webster1114

All Good Things...

2010-10-06T13:37:00.004-04:00

...as you can see, I am no longer updating my blog with any regularity. Facebook and Twitter have overtaken the longer form internet presence for me.

And so for anyone who may still wander past this blog I invite you to browse around, check out the posts if you care to that date back as far as, I think, 2006?

But I also invite you to join my far more frequently updated entries on both Facebook and Twitter by clicking on the logos.

If you're already a member of either or both, terrific. If you're not, it's free and easy to join. Hope you'll consider it!

Thank you.
John
webster@wilknewsradio.com

A Safe and Happy 4th of July!

2010-07-04T07:57:00.004-04:00

Some More On What Happened

2010-06-13T00:00:00.004-04:00

Some kind words in some comments on my Facebook page about my leaving 107 that included an assumption or supposition about the reason for my departure prompted my reply which I've decided to post here as well.

Jeanine, David, and Alice, thanks for the kind words.

I didn't ask for a single thing when I left. I left because I had been asking for things for years leading up to my departure. Not exorbitant raises (my last was 1.5%) but things that would make the show better.

But there was no imagination or creativity at management level going WAY back and couple that with a budget that got stingier and tighter every year and we passed the blood from a stone mark somewhere in the late 90's.

A new GM was on the scene and I was his "golden boy". I had more meetings in the last three months I worked there than in the previous three years and I was taken into his confidence. "I'm going to fire the program director. I'm going to take your partner off mornings and cut his pay, take it or leave it and it's going to be Webster in the morning and we'll hire a producer with your partner's pay cut." Frankly it felt very snake-oily and I was less comfortable there than ever before.

I don't know what they have planned for the morning now though I don't think what they're doing now is it. I wish them all luck. Eric is talented and Mike is ambitious.

I miss Ruth. I miss a few others who I can call friends there. I don't miss anything or anyone else.

I'm having a great time at WILK. Everyone has been very helpful, welcoming, and accommodating. Every morning flies by and Nancy is a great partner even when we lock horns on issues. It's a show first.

I've said it a thousand times over the years. If we KNEW that listeners would be attracted by someone standing in a studio banging on a pot with a stick, we could just as easily be doing that on the radio in the morning. It's a business first. We're there to attract listeners and tell advertisers "Hey, we have a lot of people who will hear your commercial!" Period.

Be that as it may, I'll say this. I'm early for work every day. I didn't know it could be like this.

Thank you again for the kind words. I'm grateful to you and to this business that allows me to make a living doing essentially what I used to get detention for in high school!

Gaga

2010-06-08T17:15:00.002-04:00

First artist to reach over a billion online video views. More than just a pop culture musical artist du jour. Not sure what or how. Something more. A billion.

To boldly go...

2010-05-17T10:43:00.001-04:00

The Friday Beerbuzz

2010-05-06T13:19:00.003-04:00

Friday, May 7th marks the start of a new segment on "The Morning News with Webster and Nancy" on WILK.

It's "The Friday Beerbuzz" with Bill from MyBeerBuzz.com! Joining Bill, Nancy and me will be WILK's Joe Thomas and Sue Henry.

We'll be talking about and tasting craft and microbrews both local and from around the world.

So, maybe you already enjoy beers that are a little off the beaten path and that's great. And maybe you like beer but just not "that fancy stuff". Well don't think "fancy", think "tasty"! If you like the popular, mainstream beers, you might just find out that you could be liking beer even more!

"The Friday Beerbuzz", this and every Friday after the news at 8:30am on WILK 103.1FM or online at wilknewsradio.com!

TV

2010-04-27T16:04:00.003-04:00

Everyday our morning radio show is on TV from 7 to 8am on FOX56. I won't get into why I think we're on, suffice it to say that during that hour I'm trying to learn to be less conscious of the camera while at the same time trying to remember to keep to keep my fingers away from the vicinity of my nose.

After we got off the air this morning, Nancy and I headed over to FOX56 to shoot some video for the show promo. We did some stuff together and individually which they will now cobble into some fifteen and thirty second enticements to get you to watch our daily little ersatz television offering. Nancy took a few pictures of me and I returned the favor.

