David's Thoughts שלוֹם עליכם

Goodbye

2007-09-16T09:07:00.001-07:00

It’s been fun doing the blog for the past year. This started as a way to talk with family and former co-workers in what has become a very fast-paced life.

One thing that amazes me is some of the negative, even down-right rude things that some have posted on this blog. I guess it’s easy to be rude and offensive for those who remain anonymous. That’s not to say that the negative comments have outweighed the rest of the postings. It also amazed me that anyone outside of my circle of friends would have given the blog a second look. I guess I must have said at least one or two things that are worth reading.

I will be taking on a fourth job, one that will require more of my already limited time. Hurricanes Rita and Humberto have opened a door for a job opportunity I just can’t refuse. I’m not looking forward to working 10 and 11 hour days again, but as the song goes, “If you got the money honey, I’ve got the time.” I guess in my case it’s I’ll make the time.

Gone Fishing

2007-09-06T03:00:00.000-07:00

Well not exactly fishing. I’m headed out of town for a round of computer training and a short vacation.

For some folks this is easier than others. I always look forward to time away from the office, but also dread it. It’s hard to turn the keys of my desk over to someone else for a week. That’s not to say that no one else is capable of doing my job, but because it is something that takes so much effort…something that one focuses on for months. On vacation day, it’s not always easy to hand the ropes over to a co-worker.

Not All Spending is Bad

2007-08-30T18:41:00.000-07:00

This week the sheriff’s deputies union and Jefferson County appear to have reached contract deal. The deputies are getting a raise and both sides seem to be happy.

Under most circumstances I hate government spending and don’t want to see increases in government spending. I am not a fan of big government. In this instance, I’m happy to see the increase.

For most of my friends this may seem out of character to for me because I’m usually the first to complain about the government spending my money on pure crap. In reality, it fits exactly in line with my view of what government is supposed to be doing for me and other citizens. I want government to protect me from others. That’s really all I want from the government and I don’t mind paying for it. I would rather see big paychecks attracting better candidates to become sheriff’s deputies, firemen and policemen than all of the spending we do on shiny new parks and museums.

In my previous post I realize I may have come across as someone who is against spending on education. That’s not the case. Just to clarify, I think they are not spending the money wisely. Do we really need to buy everything on credit? That is my point.

Put it on Credit, it’s the American Way

2007-08-22T19:33:00.000-07:00

Let’s see… Port Arthur is going for bond issue round two. Vidor, Beaumont, and Hardin-Jefferson… and quite a few others… are borrowing or about to borrow large amounts of money.

Isn’t this just a hidden or delayed tax increase?

The way I see it it’s a simple process:
1) Pass a bond issue
2) Build a real nice school
3) Start paying off the bonds
4) A year or so later do the budget with the bond payment included
5) Proclaim that you need to raise taxes because of the rise in expenses caused by the bond payments.

Most of the bond planners tell you if they expect a tax increase. I wonder how accurate their estimates have been in the past or will be in the future. It seems as if they are going out of their way to buy something with a fuzzy long-term price tag.

Wouldn’t it be better for the taxpayer’s pocket to raise taxes first, put the cash in an interest-earning account and then build the school with cash?

I have asked a couple of folks this question and the answers I get are so convoluted it makes me feel as if they are either trying to cover up a money grab or it’s good ole’ fashioned government red tape preventing the obviously best solution.

I am highly skeptical of how our leaders spend money earmarked for education.

Do we really need a million-dollar gymnasium? Do superintendents really deserve a half-million dollar or higher salary? Wouldn’t the cash be better spent on more or better qualified teachers?

Just a few questions from a tired person writing a blog entry late at night

The Happy and Sad Side of Tax Reporting

2007-08-11T08:31:00.000-07:00

PORT ARTHUR NEWS – SATURDAY AUG 11
“Jefferson County employees and elected officials are shaping out to have a bit more change in their pockets. And better still, so are taxpayers.”

BEAUMONT ENTERPRISE – SATURDAY AUG 11
"Jefferson County taxpayers face possible tax increases to pay for raises for Officials...."

My Guess? Get ready to dig in your pocketbooks!

Pardon Me While I Rant

2007-08-05T06:22:00.000-07:00

I received a letter from the county this week. The document took two pages to say that the county has determined that there is a problem with my septic system and I need to fix it and let the county know it's fixed. It said I need to get in touch with them within 60 days to let them know the problem has been repaired. What it didn't say is what problem I am supposed to fix! Basically they said you better guess what the problem is, fix it, or else! Only a taxpayer-funded entity could come up with something like this. Oh yes, I almost forgot.... True to form, the county's letter arrived on a Friday so I can stew over it over the weekend.

I guess it goes to show you, even if you move out of the city you are still subject to oversight on your own property. At any minute you can be thrown into the paperwork maze that others have spent your tax dollars to build.

My wife noticed a man in front of the house earlier in the week. She said he was taking photos of our property. Now that I have this letter, I'm assuming he was a paid county employee taking photos of the alleged problems. It's not that exciting of a building and it sure isn't the cover of house beautiful, so this must be what all that was about.

I question why the county has to do this in such an inefficient manner. If they are going to pay a man to come to my house in a tax-funded pickup truck, on the tax payers payroll, using tax-funded film in a tax-funded camera...why not have him come to the door and say this is what I have to fix? Why have someone type a two-page letter that tells me absolutely nothing other than the number I have to call ...then spend more money on stamps to send me the meaningless form? Oh yes, I almost forgot... they are doing this with my money (that's where tax money comes from) so why would they worry about wasting it?

I would let the person have it on the phone Monday, but I'm sure I'll get a computer telling me to punch this number or that number. When I do get a human on the phone it will most likely be a low-paid clerk who has no power to do anything but to tell me what problem is putting his or her supervisor's underwear in a twist.

I'm sorry, do I sound as if I have low respect for some publicly-paid officials who make two to three times my salary? Surely you must be mistaken.

Economic Boom?

2007-07-29T07:06:00.000-07:00

I keep hearing about how southeast Texas is experiencing an economic boom. There are multi-million...even billion dollar plant expansions coming to the area. The plants will bring all sorts of jobs to the area and will pump large amounts of cash into the area's economy. Goodie goodie!

I'm sure thousands of folks will benefit from all of this, but I question just how much this will help the Ingram household.

I don't have a degree in engineering. At this point in my life, with 6 kids to feed, going back to college is not an option. I am not a welder and really have no desire to become one. I'm sure there will be quite a few desk jobs for paper pushers making around $20K a year. That won't cut it for a family man. So for someone like me, what does all of this “good news” really do?

I seriously doubt any of the companies I work for now will take a look at some economic index of the area and give me a raise because of how well industries are doing. In fact, even though there is all of this growth, I'm told one of channel 12's competitors has laid off a number of its production staff. The lay offs are said to be due to the addition of robo cams and other automation. Ah yes, the fruits of a company's growth!

(By the way, for a quick laugh, check out the wonders of a robo-cam)

I'm sure property values will go up even more, so I'll pay more in taxes. I'm sure there will be more businesses in the area and the population will go up. This means the crime rate near my home will go up and prices will get closer to the inflated numbers we see in Houston.

More crime... higher prices...higher taxes... help! Save me from economic growth!

Kick Them Out!

2007-07-21T04:41:00.000-07:00

Last month we had a man shot and killed during a robbery in Port Arthur. The twist on this crime is that it was the criminal who ended up dead. He wasn't the only one with a gun. He picked a store where the clerks have had enough of making themselves a target. I agree that robbery is not a crime worthy of the death penalty. But if you expect me to shed a tear for an armed bandit who got blown away while committing a crime... well, that isn't going to happen. When police did their investigation they found that this man had robbed this particular store more than once. He even served prison time for one of the robberies at this same location.

It's no secret that Port Arthur has more than its share of violent crime. The 3-strikes and your out punishment mode has helped get some repeat offenders off the street, but it is far far from a solution. I wonder we could take the idea a little further.

What change would we see in the crime rate if the state passed mandatory expulsion from the city for all persons convicted of a violent crime? Lets dramatically increase the prison stay for violent crimes, but offer the offender parole after several years with the restriction that he or she must live outside of the city limits. If the bozo who can't get armed robbery out of his or her mind is taken away from the tempting targets, he or she will have less opportunity to put others at risk. If you're worried about paying for prison overcrowding then lose the misguided idea that it's cruel and unusual punishment to make a prisoner pay for his room and food. Put the bums to work.

Most crime is committed by repeat offenders. Most cities have areas like the Carver “Terrorist” Apartments that are known as criminal havens. Find a way to break 'em up! You can't have a gang if the gang's all gone!

A FEW THOUGHTS AT 4AM

2007-07-19T04:54:00.000-07:00

LIVE AND LET DIE

All of the media folks are fired up over the 12 murders Beaumont has had this year. (Port Arthur isn't keeping up! Guess they all went to B-town for a break?)

It seems most of the murders are the result of drug use or domestic violence. Some of the domestic violence is due to drug issues, so I'll give drug use the edge in the race for leading cause.

I wonder if this issue sheds some light on the legalizing drugs issue.

Here's my logic:

Jefferson County has a lot of violent crime stemming from illegal drug use. A lot of users killing dealers and dealers killing users. Orange county users are dieing just as fast, but usually from overdoses. A big difference MAY be that in Orange, many users are getting their fix somewhat legally from drug clinics. I wonder if this loosely indicates that legalizing narcotics would keep the death rate the same, but eliminate some of the violence? Perhaps it would make the death rate skyrocket? Who knows?

As many times as I have had co-workers ask me why I live in Orange... as many times as I have had them say “there's nothing in Orange!”...I guess I have to agree. We have less murder... we have fewer aggravated assaults...I guess we are missing the boat. Lets import some drug dealers to Orange and perhaps the prescription drug clinics can go out of business!

TV ENTERTAINMENT

My kids have been watching the new “imposer” show on TV. I'm not sure of the actual name of the show, but it's another sort of reality competition show that seems to be the theme of the networks these days.

One of the “impostors” that is competing is a George Bush impersonator. I noticed a lot of folks booing when he takes the stage. The reason this catches my attention is I hold my Republican and Democrat friends to their own words. Mr. Clinton had his share of impostors showing up on variety shows back when he was in office. I remember one getting booed and hearing a co-worker respond by saying how disrespectful that was to the real president. Ah yes, the world viewed through the eyes of a partisan.

Beer, Religion and those Silly City Folks

2007-07-08T05:15:00.000-07:00

It looks like the Lumberton booze issue has made the left swing right!

It is not unusual for cities to take the side of businesses and what is good for business owners over the individual rights of citizens. This is a fact that becomes very clear when cities talk about annexation. Who cares if the people who are being annexed don't want to be part of the city. As long as city leaders feel it is good for economic growth, the city will annex homeowners... like it or not!

Usually my left-winged friends are NOT in favor of the city imposing its will over the will of the majority of citizens. But this mindset is making an about face in Hardin County.

A Lumberton man behind a petition drive hopes to let the voters decide if booze should be sold in the city. The business community wants beer and wine sales because it's good for the bottom line. Most business owners want those profits from beer and wine. Who can blame them? It's good money.

Here's the kicker. My left wing friends are siding with the businesses who would put profit over any effect beer and wine sales would have on the citizens. My right wing friends are taking the side of the people over profit. Funny how a pinch of religion can make even the right and left wing flip sides. It's enough to make me need a stiff drink!

Lets examine the real argument going on among the far right and the far left. It has little to do with liquor. It's the same argument that pops up every December when the fundamentalists want freedom to say “merry Christmas” and the lefties want that type of speech silenced.

The booze issue is one that is favored by the religious right and the secular left wants it stopped because they fear it may be an example of a religious belief forced on the rest of the community.
Has any of those who are getting their undies in a twist over this thing noticed that the guy wanting to outlaw booze sales is seeking to put this on the ballot and let the voters decide? His opposition (those seeking to put a pro-liquor initiative on the ballot) are trying to have his petition thrown out on a technicality. This means the pro-liquor side wants their way even if it means silencing voters who support the anti-liquor initiative.

Look, I live in Orange County and can buy all the beer my heart desires, so I don't have a dog in this race. Personally, I don't want someone telling me what to do. This is why I live in the county and not within the city limits. As for Lumberton, let the voters decide what they want for their community.

