Fixing The Economy

The economy is a scary topic. Everyday the housing market and credit crunch seem to worsen and banks and investment firms continue to fold.

I'm just glad I'm not a lawmaker right now. Trying to figure out the right course of action seems very daunting. The President has proposed a 700 billion dollar emergency relief bill. Congress is in the midst of trying to hatch out the final details to that bill. There's a lot to consider and a lot on the line. We all know something needs to be done but no-one seems to agree on what that is.

Republican lawmakers say the bill creates too much of a burden on taxpayers who in the end are footing the bailout. Democratic lawmakers say there needs to be more legislation preventing this disaster from happening again. It's hard not to agree with both sides.

If the government doesn't step in and help bailout these banks, our country will probably go into financial disaster. Although I understand that, there's still a part of me that wants to see the banks and mortgage lenders punished.

In my opinion criminal charges should be brought against the people who encouraged borrowers to lie on their loan applications. Charges should be filed against the top execs who told lenders to worry about getting a lot of loans instead of worrying about how solid the loans were. Currently the FBI is investigating some of the top banks and corporations for fraud and I'll be very interested to see what investigators find.

The saddest part is watching people who are being financially punished for things other people caused. People who have good credit and bought their homes the right way, now can't sell those homes. The people who have good but not perfect credit now can't buy homes. People who have their retirement plans invested in the stock market are now unsure if their money will even be there in a few years.

I'm not saying hope is lost because history tells us things will turn around. They always do. But now's a good time to really pay attention to what is going on in the economy and with our leaders.

Election time is a little more than a month away. All I can hope for is that people really research the issues and research the candidates. Right now the most important thing is being informed when heading to the polls.

Panic at the Pump?

Gas shortage.

It's been the big story, and sadly, we shouldn't talk about it.

At least thats what some people are saying. Right now, "The Media" is in a tight spot with the shortages... "Darned if you do, Darned if you don't."

As part of "The Media" I just don't know how I feel about the situation.

I understand people don't want us to "cause a panic" by saying stuff like "Oh no, there is NO GAS ANYWHERE and NONE IS COMING!" As a station, I think WBTV and the Morning Show specifically have been doing a good job at reporting what is happening in Charlotte and the general area.

But no matter what... we still have people blaming "The Media" because they can't find gas.

The last couple days the Morning Show has tried to give you, the viewer, a heads up by telling you where you CAN find gas... so you don't have to waste gas by searching around.

Not everyone likes this...

"It's my impression, overall, that the heavy media reporting - by the minute - on where Gas is, is probably contributing somewhat to the super-bad line-ups you keep showing. Leave people to find it on their own!"

That is a portion of an e-mail we received early this morning. The viewer felt we shouldn't tell people where to go... let them find the gas themselves.

Now... I'm not trying to stir up problems - I really do want to know what you think. Which is more irresponsible for the media - not telling people about the gas problem and let them find stations on their own.... or telling them about the problem, and telling them where gas is (possibly causing even more people to show up than word of mouth)?

Please comment your opinions, or e-mail us at inbox@wbtv.com.

Special Thanks To A Stranger

I have a special thanks this morning to someone I don't know.

Late last night I got a flat tire while driving to work. I was in an area that was not very safe and it was dark.

After realizing I had a flat, I put on my caution lights and pulled over to the side of the road. In a panic I called my boyfriend, hoping he could come help me change the tire. He did not answer.
In all fairness he was probably already in bed but one would think three panic calls would wake him up. They did not.

I knew I could call AAA but experience would tell me, I would wait for about two hours. As I sat in my car and pondered what my next move would be. I saw a car slow in front of me and pull over.

Now I've seen all the horror stories, I work in the news afterall, I know how dangerous it can be accepting help from strangers. But he came over and asked if I needed help. He said he worked for the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA). I figured he was trustworthy enough and honestly I was pretty much out of options.

