%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
 |
Thoughts on things from the news, TV, radio, and daily life that hit home with me. |
| This blog will chronicle my thoughts, feelings and ideas about various items in the news, on TV or radio, or real experiences that cross my path from day to day, touching me deeply in some way. Some will be funny, some sad, some serious. Please note: since this is my second active blog, the system won't allow comments to be sent to me in the usual way. Please send me your comments as an email and I will include them here. |
| That's a decision each of us has to make for ourselves at those times, and I seem to be at odds with my dad on this, though he seems to be slowly accepting, though maybe not agreeing with me on my viewpoint. Dad is 91, and fell about a year ago, breaking his left hip. He had been living independently in a local retirement community. The surgery was routine, and therapy has given him back full mobility with the leg. But, he can't balance well enough now to walk without the help of a walker. He hasn't gotten his balance back, and that means he's in a wheelchair most of his waking time. It took him a while to accept that, but he finally has, though a bit grudgingly. A while back when I was still trying to get him to use the walker, he only looked at it as a sign that he was beginning to lose his freedom. That's where we differ on the subject. For about 2 weeks early last year, after I had somehow irritated my right sacroiliac joint, I had to use a cane to get around, to keep the weight off my right leg as I walked. If I put too much weight on it that joint would tell me that in no uncertain terms. As a result, my steps were very short, but I was still able to go to work and get my job done. And that's what was important to me. I had to leave my desk a few minutes before others did in order to walk to a meeting I had in another part of our building complex, because it took me longer to get there with those short steps I had to take. But, I did it on my own. And that beat the heck out of taking time off because I couldn't walk very well. I looked at the cane as a way to KEEP my independence, not as something that was a sign of LOSING it. I have not needed the cane since that inflammation healed, and I'm thankful for that. But I would use it again in a heartbeat before I would give in to any similar problems. Recently, I've had to make use of another type of help, this time a form of modern technology. I got a pair of hearing aids this past Friday. Again, they are something that will help me KEEP my independence and allow me to stay in touch with things around me. Thankfully I only need them for the very top edge of the audible range of normal hearing. The range where, for example, many female voices are. And that's a very small part of our total audible range of sound. I also had problems such as which voice I would hear if I were sitting at a table with a group of people. I didn't always hear the person next to me. I would often hear the person 2 or 3 seats away from me because their voice was more PENETRATING than those seated near me. Or, it would sometimes sound as if a person a few feet away from me was mumbling. These are supposed to help me with those situations as well. Over the next three weeks, between now and my first "checkup", I'll be able to tell if they do. I happen to be on vacation this week, so I don't have the chance to check them out in my office environment yet, where most of the problems were first noticed. I'm going to pick a day or two this coming week and drop by the office for lunch, and see what sounds different around my coworkers and in the company cafeteria. That will help satisfy my curiosity about how much they help till I go back to work the following week. And I'm keeping a journal of things I notice, and questions I have for the audiologist, to take with me for answers during that checkup. That way she will be able to refine the tuning of the hearing aids, and the multiple programs she set up in them for my situations, so they help as much as possible. The important thing is that I noticed an overall improvement from the time I put them in that first day in her office last Friday. I'm hearing many sounds that I didn't even realize I hadn't been hearing for a while. Making the decision to let modern technology help me continue to maintain the life I'm familiar with was a no brainer, and should be for anyone. . Yes, I have a slight problem getting the one into my left ear because of my very slight case of cerebral palsy on my left side. It only shows when I need detailed manual dexterity in my left hand. I don't have that. I end up using both hands to get that one in place. But still, all things considered, I'd rather be fighting that for a few extra minutes each morning than to have to deal with the alternative of not being able to easily understand some people around me, or fully appreciate all the wonderful sounds around me that I didn't realize I hadn't been hearing until I got them back. Think about it when your time comes to need a little outside help. None of us, myself included, should ever let pride or denial get in the way of being able to continue the lifestyle we've always enjoyed. I never have. And we should do all we can to see that those we care about don't short change themselves when it comes to these decisions either. . . |
