Jay Kersting's Blog

New Years Eve is often a time of reflection for, well, nearly everyone.  I am no different.

To give some background, New Years Eve never meant much to me until fourteen years ago.  You see, that was when our friend Adrian Narvaez tricked me in to going on a blind date with Kathy.  (I had been on so many bad setups up to that point in my life.)

Since that time, New Years Eve has not been a HUGE deal, but we do acknowledge it.  (For Kathy, it is a lot like Pearl Harbor Day, or September 11th.)

ANYHOW.......

2007 started with me launching into a new portion of my career.  In doing so, I have learned a LOT about my new town and met a LOT of great people along the way. 

I learned about how the city changes once the legislature arrives in town, and how peaceful it becomes when they leave.  

Conference Center is a debate that has been around of years.  And it seems that even when it is built, there will still be those who oppose it.

Historic presevation is not protecting urban blight, even when that is exactly what it looks like on McCarty Street.  That sunlight in the green house is not really a feature.  True historic preservation is taking place in other parts of our fine city. In May or June, there was a home tour to show that off.

Some want to burn, some want to bet.  The burn ordinance was retained.  The casino ban is to be decided again 2008....or is it?  

The river floods in the spring...and now I know how much.  Though I was told this year was worse than most spring floods.

Jury duty selection can come quite quickly in Cole County.  Became an official resident when I bought my house, got my Missouri Drivers Licence in June, got a jury survey in September, notified in October that I need to start reporting in November.  In December, I got on a jury.  I met some great folks while on jury duty.  I also served as foreman.

I learned that high school football is bigger in Jefferson City than most everywhere else I have lived.  Getting to be part of KLIK's broadcasts in 2007 was a great experience.  Loved being a part of that.  Seeing the the Jays come from behind at Hickman was incredible.  Seeing that lame Kewpies mascot was, well, hillarious.  

Getting to continue my work on college football for a seventh season was fantastic, especially considering how the Mizzou Tigers season turned out.  I look forward to another season with Jet, Spencer, Bryan, and Matt working on the 2008 version of "On a Football Saturday" (aka OAFS).

Most importantly, in 2007, I rediscovered how much I value my family.  Five months of separation, were followed by the implementation of "Family Movie Night" and "Family Game Night" most weeks.  I think we have gotten closer, but I will not say those events were the sole reason.

So, in 2008, I wish everyone much success, more happiness and good health.

Comments are ALWAYS welcome...and encouraged. 

Posted by Jay Kersting at 05:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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I have never been a real big video game person.  In fact, prior to the middle of 2006, the only video games my sons had were those battery powered ones with RCA plugs on them.  Then, Hallerin Hill gave my sons an XBox (he upgraded to an XBox 360) and my attitude changed a little bit.

I was still awful at playing the games.

This Christmas, as I have talked about ad nauseum, Alex and Ben got a Nintendo Wii.  They clocked MANY, MANY hours on it.  

Wednesday, Alex and Ben went with my parents to Kansas City.  Yesterday, I decided to try the Wii.  I did play with another Wii over the weekend, but not a whole lot.

I shot pool yesterday afternoon.  I did a little better than I would do on an actual table.

Then I bowled.  That was slightly trickier as I was trying to figure our how to put a little spin on the ball.  Couldn't figure that out.  And as for my scores, pretty much what I get when I really bowl.

I played for about 45 minutes.  

I still do not really care for traditional video games, but I like the Wii.  Why?  Because it operates the way you do.  You hold your cue stick and hit the ball.  You bowl just like at the lanes.

Boxing is the one I can't figure out.  

Last night, after Kathy and I got done with dinner we decided to pay with the Wii.  Had to do so while we could, the boys were out of town.  We bowled, we shot 9 ball and then we boxed. 

Kathy knocked me out.

Either I couldn't figure out how to do it.......or maybe, just maybe, she was just more motivated.

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Benazir Bhutto was killed yesterday.   What does this really mean?

Well, first off, I will admit that I do not know much about her policies.  I do know that she was viewed by some as corrupt when she served at Prime Minster of Pakistan in the 1980's and 1990's.  I also know that she was viewed as the best alternative to Pervez Musharraf, a general in the Pakistani army who seized power back in 1999.  

As far as US interests are concerned, many believed that we would best be served by supporting Musharraf.

I fear this is possibly a flaw policy along the lines of "my enemy's enemy is my friend" where we support certain regimes for wrong reasons.

While true that Musharraf and his administration have helped US interests during the Global War on Terror, this always seemed to me based on their strategic location more than in support of Musharraf.  So, I would argue, based on my limited information, that we should support who ever is in power there to maintain some influence in the region.

Now, all that said, I do think it is possible that the Bhutto assassination COULD lead to bigger things in the Global War on Terror.

Of course, bigger things do not equate better things when it comes to the Global War on Terror.  At least NOT in the short term.  It COULD mean that more of our young men and women get deployed overseas.

Here is a thought.  I hear all this talk of pulling out of Iraq, despite the success of the surge.  Leave them there to finish the job.  And start talking about pulling out of Kosovo.

Comment as you see fit. 

Posted by Jay Kersting at 06:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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In case you missed it, Barron Hilton just announced that he is giving away 97 percent of his estate upon his passing.  Barron Hilton is worth $2.3 Billion!  That means, if he died today, he would give away $2,231,000,000!!

That leaves JUST $69 Million for Barron Hilton's fine family. 

What is Paris to do?  Apparently, become a gold digger.  God forbid she gets a JOB.  Seriously, she has already been doing some "work" for a dating website.  I think it is one that specializes in finding rich men. 

Maybe she is not as much of a dullard as I thought.

Nah!

Look for her to spend as much of grand dad's money as she can while she still can.  

Jerry Oppenheimer, who wrote a book about the Hilton's, said that he thinks that Barron Hilton was motivated by Paris and her continued embarrassments to the family name.  Really?  Oh, Barron Hilton did not comment on Oppenheimer's speculation.  The silence is deafening. 

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The list of most admired people for 2007 is now out.  The most admired man?  President George W. Bush!  Huh!

The most admired woman?  Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton!  What????!!!!????

But wait, it is worse.  Look at the top five lists from each gender.

Men - GWB, followed by former President Bill Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore, evangelist Billy Graham and finally Nelson Mandella.

Really? 

Women - HRC, Oprah Winfrey, Condoleezza Rice, Angelina Jolie and Laura Bush.

Wow? 

Here is my view on this.  I respect the OFFICE of the President.  Often, I find myself not respecting the occupant of that office.  To be clear and to be honest, I did vote for Bush, twice.  Why?  Lesser of the two evils each time.  I found Gore to be insincere and as dishonest as his boss.  Bush seemed less harmful.  I found Kerry to be a dullard and spineless.  The evil I know, beat the evil I didn't.  I am NOT proud of my 2004 vote, but I felt that the other option was more dangerous.

But Bill Clinton?  Really?  What is there to admire?  If you can think of ANYTHING reasonable (and don't say the economy because he does NOT deserve the credit for anything but the recession of 99-01) to admire about that man, post a comment here.  PLEASE!!!