In about 20 minutes he had my tire changed and I was off on my way to work. I know he's probably never going to see this blog but if he does, I'm very very thankful for his help. I work in a business when a lot of times I see the worst of human nature, and although this could be considered a small favor, it is nice to know there are people out there who care.

Oh and I am going to make it my next project to learn how to change my own tire!

Injured While... Texting?

Looks like there is an increased number of people heading to the emergency room because of text messages.

No, they don't have Texting Thumb.

(Click the picture for the video)


They are getting injured because they get distracted while texting, when they are doing something else.

That means more people are running into walls, into lampposts and tripping off curbs!

How Cool Are You?

There's yet another search engine available starting today, for those of you looking for something other than Yahoo and Google.



It's called Cuil.com (Pronounced "Cool")

The site was created by a couple of ex-Google engineers, and of course their goal is to take down the Big Daddy!

I know they are just starting, but I kinda wish there was a "Cuil News" section... but thats just the news dork in me.

But there is a bonus - the Panther Colors!

Need to Leave a Voicemail?

There's a new way for you to call someone and leave bad news, if you have a Conversation Avoidance!

Sly Dial is a free service offering a reprieve from awkward or hectic moments by letting people leave messages for other people without actually talking to them.

Sly Dial connects users directly with another person's cell phone voice mail, bypassing the rings.



So... how can you be sly?

Call (267) SLY-DIAL from a cell phone or landline that has the caller ID feature activated... you can leave that awkward message without having to talk!

We tried it... just ask John! LOL

Want to be a Buddy?

Barbara is looking for five people to help her in her quest to get healthy.

Are you the one? Can you help?

Find out more about Barbara's Buddies, by checking out the Barbara's Buddies blog!


Barbara's Buddies
We want you to join us, in our quest for a health life!

Miss USA Falls

Okay.

I'll be honest. I'm one of those people who takes pleasure in laughing when other people fall. In fact, I "People Watch" all the time... just HOPING someone will trip and try to pull the "no one saw that" bit. I can't help it, it makes me laugh.

But, I fall too & I trip all the time, which may be why I like laughing at other people falling... because I'm not alone.

I also like watching people run into walls and glass/screen doors, but that's another story.

So... I did get a big kick when I saw that Miss USA fell during the Miss Universe last night. Sure it sucks for her, and she probably killed her chance at winning (since she WAS in the top ten), but it still made me laugh.

She does this weird clapping thing when she gets up. I'm not sure if its just frustration, or a "Look, I'm okay!" kinda thing. Either way... kinda weird.

Watch the video for yourself that we found on YouTube!



And if that wasn't funny enough, some kids in Texas (Miss USA's home state) have already made a video making fun of her.

And I thought I had too much time on my hands...



Check it out and get a good laugh!

A Rose by Any Other Name...

What's in a name? Every year they release the most popular names from the year before, but this year there a slight twist... the list from 1950 as well!

Funny thing is, most of the people on the morning show, are on the list... John & Barbara from the 1950's list... me and Suchan from the new list.

Good news for Michael Handy - Michael is one of only two repeats on the list!

Sorry Becky (Rebecca), you didn't make the list!

Here's the list, if you want to see!

Most popular boy/girl baby names in 1950:

1. James / Linda
2. Robert / Mary
3. John / Patricia
4. Michael / Barbara
5. David / Susan
6. William / Nancy
7. Richard / Deborah
8. Thomas / Sandra
9. Charles / Carol
10. Gary / Kathleen

Here's the list from last year:

1. Jacob / Emily
2. Michael / Isabella
3. Ethan / Emma
4. Joshua / Ava
5. Daniel / Madison
6. Christopher / Sophia
7. Anthony / Olivia
8. William / Abigail
9. Matthew / Hannah
10. Andrew / Elizabeth

Hurricane Bertha... Again

Monday morning, Tropical Storm Bertha turned into Hurricane Bertha. If that name sounds familiar to you, it's because back in 1996 Hurricane Bertha made landfall in North Carolina. Ironically it was also about the same time of year.