I didn't love any of the shots of me but I do like this one. In it we see Kung Fu Kman conducting her video martial arts exhibition!

Nothing Left

2010-04-22T20:45:00.002-04:00

Our Friend Dirt

2010-04-22T14:23:00.003-04:00

A New URL for This Blog

2010-04-20T22:08:00.004-04:00

This blog now has a NEW URL. It is www.websterwilk.com.

Since you're here you likely already know that but not necessarily. The URL change will redirect from the old URL to this new one for a few days, after that it may not.

So it's a heads-up that may not be necessary for a few days but then you might get one of those "No such URL" fail pages and then won't you be all ticked off and maybe you'll punch your monitor and send it flying off the desk and end up having to spend two hundred bucks to replace it and that's not going to happen because I didn't let you know.

So we good?

Thanks!

Catharsis

2010-04-16T17:11:00.010-04:00

I owned Partridge Family albums when I was a kid. If I can admit that I can admit that I watch "Glee". Do you? If you don't, click this video and you'll be all caught up in sixty seconds.

180 Million Views

2010-04-16T15:35:00.000-04:00

A Fast Three Hours

2010-04-12T13:43:00.006-04:00

We kicked off the new show on WILK 103.1FM this morning!

It was decided we'd call it "The Morning News with Webster and Nancy." That decision came from WILK management after Times-Shamrock, parent company of the Times-Tribune and Rock107 took the question of who owns my name to court.

They lost.

In the event the case didn't go my way I'd received a lot of suggestions on what we might call the show. Among my favorites? "Nancy and Sluggo", "Nancy and Clancy", "Nancy and Bobby Lynett", and seemingly inspired by the old Tarzan movies, "Nancy and Boy!"

It was a fast three hours today and I'd like to take this opportunity to say thanks to everyone who listened and called and thanks especially to Nancy Kman who is doing all the heavy lifting while I get accustomed to this next step in my alleged career.

At this pace, my next radio job will come the same year my birthday cake has 78 candles but since I plan to hit the Powerball long before that, this radio job will certainly be my last. That said, it's an exciting time and I hope you'll give us a listen tomorrow morning! 103.1FM or listen online at www.wilknewsradio.com!

WILK April 12th 6am

2010-03-31T13:49:00.004-04:00

That's where I'm going. I'll be doing the morning show with Nancy Kman. I am SO looking forward to this opportunity. I can't wait to get started.

I hope you'll join us there. And remember WILK is also on 103.1FM and you can listen online at www.wilknewsradio.com!

Thank you all for the kind words, thoughts, and sentiments. They mean more than I can say.

Best,
John

Thank You

2010-03-30T16:53:00.004-04:00

Today I gave my notice and am no longer employed at Rock107. No, not an early April Fool's joke.

Twenty-five plus good years and so many memories there. I offer my thanks to the Times-Shamrock organization for providing me the opportunity.

But most importantly, thanks to you for listening. And know that...

I'll be back!

In 1945...

2010-03-29T13:46:00.001-04:00

...Nazis went to the moon.

In 2018 they're coming back.

A Billion Hits...

2010-03-27T00:24:00.004-04:00

The Last Advertising Agency on Earth

2010-03-26T22:56:00.001-04:00

Click it.

The Last Advertising Agency On Earth from FITC on Vimeo.

Used to be a Bad Idea?

2010-03-24T15:46:00.001-04:00

Fast Forward 35 Years...

2010-03-24T15:20:00.006-04:00

In 1976 Al Yankovic, a high school senior, sat upstairs in his room with an accordion and a cassette tape recorder. He made up a couple of songs and sent them to Dr. Demento.

Here's the trailer for the upcoming movie of Weird Al Yankovic's life story...more or less.

"Weird: The Al Yankovic Story" from Aaron Paul

Extreme Ironing

2010-03-24T07:47:00.001-04:00

The latest danger sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well pressed shirt.