Albert Arnold Gore, Junior, of Washington, DC???  I guess we could admire him for taking the lie of humans causing global warming and turning it into an Oscar win, a Nobel Peace Prize win and a lot of cash.....all while causing a GIGANTIC carbon footprint.  I guess I can admire him for turning being a hypocrite into a cottage industry.  Oh, wait...that is just politics in general.

I can say nothing bad about Billy Graham.  I can understand this pick.  But with ALL due respect.  And I mean with ALL DUE RESPECT...Billy Graham making this list is as predictable as a beauty pageant contestant wanting world peace.

Nelson Mandella?  I guess you can admire the fact that he has not put anyone into a tire filled with gasoline and set it on fire in over 40 years.  I suppose THAT is admirable.  I know, one man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter/political prisoner.  No matter how justified he was, and I agree that apartheid is a horrible practice, that kind of terrorism has NO PLACE in our world.  I will always view Mandella the same way I view Yassir Arafat.

As for the women, I don't think I need to further go into why Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is a BAD choice.

Oprah?  I don't disrespect her.  I think she took a fledglinig talk show in Chicago and turned it in to a billion dollar empire.  I respect that.  I just don't get her appeal and the zeal of her followers.  Pied Piper or Jim Jones come to mind at times.  But there could be worse people to admire.  Like the one who tops this list.

Condoleeza Rice?  I can see an upside to her, but the downside is quite large.  Secretary of State is the head diplomat of the nation and she has a tough job considering who currently occupies the White House, as well as his immediate predeccessor and damage done by that administration. 

Angelina Jolie....this one is a bit more complicated.  She HAS ACTUALLY done some good things.  Her UN work is about the ONLY decent think the UN has done in a while.  But otherwise, more celebrity crap with this pick.

Laura Bush, the bright spot of the family.  No problem with this choice.  Aside from, like Kathy Kersting, a bad decision when it came to picking a spouse.

Add your comments as you see fit.  And click on those banner ads if you'd like.   

Posted by Jay Kersting at 06:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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I joked about this one the last couple of days. "If you asked for a Wii and didn't get one, your parents don't love you."

In 1996, it would have been Tickle Me Elmo.

In 1983, it would have been a Cabbage Patch Kid.

Unlike many, many children, Alex and Ben Kersting got a Nintendo Wii. I have talked about this on the show for the past few weeks. Getting one was NOT easy. My parents were going to Target and other stores every morning for over two weeks. I went to several stores around Jefferson City, Columbia and even Kansas City. We (or is that Wii) all got lucky on Sunday, December 16th, when Target had 70+ Wii's in Knoxville AND here in Jefferson City. They bought one, and we (or Wii) bought one. I briefly flirted with the idea of selling the extra one for a profit, or using it as the basis of a last minute contest prize. Instead, my brother asked us to sell it to his girlfriend's mother. There was NO way we (Wii?) would have been stuck with it anyway.

Fast forward to last Thursday. My brother and his family show up. They brought their Wii (which was acquired via eBay a couple of weeks earlier) and we used it to taunt the boys. "Yeah, the Wii is really cool." "I didn't know the Wii could do that." And so on and so on. Always capped with, "Too bad we (Wii) couldn't get one for you this year." Yup, Wii (we) were quite mean about it.

BUT, we had to be. Could not let them know that Wii (or we) had one ready to go under the tree.

Surprised? Big time.

Excitement? Well, the Wii has clocked about 12 hours already. What does that tell you. Wii Sports comes with it and Alex has been working on becoming the next Oscar De La Hoya by playing the boxing game.. (Though Alex is probably already taller and weighs more....but there are no current or recent heavyweights that I would feel comfortable using in describing him. Really, Mike Tyson? Evander Holyfield? George Foreman? Well, maybe Foreman based on our grocery bill and because both are still growing.)

Of course, there are other games they have been playing. What is nice about the Wii, that XBox 360, PlayStation 3 and other systems, is that most of the games require you to get off your butt and move. THAT is why I was motivated to get one for them.

We were at our friends house (Jon and Shelley Dougherty) about six or seven weeks ago. The boys broke a sweat playing with their NINTENDO Wii.

Of course there were lots of other good things about Christmas this year. Most on that in future updates.

Comment as you see fit.

Posted by Jay Kersting at 06:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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As I start writing this, I look up at the TV to see a Christmas ad for a gun shop.  OK.

My shopping is done and most of the family is here in Jefferson City.  It is one of those signs of adulthood, I guess.  When you host the family at your house for the first time, I guess that means you have grown up.  That part sucks, but it is nice having everyone over.  I just hate admitting that I may have actually grown up.  I need Alex and Ben to do a better job of reminding me that I am not.  Maybe their Christmas presents will do that for them, and me.

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This last week of the year is a time often used for reflection on what has happened this year.  In 2007, I started the year in Kansas City.  On a sad note, following a happy ending to 2006, I took Kathy back to the airport and came back to Jefferson City.  Nothing against coming here, but I was away from my family for a short period of time.  I learned things throughout the course of 2007 that has led me to think that that little bit of sadness.  I was not deployed overseas where I couldn't call my family and I did see them a few times during our five plus months apart. 

That sort of put perspective on things for me.

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Did you see the video of the van crash into the news studios of WLS 7 in Chicago?  I park with my car outside the window of our studio.  That way, someone would have to hit MY car in order for me to get hurt.  Protection.  If you hit my car, it will fall apart before the debris hits the glass and reduces the force of the impact coming at my back. 

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Have a Merry Christmas.  Post comments as you see fit. 

Posted by Jay Kersting at 07:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

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It has been an INTERESTING week.  Well, it has been for me.  So, I may lack a little focus. 

Earlier this morning, I picked on the local newspaper because they got something wrong.  And it was something that I know first hand.  You see, it was about the trial where I served on the jury.  The newspaper said $2200 when I stated it was $2414.  Yes, I am picking at nits, but I would HOPE that the print media would be accurate, they have more time to get things right.  But anyhow, it is minor, but facts and figures are important.

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I know that I am new back in Missouri.  When I lived in this state before, I did not have to pay Personal Property Tax.  No where else that I have lived had this punitive tax program.  

Personal Property Tax is double taxation.  You pay an annual tax on items, like your car, on which you had already paid a tax when you purchased the item.  So, yeah, I will have the honor of paying a tax on my 11 year old car.

Quick fix - change the license plate fee structure.  Local wheel taxes have worked in MANY other states.  Even that progressive state known as Tennessee has that as an option..  (That's sarcasm, for those who missed it.)  You would solve two problems.  First, you would raise money on a balanced year-round basis. Second, you might get junk cars, which have little to no value to be taxed by a personal property tax, off the road as second or third vehicles.

Just my opinion.

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Here is something for a little fun. 

It is from Sesame Street.  The word "count" is edited out.  BUT, your mind goes in other directions.  You will laugh at what YOU are thinking as you view this.  

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And finally, something else for Christmas joy. 

This is one that I have forwarded for years.  They edited the "bad" word out of it.  I can even broadcast it.  And I just might.