| This upcoming election, and all the media exposure it's getting, brought a thought to mind within the last couple days, and I hope a lot of other people noticed what I noticed, and do what they can to safeguard our freedoms. The freedoms we enjoy also leave us at risk. Not from outside, like the way Russia invaded the republic of Georgia, but from the inside. And that’s what make it doubly dangerous. Choose the term you want to use: registration fraud, ACORN, voter fraud. All of this raises a red flag two ways. First, these things themselves can jeopardize our future by creating situations where invalid signatures have a chance of slipping through the system, which indirectly could unfairly influence the resulting outcome. But worse than that is that this situation - the registration and voter fraud combined with the plans of some of the candidates - especially those they don’t reveal during the campaign process. THAT is what could ultimately lead to the loss of our freedoms. Keep in mind that what I'm about to describe could begin occurring with ANY election; it's not restricted to just this one. It can start with one candidate, for any office. The office of President is just the most publicly visible one. When even one person whose political views involve the downfall of our current governmental system gets into office, they and their sympathizers then have an edge, making it a little easier to get other candidates into office, as long as that first one keeps making a glowingly wonderful impression on the citizens of this country. Are you thinking that no one person could have the personality, manner, education and other qualities that could allow them to unite practically the entire country behind them? Thankfully, the example I have of that was a POSITIVE ONE for our country: John F. Kennedy But it could be just as easy for someone whose political views are against our country to unite us if they had many of those same qualities. And that would provide a chance for our enemies to have a foot in the door that could mean eventual loss of our freedoms as the influence of their philosophy, and that of their supporters, found its way into our legislative system. One by one, laws could be passed that slowly erode our freedoms. And we will have elected the people that did it into the offices they will hold, or elected them to offices that gave them the power to appoint others of their philosophy into influential positions. Think your vote won’t change anything? THINK AGAIN! As long as you listen very carefully to what all the candidates are saying, and make a carefully considered choice, your vote can go a long way to keep those who would defeat our way of life and take away our freedoms from having the chance to do that. Listen carefully to what the candidates say, and don’t say, and use your vote to protect our freedoms. |
| It's time to get Joe Nuxhall into the Broadcaster's wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame. I deeply appreciate your support last year. We need to get him onto that final list again, hopefully in the top three this time. Read the following short note, then use the link at the bottom of this post to cast your vote. If you would like to see a short bio of Joe's baseball career, as player and broadcaster, when you get to the ballot page, click on his name, in the center column of candidates, and another window will open giving you a summary bio of his career. Then you can close that new window, check the box next to his name, and submit your ballot. Remember that you can vote once a day, all through the month of September. Please vote as often as you can. Every vote will help get the job done. Thank you again for your support! There is no doubt in my mind that Joe's family will certainly appreciate our efforts. I will update this later on, as I did last year. //http://www.baseballhalloffame.org |
| A Jericho Update To those of you who have read my earlier comments about the CBS series Jericho (see blog entries 4 and 5), I have an update for you. CBS has cancelled the show again. The final broadcast TV episode airs this coming Tuesday, March 25th. HOWEVER - there is still hope - a move. For those of you who are interested, whether you’ve watched it yet or not, please visit http://www.jerichotimes.com/ and read the updates there. Then write or email CBS and all cable networks you think appropriate, and urge them to arrange for the series to move to a cable network. The updates on the site I listed above indicate there is enough opening in the plot line of the final broadcast episode to allow the series to actually continue its storyline if that opportunity can be arranged. There is a historical precedent backing up the idea. In the 1980s, the series The Paper Chase, based on the highly rated movie of the same name starring the late John Houseman (who reprised his role as Professor Charles W. Kingsfield in the TV series), began on a broadcast network. It ran for one season or less, but was picked up by two networks in succession: the old CBN, and then SHOWTIME. So, this can be done. And I, along with the 10 million estimated viewers of Jericho (estimated by CBS as the number of viewers the show had), sure hope it becomes a reality and that this wonderfully written, wonderfully acted drama series can continue for quite a long time.. |
| I promised an update after Major League Baseball’s Ford Frick award winner was announced this month. That time has come. The award winner was announced on the 19th. It was Dave Niehaus, the broadcaster for the Seattle Mariners for the last 31 years. If the award were based strictly on the public voting record, Joe would have had it hands down with his 82,000+ out of about 122,000. I want to thank all of you who voted for Joe, and to let you know that we will be waging the same fight next year at this time, and that we would deeply appreciate your support in the same way at that time. Joe’s son, Kim, said more than once in recent interviews following the announcement that the family was very deeply moved by the number of people that had turned out to help in the effort to get Joe into the Hall, and he wanted to make sure that all of us knew how much this effort had touched them as a family. He also said that Joe would have been equally moved by that outpouring of support. I will, of course, let all of you know when the voting is open for next year’s nominations, and I hope you will be able to help us again. Again, a sincere thank you for your help in this effort. |