Although the 1996 Hurricane Bertha was not particulary memorable to most folks, I remember it quite well. I'm not from North Carolina and up until about two years ago, I never lived here. But I did vacation along the outer banks almost every summer growing up.

I was at the Outer Banks when Hurricane Bertha hit. I was 13 at the time, so I remember it, but my memories are kinda vague. The hardest thing for me to remember is the time frame, of when I learned there was a hurricane coming and when it actually hit. So I'm trying to write this, the best I can.

I remember the week started out pretty good, with some good days at the beach. Then I remember it began getting really dark and cloudy outside. I didn't think much about it until I saw my parents watching the weather forecast more intently than normal.

That's when my parents said there was a hurricane coming in a day or two. I wasn't scared and I don't think they were either. Mainly just concerned. I on the other hand was excited! I was too young to realize how dangerous hurricanes were, especially not growing up around them. When they told me we might leave early, I wanted to ride out the storm!

I do know we went out to eat at one point and on the way back to our beach house, we saw some other houses in the water. The stilts were in the water. I also remember red "no swimming" flags up on the beaches.

It was around that time that my parents decided to pack up and head back home. I remember them saying that the area was going to be evacuated in about a day. I have no idea how they knew that. But I remember my parents making the decision to leave before the evacuation orders.

If I remember correctly we left the night before the area was evacuated to the mainland. The most vivid thing that stands out is my dad filled up the mini van with gas a day before the chaos. There were no lines. Then the day after leaving, we saw the tv footage, of line after line at the gas station and a long line of cars trying to leave. My parents were smart, they stayed one step ahead of the storm.

We were probably never in any real danger. Not since we left the night before the evacuations. But a total of 8 people ended up dying as result of Hurricane Bertha. So let's hope history doesn't repeat itself with this current storm.

Special 4th of July Pledge

We ended today's show with little Kasey-Lyn's 4th of July Pledge.

(Click Picture to Watch)


Hope you enjoy!

Have a great 4th of July.

Happy 4th of July!!!

We just wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy & SAFE 4th of July.

So many options of things to do for the 4th, we hope everyone has a great time and enjoys the long weekend!

Here's a great video sent to us by a viewer of her 2.5 year old daughter saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Thanks for the video!

Click the picture to watch!


Happy 4th of July!!!

Sports...the Final Decision.

We asked you, and we got an overwhelming response.

You either love or hate the way John does his sports... there doesn't seem to be many people in between. John got a TON of e-mail response with a VAST majority saying they loved how he did sports, and begging him not to change.

But there were a few who said "Knock it off, buddy!"

When it comes to the poll we posted "John's Sports: Too Loud?":

66% - "Heck No! Turn it Up!"
22% - "Always...I Have to Mute the TV"
16% - "Who Cares? He's Just Going to Talk About App State"

And in the last few days, that 16% has gotten their money's worth... App State has been nominated for an ESPY Award for it's upset over Michigan in last year's season opener.

Davidson College's Stephen Curry also got a nomination for Best Breakthrough Athlete.

You can vote online until July 12th.

Life is Tough, Are You?

The following is an e-mail forward from my Mom, she loves these things.

When I read this one, it hit a nerve. We all have bad days, but how DO you react.

Kinda makes you think...

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

After about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, 'Tell me what you see.'

'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

License Plate Lingo: What Does Your Tag Mean?

A grandmother is North Carolina is mad...and she wants everyone to know about it!

She got a new liscense plate from the North Carolina D.M.V. with the tag WTF and four numbers after. She put it on her car, no problems.

Everything was fine until her grandchildren came up to her and told her that "WTF" was a vulger phrase in text / online chat lingo.

It means "What the F@ck?"

Yes, I muted it a little...obviously, I'm not going to be the one to write it!

Anyways, she went to the DMV and discovered more than 10,000 people have those three letters on their plate. Now the NC DMV says it will replace all plates, if the drivers want.

I'll use a little more chat lingo to summarize...

LOL.