Presumed Innocent

2010-03-18T14:25:00.006-04:00

Like jackals assembling to scavenge a carcass yet to drop to the dusty savannah floor, the Cordaro/Munchak haters have begun a howling frenzy of "GUILTY!" and "CROOKS!"

Bob Cordaro and A.J. Munchak were arraigned this afternoon on corruption charges and released on their own recognizance.

Meanwhile Lackawanna County commissioners Mike Washo and Corey O'Brien are calling for Munchak's resignation. I suppose you'd expect that. To do anything less wouldn't do them any good politically.

I wish I knew something about body language. That hunched up elbow lean and tight-lipped frown makes Corey look...tense, doesn't it?

(Disclosure: That's a Mike Mullen/Times-Tribune picture I borrowed by the way. The Times-Tribune and Rock107 are both owned by Times/Shamrock Communications. I don't steal things from work much. Hope it's not a problem.)

Now that the feds have moved up valley from Luzerne County, with rumors that agents are buying homes in northeast PA because they're expecting to have enough work for years to come I only hope they give the once over to everything. County, city, towns, boroughs, school boards. Dig deep. And dig as far back as the statute of limitations will allow.

I suspect I'm wasting my breath here but like those whose vote for President went to "not Bush", you may not have been a fan of "bigmouth, pushy, arrogant" Bob Cordaro or "his trusty sidekick" A.J. Munchak but try to keep in mind that thing about innocent until proven guilty. You know, the thing you'd be screaming if you were charged with a crime. Just sayin'.

FlyFire

2010-03-15T20:54:00.002-04:00

A step in the direction of "smart dust", radio-controlled flying light sources. Imagine thousands at once filling the night sky with...advertisements?

...and the occasional awkward silence.

2010-03-12T07:37:00.004-05:00

Conan O'Brien is putting together a 30 cities (and the list is growing) "half-assed" tour of what he's described as, "A night of music, comedy, hugging, and the occasional awkward silence."

It's "The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour".

Presently the only PA date is at the Tower Theatre June 7th in Upper Darby. Other "nearby" shows are scheduled for New York, Boston, and Atlantic City. Click teamcoco.com for info and tickets!

"You need only watch this video...

2010-03-05T21:34:00.002-05:00

...to understand why you're already a fan."

At least according to the Fans of Eduard Hill Facebook page. My son "tweeted" the link tonight. I wonder what my college experience might have been like with an internet.

Anyway, you're going to love this.

Taking the Boat Out This Weekend?

2010-03-04T07:17:00.002-05:00

It's all electric. I can't find the price anywhere. I wonder what the trailer looks like?

...also moderation of alcohol intake.

2010-03-01T22:12:00.005-05:00

President Obama underwent a physical at Bethesda Naval Hospital this week. The doctors say he's in good shape but needs to continue his "nicotine replacement therapy".

The President previously claimed he'd quit smoking though does occasionally have a cigarette. I guess that's a variation on the theme of "quit".

And the last line of this British newspaper's online story says the doctors have also recommended "moderation of alcohol intake". Click HERE.

Recalculating...

2010-03-01T06:04:00.003-05:00

That's her. The recalculating lady. The voice in your GPS that sounds like it gets just a little bit more aggravated when you miss two or more turns in a row.

She's Karen Jacobsen, a singer and songwriter from Australia and in 2002 she auditioned for and got the job of recording about fifty hours worth of messages, information, and directions heard in millions of GPS systems around the world.

She's presently working on, yes, a television show spinoff of her GPS notoriety to go with the many speaking engagements and appearances that have come her way as a result of landing the voice-over job. She says when people find out who she is they sometimes make requests. She's asked to repeat the line, "At the next available intersection, turn left" often but she holds a special place in her heart for "Recalculating."

Lilly Scott

2010-02-24T07:28:00.005-05:00

I don't know if she has any chance of winning American Idol, but I liked her. She's Lilly Scott from Denver and is, if you believe the AI publicity machine, a street musician. She provided the "something different" aspect as the girls started the live competition last night.

Well Done

2010-02-24T06:55:00.000-05:00

Who Knew?

2010-02-19T07:00:00.003-05:00

Yesterday the conversation went something like this, "Ruth, the monster truck is El Toro Loco, do you know what that means?"