This potential ordinance is no different from others I have seen in southeast Texas. Orange has an ordinance for some historic neighborhoods that prevent homeowners from painting unless the city approves the color. Most cities tell churches where they may or may not build. This potential liquor ordinance is no different than the previous examples except for one sticking point. It is controversial because drinking is something that some religious folks will examine their faith before casting their vote, and this scares some on the left who fear it's crosses the line of “separation of church and state.”

Fox News to Swing Left?

2007-06-30T03:20:00.000-07:00

It looks as if Washington politicians are tired of average citizens knowing what goes on in the nation's capital. The so-called “Fairness Doctrine" is rearing its ugly head again. This is where the feds tell every broadcast station to carry two sides of all
controversial issues. This is something that doesn't work. I've been doing this jazz since 1977 and I can tell you it doesn't work.

Who will decide what is controversial? Will PBS be forced to broadcast Rush Limbaugh for balance? Will Pat Robinson have to put on a Buddhist for balance? What is controversial?
My guess is that under the “Fairness Doctrine”... if Conservative folks are in power, the media will be forced to lean Conservative...and if the Liberals are in power, the media will have to lean Liberal. ...or risk losing a broadcast license.

It's a no-brainier that most talk radio RIGHT NOW is conservative. This is because the radio stations go where the ratings are, and right now that means conservative viewpoint. I believe this is because so much on Television (other than Fox News) is left of center. Conservative talk radio is popular because so many conservatives have been chased away from the big three TV networks.

People choose radio stations the same way they choose their lunch or the clothes they wear. It is part of their identity. If you force a radio station to lose its identity, you force it to give up the appeal it has to its audience. Making a talk radio station like KOLE air someone like Al Frankin is like telling a station like KAYD it has to play music from Lil’ Wayne & Fat Joe.

Let the conservatives have their Fox News and let the liberals have their CNN.
In my opinion, if the government goes ahead and pushes the Fairness Doctrine, it will mean less listeners to LOCAL radio and more folks moving to Satellite radio where the government keeps it's nose out of content control.

Here is the latest news release from Cornyn's office on the matter, he opposes it...Others favor it..On this issue, I have to side with Cornyn.

Cornyn Joins in Introducing Bill to Ensure Free, Open Media
New Legislation Would Prevent Imposition of So-Called “Fairness Doctrine”

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined several Senate colleagues Friday in introducing legislation to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from using funds to impose the so-called “Fairness Doctrine” on America’s broadcasters. Sen. Cornyn is an original cosponsor of the Broadcasters Freedom Act of 2007, S. 1748. The bill’s main sponsor is U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn.

“A basic principle of our democracy is a press that is free of government influence or control. It is shameful that some now believe the federal government should dictate to Texans what they can say and when on the airwaves,” U.S. Sen. Cornyn said. “If reinstated, the ‘Fairness Doctrine’ would be a direct assault on one of this nation’s most cherished freedoms. This important legislation will ensure that all ideas can be expressed openly and freely on our nation’s airwaves.”

In recent days, Democrat leaders in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate have expressed support for reinstating the “Fairness Doctrine,” which was repealed some 20 years ago. This was an obsolete federal regulation that, until its repeal in 1987, required broadcasters to air all sides of controversial issues, regardless of listener choice, or risk the loss of their broadcast license.

Sen. Cornyn serves on the Armed Services, Judiciary and Budget Committees. In addition, he is Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee’s Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship subcommittee and the Armed Services Committee’s Airland subcommittee.

Musing at 5 am

2007-06-28T03:17:00.000-07:00

Here are the news highlights as I see them this week...

BRADY WORKING TO CURB PILL MILLS
SCUBA STORES WARNED ABOUT POTENTIAL TERRORIST CUSTOMERS
HURRICANE ANNIVERSARY AUDRY
VIDOR PRINCIPAL RESIGNS
JEFF CO DEPUTY PAY
MAYOR OF ORANGE RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL
ARMED ROBBER DIES FROM INJURIES
FUNERAL FOR VINTON SOLDIER
HARDIN CO. BOOZE PETITION HANDED OVER TO COUNTY
SEVERAL FATAL ACCIDENTS

I'm glad to see that Brady is talking about the "pill mills" in southeast Texas. My mother had to quit her job when one of these moved next to her place of business. Seems it got too dangerous to go to the parking lot. There were muggings and at least one attempted car theft because of the folks milling around, waiting to get their fix from Dr. Feelgood. I hope Mr. Brady is actually doing something and not just grabbing a headline. We have so many news items that seem to be posturing, but nothing gets done. Consider all the stink last year about prostitution raids in Beaumont. Are we really making a difference? (here's something for our area reporters to look into)...it's been months since we had some high-profile raids... are the ladies of the evening thriving in their trade?

I hope the deputies get their pay raise. I know there is a lot of talk on the blogs saying the current negotiations are just "payback," but I have no problem in paying lawmen and firemen well. When did it become government's job to build museums and grant cash to those who work in the tourist industry? Lets take some of that cash and hand it over to the people who are serving what should be a main focus of government..that is...protecting people.
By the way, on a side note...I keep hearing the county has all of this cash it did not have before. This is the reason many sources say the deputies may get their raise. I want to know how we went from gray skies to sunny skies financially. It seemed to change less than a year after the new judge took office. Is this the effect of something judge Griffith and company brought about...and if not...what did Judge Walker's folks do to change things. Everyone seems to be silent in answering this question. Who is responsible for the "good times" that magically showed up?

The week started with a story about a store clerk that used a gun and blew away an armed robber who was holding up one of his fellow clerks. Good for the clerk! I know there will be those who will say the robber didn't deserve to die because he was holding up a store. My take is that store clerks do not deserve to die...or feel they may die...because some jerk with a gun wants to get a little cash to go buy his drugs. The thief lost his right to live the moment he threatened to take someone else's' right to live.

Sadly, while all of the above was going on, the national cameras were focused on Paris Hilton...another socialite who gets a wink and a nod..and a very short jail sentence for doing the same thing that put many behind bars for months. What struck me was the attitude of "me behind bars?" from Hilton. Give me a break. Her butt should stay in jail just as long as anyone else who commits a crime. Hmmm... if she had been an office worker or a construction worker, how long would she have spent in custody?

LOOKING FORWARD
Port Arthur will get it's first African American mayor this weekend...David Drake is expected to have his murder trial next month...and get ready for those TEA ratings...What will the journalism majors "uncover" over the next few weeks?

Another Average Week in SETX

2007-06-21T05:05:00.000-07:00

NEWS THIS WEEK:

Here are the highlights from the past few days news...

Orange mayor has heart attack
Beaumont picks Audwin Samuel for Mayor Pro Temp
Visitor's Center opens next to Ford Park
Third candidate announces she wants to replace retiring Waymon Hallmark for Commissioner
Port Arthur considers smoking ban
Union tells Kroger they may walk
Early voting begins for runoff election
Lots of muggings, stabbings and robberies this week

In all, a so-so news week

GOSSIP:
Angel San Juan is headed to KBTV. He went from the number 1 rated station in the market to the number 3 rated station and lots of folks are asking, “why would he do that?”
I don't know Angel personally. I have met him and he seems like a nice guy. As for his work, I think he is one of the best southeast Texas investigative reporters. If I had to guess why he jumped to KBTV, it probably comes down to money. Prestige cannot put food on the table or buy you a new car. Another factor is that he will be an anchor at channel 4 and not just a reporter/weekend anchor. The only downside I see to his arrival for channel 4 (in my opinion) is that he is said to be replacing Rusty Surrette. Rusty was (in my opinion) the best reporter they had at the station. It's a shame for 4 that they could not have both. What does this mean for KFDM? As an outsider looking in I would say it means they need to find a good investigative reporter to replace Angel.. period.

AROUND THE OFFICE
Earlier this week the office gossip was a wrestling girl who has been allowed to anchor the news as part of a reality show. The outcry is “how can they let this girl do this without any journalistic background. She is not credible.” Come on everyone, get off the high horse. I know I'll ruffle a lot of folks by asking the obvious question: What journalistic background is needed for a TV anchor. The anchor's job is to read the news while looking and sounding good. The burden of getting the news.. writing the news...and checking accuracy falls on the reporters, producers, news directors and assignment editors. If this is not the case then I have to question every anchor that has blamed the producer, reporter, news director or assignment editor for making him/her look bad by writing something silly.

A SAD GOODBYE
On a sad note, I had to put down one of my dogs this past week. The look of “why are you doing this to me” is something I'll remember for a long time. It's not quite like losing a family member, but I have certainly lost a friend.

A Few Random Thoughts

2007-06-14T03:31:00.000-07:00

It was an good week for news.

Some of the highlights include:

Pain Management clinics finally busted
Death of Councilman Cokinos
Port Arthur man on the loose with TB
Orange County tax appraisal protests are due Friday
More flack over the May elections
Jeff Co. Sheriff's negotiate pay issues

I thought it was interesting that Andrew Cokinos died exactly one month after the May election.
Cokinos served over 20 years as a city councilman, and he has an extraordinary family.
His brothers served in leadership rolls.
One is a WWII General, another is a former county commissioner.
Although Andrew probably should have given up his city council seat earlier because of health reasons, I don't think that's a decision that would be easy for anyone to make... especially someone for someone who seems to be a natural leader.

There was a lot in the news community going on behind the scenes with the pain management clinics.
This is a story I started working on in February when my mother had to quit her job because one of the clinics opened shop next door to the store where she worked. I am so glad to see the damn things getting some grief from the feds. The clinics may have cost my mom a good job, but they have cost a lot of people their lives. I look forward to the day they close their doors for good (if that day is coming.)

For me personally, the lesson of the week came from watching the magic worked by county appraisers.
My wife and I bought a home four years ago for $60-thousand.
It was in mint condition when we bought the thing.
Now, after years of wear from six kids, two dogs and two adults, the county says my house is worth $77-thousand dollars.
Behold, the magic that only a county official can work.
I have filed a protest, but the vibe I'm getting now is that no fountain of truth I can turn on can overpower the magic of the county auditor.
I just wish I could find a real estate agent that could get me what the county says the property is worth.

Back From the Walking Dead

2007-05-30T12:14:00.000-07:00

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?

2007-05-13T05:37:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-02T17:05:00.000-07:00

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"

The Best Congress Money Can Buy

2007-04-26T04:25:00.000-07:00

This is one of those posts that some will read and accuse me of being a Republican.

No, I'm the guy in the middle point fingers in both directions.

Before the Democrats took control, the party of Democracy swore to reduce the influence of lobbyists.

According to a recent ABC News report, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi vowed to fix the culture of corruption where access to congress is for sale.

Just last week, Speaker Pelosi held a fundraising dinner where guests paid from $10-thousnd to $28-thousand to attend according to the ABC report.

Does this make the Democrats hypocrites?

Probably so, but not more than the Republicans.

Political parties are partisan organizations that have survival as an unspoken main goal.

What I find frustrating is that anyone who is a true independent will always get the worst of both worlds.

The Republicans will accuse you of being a Democrat... the Democrats will accuse you of being a Republican.

It would seem that most people have a self-centered point of view.

The majority on the left actually believe they are in the center.

The same is true of most of those on the Right.

Here is an example of this...

Those who watch Fox News say the network is fair and balanced....even though the talk show hosts are usually on the Right side of everything.
This is the Republican idea of "just the facts" television.

Those who watch CNN say this is the "real" news channel... even though the talk show hosts are usually on the Left side of everything.
I know this is not a popular idea, but we seem to be on the left side of the pendulum swing right now.

CNN tends to be the Democrat idea of the "just the facts" news channel.
So where is all of this leading?

Everyone seems to be so worried about their party losing power.

The majority of party members make up the rules as they go... changing standards as often as I change my socks...all in an effort to keep their man or woman in power... but in the end, giving politicians license to do just about anything because they are in this party or that party.

I'm not against political parties.

I like the idea of people standing up for principals, but Americans seem to be happy with people who say the right things no matter what they are actually doing.

What is the end result?

We ask for party "A" or party "B" to get rid of the influence of money on our lawmakers, but we ignore the problem in "our" party and end up with the best congress money can buy.

Could it happen here?

2007-04-19T00:43:00.000-07:00

The big story this week is the shooting at Virginia Tech.

Every way in which this story could be covered, is being covered…
+ How did he do it?
+ Why did he do it?
+ Internet blogs reaction.
+ Gun Control
+ Campus Security
+ On and on it goes.