Don't Get Duped: HD-TV Transition

If you've ever heard of a company called Universal TechTronics, you may want to think twice about doing business with them.

That's because the Better Business Bureau says that company is preying on the confusion over the February conversion from analog to digital T-V.

The BBB says the Ohio Based Universal TechTronics, which also does business under the name Heat Surge LLC, and advertises all over the country is selling something you don't need to buy. At least not at their rate!

The investigation has generated quite the blogging buzz.

The BBB's investigation found the company is offering so-called free digital converter boxes. BUT....in order to get it, you have to buy a 5-year warranty for $59.
When you add in shipping and handling, you're now looking at almost $100. So in essence, it can be argued that you're paying nearly $100 for the box.

But here's the thing - you can buy the same or similar digital converter boxes at retailers using the $40 coupons being offered by the government's DTV program.
That government coupon brings the cost down to $20.

Don't Get Duped.

The Better Business Bureau has gotten nearly 200 complaints in the last nine months about Universal TechTronics.

The issues range from slow delivery, folks just not getting the product, and folks have a tough time reaching customer service.

As for accurate answers about the whole transition from analog to digital T-V, you can call the DTV hotline. That number is 888-DTV-2009.

You can also get answers online:
www.dtv2009.gov/FAQ.aspx
www.DTVAnswers.com

John on Sports

SPORTS!

That's right...John's enthusiasm when it comes to his love for sports is getting him in trouble. A viewer wrote in to tell him to turn it down, or they are leaving. So John read the e-mail on-air and tried a more toned down version...

...but that didn't work. Dozens of people e-mailed in, and asked for the old John Carter back!

So...for now, heeeee's baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Should John tone it down?

Click the picture of John below, to watch the sportscast and tell us what you think!


Too Much Enthusiasm??

Money, Money, Money!

Okay...maybe I'm just excited because I just got my economic stimulus check from the IRS. Most people here on the morning show already got their checks, so when I got mine, I was H-A-P-P-Y!

I didn't really even need time to think about what I'm doing with my money, I'm saving for a house. So...that was pretty much a no brainer!

But...what are other people doing?

I checked around, and there is a new blog that ask just that question. It's called How I Spent My Stimulus. On the blog, people can go and post their personal stories, and their plans for the extra cash. I saw some pretty reasonable plans, like buying gas and paying bills...and some fun ideas like skydiving and trips!

Some people even tell why they weren't even eligible for the money.

While cruising the page, I came across an interesting blog. The man did the math and figured out the $600 check most people are getting...adds up to $1.64 a day.



So the guy is planning to spend $1.64 every day, and is posting what he buys. It's an interesting idea. Apparently, he's a lot more dedicated about blogging than some of us! Check it out!

So how are you spending your money from the stimulus plan? Comment us, or e-mail us at inbox@wbtv.com.

Go Heavy On Fun, Not Your Wallet!

Many of you may want to take a vacation but aren't sure if you can afford it. There are many appealing vacations out there like Hawaii, going overseas, or taking the kids to Disney World but those vacations are becoming increasingly expensive with rising gas prices. Another option? Stay closer to home. I'm hoping my experience can help save you some money!

This past week I took a vacation. I had two goals in mind 1. Relax 2. Not break the bank. I decided to go to Emerald Isle, NC.

This vacation was a lot different from last year's trip to the Florida Keys which was a very expensive trip. We drove from Charlotte, it took about 12 hours to get to Key Largo and then another 2 hours or so to get to Key West.

Although we wanted to save as much money as possible, it still ended up costing more than $2,000 for two people. That included gas, board, 3 days of scuba diving, dining out, and camping. We tried to save money by camping but it still cost a lot. That was a year ago, before gas prices hit $4 a gallon. I can't imagine what that drive would cost this year!

Needless to say this year we decided to stay closer to Charlotte.

We picked Emerald Isle, because neither of us had been there. It wasn't too far away, about 5 and a half hours from Charlotte, and we could get some good deals. Plus there was some great stuff to see and do.

