Jay Kersting's Blog

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? 

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