Among all the stories, the most useless line is one that I saw several local news agencies use early in the coverage.

Could it happen here?

Why even bother asking the question?

Could it happen here?

Yes!

The answer is always yes!

This is not news because the answer is already known.

Deadly attack, could it happen here? Yes!
Terrorist attack, could it happen here? Yes!
Rabid monkeys attack nun, could it happen here? Yes!

This is the same question I’ve seen pop up over and over at times of major tragedy.

Really, it takes no imagination to ask a question like this.

This is something the news consumer already knows without seeing, reading or hearing through the media.

A better question would be; "what is being done to prevent it from happening here?"... what ever the “it” is.

Answer this question and you are telling the news consumer something he or she may not know.
I think every news person has a pet peeve.

This is one of mine.

It usually leaves me asking, “Eye catching headline, could it happen here?”

Where’s Mom & Dad?

2007-04-08T08:15:00.000-07:00

Beaumont lawmen are looking for a 15-year-old killer.

There is something about this story that really bothers me…the part about the triggerman being a 15-year-old boy.

What the hell is a 15-year-old doing with a gun?

I know if I ask this question of some people, they would respond by saying it's the 2000's, grow up, that's the way things are now.

Others might say, he's a thug, don't worry about him, send him to the chair.

Hello?

He's 15!

How does a 15-year-old do something like this?

Where does a 15-year-old get a gun?

This kid is not old enough to buy a beer.

If he has sex with someone a few years older than he, the girl would face prison.

He could only drive a car with an "adult" in the passenger seat.

Bottom line, the law says he is not old enough to make decisions for himself.

If he would have taken cash from someone, wouldn't his parents be responsible to make sure he paid the money back?

I have to dare ask a few questions.

Should his parents bare some of the responsibility in this matter?

Did they see anything that would indicate that their kid could end up doing something like this?

Where were mom and dad when the kid was forming his values?

It's hard to believe a young teen could reach this point and the parents not notice that their kid has a problem.

I'm tired of hearing the excuse, "..that's the ghetto... that's a high-crime area... that's a problem among poor kids who don't give a damn..." etc.

I think this is an area some of the left-winged radicals could learn a lesson from the right-wing extremists.

Quit making excuses for "artists" that give young kids a constant barrage of attitude-laced "kill the MF" type lyrics.

Quit giving honor to thugs in the entertainment industry under the guise of respecting a culture.

I'm not suggesting that a kid is going to hear one song about killing someone and immediately run out and do someone in.

I am suggesting that a young person who grows up listening to thug music on a daily basis... then plays street-violence-based video games for hours.... that spends his young-teen years watching movies that glorify a gangster-like lifestyle.... is being set up for failure.

By the way, this isn't a racial thing!
There are white, black, Hispanic and Asian kids who begin life this way.

These kids should not be excused for their crime; they need to be punished like anyone else who commits a crime.

But how about some of the adults who let children grow up like this.

Don't blame the single mom who is overwhelmed and tries but fails to keep her kids out of trouble.

At least she is trying.

Let's blame the moms and dads who teach their kids this lifestyle. Some kids are just imitating dear ole daddy.

Let's blame the moms and dads who see their kids growing more and more violent and do nothing about it.

There is no single answer that would magically wipe away teen violence.

Sure, this could be a case of a kid who simply went off the deep end.

But as often as I see kids doing very adult crimes, I cannot believe that there are that many kids who are naturally born criminals.

I really believe there are a lot of adults who are simply naturally stupid parents.

What has happened to SETX Democracy?

2007-04-01T05:23:00.000-07:00

This area is known as a Democratic stronghold.

That statement really shouldn’t require explanation to anyone who has lived in southeast Texas for any length of time.

Our people love the thought of democracy… and the idea that the majority rules.

But do we really LIVE by the ideas we proclaim?

I don’t believe that we really trust the majority of our neighbors.

Here are a few examples:

In the last city election, voters in Port Arthur Port Arthur passed term limits.

Some say this was a way to recall Oscar Ortiz without actually recalling him.

What happened to the majority rule?

If the majority wants to keep him, what’s the problem?

How about the Port Arthur school board?

The state doesn’t trust the majority rule in our area when it comes to trustees.

The Port Arthur school board had an outsider sent to call the shots (or at least that was the appearance.)

This is not “pick-on-Port-Arthur Day,” but there are a lot of good examples of majority fear in south Jefferson County.

Let’s head to Beaumont.

It’s my observation that the city leaders did not want to risk letting the “majority-rule” when it came to passing a smoking ordinance.

There sure seemed to be a lot of hesitation to put the item on the ballot.

In the end, voters had no say-so in the matter.

Will the fire truck staffing issue ever be put before the voters?

I doubt it.

We just don’t trust the majority to handle public funds!

In Orange there is an effort that if successful, would allow voters to decide if the annexation of the Little Cypress area should be overturned.

The petitions were signed… over three times the required amount of signatures was collected… and the petition was overturned on a technicality.

Supporters of the petition are now fighting their battle in court.

What has happened to democracy?

I realize that there are a lot of side-issues involved with all of the examples I’ve brought up, but it really seems if you search for a bottom-line, our area doesn’t trust the majority.

As a population, we are schizophrenic.

We preach democracy, but are seem to be happy when a limited number of folks call the shots.

What is reality and what is perception.

Is democracy in southeast Texas a nice dream, a fading reality… or something our grandparents actually had back in “the good ole’ days?”

Haves VS Have-Nots

2007-03-25T08:06:00.000-07:00

Jefferson County Monday will pick a purchasing agent to replace Naomi Lawrence-Lee.

Lawrence-Lee got caught with her hand in the cookie jar, using public resources and equipment for personal use.

I need to say up front, this is not an attack on Lawrence-Lee; I am only using her as an example because she was a public official and sparked this thought with her actions.

She lost a very good paying job for a few hundred dollars worth of theft, but no arrest.

If you have power or powerful friends, you probably will not go to jail.

Think about this.

I love history.

Let’s say I saw a nice trinket on display at the courthouse museum.

Let’s say the display case was unlocked and I Pocketed the item and left.

I bet if a sheriff’s deputy noticed me I would be wearing handcuffs.

The public official gets embarrassed, looses her job, but no handcuffs.

Dave Ingram goes to Jail and has to explain to Mrs. Ingram why she needs to bail him out.

This disparity goes as high as the white house.

Bill Clinton lies under oath and everyone excuses him by saying he only lied about having sex.

I know if I was testifying in a sexual harassment lawsuit and lied under oath about having sex, I would be charged with perjury.

I would most likely end up wearing an Orange jump suit and spend my days dodging some guy named bubba who thinks I’m cute.

Here’s another example of the Haves VS the Have-Nots.

If a 20-year-old black man gets shot, it might get a reader on the evening news or three lines in the Metro section of the paper.

If a young white college student gets shot, it has a much better chance of making the news in a prominent spot.

Our society still gives you an edge on the power scale based on race.

You don’t have to believe this assumption, just watch the news over a period of time.

If you have the ‘right appearance’, you get a cakewalk.

There are so many studies that show fat people make less money than people in shape… pretty women get paid more than plane-Jane chicks and tall men make more money than short dudes.

Our society judges people on race, economic status, height, etc.

All of these things are power.

Bottom line… if you have power… you can expect more.

If you have not…your screwed!

Cookies

2007-03-18T06:34:00.000-07:00

Every time the state takes, or talks about taking parental rights away from parents, I wonder what things will be like when my children have kids of their own.

I firmly believe that the state screws up most of what it does because it wants a cookie-cutter answer to everything.

This would be great if every kid was the same, but the state is not allowed to admit that kids are individuals.

Look at the way the government handles schools.

In cases where it has been determined that test scores are too low, the bright answer of the state is to make tests easier.

I’ve heard the arguments that uniform testing is unfair.

What part of UNIFORM isn’t clear?

No, the state dances around the issue, and cannot admit that some kids are just simply not as smart as others… and some teachers are simply piss poor.

But rather than admit that some kids are dumb and not wanting to get the teachers union upset by saying some teachers would make better truck drivers, let’s make tests easier so things LOOK right.

Government cookie cutter answers do not work.

The state has a teen pregnancy problem.

It’s much worse than it was when I was in high school.

I think we had 2 girls get pregnant during their senior year.

As more and more school officials told us it was ridiculous for parents to expect kids to wait to have sex, the problem of teen pregnancy began to grow.

The state’s cookie cutter answer is to let every kid to have access to condoms, even if it is without parental consent.

Now the kids who abstained are told you don’t need to wait, don’t stick to those archaic ideas of your parents, have all the sex you want, we’ll give you a condom.

Uh, guys, your approach has screwed up a lot of things.

Today I'm convinced Aids, HPV and teen pregnancy are common place because of state policies.

Parents have less control over their children, the state has more control over the kids and the results speak for themselves.

Kids believe a state that says there are no consequences to sex before marriage.

Kids believe a state that says their parent’s morals are outdated.

The latest "improvement" is that the state is talking about giving an unproven HPV vaccine to my daughters.

Some would have it mandatory, others voluntarily.

You know, I bet the state would not even consider this idea if it was held financially responsible for the problems that could arise from this unproven vaccine.

I bet the state would not be so quick to push condoms if it had to pay for unwanted pregnancies caused by condoms that didn’t work.

Parents pay for the babies after the state supersedes parental rights by teaching moral-free sex with condoms that fail.

The state only steps in if the parents are poor.

What will it be like when my grandkids are in school?

I remember buying a coke from a vending machine in grade school, no cokes for kids today. They can get all the pot and crack they want from classmates, but forget the soft drinks at lunch!

I remember the first time I kissed a girl in Jr. High. Now grade school kids are having sex on the school bus.

I remember sitting in class and looking on with shock when a Jr. High kid talked back to a teacher. Now, well, just watch the now famous YouTube video and shake your head in disgust at what cookie cutter answers have given us.

I would think poor minorities would be outraged at school systems that say they cannot be expected to reach the same high goals as their rich white counterparts and need watered-down testing.

Wouldn’t our children be excelling far beyond today’s expectations if the state would just start getting to the root of problems rather than worry about political correctness?

Wouldn’t everything improve for our kids if the state got its nose out of parent-child relationships and encouraged parents to do their job?

Wouldn’t taxes be lower if the state would just give up on the cookies?

What’s so scary about the Easter Bunny?

2007-03-11T09:39:00.000-07:00

It never ceases to amaze me how so many fine left-winged folks claim to be fighting for multiculturalism, but so many times their answers focuses on putting a damper on any culture they find offensive.

Before you stick your finger in your ear and start humming, I am not against multiculturalism, as long as it includes everyone’s culture.

Recently the Buddhist temple in Port Arthur was highlighted in the news as part of a cultural celebration.

I think things like this are great!

I may disagree with the Buddhists on their religious beliefs, but it is a major part of some cultures and should be accepted as such.

Here is the kicker.

Some of the same folks who would praise the publicity surrounding the Buddhist temple cringe at the thought of Christmas Trees or Easter bunnies.

I read an article this week about a city that got rid of its "Easter Bunny" and replaced it with a "Spring bunny" because some might be offended at the word Easter.

Give me a break.

If I'm not mistaken, the Easter Bunny is based on pre-Christian fertility lore and adopted by Christians and non-Christians to celebrate the season.

I have not met any preacher that would say the Easter bunny comes from the bible.

I would say that makes it multicultural.

But because it is part of tradition associated with Christianity, the so-called multiculturalists want it eliminated (see article at the end of this post.)

Experience has taught me that the far far left wing bible reads something like this:

1) All religions are good except for Christianity, it should be silenced.

2) Everyone is the same, equally good or bad. There are no groups that are, as a collective bad, except white people. They are the only ones that are racists.

3) Freedom of religion is the same as freedom from religion, but freedom of the press is different from freedom from the press (far-left folks want it both ways.)

4) A child should be able to dress like a gansta-rapper in school but a child bowing his head to pray before lunch is distracting and offensive.

5) Etc, Etc...

These are things I attribute to the far left, not everyone on the left.

Can't we all just get along?

Let the Hindu's wear their bright colors during Holi.
Let the Muslims pray facing Mecca
Let the Christians and others have an Easter Bunny.

I know there are those that would say a school or a public office is not supposed to teach religion.

Accepting something is not the same as teaching it to others.

Society says we should accept homosexuality, and I agree.

This is different from teaching kids to be homosexuals (if one could do so.)