And Ruth replied, "The crazy lawnmower?"

And we laughed and I made fun of her silly idea.

Well it might be a little bit silly but it's for real! We got a call from Howie, the Northeast Regional Director of the Lawn Mower Racing Association this morning! Click HERE to check out the website.

El Toro Loco!

2010-02-19T06:19:00.001-05:00

It means The Crazy Bull and it's driven by Chris Baker, on the show today. Monster Jam is at the Mohegan Sun Arena all weekend!

Doug Fieger

2010-02-14T19:51:00.001-05:00

Doug Fieger, lead singer of The Knack, best known for their 1979 hit "My Sharona" died today. He was 57.

Click This

2010-02-10T09:19:00.002-05:00

Snow on the Way

2010-02-09T17:08:00.001-05:00

Here's the latest map.

You're Playing Like Betty White Out There

2010-02-08T11:55:00.003-05:00

I enjoyed the Boost Mobile/Shufflin' Crew spot, I thought the Letterman promo was genius, and the Budweiser "Bridge Out" spot was good too but I guess I probably liked this Superbowl commercial the best. (Sorry about the attached commercial TO the commercial, price you pay.)

<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=116f413e-e1fc-4b09-80e9-2c29009d76a8&from=IV2_en-us_foxsports_videocentral" target="_new" title="Snickers: Betty White">Video: Snickers: Betty White</a>

Congratulations Sarah

2010-02-07T13:11:00.002-05:00

2010 Snack Stadium Smackdown

2010-02-07T12:27:00.001-05:00

If nothing else it might be a reminder of something you forgot to get before game time. Speaking of which, I like the Saints! But I don't think they're going to win.

A Strong Safety Rope is Essential

2010-02-05T07:10:00.001-05:00

Lady Gaga, 2005

2010-02-01T16:13:00.007-05:00

This is Lady Gaga.

She won two Grammys last night, Best Dance Recording and Best Electronic/Dance Album.

Her real name, you might be surprised to learn, is not Lady Gaga. It is in fact Joanne Stefani Germanotta. This picture is more or less how we know her nowadays.

But here's a video of her from a 2005 talent show when she was still an aspiring singer, songwriter, musician.

Balinese Monkey Chant

2010-01-30T18:55:00.000-05:00

Milk? Milk? Lemonade?

2010-01-29T18:49:00.001-05:00

They Banned This?

2010-01-29T13:42:00.002-05:00

The GoDaddy.com's Superbowl commercial didn't make the cut. CBS said it "has the potential to offend viewers" and it's not going to be included in the Superbowl commercial lineup.

Here it is. Not gettin' it.

First There's the Name

2010-01-28T07:38:00.001-05:00

Mac/Apple lovers say "Don't hate on the iPad." Good advice. No one's actually had one in their hands yet aside from Steve Jobs.

Lots of tech columnists agree, until they actually become available don't be too quick to judge this Etch-a-Sketch sized iPod Touch looking thing.

But the folks at Gizmodo are one big ball of underwhelmed.

Ithacapella

2010-01-27T16:50:00.004-05:00

My daughter Emily is a freshman at Ithaca College and sends this video of her school's all-male a capella ensemble, Ithacapella.

In a nationwide tour over January break the group found themselves in Los Angeles where they contacted Ryan Seacrest's production company, one thing led to another, and this is the result. They'll appear in a montage on American Idol on February 3rd performing their version of "Pants on the Ground!"

(Check out the Ithacapella YouTube channel. Click HERE.)

Most Watched

2010-01-27T15:58:00.006-05:00

FOX News was the most watched primetime cable network last week according to the Nielsen Company. That's not to say they were first among news channels, they were first among all cable channels, edging out USA for the top slot.

The other news channels didn't fare nearly as well. CNN was in 22nd place, MSNBC, 25th.

Click HERE for more.

Oh Yeah? So???

2010-01-25T07:29:00.002-05:00

On MSNBC Last Tuesday Olbermann didn't handle Scott Brown's win very well. It was sad to watch and evidently even Olbermann admits it.