First we waited until the last minute to book the house. That is always risky because there are slim pickings but it also helped us get a better deal. We didn't need anything big. Instead of renting a two bedroom Condo or beach house. We rented a studio complex. It wasn't great but it was perfect for what we needed. There was just two of us. It had a functional kitchen, a queen size bed, and a couch with a pull out bed. The best part, it was across the street from the beach!

The house cost us $600 for the week. 2 bedroom condos cost $700 to $800 and houses cost anywhere from 1,500 to 5,000.

Second we negotiated. We asked if they could come down on the price. They gave us a $50 gas voucher. It wasn't a lot but it really helped. The whole trip cost $100 in gas. That was round trip plus all the driving we did while on the island. With the voucher the cost of getting there was covered. We just had to pay to get back home.

Third, we saved a lot of money by buying groceries and limiting the amount we ate out. At the beginning of the week, we bought everything we would need for lunch, breakfast, and 5 dinners. On the last night we went out to a nice seafood restaurant. The groceries cost us about $100 but imagine how much it would cost to go out for every breakfast, lunch and dinner. Plus some of it we could take back home with us.

When it came to entertainment there was a lot of fun things to do. We obviously spent a lot of time at the beach, which didn't cost a thing. We were lucky, we had perfect weather. Between the weather and the warm water, it was an easy choice to go to the beach everyday.

On the Island there were the usual things to do, hang out at the beach, play putt putt, see a movie, go shopping, and check out the aquarium. But there were some other really neat things to check out.

Fort Macon was only about ten minutes from where we stayed. It was a U.S. fort used during the Civil War. It was right on the coast and free to get in. People could roam around inside the fort, get on top and check out the view, and see how soldiers would have lived there.

From Morehead City you could take a ferry to a remote island with wild horses. The horses were beautiful and completely wild. They had been there since old shipwrecks. Apparently decades ago many ships would get stuck on the sand bars. The crew would dump the livestock overboard to loosen the load. The horses survived and are still there today. The Ferry ride did cost $25 for an adult to ride. It was less for children.

There was also some ghost tours and museums to check out.



In all it was a good trip and a great way to relax. There was plenty to do. We ended up spending about half of what we spent the year before.

WBTV Softball Pictures!

Here are some pictures from our game on Saturday. The temperatures were HOT...we were not. We lost, but it's okay - we had fun!













Photos Courtesy: Kara Edwards

Barb's Testing Out a New Look!

Barb's thinking about getting a new look, and Sean O'Connell had just the answer. This is a prop from Adam Sandler's "You Don't Mess With Zohan" movie.

Our news director thinks he might like the new look - but what do you think?

Send us some feedback!

inbox@wbtv.com or bpinson@wbtv.com

-----

BLOG EDIT!

...Whiz felt left out.







Looks good, no?

Where Have All The Heroes Gone?

Everyday we hear about heroes. Those people who sacrifice life and limb for complete strangers. For all those great stories, there's one that just makes you angry.

I've been in the news business for awhile now, and I grew up with a police officer for a dad. I'm used to hearing about bad things. Nothing surprises me anymore, but plenty still angers me.

You may have seen the video (WBTV News This Morning chose not to air it). An elderly man was hit by a car while crossing the road in Hartford, Connecticut. Two drivers were driving erratically and one ended up hitting him. Both cars drove off. The whole thing was caught on tape.

As disturbing as the actual video was, it was nothing compared to what happened next. The accident happened on a busy road next to a busy sidewalk. Plenty of people saw it happen and plenty of drivers came up afterwards.

So someone immediately rushed over and checked for vitals, right?

Someone dialed 9-1-1, right?

You'd be wrong on both counts.

No-one did a thing. Not the driver that hit him, not the people that saw it happen, and not the motorists who drove up afterward. In fact some motorists swerved around the man's body like they were swerving to miss a pothole. Luckily a police officer responding to a different call came up on the incident a few minutes after it happened.