I say society should accept religious people and their customs.

This is different from teaching everyone to be a religious person.

If a kid wants to tote a bible at school, let him or her do so.

Lets get some balance in the way we judge others who are different.

Most everything has two sides.

When are we going to have REAL multiculturalism that accepts everyone, the extreme right and the extreme left?

Here is the article on the bunny:

It's been nearly five years since Walnut Creek, Calif., renamed its Easter Bunny the "Spring Bunny," but the name change became news this week after a resident wrote a letter to the editor protesting it.

City spokesman Brad Rovanpera said he was surprised by the media buzz and TV news trucks outside City Hall Thursday, attracted by a change instituted in 2003 with no controversy. The city's Spring Bunny reigns over annual "Spring Egg Hunts" in two city parks.

"This will be the fifth year we are doing it that way," Rovanpera said. "This is the first complaint that I have ever heard. In fact, no one has ever complained to the city that we know of. This is from a letter to the editor."

The author of the letter, a former newspaper reporter named Michael Runzler, said banishing the word "Easter" from the bunny and the eggs strikes a nerve with many people. He is happy the story is getting attention, even if belatedly.

"First people can't wish 'Merry Christmas' at a store, and now they've taken Easter away from the Easter Bunny," Runzler said in an interview. "Everyone is welcome to celebrate what they want to celebrate, but if you're offended by an Easter Bunny or an Easter egg, then maybe you should not participate."

Rovanpera said the city renamed the bunny and the egg-hunt events after receiving a complaint from a Jewish resident in 2001 who said she was concerned that the city was sponsoring an event linked to religion.

The debate may echo the so-called "War on Christmas" battles in which a coalition of conservative talk radio hosts and religious groups have tried to prod companies to greet customers with "Merry Christmas" instead of the more generic "Happy Holidays."

Last year there were complaints reported in Minnesota when some malls renamed their bunnies and eggs to delete the term "Easter."

"It's really not a big deal," said Lawrence Cunningham, University of Notre Dame theology professor. "I don't see any intrinsic value to the rabbit to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

"The bunny is a fertility symbol with no religious connection to Easter," added Cunningham who was the Christianity editor for the HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion. "The egg, which was popularized in Greece, Russia and Eastern Europe in connection with Easter, does not have a religious connection to Easter. By taking away the term 'Easter,' these symbols to some extent return to their pre-Christian roots as symbols of spring fertility."

Off Air

2007-03-02T04:05:00.000-08:00

Ratings are over... gone on vacation.... see you in two weeks!

Not a lot of thought provokers

2007-02-28T08:26:00.000-08:00

There was a lot of news this week, but really, nothing that sparks a lot of thought.

There were some strong stories, but nothing that really seemed too controversial.

I guess the biggest thought provoker is high-speed chases.

This week Beaumont police had at least three instances of bandits running from officers.

Two of the pursuits made the news because they ended in accidents.

Every time this happens there are those who will blame the police for the chase and not blame the lawbreaker the police are chasing.

Look, there is no way to for a cop to know why a person is running.

Did he just kill someone?

Did he just rape someone?

Everyone knows it’s a serious thing to run from a cop so if the guy chooses to run, he probably has something big to hide.

Bottom line… stop means stop!

Should I Give Up Hope?

2007-02-22T05:55:00.000-08:00

This week I’ve been watching the “most read” stories on CNN and Fox News.

Both networks keep a tally of what people are actually reading from their web page.

Anna Smith…. Britney Spears….give me a break.

Are Americans really this bubble headed or is this a bad example from a small sample?

I’m afraid I know the answer.

America 101

2007-02-14T20:07:00.000-08:00

The political momentum is building like a rollercoaster just topping a hill…. And as we get ready to speed down the other side …everyone closes their eyes and begins screaming.

But unlike a roller coaster, they’re closing their eyes not to hide from a scary ride, but to hide from anything that may show their candidate could possibly be wrong.

They are screaming not because they’re having fun, but because they want to drown out logic with a political slogan.

My Republican friends cannot bring themselves to say anything wrong about our presence in Iraq.

My Democrat friends cannot bring themselves to admit that any good can come out of our presence in Iraq.

Since this has been dubbed the top political issue, everyone is putting their heads in the sand and chanting political slogans to themselves.

I find it amazing listening to Democrats defend Hillary’s decision to vote for going into Iraq and Condemn all Republicans who voted for the exact same thing.

Just this week I debated a Republican who slammed Clinton for pushing through NAFTA, but defended Bush the elder for getting the whole thing started.

Come on, when is someone going to talk about an issue for the face value of the issue?

Last week while talking with a coworker I made the mistake of saying America is not a Democracy.

My coworker called me a “Republican communist.”

I’m not even sure what a Republican communist is.

Look, we are a democratic-republic.

If we were a pure democracy, then anything goes as long as the majority approves.

That would mean NO CIVIL RIGHTS.

If the majority wants to bring back Jim Crow laws, that would be OK under a democracy.

But we are ruled by laws and have a constitution.

We have restrictions on what the majority can do or cannot do.

The downside is the way the majority of us choose our leaders.

We get our view of politics from some bubble-headed starlet in her 20’s who thinks she is qualified to lecture the country on world events simply because she can shake her ass while she sings a pop tune.

We vote on leaders because they look good on camera.

We condemn our president not because of his policy, but because he mispronounces “nuclear” like Bush or cannot keep his pants on like Clinton (Bill not Hilary.)

We want media leaders.

I’ve seen photos of past presidents who were down-right goofy looking.

Would someone like Taft be able to get elected today? Hell no!

Not because of his politics, not because of his policy, but because he “ain’t gonna win any beauty contest!”

Back when the elder Bush lost his election, everyone was saying “read my lips, no new taxes.”

This was the line I heard over and over in street political discussion.

Funny thing is, when I asked people to identify what Bush was talking about, I found extremely few who actually knew.

They would usually say, “Bush raised those taxes.”

I would respond, “What taxes?”

The answer would be, you know, the ones everyone is talking about…. the ones Jay Leno made fun of….etc.

Heaven forbid I bring up the fact that congress…then a Democrat congress… raises and lowers taxes.

When I did that, I was accused of being a Republican, same way I would get accused of being a

Democrat if I condemned our deplorable policies toward the environment.
Welcome to America!

Home of slogans, intimidation and an almost total ban on real issues in the realm of public debate.

Hit List Hysteria

2007-02-08T13:38:00.000-08:00

Today the F.B.I. announced it is taking what amounts to a no-tolerance policy toward the authors of the recent “hit lists” found on area campuses.

I know the investigators and local agents are good people.

There is no doubt in my mind the FBI folks I’ve talked to are sincerely interested in doing what’s best.

I freely admit I could not do their job.

I wonder how many inside the FBI would agree with me.

After all, they are enforcers of the law and not makers of the law.

They are also not allowed to speak out about certain things because of the nature of their job.

What gets me is what they are being asked to do.

The rules just don’t make sense in this case.

If I am a student, and I’m pissed at you, it would be better for me to walk up to you and kick you in the nuts than to write your name down on a piece of paper.

I think everyone has gone a little crazy since Columbine.

This week they found a list at LC-M high school.

The list didn’t say “Kill These People”… It was a list of names.

This is a hit list?

I guess Santa Clause should be prepared for the FBI to come knocking’ on his door soon.

The guy keeps a list of people called “The Naughty List.”

He needs to be prosecuted!

A few years back there was a kid in Vidor, Jasen Ketl.

Apparently he had a list AND a cache of weapons.

This is a different situation than kids who are pissed and take their aggression out with a pen rather than a fist or a gun.

Everyone needs to chill out!

If memory serves me correctly, just before the hurricane there was an elementary student in

Port Arthur who had a list she titled “People to kill.”

She had erased the word “kill.”

Someone found the note in her possession.

She did not post the list, it was found on her.

I seriously doubt this elementary student who wrote a note in anger actually owns an AK47.

Last year in Jefferson County I remember covering a murder trial in which the defendant got PROBATION.

How can you justify giving a child 2 years in prison for writing an angry note and give an adult who killed probation??

Is this a matter of typical American politicians reaching a reactionary answer to actual violent kids?

Cookie-cutter answers do not work in the real world.

A god of Peace

2007-02-04T13:54:00.000-08:00

I just watched a portion of a television special on Islamic terrorists.

The show really didn’t tell me anything I have not already seen and heard concerning the matter.

In a nut shell, the terrorist sympathizers say the terrorists are people fighting against Israel the only way they know how.

What a load of crap!

An old woman strapping bombs to her body and exploding herself in the middle of a wedding has nothing to do with fighting a government.

If she were to explode herself in the midst of a group of soldiers I might see their argument.

That would not be any different than the Japanese Kamikaze of World War II.

But no, these Islamic “freedom fighters” AIM at innocent people.

I would love to believe that the majority of Muslims world-wide are against this type of idiocy, but I just don’t see it.

These people teach their children that it is good to kill innocent non-muslims.

I remember back a few years there was a man who would call into my talk show off and on.

He would try to defend Islam, and he did a good job for the most part.

But what was very noticeable was he refused to say the men who blow themselves up are following a false religion.

He would say they are not true Muslims because he says Islam is a religion of peace.

But every time I asked him to condemn them as followers of a false religion (after all, he said they were not real Muslims) he would refuse to do so.

I don’t see Jewish people strapping on bombs and prancing into Islamic weddings.

The Israeli army doesn’t plan random attacks on innocent civilians.

There is a huge difference between on firing on a public building housing a machine gun nest and simply firing on a public building

The Islamic “martyr” who targets kindergarten classes is the man to blame for putting civilians on both sides in danger.

The terrorists have created a situation where a soldier cannot tell if you are an innocent woman on a weekend stroll or an Islamic freak hiding a bomb under your burqa.

Hell is full of human waste like Mohamed Atta al-Sayed of 9-1-1 fame.

Last year the Pope made a statement about Muslims being violent.

How did Islamic radicals respond?

How did they demonstrate that they are not violent?

They bombed a few churches of course!

I know there are some good Muslims.

I have met some very giving, generous people who follow Islam.

For them, great. Live in peace.

For the terrorists and terrorist sympathizers… those who speak of a god of Peace but commit
homicide… you guys are crazy.

You are the reason Palestinians are not taken seriously when they plead their cause to the world!

I guess I need to calm down… take a break… do some light reading.

Perhaps that will allow me to chill a bit and see that most Muslims world-wide are tolerant loving people who practice the philosophy of live and let live.

Now, let’s see.

Where did I put that Salman Rushdie novel?

Smoke Signals from a Non Smoker

2007-02-01T13:24:00.000-08:00

This week brought word from Austin that some lawmakers are hoping to begin legislation that would bring about a statewide ban on smoking in public places.

I have had a lot of conversations about this with co-workers and friends.

After hearing response after response from people telling me that this is a good thing, I’m left with the feeling that I am one of the few… if not the only… non-smoker who things the state needs to mind its own business.

Here are a few of the arguments I have heard repeated numerous times, almost as if there are some pro-smoking-ban talking points going around.

1) Second hand smoke is bad for those around you.

My response?

If you are worried about 2nd hand smoke, don’t go where people are smoking. The smoking bans for most cities, and now the proposed ban for the state, would include bars and other places you would expect to have smoking.

2) Employees are subjected to the 2nd hand smoke.

O.K., this one is pretty lame.

I have worked in so many shops with all sorts of crap in the air.

Trinity Industries had us where respirators (the cheap masks)

Why should a bar be any different?

If a waitress doesn’t want to breathe the fumes, give her a mask.

If she thinks it is embarrassing to wear a mask, tough!

It’s the employer’s job to make her job safe.

If she wants to be safe, she will wear the mask.

3) Business will go up if you get rid of the cigarettes.
So what?

The state isn’t the one investing in the business.

It’s the business owner’s ass on the line so let him/her make the decision.

There are some other arguments that come up, but these seem to be the top responses.

What’s coming next?

How about a ban on alcohol sales in bars because so many people are killed by drunk drivers.

Next, let’s ban guys talking with girls.

We all know the harm caused by sexually transmitted disease.

Now that I think about it…. Let’s get rid of those small trays of salted nuts.

Every doctor knows that too much sodium is bad for you.

So, now we’re all happy because all of the bars do not have smoking, beer or babes.

Sound ridiculous?

A few years ago I would have told you that it would be impossible for anyone to outlaw smoking in a bar.