Merry Christmas to All....feel free to give the gift of comments....or clicking on the banner ads and using the Google search from this page.   

Posted by Jay Kersting at 06:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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First off, thank you to Dean Morgan for filling in as I went to perform my civic duty yesterday.  Now the details......

I arrived at the Cole County Courthouse before 8:00am so that I could sign in.  Then we got to stand or sit around and wait while the sign in sheet was processed.  At around 8:40, we were called out to the hallway and given numbers as 55 people were called in to the courtroom.

I was number 13.  Some would view this as unlucky.  I looked at it as sharing a number with Wilt Chamberlain, Dan Marino and Alex Rodriguez.  OK, OK...rationalized it.

So, 55 of us are in the courtroom getting the voir dire process explained to us.  It is NOT like what you see on TV and in the movies.  It is a series of questions asked to the entire pool of 55.  When someone raises their hand in the affirmative, each person then must answer a series of procedural questions.  The process is designed to ferret out any biases that may exist. 

I raised my hand once.  It was a question about witnessing crime and police reports.  I had to recount a story from the time I worked as a Security Officer/Manager-On-Duty at a resort.  I caught a guy loading his car with towels and linens DIRECTLY from a maid's cart.  I grabbed his car keys and called for law enforcement to file a report.  The deputy sheriff was helpful and he kindly requested that I look through the car further.  I guess their might have been some washcloths hidden somewhere.

Never found any washcloths.  I did find three gallon bags of what appeared to be, and later tested as, marijuana.  Simply put, the officer thought their could be drugs, but he did not have probable cause.  I could, as a private citizen, search in an effort to recover resort property.  There was never a verbal exchange between my and the officer indicating that is what he wanted me to do, but I sort of figured it out.

Anyhow, when the panel of 55 was sent out on break, the conventional wisdom was that anybody who spoke would be dismissed.

We were wrong.

And because I was number 13, and they did go in numerical order, I was IN!!

We finally got a break for lunch at 11:20, which is late for me since my day starts at 4am, and 8 or 9 of the 13 jurors (12 plus an alternate) went to lunch together.  We did not talk about the case because that was against the rules, something that we were all acutely aware.  However, we did talk about the process. 

Boy did we talk about the process.  I have seen at least 75 percent of all varieties of Law & Order.  That does NOT make me qualified to be a juror.  But it does leave me blinded by how the process REALLY works.

In all honesty, it was an interesting experience.  This case was actually an interesing case, but getting through the evidence was a long and tedious process.  I think the jury understood why things had to be presented the way that it was, but it did not prevent yawns from time to time in the jury box.   

ANYHOW, it was a long day and we did not get out to deliberate until 7pm.  The first act of a jury when deliberating is to pick a foreman.  Not in our case.  They got us pizza so our first act was to eat.  While doing so, I was reading over the jury instructions.  Someone noted that and asked if I wanted to be foreman.  I said, not really, but if no one else does I would.

So, I was picked as foreman.  As I worded it while wearing my Tennessee polo shirt, "I guess I'll Volunteer, I am wearing the shirt."

I will not go in to details, but if you want to know, just ask.

Posted by Jay Kersting at 05:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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Well, it has happened.  I now have to go to court for jury duty.  Got to be there by 8:00 this morning. 

It only seem appropriate that this happens on Wednesday.  ("Anything Can Happen Day" on the original Mickey Mouse Club, for those who didn't know.)

How did I get here?  Well, it started when I got my drivers license back in June.  That followed with a jury duty survey that I filled out in September.  Unlike an Arbitron survey, I didn't get five bucks for filling it out.

Apparently, I filled it out wrong because they sent me a jury duty summons in October.  I opted out of two days that I could not be there for.  Then I called in when I was supposed to.  After 4:30 according to the paperwork they sent me, but 5:00 on the recorded message.

At 5:00pm yesterday, I was told to get my butt to court today.  In all honesty, they worded that a bit differently.  So, here I am. 

What is going to happen?  Well, I know that I will have to leave at 7:30 so that I can find a parking space AND get to court on time.  Dean Morgan will come across the hall and take things over. I will have him replay an interview with Judge Andrew Napolitano at 8:40 for me.

I will be back Thursday morning.

I hope I am back before Partyline wraps at 10:45am. 

Posted by Jay Kersting at 05:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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As a follow up to my conversation with Tim Asher of the Missouri Civil Rights Initiative, and my interview with Ward Connerly from back in October, here is a little explanation of the lawsuit that is going on between the Missouri Civil Rights Initiative and the Missouri Secretary of State's office.

The Missouri Civil Rights Initiative wants a vote of the PEOPLE of the STATE of MISSOURI regarding the status of affirmitive action laws.  They want an uncluttered statement to be presented to the PEOPLE and let the PEOPLE decide how to move foward on this.

This is what MCRI proposed:

The state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.

Robin Carnahan's office came up with this interpretation:

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to ban: affirmative action programs designed to eliminate discrimination against, and improve opportunities for women, and minorities in public contracting, employment and education; and allow preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin to meet federal program funds eligibility standards as well as preferential treatment for bona fide qualifications based on sex?

Seriously?

A 37 word sentence into a 60+ word bastardization?  This is fair to the PEOPLE?

As I said on the air, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan OWES the PEOPLE OF MISSOURI AN APOLOGY.  I would only ask that she do the right thing and present this opening clause followed by the 37 words presented by the MCRI.  "Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to read:"

THAT puts it in the hands of the people.  That allows discussion and debate.  That is unbiased.  That is the right thing to do.

THAT IS THE LAST THING I EXPECT FROM MS. CARNAHAN.

Surprise me, Ms. Carnahan.  Give me that for a Christmas Present.  Take it away from Judge Callahan, and do the right thing.

I dare you.

This is an article from The Weekly Standard that will provide more background.

Posted by Jay Kersting at 02:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Hillary Clinton is in the midst of two things.  First, she is having the worst month of her campaign.  That leads to the second, a new "likability" campaign.  So, what is there to like about Hillary?

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Well, -

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Um, -

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Then there is her laugh, which is a lot like the scratching of fingernails across a chalk board. 

Once again, before ANYONE jumps on me for picking on Senator Clinton of New York, professionally from Arkansas and grew up in Illinois, because she is a woman....STOP!!

I pick on her because she is a dangerous fraud of a human being.  She is completely insincere, just like her husband.  She has dangerous ideas that will break our country economically.  She has social ideas that make sensible people scratch their heads in an effort to simply release some of the steam so their heads do not explode. 

She is female in gender.  Seeing how she acts, and reading about stories on how she acts, Hillary Clinton is NOT a "lady" by the definition popularly used.  The best words to describe her should not be used in polite conversation.

I would vote for a woman.  In fact, there are probably many, many, many, many women that I would vote for IF they ran for office.  [Read This Editorial]

The scariest thing about Senator Clinton, that makes her less likable, is the jihadist fashion that her campaign operates in.  She has people fire shots at her opponents.  She then can sit securely behind the wall of "plausible deniability" and have that person quit.....to be rewarded later on.  And I am certain, not with 72 virgins.  I doubt there are any around that campaign.  Bill IS involved.