This makes me sick. It doesn't take a lot to pick up the phone and call 9-1-1. It doesn't take much to walk over to the man and check for a pulse. This is basic! I know police in that city are outraged, I just hope they find the driver who left the scene. I also hope they find a way to punish those who just watched and did nothing. I don't know that they can or will but maybe they should.

What ever happened to the golden rule, do unto others that you would have done to you? Would you like it if your elderly father was hit by a car and left on the street?

By the way, the man is still alive, barely. He's paralyzed and in a lot of pain.

For as many stories that give me hope in humankind, there's one that takes it right away.

Remembering Bobby: 40 Years Later

On the heels of Becky's blog, David Whisenant wanted to share what he remembered about the day Bobby Kennedy was killed.

Here's what he writes:

"It was one of those moments you never forget, one that brings back memories of where you were, what you were doing when you heard the news. Bobby Kennedy was shot 40 years ago today. I was just 7 at the time, but I remember it clearly. My family was vacationing at the Cabana Terrace Motel in North Myrtle Beach. We didn't hear the news the night it happened, but the next morning I distinctly remember that the music being played over the speakers around the pool was interrupted by a news bulletin that Kennedy had died.

There were so many images from that moment that have stuck with me over the years. I remember the film of Kennedy making his victory speech after winning the California primary. The ballroom of the Ambassador Hotel was filled with supporters, most appeared to be young, maybe college students. Kennedy was at the podium with his wife Ethel by his side...then the next film clips I remember are the ones that showed the same people crying, clutching tissues to their faces. Then there was the film of Kennedy on the floor of the kitchen in the hotel. Two men were supporting his head, at one point Kennedy's arm was raised up. I think, and I'm not sure about this, but I think I remember that a bus boy at the Ambassador Hotel ran to help Kennedy and he was one of the men holding him while they waited for ambulances to arrive.

There was also the image of Rosey Grier, the huge football player, actor, and needlepoint hobbyist, grabbing the gun still in the hand of Sirhan Sirhan. If I remember correctly, Grier and another man may have broken Sirhan's fingers or hand as they struggled to grab the gun. I also remember the first photographs of Sirhan Sirhan. He looked like an improbable assassin, so young, so confused.
As Americans we would witness a lot more violence in the years following that shooting, the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the violence at the Democratic Convention were two of the notable events.

Regardless of your politics, the assassination of Bobby Kennedy was a tragic event in our nation's history. I still have the Newsweek magazine that came out following the shooting. For me, anniversaries, like the one we note today, aren't just markers of time, they are true milestones of some of the history I've been able to experience outside the confines of a text book."

40 Years Later: Bobby Kennedy's Assassination

40 years ago today, Presidential Candidate Robert Kennedy was shot. He died a day later on June 6, 1968. As we head into Campaign 2008, perhaps there are parallels to be made and lessons to be learned.

I wasn't alive at the time of the shooting, in fact my mother was only 10 years old.

It is hard for me to imagine what the country was going through at that time. They were still healing from the loss of his older brother, President John F. Kennedy. Plus the country was immersed in a losing war that was splitting the nation in two. Hundreds of troops were dying daily in Vietnam and the battleground at home wasn't much better.

Bobby Kennedy was supposed to be the solution. The man who would bridge together a country and end the war. We'll never know if he would have lived up to those expectations. We do know, a lot of hope was dashed on June 5th. We also know after Kennedy's assassination it took nearly 7 more years to end the war. We saw more violence, more protests, and the Kent State Massacre following his assassination.

Would those things have happened had Kennedy not been assassinated? There's no way to ever know.

Times got worse before they got better but the country eventually moved on. It took two assassinations, the end of the Vietnam War, and the fall of a "crooked" Presidency, but things eventually got better.

If anything as we continue into this current election we can take away lessons from the past. If anything we can have hope that things will get better. It doesn't matter who is elected as long as change is on the horizon.