Let me go out on a limb here.

I predict that sometime in the next five years, if not sooner, there will be laws passed that outlaw junk food.

They are already chipping away in some major cities, outlawing trans fats in cooking oil.

Next will come a calorie limit or a sodium limit or some other aspect of fast food that makes it worth while.

I guess I should blame my worldview on my childhood.

I grew up with Tom and Jerry smoking cigars and Fred Flintstone selling Winston cigarettes.

Why not, the thing to do is to blame someone else or something for everything these days.

I guess that's a different subject for a different day.

Love That Jefferson County...

2007-01-27T08:42:00.000-08:00

Looks like the district attorney’s office is going through the hundred’s of files recovered from the hard drive of the former county judge.

The local media (TV and Newspaper) has let the issue sink for a while.
Here are the arguments as I see them.

The new county judge Ron Walker says the former county judge Carl Griffith erased official county documents when he had hard drives wiped clean.

The former county judge (Griffith) says he had the computer hard drives cleaned out so the machines would run properly for the new county judge and the new staff.

…So the M.I.S. department recovers all erased documents off of the hard drives and brings that material to the district attorney’s office.

Here are the questions everyone is dancing around

1) How will the district attorney’s office determine which of the files recovered are “official” copies?

2) If the judge writes a letter on his computer and prints it out, is the digital copy on the computer hard drive the official copy or is the printout the official copy?

3) Is the new county judge concerned about actual missing documents,…. going on witch hunt …..or paying the price for cleaning out the old staff that knew where everything is? This question is not a loaded question…a charge against Judge Walker….this is a real question. What is going on?

4) If the files recovered are only “probably” the only copy, is that enough evidence to pursue charges against Judge Griffith?

5) If the former judge erased the files maliciously, will he get a deal like the former purchasing agent to avoid criminal charges?

6) If it turns out that judge Walker is pursuing sour grapes and trying to find some way to “get” the former judge, can he be charged with a crime?

I think everyone is afraid to ask these questions because they feel to do so will make it appear that they are taking sides on the issue.

Now, let’s get to a question that would affect a lot of people.

Is all of the legal mumbo-jumbo in Washington going on right now, going to kill the tax incentives that started all of this in the first place?

The Democrats say they want to kill certain tax breaks for big business so they can give that cash to the little man (sic.)

The Republicans say their actions could kill some or all of the plant expansion planned for our area?

Let’s see who is not afraid to ruffle some feathers and get into the real issues.

Back to my radio roots

2007-01-20T09:32:00.000-08:00

Some of my friends who are sports fanatics constantly scream at the TV.

Case in point, here's a pic of Gary Stelly (KOGT) and I taken back in 1985...he was always screaming at a TV!

When they see a play they can’t believe, or someone pulls a bonehead move, they are quick to shout at the poor, innocent television set.

Not being a sports nut myself, I do find myself doing the same thing when it comes to news announcers or deejays on the radio.

I guess it comes from having over two and a half decades of working with folks who know a lot more than I about how broadcasting works.

I have thousands of words of advice from people who have gone on to bigger and better places and count it a privilege to have learned from them while they were in my neck of the woods.

Here is an example.

I was listening to one of my favorite stations the other day as I was driving to Beaumont.

At the end of the song the announcer came on and told me the name of the song that just played and the names of the previous three songs.

In my opinion, there are several things wrong with this.

I admit I might be the one “out of the loop” and may be basing my interpretation on outdated ideas.

But, risking exposing myself as an armchair quarterback, here we go.

First… telling me the name of the song that has just played or the names of the proceeding three gives me no reason to keep listening.

As a listener I might just say thank you and tune to another station that is not about to play commercials.

Now, if you tell me the name of the next three songs you are about to play I just might stay with you for my favorite tune.

I heard this at least a thousand times from a former program director of mine, John Martin. (KSLR around 1982 in San Antonio)

Secondly….I do not think an announcer should ever talk so long over dead air.

Robert X (another past program director I’ve worked for) once told me to talk as long as I wanted AS LONG AS IT WAS OVER THE INTRO OF A SONG.

I didn’t like the restriction at the time, but looking back, he was right.

If I hear the intro of a song, even if I don’t care for what the deejay is saying, I know he has to shut up as soon as the singer comes on.

I’ve heard stations try to “cheat” on this by playing a music bed under everything, but it doesn’t seem to work very well.

If I hear the music intro to “another one bites the dust“, I know what song is coming on and that the announcer is about to quit talking.If the announcer reads the weather dry then starts the song, I might tune out in the middle of the weather not knowing that the music is about to start.

If he reads the weather over the intro, I’m more likely to stay around because I can hear the music already playing and I know the guy is about to shut up.

Thirdly… there’s a little thing called forward momentum, which is basically… always looking to the future. Keep things moving forward. It would take too long to go into it here, but I have had so many bosses preach this to me, I’ve come to the believe that it’s a good thing. Keep the past in the past and tell people something they can use… tell them what is coming up.

Here’s something I have never understood.

I am probably in the minority on this one.

I love radio station contests and feel they absolutely help in the ratings.

But do we always have to hear a 30 second recorded phone call of the winner?

No one but the winner and his friends care that he/she won.

Don’t waste that much time.

Take caller number 3 and announce his/her name over the intro of the song coming out of a commercial break.

Keep it moving.

There are exceptions.

Specialty programs (Like Randy use to do on KKMY) and if the caller does something unusual.

But, sadly, most of them are identical.

Hi Bob, you are caller number 3...Bob says great… announcer says Bob you just
won a CD. Bob says cool… announcer says Bob what is your favorite
station…Bob says KXYZ.

Great for Bob. Good for the announcers resume tape. Bad for the listeners.

If you have to do this to show the listeners there are others joining in, at least keep it short enough to play over the intro of a song.

I really believe too many radio folks don’t realize how much you can say in 20 seconds (short enough to do it over an intro)

6:30 am .. KXYZ, congrats to bob Jordan our latest mega c-d winner.., keep
listening, another chance to win is coming up on XX-FM your new music
station.

In this example the announcer gave the time, station call letters, told you who won, gave you a reason to stay around, and ended with the station slogan… and did it all in 11 seconds over the intro of a song.

Isn’t this much better than paying a 30 second conversation over a music bed letting me know that someone else won?

I guess I’m set in my ways, but that’s the way I see it.

B problem

2007-01-13T03:43:00.000-08:00

I know this is Southeast Texas, and news is not expected to be as exciting as it is in Houston or New York, but I’m left with a few questions in my mind about this area’s news agencies and reporters.

Don't take this as an insult.

One big question is: Are the majority of “reporters” in this area green or just lazy.

This past week there were so many good "B" stories buried in public documents just waiting for the picking… and they were ignored or not noticed.

I’m not talking about top stories.

I’m talking about the too often ignored “B” level story, the fill material.

Face it; this is the bulk of a news cast.

There can only be one lead story.

Someone has to do the grunt work and cover the meetings, changes in public figures and parades.

I would understand all of the missed opportunities if the majority of reporters around here were tied up with really big stories, but this is not what I saw in the “fill” stories this week.

What was the majority of the “B” or “fill” stories?

Fires at abandoned buildings, re-caps of stories we’ve already known about for days, etc, etc.

One story seemed kind of odd because of its timing.

Tuesday, we carried a story about a doctor running against councilwoman Lulu Smith.

The paper and at least one of the other TV stations carried the story on Friday.

I would understand carrying the story on Friday it if there was something to advance the story days after it was "out there" in the public records…. But really, they had the same story we carried on Monday.

I keep going back to the thought that the “fill” stories should be more than just "fill."

The attitude seems to be, even if they are old news stories, run them and “fill” the time.

All three stations do this, although I don’t think everyone will admit that’s what’s going on.

Stories that come from public documents (indictments, public notices, etc) are easy easy easy!

So why do they pop up in the news days after the document release date?

Why do these stories NOT get advanced?

I guess it’s good old fashioned laziness or immaturity.

This is not a “slam” on folks in the media…it’s a legitimate question.

Is the problem that journalists in this area are not trained properly… or ….is it stereotypical lazy ego-driven media people....or is it that everyone is bogged down in non-productive "busy" work at the office?

When I pose the question to people I trust, the answers usually follow a typical theme.

The reporters in this area are just starting out, do not make big pay checks, and are not expected to have block buster stories.

Here’s a huge hint to any reporter.

Get to be friends with photogs who have been in the market for years.

They usually know the players, and the stories, far better than the highest educated reporter who just graduated from xyz university.

I don’t care how well you know the top player in a news maker’s office; make friends with the secretary…

You know, the one who can either throw your message onto a pile or grab the boss for you?

I have been given more news leads from cleaning staff, security guards and other support staff than I have ever received from the top players.

Think about this.

The top players in a news maker’s office have an agenda.

The guy who makes minimum wage quite often doesn’t give a damn.

In my opinion, right or wrong, too many folks are either worried about going out without the suit and tie OR they are too lazy to do some fishing after office hours.

I see Jerry from the Examiner at all sorts of places after hours, and he breaks new stories.

How many anchors in this market will do like Rusty over at 4 or Dave at 12, and grab a camera once in a while?

Not many, if any at all.

News is a 24 hour business!

The folks I only see between 9 and 5 are the ones who rarely break new ground.

Not Everyone Hates Us

2007-01-07T05:56:00.000-08:00

I don't make it a habit to repost items found on the internet.

I find it annoying when some people feel compelled to email me every scrap they find while they are browing.

That being said, I think this is one of the few items worth re-posting.

This statue currently stands outside the Iraqi palace, now home to the 4th Infantry division. It will eventually be shipped home and put in the memorial museum in Fort Hood, TX....

The statue was created by an Iraqi artist named Kalat, who for years was forced by Saddam Hussein to make the many hundreds of bronze busts of Saddam that dotted Baghdad.....

Kalat was so grateful for the Americans liberation of his country; he melted 3 of the heads of the fallen Saddam and made the statue as a memorial to the American soldiers and their fallen warriors.....

Kalat worked on this memorial night and day for several months.....

To the left of the kneeling soldier is a small Iraqi girl giving the soldier comfort as he mourns the loss of his comrade in arms.....

Do you know why we don't hear about this in the news???? Because it is heart warming and praise worthy...

The media avoids it because it does not have the shock effect.....

But we can do something about it.....

We can pass this along to as many people as we can in honor of all our brave military who are making a difference......

Saddam is feeding worms!

2006-12-31T04:21:00.000-08:00

One less dictator to worry about!

He enjoyed watching videos of others getting killed.

Perhaps some of his victims would like the same type of picture show:

Click here to see Saddam "swinger" video from camera phone

Fox News played a video from THIS LINK, but the server seems to be overloaded most of the time.

Al Jazeera has its spin on his death, saying Iraqis are angry about the hanging (SEE VIDEO HERE), but what do you expect from Al Jazeera?

Perhpas some folks need to go down the Saddam memory lane before they shed tears over his death.

This poor child is one of his Saddam's Halabja poison gas attack victims ... who knows how many there are.

This kid will never know what it's like to have a wife... to have kids... to worship his God... all the things that...even though the region is poor, this child could have enjoyed.

Gee, thanks Saddam.

Everyone knows by now there are two Muslim factions in Iraq, one is celebrating, the other is not.

Hey, there were some who were not celebrating after our own civil war because they lost their slaves!

Whenever there are oppressors overturned, the ones who benefited from the oppression never celebrate.

Behold the face of the oppressed!

I don't think this woman will stay up all night crying over dear ole Saddam!

Random Thoughts on 2006

2006-12-30T05:21:00.000-08:00

End of the year news is so predictable.

You could almost find last year's scripts and change the dates and there you go.

What were the biggest stories...how did the cops do this year..blah blah blah.

Personally, I find end-of-the-year stories so lame, I sent Darry, our morning photog, out on two house fires Wednesday just to get some spot news.

I hate covering house fires because there is no real community benefit to the story, but we got some good visuals.

If someone is seriously hurt or killed it is news, but I don't see an abandoned house fire as interesting news.

I know some media folk brag about covering fires and being "first on the scene" and all that other sensational stuff, but I'd rather ignore the house fires and give the audience something that they can use in their daily life.

That's not to diminish Darry's work... he got us some impressive video, flames shooting through the roof, etc.

I guess if fire stories are used as the gage, we ruled the morning.