Genius Motivated

2010-01-21T11:53:00.004-05:00

This video comes with an advertisement that I couldn't delete but it's worth waiting to get to the bit.

This is inspired. A masterpiece and a well-deserved kick in NBC's ass.

Beaucoup de Fromage

2010-01-21T07:12:00.002-05:00

(Some language not for polite company.)

Pants on the Ground: Neil Young

2010-01-15T07:29:00.003-05:00

Pants on the Ground

2010-01-14T06:45:00.005-05:00

In the past "American Idol" has given us William Hung's "She Bang" and Renaldo Lapuz with "You Are My Brother".

This season, the breakout hit of the AI Season 9 auditions to date? General Larry Platt with an original composition he calls "Pants on the Ground."

On CNN?

2010-01-13T22:45:00.002-05:00

We'll See

2010-01-13T09:08:00.001-05:00

Wingapo James Cameron

2010-01-05T06:49:00.006-05:00

James Cameron's "Avatar" has made in excess of a billion dollars worldwide since it's mid-December release. Karen and I saw it on it's opening night in 3D and it is for sure a visually stunning film. The New York Times called it "Glorious", Roger Ebert, "Extraordinary!"

But there was something familiar about the story. In fact Karen made this very comparison the night we saw it.

This from YesButNoButYes.com. Click the link or the image.

Happy New Year

2010-01-03T16:58:00.004-05:00

Right after Christmas my wife and kids and I headed to San Diego for a week.

Nearly every day was sunny and 65 to 70 degrees and San Diego is truly beautiful. But like most vacations, after a week or so you start to wish you were home again...where it's gray and snowy and 10 degrees.

We had a great time in San Diego. Visited the zoo, Sea World, the Gaslamp District, and the Stone Brewing Company in Escondido.

I was on Twitter and Facebook with my phone but didn't really spend too much time in front of a computer so allow me to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year! If you're reading this you already know how to get here but you can also jump in on Twitter.com/webster107 or Facebook.com/webster107! Thank you dropping by, thanks for listening and Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T00:01:00.002-05:00

To Promote the General Welfare...

2009-12-16T11:10:00.001-05:00

I think we'll be hearing more from Allen West in the months and years to come.

Separated at Birth?

2009-12-16T07:21:00.018-05:00

This is WBRE's Kristi Capel. The "wacky" story this morning on our daily TV chat with Kristi was about an attempt to set a "most men shaving at once" world record in Mumbai, India.

On hand for that event was Bollywood actress Mugdha Godse. I confess I hadn't heard of Mugdha before today but Kristi pretended she had, even called her "my cousin"! So I looked Mugdha up on the internet, the kind of thing, as you know, that the internet was made for!

And here's Mugdha Godse.

Is it just me or is there a resemblance?

Moose Eyeballs and Spock's Brain

2009-12-14T15:42:00.002-05:00

Stars in Sky Look Down Where Lay

2009-12-08T06:51:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Son!

2009-12-03T00:01:00.000-05:00

A handful of longtime listeners may remember...

...it seems like it was just a day or two ago. I was at work. I was carrying a pager at the time because Karen was going on three weeks past her due date and because cellphones were about the size of a shoe box and more a curiosity than anything useful. Didn't need the pager as it turned out. About 7:30 that Friday morning she called.

"It's time."

On the radio I blurted out "MY WIFE'S HAVING THE BABY!" And I bolted out the door for home. About 1:30 the following morning I called "The Chairman of the Board", Ed Hamilton who was on the air at the time and announced that our son John was born.

...seems like it was just a day or two ago.

Happy 21st birthday son!

Love,
Mom and Dad

Why Am I Such a Misfit?

2009-12-02T15:06:00.002-05:00

Songs, cartoon characters, TV shows from the "good ol' days", ad agencies know exactly which buttons to push to affect consumers, sometimes in ways in which we're not even consciously aware.

Verizon has a masterpiece here.

"I'n not gonna fight witcha..."