Next up, the Joe Lieberman endorsement of John McCain seems nice, but will it have any impact?  The McCain campaign was viewed as struggling back in June and the media attention since then has been less than helpful, while also not harmful.  Just sort of there.

So, what will this do to the early races?   

Not sure.  I have said before that I don't think endorsements do a whole lot.  I would hope that Joe Lieberman's endorsement would simply get people who would not vote in a GOP primary to look at McCain and see what they think.  My opinion is simple, look at all the candidates.  And if an endorsement comes out an surprises you, use that as an opportunity to give someone a second look.  BUT DO NOT Let that endorsement sway you blindly.

Unless it is me telling you to NOT vote for Hillary.  

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From Ocala, Florida - a 10 year old girl arrested for having a steak knife at school....and using it.......to cut her steak.

Zero Tolerance rules lead to no one thinking for themselves. 

Yes, she broke a rule. 

Here is an idea.  A teacher COULD have used COMMON SENSE and cut the girls steak, confiscated the knife and sent it home with her after school, or called her guardians to pick the knife up at school. 

Remember, this story comes to you from the state of Flori-DUH! 

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Here is a great story.  And hopefully, this will keep those who feared cruising to reconsider. 

Posted by Jay Kersting at 06:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

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As we drove around on Saturday and Sunday, I reminded Alex and Ben..."this is what snow is like boys."  They knew.  They liked it.  Until I made them shovel it.  And I did make them shovel it.  And again.  And again.

Of course, there was a problem on Sunday morning.  I left the house early to get something for my sons for Christmas that has been hard to find.  I am certain they do not read this, but why take any chances.  Well anyhow, I called home and Alex told me that his mom was outside shovelling snow.  I was not pleased.  Not because I wanted to shovel, far from it.  BUT, I am trying to teach work ethic and responsibility to my sons.  This is one of those rubs between Kathy and I as parents.  She would rather do something herself to just get it done.  I would rather make the boys do it and do it right even if it takes more time, and possibly effort, to get it done.  In this case, I told Alex to get outside with Ben and get to it.  When I got home, the boys were eating breakfast and Kathy was still shovelling.  I took the shovel from her hand and then told the boys they had ten minutes to get outside and get to it.  Kathy and I discussed the situation further and I think she now understands my viewpoint.....and she might even agree with me now.

Moving on, to other topics......

David Cutcliffe never should have been fired by Ole Miss.  I am sure that they feel that way in Oxford by now.  David is a man I had the opportunity to work with briefly.  He spent a season out of coaching and on the radio.  My interaction with David was minimal on the air, but I got a chance to chat with him regularly and appreciate his insight.  As much as I hate to see him leave my alma mater, this is great for him to get a chance to be a head coach again.  Duke is NOT an easy gig for a football coach.  Ask Steve Spurrier.  But David can probably get a degree of success there that hasn't happened since Spurrier. 

Coach Cut - best of luck to you.   

In other coaching changes, Rich Rodriguez to Michigan.  This surprises me from two perspectives.  First, Rodriguez is a West Virginia alum.  Second, Michigan has been notorious for being CHEAP when it comes to paying their coaches.  Well, based on the Michigan economy, he might be able to get a deal on a house.  Besides, moving from coal mine region depression to the auto industry depression could be an easy transition.

Is it a coincidence that Michigan raided West Virginia for their basketball coach earlier in the year?

Comments always welcome.

OH, and I saw the webstreaming computers this morning.  They are not installed, but that does tell me they will go in this week.  Corporate HQ has dictated a start date of January 1, 2008.  That means this show goes on January 2nd.  And on...and on....Could be on a repeating loop...we will see once it rolls out. 

Posted by Jay Kersting at 06:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Who would have ever thought that "He's making a list, checking it twice," could be used to talk about Senator George Mitchell?

Roger Clemens made the list.  But he told us he never used steroids.  

I think Clemens has a future in politics.  He looked many people in the eyes and told us all what he knew to be a lie.  I wonder if that AT&T Wireless ad will be replayed by competitors.  More proof that that AT&T's claims are bullshit, Roger Clemens endorsed them.  Hey, why not?

Of course, Clemens is not alone.  Twenty New York Yankees made Mitchell's reports.  HA HA HA HA!!!!  I have never liked the Yankees.  Well apparently, Major League Baseball has a culture of corruption.  I know, I stole that term from the world of politics.  But lets face it, MLB has been corrupt for a long time.  I want to blame A.H. Selig, but it goes beyond him.   

Enough on that topic.....for now.

But this time of year you see all kinds of lists come out regarding different things that have happened this year.  Now, we still have two weeks left in the year, so these lists are slightly premature.  Something COULD happen that would be worthy of one or more of these lists. 

That said, my favorite list so far is Time Magazine's list of the Top 10 Most Awkward Moments of the year. Here it is....my comments are [in brackets]

1.) Columbia University President Lee Bollinger invites the Iranian president to speak on campus. [Yeah, inviting him was sort of stupid.  His speech introducing him was uncomfortable, but it did lead to some funny, funny stuff from the sawed off little tyrant.]

2.) Paris Hilton cries for her mommy. [Come on.  It's not fair.]

3.) Alec Baldwin rips his daughter a new one. [Lessons in parenting from Hollywood.]

4.) David Hasselhoff drunk in the shower. [In 2008, look for David Hasselhoff drunk in __________ (fill in the blank) to make this list.]

5.) Family values Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) admits his number is in the so-called D.C. Madam's little black book.  [Jimmy Swaggart was from Louisiana also, right?]

6.) Britney Spears' zombie dance at the MTV Video Music Awards. [If something happens on television and if no one of significance sees it, does it matter?]

7.) Rosie O'Donnell calls co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck a coward on "The View." [If something happens on television and if no one of significance sees it, does it matter?]

8.) Fox TV censors Sally Field at the Emmy Awards.  [If something happens on television and if no one of significance sees it, does it matter?]

9.) Miss Teen South Carolina says Americans don't know about geography because they lack maps. [As much as many of us laughed at this, she showed what a great sport she was about this incident.  If you missed it, she appeared on ESPN's College Game Day to show everyone where her college was located.  She attends Appalachian State University.  You know, the Division I-AA school that beat Michigan back in week one of the season.]

10.) Rudy Giuliani's kids won’t back him for president.  [This speaks volumes, doesn't it?]

I'll comment on a few more lists before the year wraps up. 

OH, and good news, webstreaming of the show coming January 2nd!! (No show on the 1st.) 

Posted by Jay Kersting at 06:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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Ike Turner died yesterday.  I was never a huge fan, but he was a pioneer in rock music.  Kathy asked me what happened.  He was 76, he died.  Happens.

OK, so this morning, I overslept.  Until 5:30.  5:30!!!!  I have to be a work at 5:00!!!  I don't do that.  I have run late to work by a couple of minutes a few times.   But this was something I haven't done since I have been here.  No, I did not lose power.  I am just too dumb to figure out the complex workings of a digital alarm clock.  Rule number one, turn it on so that it will go off when you wish to wake up.