We did a story two weeks ago about how the Red Cross is straining to keep going because of all the house fires. It is really putting a burden on their budget.

I was kind of flattered to see the same story in The Enterprise this week.

This is the type of story that actually benefits the community.

I noticed the peanut gallery at the Underground is silent when KBMT is the lead, but let us miss a kicker story and they're all over it.

Never the less, I'm flattered when other media folk follow us or look to KBMT for news leads.

At least one station goes as far as to eves drop on our dispatch radio hoping to get some crumbs of info.

One of the highlights of the year happened when our chief photog told me they were doing this.

I didn't believe him, but to find out I started talking some smack on the air to see if anyone responded.

They did, and even had the nerve to call and complain that they got their feelings hurt about the things I was saying.

One of our competitor's photogs even had the nerve to threaten me in the channel 12 parking lot over the issue.

Oh well, that's the media for you.

Looking forward to 2007...

What is Judge Walker's Jefferson County going to be like?
Are we going to see the predicted economic growth?
Is Port Arthur going to make progress in squashing crime?
How is our area going to make the transition to digital TV?
Will Direct TV follow Dish Net and give its subscribers local stations?
Who are going to be the big name deaths in 2007?
Is Mr. BASF going to run for office?
Will Gary Sinegal go to trial this year?
Will Jeff Co and Orange Co get the Finley case to trial?

Oh, wait...that sounds like next December's look-back stories.

Pay Them to Fail

2006-12-23T06:23:00.000-08:00

Some congressional leaders say they will likely raise the minimum wage in 2007.

I just read a wire story that opens with:

“Imagine what it would be like to work without a pay raise for nearly 10 years. That’s been the plight of some workers who for almost the past decade have
been earning the federal minimum wage.”

What rhetoric!

If you are working a minimum wage job…and have not received a raise in the last 10 years… what’s your problem?

I have worked many minimum wage jobs.

I have always received a raise because of hard work.

Sure it was a small raise, but a raise never the less.

If I were working for an employer and made minimum wage for a year or more, I would move on.

How stupid does one have to be to stay at a company that is only paying minimum wage after a year?

Do I sound cold-hearted?

I am responding to what I have seen with my own eyes.

I have never seen a person who is actually trying to work stay at minimum wage.

I’m sure there are very few exceptions.

If someone has a mental or physical problem and cannot handle the minimum wage job requirements, then the government needs to subsidize their pay to make them appealing to employers. This would help the people in need and not give raises to those who simply want more cash without giving any effort to their employer.

Why should an employer be forced to give a raise to a lazy loser just because the government says the loser needs it?

Sure, the lazy loser needs to live.

Help them change, don’t facilitate their loser ways.

If you are worried about the mega-giants taking advantage of people, then make an exception.

Why not make the higher minimum wage apply to companies who employee more than 100 people.

I guarantee the owner of a small café, small corner book store, and other’s like them, are not getting filthy rich on the backs of the poor.

In my opinion, the congressional supporters of a minimum wage hike would not consider these other options because the government would not take in as much in taxes if the did it that way.

Raise the minimum wage for everyone the feds take in more taxes, hide inflation, look good to
lower income voters who haven‘t thought things out, remove some from government assistance and pass the cost to employers, etc.

I made minimum wage when I worked full-time at KDLF in Port Neches.

It was my first full-time job in radio.

I lived in a one-bedroom efficiency apartment.

The kitchen was so small I could stretch out my arms and touch both walls at the same time.

It was more like a closet-kitchen.

I remember how angry I was when I found out how one of my neighbors was living.

While I was walking to work to save money… eating noodles and rice… my neighbor was living much better on government assistance.

He had full meals, and even had cash to buy beer to drink with those meals.

I did not qualify for food stamps because I worked 40 hours a week at minimum wage and had a part time job working 6 hours a week at minimum wage.

My neighbor only worked a 30 hour a week job at the same rate, so he got food stamps.
Since my neighbor was “disabled on the job” he was getting other assistance as well.

I put “disabled on the job” in quotes because I lived next to the guy.

I’ve seen him do all sorts of things that he supposedly could not do.

He use to tell me I was crazy for busting my ass because I could live better and do less work by quitting my part time job.

He had no desire to improve himself or to find a way to get a good paying job; he wanted to do a minimal effort and nothing more.

He actually thought the government and his employer owed him something.

He was not alone in his assessment.
Others in the same apartment building sided with him.

While I was working at KDLF I worked for improvement.
I did earn a small raise before I left.

The skills I learned on the job allowed me to move on to bigger stations and even to other industries.

This doesn’t make me special.

This means I didn’t sit back and take a “what are you going to give me” attitude.

There are a lot of employers in this area who are hiring.

There are a lot of government-sponsored apartments full of people working part time minimum wage jobs or not employed at all.

A lot of these folks are not interested in changing their situation by working.

I am not saying that everyone who lives in the projects is a loser.

There is a reason why the employers are not rushing to the projects to announce the job openings.

It’s the same reason the majority of folks who live in the projects are not rushing to the employers to fill those jobs.

Everyone knows there are people who simply do not want to work.

I do not believe that the majority of people who have been paid minimum wage for an extended period of time are those who want to improve themselves.

Experience has led me to this believe.

Everyone knows our politicians are scared to admit that there are people who do not want to work.

If you raise the minimum wage, you push some employees over the government assistance cut-off line and force employers to pick up the tab.

You also increase the dollar amount you collect in taxes.

You will help some who are struggling to make it, but will waste ten times that amount on the lazy losers.

In my opinion, too many supporters of an increased minimum wage are sticking their head in the sand, refusing to see the real problem.

In my opinion, they do this because they want to appear to be helping the single moms and disabled people, when in reality; they are buying off votes with a hidden tax increase.

It’s everything a politician could want.

When is Washington going to come up with a real response to the poverty problem?

Lets help those who want to be helped... help those who need to be helped... and let let the school of hard knocks teach those who refuse to even try.

Can't See the Forest... Too Many Trees

2006-12-20T16:45:00.000-08:00

The problem is gangs…. No, the problem is race relations… No, really I mean the problem is (fill in the blank)

Everyone seems to be pointing to symptoms rather than the root of our area’s biggest problem.

Why do you think the crime rate is so high?

The cancer attacking our area is … in my opinion… none of the above.

Judge-elect walker says we do not have enough qualified workers to fill the expected employment boom.

I think he chose his words very carefully.

I have talked with so many people in the know who tell me we have enough qualified people here, as long as the “qualified” part does not include a pee test.

There are plenty welders and ship fitters that could have met the needs of Signal International in Orange, but too many of them are on the dope… so the dopes lost their jobs to a bunch of folks from India.

Most of the time when I do a beat call and the dispatcher says 2am shooting on such and such street, I feel like I already know the story.

The guy didn’t agree on the buying price, or simply didn’t pay for his drugs.

Judge-elect Walker is correct, we need more qualified workers, but looking to expanded technical education is not the entire answer.

We need a REAL answer to the drug problem in Southeast Texas.

We are facing a labor crisis…. A high crime crisis…. And both are related to chemical recreation.

Unfortunately, every effort I’ve seen to combat drugs and drug use centers on old, proven-wrong premises.

I wouldn’t even begin to pretend I know what to suggest to tackle the problem, but I can say what we are doing now sucks, and we need to try something else.

Don’t Go Away, We’ll Be Right Back

2006-12-17T04:21:00.000-08:00

Christmas time means Christmas advertising.

Hundreds of Southeast Texas small businesses that usually do not use electronic ads (Radio and Television) are buying commercials.

Unfortunately, the mom-and-pop businesses that usually hit the air for the first time this time of year, are falling prey to unscrupulous salesmen that grab for the little cash these stores have, then give the owner doo-doo for ad copy.

Every year you hear them.

The ads usually go something like this:

“Come to Bobs Hardware Store and you’ll find screwdrivers, hammers and nails. We have brand names you know and love. Our number is 888-5555.”

I cringe every time I hear these ads because I know some corporate-giant owned radio advertising salesman...one who needs to make a quota...just conned a small locally-owned business into coughing up five hundred to two thousand dollars to run an ad that does absolutely nothing. ( I haven't sold advertising in a long time, so I'm not sure what the ads are going for these days. I guessed at the dollar amount.)

Everyone knows you can get hammers and nails at a hardware store… this line tells the listener absolutely nothing.

Everyone knows you can get brand names at a hardware store, this line tells the listener nothing. at all.

Nobody writes a phone number down when they hear it on a radio ad.

All this ad does is irritate listeners who want to get back to the music.

But hey, the salesman has his cash, the corporate giant has scalped another small business and after all, they care about the bottom line.

I have met a few… very few… corporate ad salesmen who actually care about the small business owner who is standing like David against a Goliath from Bentonville Arkansas.

I've worked among the vipers; you cannot convince me they are not there.

The Gangs of Beaumont

2006-12-12T17:04:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week there was a huge fight… shots were fired… at least one person hit by a bullet… and another hit by a vehicle.

How did the media react?

Well, since it was a large group of teens fighting… and probably because the group is mostly Latino ( yes, there is prejudice among the media club )….. we ended up with reports of “Gang Violence” erupting in Beaumont.

I talked with an officer about this… an officer I trust… and what appears to have happened was a group of kids, some of whose dads were gang members, got into a huge fight and decided to handle it "just like pop would have done it."

There is no official statement by police saying this is a gang fight, but hey, call it a gang fight and you got a headline.

Our young sensationalizing “Journalism Majors” need to learn that every fight between two groups of teens is not a gang fight.

A gang is an organization or group who band together to do illegal activity, not a bunch of young punks who got into a big fight.

If this were a group of white middle class teens who got into a fight and one pulled a gun, would we be hearing the same gang rhetoric?

Something our media types need to think about is how their words affect our kids.

If you tell a non-gang-member kid he is a gang banger, guess what.

You are planting an idea into his head.

You just might make him start to think he’s Mr. Los Angeles in Southeast Texas when in reality he a punk kid who needs a wakeup call.

If memory serves me correctly, and I might be wrong, but I believe Beaumont had two murders this year.

I guess our gang members, you know, the ones causing all the fuss… they must have been napping most of the year.

Sloppy Copy

2006-12-07T14:21:00.000-08:00

It never ceases to amaze me how the "journalism majors" in this market continue to use certain words that grind on my nerves every time I hear them in a script.

It also amazes me how some "journalism majors" let their ego get in the way of constructive criticism and seemingly close their ears when I bring up these mistakes... almost to say... "who are you to tell me how to write copy, I have a college degree."

So, risking stepping on some toes, and inflated egos, here are a few oldies but goodies.

DEAD BODY as in "Police found a dead body behind the house"

The way I see it, you should say "Police found a body behind the house".... the word 'dead' is understood ...redundant ..... amateurish in this sentence.

It would be silly to say "police found a live body behind the house" ... if the guy is alive, it is not a story.

ELECTROCUTED as in "The man was electrocute."

I have heard this used by young reporters as a word meaning shocked.

It does not mean shocked, it means killed by electricity.

I actually heard a report in which the reporter said "..the young boy was electrocuted .... He is recovering at Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth."

Now, unless he came back from the dead, that sentence makes no sense.

SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

O.K, this is a pet peeve of mine.

The Sheriff in most counties around here is an ELECTED OFFICIAL.

It says "SHERIFF'S OFFICE" in the phone book.. It says "SHERIFF'S OFFICE" on the side of the cars and building.

A police DEPARTMENT has an appointed head, and is called a POLICE DEPARTMENT.

A Sheriff's Office has an elected chief officer.

This is a minor point, but tell that to Sheriff White in Orange County. It's definitely a Sheriff's Office.

By the way, when was the last time you heard the Sheriff's office called the SD on the scanner, it's always the "SO" because it's the SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

RESIDENTS

Now this one is just a matter of laziness. If you say "Residents are upset about the higher taxes put on cars" ... the sentence is accurate, but rather lame.

It would be better to say "Car owners are upset about the higher taxes put on automobiles."

The word residents is really a useless word, it doesn't tell me why you are talking about a specific group of folks. Call them HOMEOWNERS, TAXPAYERS, PARENTS, DOG OWNERS, ETC.

Both methods are accurate, but you are wasting my time saying residents because it really doesn't tell me anything except they live in our area.

I could put dozens of these on this blog entry, but really, the point I'm making is ego.

So many of the people saying and writing these "pet peeves"of mine have too big an ego to take my advice and change their ways.