2009-12-02T14:16:00.004-05:00

Comedy Central's "TOSH.O" wants to make Scranton councilwoman Judy Gatelli and "console" meeting frequent contributor Ray Lyman stars!

TOSH.O, Thursdays at 10pm on Comedy Central, is hosted by Daniel Tosh and is a show about wacky, interesting, funny and/or unusual web trends, videos, etc. They've been watching the Youtube Scranton City Council meeting videos. Click. Click!

Happy Birthday Billy!

2009-11-30T15:56:00.003-05:00

Billy Idol turns 54 today. And while it's no Rebel Yell, this video proves he still rocks. Heck, it even says "rock" in the title of the song!

Scranton Christmas Windows 1938 - 1960

2009-11-30T14:23:00.005-05:00

Gene Giancini found a series of holiday window pictures in a building he was cleaning out in West Scranton. They're from the Household Outfitters Company on Lackawanna Avenue.

He donated the pictures to the Albright Memorial Library in Scranton and the folks there have made them available in a blog called Scranton Christmas Windows 1938 - 1960.

Turkeypedia

2009-11-25T14:46:00.004-05:00

The Thanksgiving turkey is descended from the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopo). The females are called hens, the males, toms.

A group of turkeys is referred to as a rafter. In the US the group of turkeys raised each year totals about 300,000,000. Isn't that about one turkey per US resident?

Turkeys eat among other things insects, worms, fruit, seeds, acorns, grain, slug, and snails. Yummy. Many animals prey upon turkeys including skunks, owls, raccoons, bobcats, hawks, and snakes. And us.

Who cares if they eat bugs? We eat turkeys because A) they taste good and B) we can catch them.

Happy Thanksgiving.

(Click to enlarge then print and enjoy Connect-the-Dots Thanksgiving fun! You're welcome!)

Mama!

2009-11-24T16:14:00.002-05:00

Fly Guy

2009-11-19T09:40:00.002-05:00

Backwards with a Dot Com

2009-11-18T14:34:00.004-05:00

For those who plumb the depths and darkest recesses of the internet and who believe that ancient, malevolent conspiracies exist, Illuminati is a word you're familiar with.

It means "enlightened" and is the name given to a supposed shadowy secret organization that many people believe controls the world through behind the scenes influence of governments and businesses and world leaders as it strives to reach it's goal, the so-called New World Order.

Conspiracy crap for the weak-minded you say? Probably right. But here's something odd. If you reverse the spelling of illuminati, making it itanimulli and then you add a "dot com", or in other words www.itanimulli.com, it takes you to somewhere unexpected. Click www.itanimulli.com.

Four Score...

2009-11-18T06:52:00.005-05:00

My pal Al Piela who was the first D&W show producer and the prototype DangerBoy back in the '80's lives in Maryland nowadays and is a Washington DC television personality and real estate mogul. But Al is also a Civil War reenactor! Al knows everything there is about the Union versus the Confederacy and what life was like in the military in the 1860's.

Al reminds me that Thursday, November 19th is Remembrance Day in Gettysburg. It was on November 19th, 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address as he dedicated the National Cemetery there. So tomorrow marks the 146th anniversary.

This is a picture of President Lincoln taken moments after the speech.

On Saturday there is a huge parade, an annual event that began on the day Lincoln visited Gettysburg. So much history and essentially right in our backyard. For more information click HERE.

I Think They Got an A

2009-11-17T07:41:00.004-05:00

OutKast had a huge hit with "Hey Ya" in 2003.

Rainn Wilson, Dwight Schrute on NBC's "The Office" went to Shorecrest High School in Seattle. He included a link to the video below on Twitter this morning.

I'm not sure how the Shorecrest High kids settled on this particular song but this is the latest effort of Mr. Mitchell's 4th period video production class.

Oh boy...

2009-11-16T18:15:00.004-05:00

Really?

Didn't anybody straighten him out on "Presidents don't bow to royalty. See: Why the Colonies fought the Revolutionary War" after he bowed to the king of Saudi Arabia back in April.

Here's a piece called "How Low Will He Go" from the Los Angeles Times. Click HERE.