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The Mitchell Report comes out this afternoon.  We will find our how many of the superstars in Major League Baseball have been using performance enhancing drugs.  Most will be looking for those superstars names.  NOT me.  I will be looking for the other names.  Not the guys who never made it.  I want to see the names of those who fell on their faces.  The guys who were decent everyday players who contributed.  Then they decided they wanted to become a superstar and the performance enhancing drugs ruined them.  Those are the guys that once their names come out, those guys need to do the public service announcements.  I am not kidding when I say this, these are the ones who have the best story to tell.  "I tried it, it didn't work.  You shouldn't try it.  There are no shortcuts." 

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Atlanta Falcons players are mad at Bobby Petrino.  But not at Michael Vick?  WHAT?? 

A career job hopper hopped jobs once again and they are upset and angry over this?  BUT, when a teammate commits a series cruel crimes and that is OK?????

If you didn't know what kind of guy Bobby Petrino is, shame on you.  Look at his resume.  Signed a contract in July 2006 with Louisville for 10 years.  Six months later, he leaves.  Signs a five year deal in January with the Falcons, eleven months later he leaves.  And you are mad at him.

But Vick can directly or indirectly kill dozens of dogs and that is OK?

Another sport George Mitchell needs to look into. 

Posted by Jay Kersting at 07:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The Michael Vick debacle has claimed another victim.  Tired of being beaten like a dog, Bobby Petrino leaves the Atlanta Falcons for Fayetteville, Arkansas, to become the new coach of the Razorbacks.

Petrino was in his first season with the Falcons.

So, which is a better job, the NFL gig with the Atlanta Falcons or the college job with Arkansas? 

Honestly, I say the Razorbacks gig is better.  Sure the pay is a bit less, Petrino will only make about $2.8 million a year with Arkansas and he made nearly $5 million a year with the Falcons.  I hope he can make it after than pay cut.  But what really makes the gig better is that the expectations at Arkansas can be lowered the first two seasons.  He did a great job with Louisville and he wasn't there too long.  So, he can make this team HIS in two seasons. 

Petrino also gets back to the SEC.  Say what you will about the Southeastern Conference, but it is a highly regarded traditional power that also eats its young.  The SEC is the New York, New York, of College Football.  If, as a a coach, you can make it there, you can make it anywhere...except the NFL.  Just ask Nick Saban.  In other words, this year being really no different, the SEC puts forth a survivor most years in the National Championship hunt.

The real story here, Bobby Petrino has all but admitted that going to the National Football League was a big mistake.  

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Most people know, or can at least guess, that I am a fan of game shows.  Well, good game shows at least.  "Wheel of Fortune" is crap.  Sure tonight's show will have a puzzle about Jefferson City, but the show is still crap.  I mean really, can they give Vanna any less to do?  She doesn't show off the prizes you can buy any more.  She doesn't even turn letters any more.  WHY IS SHE THERE?

Anyhow, I am a little off track.  I learned this morning that Jeopardy's Alex Trebek is in the hospital following a heart attack.  I no longer watch Jeopardy on a regular basis, but that is a real game show.  Need to have broad knowledge and quick reactions.  And I will admit, Trebek is not my favorite, but he does a good job with the show and has taken himself less seriously as the years have passed.  I do hope he recovers quickly and gets back on the set.

And when he retires, I hope he recommends me for the gig.  Not that I want to live in California again, but I have always wanted to be a game show host.  If he quits now, he would have had a chance to meet me and recommend me for the job.  OK, so that ain't gonna happen.  I guess seeing a guy like Drew Carey get "The Price is Right" gave me some hope.  But, I am not a comedian.

In all honesty, I always was a bigger fan of Bill Cullen and Dick Clark.  Sadly, Dick Clark had a stroke and given his blessings to Ryan Seacrest.  I blame his doctors and therapists.  We do not need ANY more Seacrest.

Posted by Jay Kersting at 05:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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By now you have probably heard that Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months for his involvement in a dog fighting ring.  For background on this story and the violence that surrounds dog fighting, I'll refer you to a story done by Bernie Goldberg on "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" on HBO.  Brutal, brutal and cruel activity.  I am not a dog lover, but that is not to say that I don't like them.  My brothers have dogs and they are a big part of their families, we just don't in our family. 

OK, so what Vick did was wrong.  Obviously.  Most everything the man has done in his life since becoming a professional football player has been wrong.  He has been treated by the people around him in a way that allows him to feel that he has done no wrong.  You would think that his teammates on the Atlanta Falcons would have turned their backs on him after he left them without a quarterback this season.

You'd be wrong.

In a series of moves as misguided as those who wear "Free Mumia" t-shirts, or attend Hillary Clinton rallies, Vick's former teammates show signs of support while losing to the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football.

DeAngelo Hall, who also played with Vick at Virginia Tech, had "MV7" on the shade under his eyes.  Subtle.

Roddy White wore a t-shirt under his jersey that read "Free Mike Vick" and showed it off after scoring on a 33 yard pass from Chris Redman (who?).  Apparently, his Che Guevarra shirt was dirty. 

I'd like to remind Hall and White of one simple fact.  Your team stinks and a lot of that is due to the absence of Vick.  The Falcons are 3 and 10....I guess that leaves Atlanta the chance to draft another malcontent to lead them on the field next year.  But Hall and White would rather wait until 2009 when Vick gets out of prison and probably gets reinstated by the NFL.  

Maybe Hall and White would like to have Pac-Man Jones and Tank Johnson on the Falcons by then.  

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So last night I am in bed, winding down my day, trying to get to sleep when an ad for a feminine hygiene product comes on.  Normally, this does not get my attention.  However, it is about "girls in southern Africa" that do not go to school when they have their period.  That is sad, I agree.  But this company is going to donate a box for each box sold here in the US.  Nice gesture.

How about helping here in the USA?  Seriously, Oprah built a school in South Africa rather than help the incredibly poor here at home.  Nice gesture, look at how it turned out.  

Seriously, I am all for helping others.  But this is a case of reaching out to parts of the world where you cannot be sure that your help is really getting to those who need it.  I am not saying that there is a huge black market for feminine hygiene products, but there could be.

And no offense to other nations, and maybe you could call me jingoistic, but I'd rather insure that the children - male and female - of the United States get educated. 

Once things are taken care of here at home, help out the rest of the world.

Besides, this takes the "poor children of Africa" thing in a whole different direction. 

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Had a few calls this morning pointing out the number of trucks from Pike Electric and others coming to town to help restore the electricity throughout the area.  The Pike Electric crews came from North Carolina...I followed them here back in January after those storms...they had to drive 12 hours plus to get here.  Thanks to them for getting here to help out.  

Apparently, they have a sense of humor about their workload.  One of them told a listener that they were here for a Texas Hold-'em tournament.

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More to be added this morning.  Comment as you see fit. 