I guess that's the nature of broadcast media.

The Digital Revolution

2006-11-30T12:00:00.000-08:00

(note: I did not mention KOLE in this post because the receivers are not for sale yet. If this has changed, let me know because I would like to hear the AM digital signal)

The “future” of radio has debuted in Southeast Texas….Digital Radio.

I’m surprised that KVLU’s launching of a digital signal didn’t get more attention than it did.

Anyone listening with a regular radio will not notice a thing.

Those with a digital receiver (also called an HD receiver ) will hear the CD quality signal AND have the ability to hear two additional audio streams from KVLU.

Eventually all local stations will be doing this.

My take?

Don’t expect better programming.

The “Big Boys” at Clear Channel and Cumulus Broadcasting will most likely have more channels that sound just alike.

The problem is that these big companies streamline so much that it’s not uncommon to have the same person programming more than one station.

Also… I don’t believe for one minute that the “Big Boys” don’t show favorites to the record companies.

Clear Channel has already been busted telling artists “you better book your concert with me or we will not play your music”

Will the extra streams mean more jobs?

Don’t hold your breath there either.

I have written Sen Hutchison, Former Congressmen Lampson and Turner about the near monopoly that Clear Channel and Cumulous have on the radio market in SETX.

Would you believe their response was to say that one of the reasons they allow this is to bring the area “a better variety” and "more choices" of programming!

What were they drinking?

They all used the phrase "a communications revolution” so I'm assuming they are working off of the same talking points.

Come on, give me a break.

The niche markets are gone in Southeast Texas.

I remember when we had a Spanish language station, a Vietnamese station, a 2 Southern Gospel Stations, A Big Band station and other formats that are long-since gone from Southeast Texas.

Now at night I can hear the same D.J. on 96.1 FM and 95.1 FM at the same time.

I can hear the same talk show on 56am and 710 AM at the same time.
Etc, Etc.

It didn’t use to be like that!

God bless the few independents that still exist!

Public Benefit

2006-11-28T17:07:00.000-08:00

It seems all of the local news agencies have been falling short in one of the key areas of local news… public benefit.

Headlines this week include Carjacking Murder, Tragic death of a 14 year old girl… etc.

O.K. good B+ for everyone.

I am convinced that people want something they can use, not just a story to tug at the heart.

Where can I get something?…. What is the government going to take from me next?… Can you tell me something that isn’t obvious about the crappy condition of Interstate 10 traffic? Give me something that affects me!

I think the “big guys” in television can learn a lesson from the “small guys” in radio.

KJAS and KOGT are good examples.

Both stations wouldn’t have a prayer except they capitalize on giving listeners information they can use in their daily lives.

They can afford to do this on a more localized level… and actually, they have to.

People in Orange knew that 16th street was going to get torn up weeks before it happened… because KOGT talked about it and gave a time table and the reason for the construction work.

No one else touched the story… it was too “small” for them.

Small? Really? Do you know how many people this affects every day?

I guarantee the thousands of people who drive 16th street are more concerned about the timeframe for this work to be done than they are about a carjacking.

The carjacking is someone else’s problem… 16th street is my problem… etc.

Holiday News

2006-11-26T15:27:00.000-08:00

This Monday Jefferson County will hold its "Annual Lighting of the Christmas Tree"

Later in the day commissioners will begin their weekly session with a word of prayer.

I'm glad they still call it a Christmas tree... and they still let commissioners pray.

Just a few miles from the courthouse our children at school will talk about a "holiday" celebration... and as for starting anything with prayer... well... don't ask... don't tell.. someone might get offended.

Will the grinch steal more of Christmas this year?

(Well, we kind of stole the holiday from the Druids, but that's another story for another day)

Every year the left wing extremists equate freedom OF religion to that of freedom FROM religion.

Let’s see.... the same constitution that gives us freedom of religion gives us freedom of the press.

Does this mean freedom FROM the press as well?

Let’s say for the sake of argument "The Examiner" offends me.

Should I be able to ban it from the public school grounds?

(No offense to The Examiner, just using it as an example)

No, this interpretation would do exactly the opposite of what the amendment is designed to do, protect the press.

So why does the left accept the freedom FROM religion argument so easy?

Well, because it serves their purpose.

Kids should be taught about Christianity because it affects them.

Kids should be taught about Islam because it affects them (especially today with radical Muslims doing their crap!)

Let’s see if any stories pop up this year.

There will be those on the national wire, but what about Southeast Texas.

Will the "Journalists" of the region be neutral or will they "out" themselves as left or right by
the words they choose.

Cross Shooting

2006-11-23T03:48:00.000-08:00

I just saw something I think is a funny side effect of not quite thinking ahead… or, just simply getting caught up in the confusion of a perp walk.

Everyone ran a story today about a woman who hired a man to kill her husband.

All the media showed up for the perp walk.

When flipping back and forth between KFDM and KBMT it seemed as if the two stations should have considered trading video with each other.

KBMT’s shot was mostly of the suspect AND of Angel from KFDM.

KFDM”s shot was mostly of the suspect AND of Kevin Steele from KBMT.

Everyone knows you should use a wireless mic and have your camera guy get on the opposite side, but it doesn’t always work out that way.

The “event” was good P.R. for KLVI, Harold Mann was in both station’s shot.

I didn’t catch KBTV, but it would be interesting to know who was in their shot.

I guess I’ll have something to look forward to when the paper comes out on Thursday.

The story that never dies

2006-11-18T06:26:00.000-08:00

It appears the “big story” this upcoming week is going to be the Beaumont firefighter pay & manpower dispute.

The battle lines are drawn in the arena of area bloggers.
There seems to be a lot of momentum against the firemen.

I am an outsider looking in on this issue in that I am not a fireman… I don’t live in Beaumont… both of which give me, I believe, the ability to look at this a little more objectively than some folks.

Of all the things we can be pinching pennies, or dollars, on… why does it have to be the fire department.

Yep, they want a huge raise.

Yep, they want more than other city workers.

They are also some of the few city workers who have lives in their hands every day.

Firefighters and cops have to deal with stresses that I can’t even imagine.

There are a lot more people who could do the job of a clerk, a sanitation worker or inspector than there are people who can do the job of firefighter.

Because of this, they should be paid more.

This is the same logic in giving Kyle Hayes such a good salary.

Not many people could do his job.

The firemen have done a real good job at getting their message out.

They bought ads in the paper giving their side of the story… they have come to the station to give their side of the story… we haven’t been able to get the city top dogs to do that.

Playing devils advocate, I wonder if city leadersare under legal restrictions that prevent them from speaking out…. or political pressures that make them want to be mostly silent on the issue.

Who knows?

Bottom line?

Is there no other place the city of Beaumont can cut the budget?

What are the long-range numbers?

Everyone is talking about expansion and an increasing tax base, so is giving the firemen what they want really something that is so difficult?

What will come out of Monday’s meeting that will change minds on either side of the issue?
We’ll see.

A few toughts on the daily stuff

2006-11-16T10:46:00.000-08:00

Orange County is holding a public hearing today on the feeder roads of interstate 10.

They are looking at the possibility of changing the traffic flow back to two-way.

All three stations received a copy of the agenda and know that the meeting is happening today.

This is a big deal for folks who have to drive an extra 7 miles just to get turned around and go to the city of Orange.

Let’s see who shows and who doesn’t

I’m not working today so I get to watch rather than play in the news arena.

KFDM and Bill did a good job on the report about salons.

I don’t know if I would have chosen to go as long as they did, but that’s just me.

My logic is, something like the dirty salons does not affect me… or most men… so if you go that long on the story, you are ignoring half your audience for an extended period of time.

This is just my perspective, and I might be wrong.

I’m not an expert in the news field and do not claim to be one.

I am just someone who has been doing this jazz for about 18 years and have come to certain beliefs.

One of those beliefs is that unless the president dies or another 9-1-1 happens, you don’t go more than 2:30 on a story.

Back in the ‘80s I had a news director name George Eon.

He took this to an extreme.

If you went over 20 seconds on a story, he hit the roof!

Of course, that was radio where being short and to the point is more important than in television.

John, I enjoyed your last email.

I’m surprised KDKA would go that rout, but that’s Pennsylvania and I guess they do things differently up there.

A notícia eficaz afeta-nos todos

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Clause!

2006-11-14T13:06:00.000-08:00

After checking my DVR and some of the latest newscasts on our area’s broadcast television, I have to say I’m pleasantly surprised!

Just when I thought everyone would drop the ball… several reports.. updates … on the Beaumont double murder… all of which brought the story to the average viewer, rather than leave it as just another tragedy that happens to people on the other side of town.

Yes Virginia! There is a Santa Clause!

The morning show is breaking in a new producer, and so far the outlook is good.

There was a huge apartment fire this morning in Bridge City.

I called several firefighters and everyone said “ya’ll better go“… so we did.

One woman was sent to the hospital, a lot of folks were left without a place to live, and there was a real danger to both life and property.

I’m glad I was in the newsroom when the call came in.

I was able to warn our new girl not to give details on the dispatch radio because some “journalists” would “report” the facts they swipe from our two-way radio conversation

What do you know; we were the only folks to show at the apartment fire.

Coincidence?

Perhaps the other guys felt an Orange County fire isn’t that important?

That’s possible because I watched the 5:30 hits of both stations and didn’t see or hear a peep about the story.

Who knows?

Gary at KOGT says the company that hosts the KOGT web page is having problems and he hasn’t been able to upload new info to the web page since the weekend.

That’s a real problem for a LOT of folks in Orange.

The locally-owned radio stations are a real resource for so many communities… and an extra set of eyes for so many news folks stuck in Beaumont.

I hope his ISP is able to resolve the problem soon.

It’s almost three and the kids are about to get out of school.

Time to take off my armchair quarterback hat and be a dad again.

Você é mom direito!
As crianças são um presente do deus!

Looking Beyond the Flash

2006-11-13T17:30:00.000-08:00

The big story from this past weekend is Beaumont’s double homicide.

Two boys, Artura Borreto, 13, and Victor Garcia, 15 are dead and the shooter facing two murder charges.

Everyone jumped on this, and then the story dropped faster than Bill Clinton’s pants in a room full of loose women.

The problem is, in my opinion, that most everyone went for the easy headline, two dead kids.

The cops say these kids were gang-banger wannabees.

This is the story.

Why, here in Podunk Texas, do kids…. they were punks but they were still kids… why do they strive to be thugs?

These kids didn’t have a gun the night they were killed… but they messed with a man who did.. And now they are gone even before they were old enough to drive a car.

This isn’t Houston.

This certainly is NOT Los Angeles.

What are we doing to teach our kids that you play with fire you get your fingers burned?

The prevention programs I’ve seen are so Pollyanna… well, they make Fr. Flannigan and Boystown seem like the hood by comparison.

Think this is only a problem of poor black kids who have bought into the “white man gonna keep you down” mentality?

Think back a few months.

Jaime Kumm from Bridge City was sentenced to life for shooting and killing a drug dealer.

Did you notice I said “Bridge City”…. you know, home of white, middle upper class “good” kids.

When will some of the local media-types learn to connect the dots… and show how a problem isn’t “somebody else’s problem”… it’s my problem.

I almost hate to suggest this to some, because, if you think about it… so many would accept my words as the pathway to sensationalism.

On the up-side of the news today..

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Today became the first African American man to have a monument in the National Mall.

All I can say is.. Finally!

I wish the so-called civil rights leaders of today would study the words of Dr. King.

Judge men.. Punish men… reward men… hate or love men….according to their character, not their exterior or their position in society.

Such a simple lesson that so many still need to learn!

Fireman Pay, A Burning Issue

2006-11-12T09:27:00.000-08:00

How much is a life worth?

How much is it worth to have top-notch life savers?

It seems everyone in the Beaumont news community is coming out against the firefighters and their rather large pay increase.

Why?

Look at all the stuff we spend money on without a care… and when it comes to giving more money to the people who put their lives on the line, we complain.

Both Cops and Firemen deserve to be paid… and paid well!

I find it hard to believe Beaumont cannot achieve this without raising taxes.

Does Beaumont really need as many parks it supports?

Does Beaumont really need to give raises to the city manager and the city attorney?

Does Beaumont really need a new city hall? (I believe it’s in the works)

Sure, it would be nice, but does Beaumont NEED it?

I’m not saying the city manager is doing a bad job; on the contrary, he’s doing a great job.