Must Be Santa

2009-11-16T15:33:00.004-05:00

You ever have one of those dreams where there's lots of familiar things in it like people, places, events, etc., but somehow it doesn't make a lot of sense? There's always just something off-kilter, incongruous, just doesn't quite belong where it is?

Bob Dylan has a Christmas album out (yeah he does) called "Christmas in the Heart". The proceeds from the album go to "Feeding America".

So about that dream.

From "Christmas in the Heart", click for the video of Bob Dylan's "Must Be Santa". (Hint: click HERE!)

May Auld Acquaintance...

2009-11-16T07:10:00.004-05:00

I know Halloween is just over and Thanksgiving isn't even here yet. But you can hear Christmas music on Cool 92.1 already and before you know it it'll be New Year's Eve and 2010. (Insert your Seinfeld "Where's the flying cars?" line here.) And as the first decade of the 21st century draws to a close, here's Newsweek's look at a fast ten years!

Art

2009-11-14T15:20:00.001-05:00

A big silvery spider descends a building at Ithaca Commons.

If...

2009-11-12T09:04:00.004-05:00

An e-mail from Rudog.

If George W. Bush had been the first President to need a teleprompter installed to be able to get through a press conference, would you have laughed and said this is more proof of how inept he is on his own and is really controlled by smarter men behind the scenes?

If George W. Bush had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to take Laura Bush to a play in NYC, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had reduced your retirement plan's holdings of GM stock by 90% and given the unions a majority stake in GM, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had made a joke at the expense of the Special Olympics, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had given Gordon Brown a set of inexpensive and incorrectly formatted DVDs, when Gordon Brown had given him a thoughtful and historically significant gift, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had given the Queen of England an iPod containing videos of his speeches, would you have thought this embarrassingly narcissistic and tacky?

If George W. Bush had bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia , would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had visited Austria and made reference to the non-existent "Austrian language," would you have brushed it off as a minor slip?

If George W. Bush had filled his cabinet and circle of advisers with people who cannot seem to keep current in their income taxes, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had been so Spanish illiterate as to refer to "Cinco de Cuatro" in front of the Mexican ambassador when it was the 5th of May (Cinco de Mayo), and continued to flub it when he tried again, would you have winced in embarrassment?

If George W. Bush had misspelled the word "advice" would you have hammered him for it for years like Dan Quayle and potatoe as proof of what a dunce he is?

If George W. Bush had burned 9,000 gallons of jet fuel to go plant a single tree on Earth Day, would you have concluded he's a hypocrite?

If George W. Bush's administration had okayed Air Force One flying low over millions of people followed by a jet fighter in downtown Manhattan causing widespread panic, would you have wondered whether they actually get what happened on 9-11?

If George W. Bush had failed to send relief aid to flood victims throughout the Midwest with more people killed or made homeless than in New Orleans , would you want it made into a major ongoing political issue with claims of racism and incompetence?

If George W. Bush had created the position of 32 Czars who report directly to him, bypassing the House and Senate on much of what is happening in America , would you have approved.

If George W. Bush had ordered the firing of the CEO of a major corporation, even though he had no constitutional authority to do so, would you have approved?

If George W Bush had proposed to double the national debt, which had taken more than two centuries to accumulate, in one year, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had then proposed to double the debt again within 10 years, would you have approved?

So, tell me again, what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant and impressive? Can't think of anything? Don't worry. He's done all this in 5 months -- so you'll have three years and seven months to come up with an answer.

Holiday Gift-Giving Season's Almost Here...

2009-11-12T06:31:00.001-05:00

Fellas, for the lady golfer on your list! (Insert cup size jokes here.)

This Taste Funny to You?

2009-11-10T09:23:00.002-05:00

It might be a little skunky by now but if a bottle of Lowenbrau beer discovered in the wreckage of the Hindenburg zeppelin disaster in 1937 brings it's expected price at an auction this weekend, it can pay for lots of nice fresh beer!

Read the full story at BBC News.

This Is Why

2009-11-09T06:33:00.002-05:00

In 1961 Arthur C. Clarke paid a visit to Bell Labs in New Jersey.

