, no really, Enron. He’s doing a lot of legal work last I heard from him.


• Dade Moore (KOGT, KTFA) - Last I heard he was at a Houston radio station


• Richard Corder (KOGT for decades) Had a stroke, has been off the air for a few months


• Richard Bachelor (KAYC) I was told he retired a way back, but I have not seen him in 20 years or so


• Robert X Brown (KKMY, KAYC...Just about everywhere) passed away a few years ago


• Red "Big Red" Block (KTRM, KDLF, Others) - Driving a cab full time, yep, driving a cab.


• D.K. Pierce (KTFA, Others) - When I last spoke to him about ten years ago or so he was working at a station in Houston


• Vickie Parfait (KYKR, KTFA, Others) - Writes for "The Orange County Record"