He is already getting paid very very well for doing a great job.

I admit I’m not an accountant; I don’t have access to the books.

I do have a lifetime worth of experiences that tell me - call it a gut feeling - that there are places the city could cut budget … if needed… to give the firemen their pay increase.

We have billions of dollars worth of expansions going on all over the county… and in the city.

This has got to mean an increase in income - tax dollars - to the city.

Perhaps the city leaders are being a bit too conservative on this one.

Southeast Texas Billboards

2006-11-11T09:09:00.000-08:00

It amazes me how so many people in this area spend thousands of dollars on billboards to get their message out, but do it soooo wrong.

Here’s an example: (not the photo, it's not from around here)

On I-10 West, just outside of Beaumont, the union has a billboard trashing Gerdau Ameristeel for the company’s anti-labor practices.

The message is probably right, but I’m afraid they wasted their money on the billboard because of what it says.

There is a large picture of a crocodile and big font letters that say What a Croc.
I asked a few folks about the billboard and if they ever saw it.

Most said no until I said it’s the one with the Crocodile that says “What a Croc”

All three said they thought it was an advertisement for Gator Country!

The problem is, a billboard message MUST BE SHORT AND TO THE POINT.

Sadly, about half of the billboards in our area have this problem.

Even some owned by Clear Channel are poorly designed.

I would expect someone in the communications business to be able to communicate.. Especially a giant like Clear Channel.

There is one billboard for Big Dog radio that you have to really look at and read to get the idea it’s for a radio station and not a kennel.

My guess is that the billboard companies in this area are afraid of loosing business by telling their clients what they NEED rather than just selling them what every they want to buy.

Taxing My Nerves

2006-11-10T14:29:00.000-08:00

I just got the tax bill for my rent houses today.

The county has got to be crazy!

I have one on 19th street that has been for sale for over 3 years….the asking price? 35 K

How much does the county say it’s worth?….49K?

How can anyone pass up such a bargain? The house market is hot, so what could I be doing that would make me so unlucky as to go so long without a buyer?

Certainly the county couldn’t be OVERESTIMATING THE VALUE of the house so it can charge more tax on the property???!!!

What can a property owner do?

I complained to the tax office at the end of the last year and they gave me all the reasons why my house is worth 14 thousand dollars more than its selling price.

Even the governor campaigned on doing something about inflated tax rates, but now that he’s won do you think ole Perry will come through? I doubt it.

Republican… Democrat… It’s all the same once they get in office.

Somebody prove me wrong… I want to be wrong on this one.

I’ve got 6 kids to feed and I would rather they get my very hard earned money than the county.
I believe the Bible says render unto Cesar what is Cesar’s.

The problem is our Cesar is given the right to imagine you have something and tax you for it.
Where is this 49 thousand dollar house I own? I’m still waiting to find it!

Random thoughts about education

2006-11-09T17:29:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is high school football night.

The cheers from the stadiums will spill into the surrounding neighborhoods.

The sound of the band, smell of the concession stands…everything that is a part of the Friday night tradition will happen as it has for years and years.

The hundreds of thousands of dollars that we will spend on this activity without a single thought is incredible.

Our public schools are failing, and every time some public figure comes up with an answer it always comes down to more funding.

Come on.. We waste so much on things that have nothing to do with education.

Do you really need a state of the art stadium with air conditioned press boxes and the very latest in training equipment to play a game of football?

I wish that football was the only waste in our schools.

Every time the Democrats come up with a plan to “improve” our schools, it always amounts to pumping more cash into the districts.

No, lets quit wasting the money and keep the funding the same.

The Dems say we need to pay our teachers more.

Well, that’s good, except they don’t’ ask for more accountability to go along with that money.

Dems openly mock plans like no child left behind, but offer no alternative.

If test scores are failing… if the kids cannot spell, speak with proper grammar… if they kids have not learned the importance of showing up to work on time and other life skills, then the schools that failed them need to be held accountable.

Actually, it pisses me off when I catch a teacher misspelling a word or using bad grammar.
My spelling sucks… my grammar is bad…and I…even I… can catch these types of errors on notes my kids bring home from school.

Football is fine… it’s a good diversion… but why are we spending more on a Friday night game than we do on fixing a failing educational institution.

Lets NOT pay failing teachers more money… lets get more teachers on the job that are willing to spend time with kids and TEACH.

Why is it my oldest daughter… who was home schooled until she was 10 is so far ahead of all of those other kids who went through public school all their school days?

My wife is not a specially trained education expert. She is a woman who wants her kids to learn, so she spent her efforts on teaching.

I wish we could afford to keep my daughter and all of our kids at home for home schooling, but this is not practical these days.

I don't think they get it

2006-11-08T17:05:00.000-08:00

I don’t think most of the electronic media folks in Southeast Texas get it.

People want news they can use in their personal life.. Or that benefit’s the viewer… they want to know “what’s in it for me”

Here’s an example

There was a fire at Gerdau Ameristeel this week.

We covered the story with video of the fire and explained how the fire was made worse because of the limited number of fire hydrants in the area.

This is something that affects the public.

There was no danger to the public, so why focus on the fire?

KFDM didn’t cover the fire at all that morning (or at least not in the news block I saw while flipping through the channels)

KBTV sensationalized the fire… tried to make it seem like a huge industrial fire that threatened the region.

In reality, there was nothing explosive on site… no poison fumes…etc.

I believe the enquirer type reporting gives you a reputation, and this has always hurt channel 4.

There is no public benefit from sensationalism.

They even went live from the fire.

Come on.

I believe KBMT handled this story the best out of all three because it was not overplayed… and we focused on something that benefited the community.

Witch Hunt

2006-11-05T04:56:00.000-08:00

I just read a story in The Examiner about a Silsbee Middle Student who was bullied… had urine thrown on him… and when he retaliated verbally, the school responded by sending him to a school for criminal kids.

Come on Hardin County, what the hell are you thinking?
Words are words.

Not every child is a Columbine kid.

Yes, it only takes one kid to lead to a tragedy.

But this kid did not have access to a gun.

If you saw his picture, you would get the idea he wouldn't even know what end of the gun to point to make it work!

When I was in school I was always smaller than the others.
I know what it's like to run into the football-player type that believes everyone else should bow
down to him in a godlike manner.

I too, didn't take crap from them and as a result was unpopular.

The problem isn't the young man who refuses to take shit from bullies, the problem is the bully.

I'm only glad that I only received detention for kicking a guy in the nuts.

This kid gets a criminal record

That's nuts!

The cops are on a witch hunt so they can proove they're doing something to protect children.
Sad thing is they are doing little to protect kids, and are spending their efforts on P.R. arrests

Anybody in a Suit Listening?

2006-11-04T03:37:00.000-08:00

Hello… this is Orange County… is anybody listening?

If you turn on the news today you hear Ron Walker, Rhonda Dugas, and all sorts of stuff about the happenings in Jefferson County this election season.

As anybody seen on freaking story about Orange or Hardin County?

Hello… Mr. news decision maker… we have ratings books too!

Judge Thibodeaux (County Judge here in Orange in case you didn’t know) is up against a lesser known Republican… much like the loudly touted race in Jefferson County.

We’re fortunate NOT to have a Rhonda type crazy candidate running for county clerk in Orange.

The sad thing is… if you ask any of the folks on the street about the candidates, you will probably get a blank stare.

Do you think the Orange Leader would actually do a hard-news story about politics?
Hey KFDM… Yo KBMT… And how bout the lap dog KBTV, where are you guys?

Straining at the forest to see the trees

2006-11-02T16:50:00.000-08:00

Two stories out of Orange County today…One that everyone covered… and one that nobody covered.

The story that all three stations had… a fatal fire in Vidor…really doesn’t affect anyone other than the old man who died and his family.

The story that nobody had…Whites Chevron closing… affects a lot of people.

Think about it.

A gas station that has been open for 30 years, and one that is owned by the Sheriff and his wife, is a landmark.

It’s closing due to hurricane damage affects a lot of people and also changes the familiar.

The fire, although tragic, is something most of the viewers will not even remember tomorrow.

My take.

All three news agencies missed a chance to make a connection with their audience.

The simple, the every day, the life-affecting stories are the ones people want.
The rest (big fires, fatal accidents, etc) is just background noise.

Cokinos

2006-11-01T16:57:00.000-08:00

There has been a lot of whining in the media (KFDM, Enterprise, ETC) about Andrew Cokinos.
Some of the political types are calling for him to step down.

My take is not that he should step down, but his seat shouldn’t exist in the first place.

The argument is that he is sick and old and has missed more city council meetings than he has attended.

So what?

His seat is an At Large seat.

Everyone is still getting their representation.

The older folks tell me his seat is all about keeping the white folks in charge.

The idea being that just after a black person was voted to the city council, the white folks got nervous.

Since the city is mostly white, they came up with two at large seats to assure that the white folks kept in charge.

If this is true, his seat should have been phased out a long time ago.

As for Andrew… let the old guy keep his seat until he keels over or until the city does the right thing and lets each ward have their own councilperson and nothing more.

Good Feeling

2006-10-31T17:09:00.000-08:00

Today we broke a pretty big story… at least I think it’s big.

One of the “persons of interest” in starting the huge California Wild Fires is a former fireman from Vidor.

We spoke with the mayor, asst. police chief, folks from his neighborhood.
4 & 6 had nothing on the story at 5 when we broke it.

I doubt the peanut gallery on the underground site will even acknowledge that we broke the story, but it will stand as just another example of how bias they are over there.

I wish Thomas had run with the other 2 stories I gave him today, but I guess we’ll break that ground tomorrow.

I’m sure we’ll see those two on 4 and 6 after we break those.

It will be interesting to see if the guy actually did it, or if he is just a victim of his own criminal record following him.

Over all, it’s a good feeling.

What’s up with Interstate 10?

2006-10-30T15:17:00.000-08:00

I remember… not too long ago….. perhaps 4 years ago or so….. you could drive down Interstate 10 and know that the road would be a safe stretch of blacktop.

Not too long ago a pot hole would be inconceivable for an interstate… that’s something you’d expect to see on a country road or a downtown road, but not on the interstate.

In the last few years it has become terrible.

I actually lost a hub cap because of a pot hole on the interstate.

I had a tire blow out because I hit a large seem where a repair was made to the road.
Come on, even Louisiana doesn’t have this type of problem on their parts of the interstate.
What changed?

I’ve been here for about 30 years and have never seen the interstate as bad as it is now.

The only good part is the newly constructed section in Rose City, but even there, the orange barrels are still out most of the time because they are still touching up the new construction.

I’m afraid if enough people complain, all we’ll end up with is a tax hike to pay for repairs.

Experience tells me that after the repairs would be made the higher taxes would stay with us.

So what’s the resolution to this one?

I wish I knew.

Underground Accuracy Report

2006-10-29T07:52:00.000-08:00

I see the underground site is trashing channel 12 again.
They say:

“….is it just me or is the media around here just a bunch of fat, lazy crybabies? I am tired of seeing the same stories over and over and over. KBMT TV12's web site has not been updated in days.”

I have been on elections, so I thought perhaps, the rest of the crew was not doing the upkeep on the web page.

I checked, but it seems we uploaded 4 stories the evening before the underground posted this little ditty.

I guess one of two things are true…1) the person hiding behind the underground is lying or 2) the person hiding behind the underground does not know what a refresh button is on a browser.

I tried to post a response, but his/her page must be down because it is not allowing responses, so I guess I'll leave this on my blog.

What is a racist?

2006-10-28T22:42:00.000-07:00

When I was growing up a racist was someone who hated others because of their skin color.

He/she was ignorant and intolerant.

Now it seems the meaning of the word has changed.

This is my observation of what the word means today:

A racist is someone who doesn’t share a liberal point of view.
A racist is someone who doesn’t want to give advantages to people based on skin color.
A racist is someone who thinks paying the great-great grandson of a slave is meaningless.
A racist is someone who believes that someone other than a white person can possible be a racist.
A racist is someone who thinks everyone should be treated the same no matter what skin color they have (this means no special rights, no scholarships that exclude white people, etc)

The problem as I see it is….. Once you dilute the word racist for political gain…. You give the old-time racists a tool to use to try and go back to the old-time racism… real racism…. Hating people for their skin color.

Perhaps we should come up with another word so this doesn’t happen.

Oh, sure, just what we need… another politically correct word.

What was I thinking?