| On the NBC evening news one day last week, they told the story of a mother and daughter who had fled Afghanistan a while back and come to the United States. What makes this such a notable event is how strongly they feel about the U.S. and what it should mean to the rest of us. I don’t remember their names, but that’s not important here. What is important is that the NBC news broadcast showed the two of them near the end of their citizenship ceremony, and what it meant to them. That’s right, they became U.S. citizens. Such a seemingly simple act, but one so important to them that the final act of the ceremony, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, brought tears to their eyes. You saw the tears and the way they fought to finish those special words despite the way their crying tried to distort their facial expressions. Are you wondering why I said this should mean something to the rest of us, and what I mean by that? It’s simple. Amazingly simple. This mother and daughter saw the true meaning and experience of real freedom for the first time in their lives. It showed in their faces, and their tears. And that immediately made it obvious to me how the rest of us take that same freedom for granted. That freedom that these two take so seriously that we assume will always be there for us. That’s our problem. And it’s a nationwide problem. It doesn’t discriminate. Race, education, income level, don’t matter. Nor does any other criteria. We all take it for granted. We need to take a cue from this mother and daughter and take a closer look at how fortunate we are to be living where we do, and stop taking those freedoms for granted. Those same freedoms that they, and other legal immigrants have such a deep, real respect, admiration, and gratitude for. They know how precious those freedoms are. And we need to make sure we do what we can to help preserve them. Can’t think of how you can do that? There are ways to do that that are simple, yet so important. Among other ways, you can: Make sure you vote. Take seriously your right to help choose those who will run the country, your state, your city or community. Many elections are won or lost by really small margins, sometimes less than 10 votes. Think your vote doesn’t count? Look at the fact that you and just a handful of others who currently think that could change the outcome of an election when the difference is that small if you all voted. Even if you don’t like a confrontation our military forces are involved in, you can support THEM. I’m not telling you anything new with this idea, but that doesn’t take anything away from how deeply they will appreciate that support. Make your voice heard. How? Your elected officials are supposed to be representing YOU. But they can only do that if you tell them what you think. It’s easy to find out the phone numbers, email addresses and snail mail addresses of your elected representatives. Something bothering you about some government decision, or pending one? How your tax money is being spent? Speak up. Call them. Write them. Fax them. Send them an email. The only reason all those lobbyists for the special interests can get away with persuading our elected officials to choose their side on an issue is because many of the rest of us are not exercising our rights and standing up to those same officials and telling them what WE think they should do. If we all did that, those lobbyists, like the ones for the oil companies or big corporations wouldn’t stand a chance. Help put government back in the hands of the people, where our founding fathers said from the start that it belongs. Get involved. |
| After posting my recent entry about Tony Michaels, I received an email from him with an update that needed to be shared with all of you ASAP. Please check out the website I listed in that article as soon as possible. Tony has changed jobs and he didn’t expect the website to still be up and running this long. Secondly, please pray for Tony. He has recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer and will be undergoing surgery next month, and would appreciate any prayers for his recovery. I hope all of you can find the time to check out the site before it disappears. You’ll only know what you would have missed if you get there before it is gone. http://www.tonymichaels.com |
| For those Christians who would like to have some reinforcement and encouragement for our values, and others who would like to know more about a Christian’s thoughts about and approach to the events of daily life, below is one site you should definitely check out. Tony Michaels was a news director, sports director and morning radio personality on Cincinnati radio stations for almost two decades. The following is a quote from the introductory statement on his website. I could find no better words to say this than those: “Tony was one of the very few secular broadcast personalities who openly admitted his Christianity and was willing to express those viewpoints in his commentaries, when appropriate.” He had short 1 or 2 minute commentaries that aired a couple times each morning. When you first go to the site URL I have put below, you’ll see a split page. The side to which I am referring is on the left - his OMOs, or One Man’s Opinion pieces. Click the “enter” button at the bottom left of the page. On the resulting page, just above his photo, you will see “Listen To An OMO”. Turn your speakers on, and click on the MAGNET part of the speaker image - the square part of the speaker icon. LISTEN CAREFULLY so you don’t miss a word. To me, this is one of his best, and I’m glad to see he uses it as his example. Remember that he was given only a minute or so for each comment on the air. If you would like to read other OMOs, which I certainly encourage you to do, you have a number of choices. Simply scrolling down that page will allow you to read the most recent ones, in reverse order with the most recent one first. Or, if you look above his photo and the words “Listen To An OMO” and “Recent OMOs”, you will see six black squares. Point your cursor at any of the squares and you’ll see a short description of what OMOs are contained in the group that square represents. Enjoy as many as you like. And feel free to let both Tony and myself know what you think of them. I think you’ll see for yourself that he isn’t afraid to be known as a Christian, and that he’s not afraid to say what needs to be said. I’ve found that many of them, even on that very first page, are just as applicable today as they were when he did them on the air in 2002. You’ll find plenty to read; remember, he was doing these opinions for a decade. I’ve never met him in person, at least not yet. It’s something I would certainly consider an honor. I just want others to know the person he is, and the solid, Christian values he tries to pass on to others in this day and age when those values are needed even more than ever before. God bless you, Tony Michaels. I hope you are back on the air locally soon, and with us for many years to come. Your voice is just what we need at this time in our world. http://www.tonymichaels.com |