Posted by Jay Kersting at 06:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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First off, it is an icy mess here in Mid-Missouri.  Everyone here probably expects that to be the case.  I can tell you that when I left the house at 4:45 this morning, I wished that my car had skates.  I only slid six times before I got on to roads that had been treated.  Then I only slid four more times.  School is closed here today, not due to icy roads, but due to power outages.  Luckily for my family, where we are on ONLY electricity in our home, we never lost power, just flickered a few times.  Our neighborhood has underground utilities, but it is always a concern getting the power to THAT point.  Anyhow, we dodged a bullet.

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Saturday, I got a phone call from my older brother.  He wanted to let me know that my former employer, CompUSA, was going completely out of business.  Earlier this year or late last year, they closed down over half of their stores, including five of the seven locations that I worked at, leaving only Las Vegas and Knoxville remaining.   

By now, most people reading this are thinking, why do I care?  Not like I work there any more.  Not like I shopped there any more.  Well, let me explain.

Back in March 1992, I was working at a closed resort and attending school part time.  I was out shopping on a Sunday afternoon and I saw a sign for CompUSA.  They were opening soon and they were still hiring.  I was NOT exactly looking for a job, but I could use more money and maybe better hours.  On Monday, I called.  Then I went in and applied.  That afternoon, I interviewed.  I was offered the job and it paid about 50 cents more an hour than I was making.  Obviously, I took the gig.

Eight months later, I was working for them in Las Vegas.  There, I met Adrian Narvaez and we became friends.  Thirteen months later, Adrian was still working for CompUSA but by then living in Minnesota. He invited me to come for a visit.  When I got there, on New Years Eve, he set me up on a blind date.  She was someone he worked with at CompUSA.

Sixteen and a half months later, I married Adrian's co-worker....oh, and mine too.  Kathy and I, obviously, are still together.

Both Alex and Ben were born when I was working in the Corporate Sales division of CompUSA. 

Now, I do realize that in the demise of the company, I am focused on the positives.  Trust me, there were plenty of negatives.  Especially in the Knoxville location, where I was passed up for positions in favor of others full of promises they could not, and did not, ever fulfill.  I left the company on July 15, 1998.   I opened their 25th store, then their 38th store...and so on.  When I left, they were in the process of merging with Computer City and opening their 200th store.

So, I am saddened because CompUSA had a major impact on my life.  Specifically, the people I got to know by working there. 

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Oprah is helping Obama, and filling arenas and stadiums in doing so??? 25,000 went to Williams-Brice Stadium to see them in Columbia, South Carolina.

You have probably heard me offer more positive comments on Barack Obama than any other Democrat running for President.  I know that I disagree with a LOT of his policy positions, but I do like how he carries himself and how he answers some of the unimportant questions that candidates get.

The specific question was about his favorite TV shows.  Showing incredible honesty, Barack Obama admitted that he is a big fan of "Spongebob Squarepants" and a couple of other shows.  BUT, "Spongebob Squarepants" is the story.  Who else has the BALLS to admit that?

OK, John McCain said "Prison Break" was one of his favorites.  He probably sees that as a comedy, based on his experiences from October 1967 to March 1973.  

What I don't get about the stadium thing is the Oprah appeal.  She seems real nice, but I never thought she offered any real deep insight.  And I would never vote for someone because of a celebrity...especially not a talk show host.

Really, taking your cues from a talk show host?  Are you kidding me?

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Step outside this morning, especially those of us here in Mid-MO.  While Al Gore is getting his Nobel Peace Prize this morning, the rest of us know that he is full of shit!!! 

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Final thought, the local paper ran an editorial speaking out against casino gambling here in Jefferson City.  The stated that having legalized casino gambling is a double standard.  They say, if you operated the games as a private entity, you would be prosecuted.  But because the state allows it, it is OK.  I am paraphrasing, you can go to their website or grab a copy of yesterday's paper for the full text.  

Here is the real double standard, the very paper that is against state licensed casinos....runs advertisements from them.  In the very same issue of the paper no less.  

Actually, that is outright hypocrisy. 

Comment as you see fit. 

Posted by Jay Kersting at 05:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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In case we have forgotten, today is Pearl Harbor Day.  Pearl Harbor is a place and not a person.  I think made that mistake when I was five. 

Of course, today is the day when we commemorate the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese in 1941.  Obviously, unless you are as big a dullard as James Brolin, you never say "Happy" Pearl Harbor Day.  (If you don't get the reference, Brolin said "Happy September 11th" and chuckled about it on a radio show in Connecticut earlier this year.) It is day that needs to be lived like any other, with the addition of reflection on our past, 1941 being the focus.  In fact, we need to treat this date as a major turning point in our history.

Sure, the Japanese attacked us.  Sure, it was a surprise attack.  Now, the history lesson.

It wasn't supposed to be a surprise attack.  And I don't mean that the military, or the FDR administration, knew the attack was coming.  The Japanese intended to notify us that an attack was coming.  To not let us know would have been dishonorable.  Those who took part in the attack from the Japanese side thought that the USA had been told an attack was coming, just not the location.

It is true that diplomatic codes used by the Japanese had been cracked.  But the military codes hadn't.  So if you think that FDR could have stopped the attack and didn't, you are probably, but not definitely, incorrect.  

There are a lot of questions that are unanswered 66 years later.  One that is not, is the job done by the men and women of that era, both overseas fighting and at home.  For those in the armed services, the sacrifices were obvious.  Those at home had to deal with shortages, rationing and dozens of other issues on the homefront.

Today, we are in an on-going "War on Terror" and many are making great sacrifices.   Most of us, live life like we have always done so.  We are going to work, going home.  Drawing a paycheck.  Buying Christmas presents, or trying to buy a Nintendo Wii. 

Lets remember Pearl Harbor Day as the date that not only with live in infamy.  But also as a day that helped set up the lifestyle that most of us can enjoy today.

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Are news organizations EXPLOITING the Omaha mall shooting? 

Omaha, Nebraska, gets attention from the national news media when a few things happen.  One, the Omaha Oracle Warren Buffet says something.  Two, some might follow the College World Series in June.  Third, when something bad happens.

The focus Wednesday - HOW SAFE ARE AMERICA'S SHOPPING MALLS?

Thursday - The troubled killer.  Had he acted in reverse, which I have said ALL murder-suicides need to operate, this would be a non-story.

Today, several reporters are having to stay in Omaha.  You know they hate this, nothing worse for these cosmopolitan types who love New York, Washington and LA, to spend time in the Midwest.  

I still have seen NOTHING about the victims of the massacre.  Oh, besides that 8 were killed.

Exploitation?  Yeah.  If these news groups cared about anything besides themselves and their ratings, they would have made some comments about the victims besides the body count.  They would have told us about efforts to help the families of these folks out.  If they have, I have missed it.  If I am wrong, I'll actually apologize.  They won't for NOT doing the right thing.  They know better.

Just ask them.

Add your comments. 

Posted by Jay Kersting at 06:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Today, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will give a speech explaining his Mormon faith.

Really?

This matters in 2007?

Sure I live in a state that once issued an extermination order for Mormons.  (Missouri Executive Order 44, but Governor Lilburn Boggs in 1838.) No, there is no truth to the rumor that the order led to the founding of Orkin.  That is just sick.  Then Governor Kit Bond did recind the order in 1976, and I think that is what allowed Mizzou to schedule a game with BYU.