27

2009-11-05T06:24:00.002-05:00

I don't want to brag but I did say it would be either the Yankees or the Phillies in four or more games. Did I call that or what?

Jerry the Neighbor Plans the Surprise

2009-11-02T07:47:00.002-05:00

The big surprise birthday party for Jerry the Neighbor's lovely wife, "the Queen", aka Jeannie, went off without a hitch at the Moxie Club in Carbondale Saturday night. It was a fun evening and no stone was left unturned in the planning stages. Jerry's brother-in-law Bif secretly videotaped some of the behind-the-scenes work that Jerry coordinated. Here's some footage.

Hungarian TV

2009-11-02T07:13:00.000-05:00

Halloween Reminder

2009-10-29T21:43:00.001-04:00

My pal Mike at Ardee's Foodrinkery near the bridge on Route 92 in Falls is throwing a big Halloween "Monster Mash & Mingle" on Saturday, October 31st.

Kickoff, 2pm, stuff for kids in the daytime including a magic show and costume karaoke! At night music by Mojo and WYSIWYG. All day admission $5 adults, $3 kids, and all proceeds go to Autism Awareness & Research locally through the Falls Lions Club. Click HERE for more info.

Boo!

2009-10-26T16:29:00.002-04:00

A special Halloween greeting that includes Ruthie, Jay, Hoover, Rock107 Foreign Exchange Student Intern from the Balkans Stefan along with yours truly doing...the Monster Mash!

Squish Our Fruits...Together!

2009-10-22T11:30:00.001-04:00

A grocery store in Queens Tuesday.

1948

2009-10-21T10:41:00.000-04:00

Where's the Gabbagool?

2009-10-19T20:22:00.000-04:00

Autism Benefit

2009-10-14T12:13:00.003-04:00

Five Bucks!

2009-10-13T22:22:00.004-04:00

You can't really make out his face in this picture but this is Rock107 Promotions Director Mark Hoover at about 6:30am at the new McDonalds on the San Souci Highway in Hanover.

Told him I'd give him five bucks if he stole the "G".

The Marriage of Social and Mainstream Media

2009-10-10T17:26:00.003-04:00

It's Craz-E!

2009-10-07T08:05:00.003-04:00

From the NYDailyNews.com comes word of this scientific advance..."the donut burger - a bacon cheeseburger with a buttered Krispy Kreme glazed donut standing in for a bun - is becoming a hit across the country on the fair circuit."

"At this year's Big E fair in Massachusetts, people bought about 1,000 "Craz-E Burgers" each day of the fair's 17-day run."

"At 1,500 calories per burger, that adds up to 2.5 million calories worth of sugary, cheesy, bacon-dressed beef... or an additional 730 pounds of waistline jiggle."

Maybe Some Rachel Ray Style Snacks

2009-10-07T07:33:00.002-04:00

I Like Fred

2009-10-04T16:56:00.001-04:00

The Song...

2009-10-02T14:49:00.004-04:00

...will grow on you. Here's a 4 minute compilation of the 100 greatest YouTube videos!

Either Way

2009-09-29T16:30:00.008-04:00

Do you remember Kellie Pickler on "American Idol" from a few seasons back? Country, good voice, a tad ditzy.

"I have fake eye lashes on and they feel like tarantulas. But they're not real tarantulas."

If it was real it worked and if it was just an act she may be the greatest actress who ever lived!

Either way, here's some Kellie Pickler.

The Voca People

2009-09-27T20:55:00.001-04:00

...ex-wife Jackie!

2009-09-24T07:25:00.004-04:00

The Thin Mints Are Gone Already?

2009-09-19T11:14:00.003-04:00

Awww...

2009-09-17T06:52:00.003-04:00

This little girl knows that if it doesn't belong to her she's supposed to give it back!

Walter Nepasky's Cousin

2009-09-16T14:53:00.004-04:00

Walter Nepasky's cousin Bob Nesbo left Scranton years ago to move to Washington DC. Bob is our man "inside the Beltway", and ever since he found a computer behind the library he periodically gathers his thoughts and lets it rip.

Click HERE.