| For anyone that is interested, or curious: On Thursday, 12/13/2007, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution honoring Joe Nuxhall as a baseball legend, devoted family man and civic-minded individual. And on Friday, 12/14/2007, 33 senators reccommended to the National Baseball Hall of Fame that Joe be admitted. The final decision will be announced on February 19th. |
| Joe Nuxhall was the youngest major league baseball player of all time. His pro career began in 1944 at age 15, with the Cincinnati Reds. He was in the 9th grade. He had to ask permission from the school principal to go to the Opening Day baseball game. But he could pitch with the best of them, and he did. After 16 years on the mound, "Hamilton Joe" moved to the Reds' broadcast booth in 1960 at age 31. Still, when there was batting practice, you found Joe on the mound. When they needed someone to hit balls to the fielders for practice, you found Joe at the plate. Yes, he had been one of those seemingly rare pitchers who was also a danger (to the oppostion) at the plate. I don't remember his inital partner in the booth, but not long after the move he was paired with Al Michaels, who now broadcasts network sports. When Al moved to the network, Joe was partnered with Marty Brenneman. The two would become household names to Reds fans over the ensuing 44 years, to Joe's retirement in 2004, after a 60-year career in baseball, which obviously included broadcasting the glory years of the Big Red Machine. Everyone knew them, often seeing them at the local Kroger store (for whom they paired up again in a series of fun loving commercials). Fans referred to them strictly by their first names. No one needed the rest. When anyone mentioned "Marty and Joe", everyone knew to whom they were referring. Joe's involvement with civic activities, kids, you name it, was well known too. He definitely enjoyed giving back to the town that had stood by him through his 60-year career and beyond. He even led the Chicken Dance at Cincinnati's Oktoberfest this year. “The Old Lefthander” died at 11:00 PM EST Thursday, 11/15/2007 at 79, following a bout with pneumonia which came after his latest round of chemo for lymphoma. He was to have undergone surgery on Friday, 11/16/2007 to receive a pacemaker. I was one of hundreds of ordinary fans who waited in line for hours a few evenings later at Joe's public visitation. I got there as soon as I could after leaving work, yet by then the line already had at least 150-200 people in it. It wound through the courtyard adjacent to the building like an endless snake. I knew I wouild be there for hours, and what that meant. Standing on my feet for that long a time always makes my back just about kill me. And the longer I stood, the more intense the pain always became. But that afternoon I could have cared less. I just plain had to be there, no matter what. That was one place I, and quite a few hundred more of Joe's fans simply had to be. When I finally made it to the other end of the line, Joe's brother Kim commented how the famly was simply so wonderfully bowled over with the number of people that had come to pay their respects. I told him, "Just remember, Kim: what you see here is a mere fraction of the fans around here that have supported, and loved Joe through all those sixty years. And all of us are the better for having known him." Kim thanked me for my kind words, and said that Joe's family will most certainly never forget what it felt like to find out how very much Joe was loved and respected by so many. He said that knowing that had already made it easier on the family. And THAT was something I liked knowing. I coiuld barely walk at all as I left that night. Yet I have never once regretted putting myself through that much physical pain for that long a time. It was a very small price to pay in order to have the very important opportunity to say thank you to the man that I, and my late wife Linda had admired and respected through most of our lives. And I would do it again in a heartbeat. Joe's trademark phrase for the end of every Reds radio broadcast was, "This is the Old Lefthander, rounding third and heading for home. Goodnight, everyone." This past Thursday night Joe rounded those bases one last time, and truly headed Home. Father, thank you for all the joy, laughter, tears, and especially the wonderful excitement that You brought us throughout Joe's years on the field and in the booth. Be with his family, friends, and his countless fans as we say goodbye to a Cincinnati sports icon. In Jesus' name, Amen. As one Cincinnati official said today, "Joe was an example to today's generation of what a man of good character should be." A statue of Joe in his classic pitching stance welcomes fans to Cincinnati's Great American Ballpark. That, and his classic closing line, in lights along the top of the ballpark, greet all who come to see the team he loved being a part of for 60 years. Tonight, in Joe's memory, the ballpark will be dark, but the lights will shine forth on his statue, and his closing words will break the darkness with the brilliance of their light. Rest in Peace, Joe. You will be sorely missed. For those interested in finding out more about Joe's life and career, visit WCPO.com. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
thanks for a thought-provoking entry, incurable.