OK, all jokes aside, really, this is an issue?

Well, it enough of an issue for me to have Michael Miller from the Acton Institute come on the show this morning to talk a little further about it.  

This is the time when I will start to hear talk about "separation of church and state"....which is when I will respond by reminding EVERYONE the legal standing of that phrase.  Courts gave that phrase legal standing, not law.  In fact, let us now look once again at the First Amendment.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

The first clause of the First Amendment is the key to this discussion.  Mitt Romney will not convert us IF he becomes President.  He may wish to, but your conversion to the Church of Latter Day Saints will be on your own. 

So, in my opinion, this discussion is only as appropriate as Romney himself makes it.

Will his theological view have an impact on policy decisions?  Probably.  Did Jimmy Carter's views as a Southern Baptist steer him?  Probably.  Does that make it a reason to NOT vote for a Southern Baptist in the future?  Hmm...OK, not a good example.  Did Richard Nixon's views as a Quaker impact what he did?  Maybe, but again it is not fair to judge all Quakers based on Richard Nixon.  Besides, oatmeal is great for your heart.

In 1960, this was an issue for John Kennedy.  It was also an issue in 1928 for Al Smith.  Both were Roman Catholic.  Anti-Catholic bigotry was believed to be a factor in the landslide loss for Smith, so Kennedy gave a speech to "nip it in the bud" to use the words of Barney Fife. 

I have not been around all of that time.  It has been OVER 47 years since Kennedy gave his speech and I am only 37.  But I have been led to believe that a lot of positive changes came to America starting in the 1960's.  

Apparently, that is a load of raw sewage.  The same bigotries exist today, whether racial, gender or religious based.  And there are other categories.

I admit to one form of bigotry.  I have a strong dislike of the ignorant.  Let me explain this again.

Too often people use the term ignorant interchangably for stupid.  Completely different things.  Thinking they are the same is, well, ignorant.  Ignorant is a lack of knowledge or comphrension.  Stupid is lacking intelligence or reason.  Ignorance can be corrected.  As Ron White says, "You can't fix Stupid."

So, are the concerns over Romney's religion really necessary?  I doubt it. 

For now, I am more interested in hearing what Romney has to say about it.  Because what he says can do one of two things.  It can put out the fire, or it could further fuel the fire.

For now, I support no one who is running and have been outspoken on who I am against. 

Are you concerned?  Post your comments here, let me know why you are concerned.  Because for now, I just don't get it. 

Posted by Jay Kersting at 05:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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Seems that maybe I have gotten a little too serious lately.  Maybe I have offered too many thoughts on the manic college football season.  It is possible that I have spent a little too much time picking on the short comings of the choices we face from the Republicans and Democrats as we move toward picking our next President.

Some might think that I have spent a little too much time on topics like what the young people in our communities are doing, or how people who camp out to go shopping are nuts.

So that said, I think it is time to hit on something that is a little more of a issue that we deal with on a daily basis.

What color is your next car going to be?

DuPont Automotive Systems has released a study, and you can find it in USA Today, that lets all of us know what the Carrie Underwood of automobile colors is for 2007.

It is white.

But wait, there is more.  Not only is white the most popular car color, but pearlized white is part of that.  Now, let me explain.  Pearlized white does not mean white that has been autographed or approved by the Tennessee basketball coach.  No, pearlized white is the white that changes.  As you walk around the car, pearlized white changes in the sun.  It goes from white to, uh, white.

For the last seven years silver has been the gold standard of colors for new cars.  But in 2007, silver comes in second.  For some reason, that seems more appropriate.  Black came in third.  I think that is continued push back against Herny Ford who told his buyers that they could have any color, as long as it was black.

As some of you may or may not know, I now drive what WAS Kathy's car.  It is really similar to my old car.  It is a 1997 (as opposed to 1996) Ford Taurus.  It is Green.

Green was popular a few years ago.  Really popular, not number one color popular, but it was up there.  In fact, in the movie "Meet The Parents" Robert DeNiro's character comments on how smart people pick green for their cars.  NO, that was not why I bought a green car.  I bought it used and it was the best deal on the lot and yeah, I just like the color green.

But now green is only the preference of 2 percent of new car buyers.  I almost shed a tear.

Coming in fourth place is red.  I guess that encompasses Merlot, which is the color of Kathy's 2007 Taurus.  I guess what makes that cool, is that the car matches our bedroom.  But still, only fourth most popular among new car colors.

Grey is fifth, different than silver - which was second.  Blue tied for fifth.

In seventh place, beige/brown, which are combined, unlike silver and grey.  But beige/brown only scored 5 percent. 

Yellow/Gold, again combined colors....unlike, AGAIN, silver and grey.  But only scoring 3 percent of new car buyers.  Seems like I have seen a lot more than 3 percent of SUV's paintedin that Taxi Cab/Federal Safety Color Number 5 shade of yellow.  And a lot of Buick's are gold.  I think that is a requirement for being a Buick.

Anyhow, all hail White/Pearlized White as the new leader of automotive colors.  

Now, white is considered a "palate cleanser" of auto colors, so don't expect it to hold the top spot for long.

You never know, it could, like if it was pearlized, shift from white to, uh, white. 

Posted by Jay Kersting at 05:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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So Mizzou is set to play Arkansas on New Years Day at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.  Arkansas closed out their season by defeating LSU in triple overtime and knocking them out of the National Championship hunt. 

Well, that was the wisdom at the time.  In the 2007 season, that statement never should have been made. 

So now that the bowl games are set, the coaching changes continue.

Lets go back to Arkansas for a second.  After that big win over LSU, Houston Nutt's time in Fayetteville was locked in for a long time.   Two days can be a long time, right?  So while Arkansas, where long time Athletic Director and former coach Frank Broyles retires before the Cotton Bowl, is looking for their new coach, Reggie Herring takes over for the bowl game.  Incoming AD Jeff Long is now courting his friend Tommy Bowden for the gig.  Bowden is getting $1.3 million now at Clemson, looking to get a raise there up to $1.7 million....but Arkansas might give him the $2 million that Nutt was getting. 

Now, I don't know about you, but is it worth moving your family for just an additional $300k a year? 

OK, so this is going to be the FOURTH team this season that Mizzou will face with a coaching change.  Of course, this one is happening BEFORE they play.  But I doubt that the new coach will handle the bowl game...well, the NEW, NEW coach.  Reggie Herring is a NEW coach, for now.

Other changes of note....yesterday UCLA fired Karl Dorrell.  Normally, this would not bother me. I have less love for ucla than I do for even Florida.  In fact, my distaste for these two schools is so great that if they played each other in a game, I'd be for the meteor. Not a dinosaur killer, just enough to improve the gene pool.  Well, this firing leaves me a little concerned because of the collateral damage.  The bruins O-line coach is someone that I got to know a little bit, Bobby Connelly. 

I was supposed to meet Bobby back in 2003 following the Tennessee-Alabama game.  However, one of his lineman broke his leg and he spent his time with his player that night.  In 2005, following an Alabama win, he came over to his neighbors house, my good friend Roger Thompson.  He was enjoying a win over a Tennessee team that was good, but had fallen apart following that game.  As is tradition in this game, there were post-game cigars, something started by Bear Bryant himself.  In defeat, we enjoyed cigars with Bobby.  

The following year, Roger and Deb had moved their family to Indiana.  When they came down to Knoxville, Roger and I met with Bobby the night before the game. 

Anyhow, I don't know him well, but I do know him.  I certainly hope things work out for what is best for Bob and Rocky.  Good people and they deserve better...of course, in my opinion, most anything is better than ucla.

Other coaching changes are sort of out there where you don't think much about them.  Not at a school you follow, no one you know is working there.

But what else makes it easy to build the distance from these jobs, is the money associated with them.  How many people do you know that can relate to seven figure paychecks?

I know many people are envious, or outrightly jealous, of those who get those big paydays.  And that is understandable.  But my mom once pointed out, if you want to trade places with someone, would you really trade for EVERYTHING?  That is where I am not sure.  I would love that big paycheck, but I am not sure I want all that pressure.  Nor am I sure that I would want to trade the years of TINY pay to get to the level of the big checks.  Considering that most who take that path never get there, I doubt I would venture down that path.

When you consider that your actions and success, or lack there of, can effect others lives, I'd rather not jump into that mess.

For now, I will sit back and watch what happens on the college football coaching roller coaster.  And be thankful that I am not on that ride. 

Posted by Jay Kersting at 05:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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So, I come in to the studio this morning and I notice that have of the display on the control board has gone dark.  What does this mean?  Well, it is an electronic display where each of the pots (potentiometers) is labeled what it is currently set up to be.  With the display out, it is a bit like driving a car without knowing where your gas, brake, windshield wipers and turn signals are located.  Luckily, I have one way of figuring out what is what temporarily and labeling each one with a Post It note.  This morning, I am really loving 3M.

Now, let's make things more interesting.   The clock on the computer that runs all of the automation has been messed up for a while.  Despite the best efforts of the engineering staff here, they can't seem to get it to stay set correctly.  And trust me, they have done everything that could be done and nothing has worked.  Now, this normally only is noticable during the syndicated programming.  We have a clock in the studio that is synchronized with the atomic clock so we handle it manually just fine.  Of course, to pile on the weekday staff, someone screwed with that clock and I had to reset it/resychronize it. 

Then at 6:20 this morning, we went off the air. 

Huh, I just realized it is Monday.  Who knew?

Of course, I am kidding.  I am just illustrating that I can relate to EVERYONE else who complains about Mondays.

OK, so this weekend was one that left a lot of us with mixed feelings.

Saturday, the Kersting family went to the Miller Performing Arts Center to see The Little Theater's presentation of "A Christmas Story" before I had to head up to Columbia.  Let me just say this, and I know it is considered to be damn near blasphemy to some, I never really liked the movie.  I see is as highly overrated.  However, the play was really good.  They adapted the movie quite well and I found the presentation in that format to be a lot better.  And the folks who took on the familiar roles did a great job.  In fact, Kathy was talking yesterday afternoon about how much Patrick Walker sounded like Darren McGavin's big screen portrayal.  So, I do not like the movie, but I liked the play.  So, Bravo to The Little Theater!!

I had to duck out as the actors were taking their bows so that I could get to Columbia for "On A Football Saturday"....because we were at a different location and I hadn't been there before.  So, I found the Sports Zone and had a little time to stop at Target to pickup ONE item for Ben.  Not a Christmas Present, but a great behavior at school reward. 

Then I got into radio geek heaven.  I was able to tune in the beginning of the SEC Championship on the radio.  It got the Vol Network broadcast of Bob Kesling, Tim Priest and Mike Stowell (I didn't know he was the new sideline guy until then) on 1510 AM WLAC.  (I will need to let Patrick Blankenship know this...he is the Assistant PD there and a buddy of mine from our days at WUTK.) I was surprised how clear the signal was at 3:00 in the afternoon.  I listened for Tennessee's first touchdown, then headed inside for work.

"On A Football Saturday" was at the SportsZone inside the Holiday Inn Select, the same place where "Tiger Talk" is done each week.  Nice atmosphere, great crowd and we had a great show as well.

Of course, everything slid downhill after that.  Tennesee had a halftime lead.  After the show, I headed home and re-entered radio geekdom by listening to both the Vol Network on 1510 am and the LSU Tiger network on WWL (870 am).  Had to flip back and forth based on the interference.  But it was cool, as a radio nerd, to be able to catch the game on my ride home.

The result was NOT what I wanted.

Got home and watched the Mizzou/Oklahoma game.  I predicted a BIG win.  Unfortunately, I picked a big win for Mizzou.  I was wrong.  I was very proud of the Tigers at the end of the first half.  Martin Rucker caught a pass from Jeremy Maclin for a 2 point conversion....the simply set the ball down and dropped to a knee in prayer.  In my opinion, that was what football players NEED to do.  Act like you have been there before...not this stupid Billy "White Shoes" Johnson dance thing....or anything by Terrell Owens.  But then it all fell apart.

OK, so the BCS is not perfect.  In fact, it sucks.  I agree that the rule about not letting 3 teams in the conference in to BCS bowl games is not fair. 

Where were all of the complaints back in 2001 when Tennessee got snubbed?  And 2004?  Hey, get over it.  The rule may stink, but they are the rules. If you don't like them NOW, push for a change.

Oh, and did you notice that TWO teams Mizzou beat are in BCS bowls? 

OK - next subject.  Had a nice visit from some friends we hadn't seen in a couple of years.  Hillary and Rob have been in Little Rock for the last few years due to Rob being stationed there as a officer in the US Air Force.  Then something changed and Rob is now an officer in the US Army.  As  part of that change, they got transferred to Fort Leonard Wood....only a little more than an hour away.  They came by and visited for a couple of hours.  Just sat around and talked, it was nice.  I think we will be getting together with them more often.

Brother, can you spare a Wii?  I asked someone this weekend why the issues with the Nintendo Wii.  For some background, note that the Wii has been around for over a year.  In fact, last December a radio station in Sacremento killed a listener in a stupid contest called "Hold Your Wee for a Wii"....listener died of water intoxication.  So, what is the problem now?  Supply and demand is part of it.  The weak dollar is part of it.  First, the supply is low because Nintendo got stuck with millions of their Game Cube system a few years back.  Second, Nintendo is based in Japan.  The dollar is VERY weak now.  I think Nintendo can make more money selling the systems elsewhere.  Now, can someone put that in terms that a 12 year old and 10 year old can appreciate?

From the world of politics, Venezuela got it right.  They voted to prevent Hugo Chavez from becoming sawed off tyrant for life.  Russia got it wrong.  Putin got Kasparov in Check Mate....had some help I am sure.  And finally, we now have another reason not to support Hillary Clinton.  Do you LIKE being held hostage? 

Comment as you see fit...and do your Google searches from this page. 

Posted by Jay Kersting at 05:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)