As the seemingly endless war continues and economic times get tougher, just remember we've braved it before.

Memorial Day Weekend...Are You Road-trippin'?

A lot of people are staying home this holiday weekend because of gas prices, but some families are still planning to hit the open road. But if you go - are you prepared?

We found a list of the things you'll need to make your family road trip...family fun!

When you're on the road, there are two types of things you'll need: the grown-up stuff, and the kids' stuff. We'll cover both here.

PS - we found this list on Edmunds.com. The author has a blog called The Driving Woman. Check it out!

The List:

Cell phone. We're not suggesting talking while you drive, but if you get lost, blow a tire, overheat an engine or need medical assistance, a cell phone is indispensable. If your adult partner (or teenage child) has a different carrier, have him or her bring a phone as well, because you never know which carrier will have a working signal at any given moment. Don't forget the car charger and the A/C charger as well. If you have (or are planning to buy) a Bluetooth-enabled phone, bear in mind that an increasing number of cars is available with hands-free Bluetooth technology and will allow you to call someone using only your voice.


Detailed maps. OK, sounds obvious, but how many times have you had to stop to ask directions during your lifetime? If you're on a road trip and lose your way, vehicle navigation systems are a gift from heaven. If your car didn't come with a nav system and you have the cash, consider getting an aftermarket unit. At worst, bring detailed maps (not just driving directions) that will show you where you are in case you don't know, uh, where you are. Some maps or guides will also highlight features along the route and the all-important rest stops. Rand McNally, Thomas Brothers and AAA are good places to start. Getting good directions from strangers you meet while traveling is dicey, at best. So don't rely on the guy at that gas station, or you could end up driving in circles.


Entertainment for the kids. We could spend all day on this one. Klutz Press publishes several books/activity packs for kids that will have you singing the company's praises, including Glove Compartment Games and Kids Travel — A Backseat Survival Guide, which has lots of puzzles, connect-the-dots, etc. Also try the Survive the Drive or Travel Tots Web site. Travel Tots features gender-specific backpacks filled with fun stuff for 3- to 9-year-olds. Make these kits a surprise "present" that the kids can unwrap and you win the good parent award…for that hour, at least.

Bring stories on CD or tape and share them together, or have the kids use headphones if you just can't stand Barney one more time. For older kids, satellite radio such as Sirius or XM is a good bet. With hundreds of station choices, chances are you'll find something you can agree upon. Finally, I hate to suggest it, but on long trips, there's nothing better than a DVD player (either as part of an entertainment system installed in the vehicle or a portable unit) or handheld electronic games. Some vehicles even offer gaming system connections so your kids can bring their favorite video games along with them. Naturally, there's always the entertainment fallback, traditional (and free) car games such as "I Spy" and "20 Questions" or "Geography."


Munchies. This cannot be overstated. You need lots of snacks, and lots of variety. Water bottles, juice boxes, individual bags of chips or crackers, grapes (cut in half for little ones to avoid choking), fresh veggies (OK, that's for you), Cheerios, granola bars or yogurt sticks (not cups) that have been frozen (kids love this!). And almost all younger kids calm down a bit when they have milk, so bring along milk boxes that are vacuum-packed and don't need refrigeration. (They can be hard to find; check in the powdered milk area of the grocery store.) Use disposable plastic containers and resealable plastic bags, so the car doesn't resemble a Tupperware party. Remember, kids can't shout while they're busy drinking and eating. Don't forget a couple of bags to hold all the trash, too.


Travel-sized goods. It isn't just shampoo and deodorant that come in travel sizes today. First aid kits, baby wipes, toys (classics like Mastermind and Connect Four, Etch-a-Sketch), hair brushes, disposable plastic placemats and bibs, sunscreen, bug repellent, just about everything comes in a mini version today, saving you a lot of weight in the suitcase and the need to rummage around looking for things. Pack all these things in one bag that is easy to get to, and you'll save not only time but energy as well.


Prescription medicines. If you forget them, you'll be waking your doctor and scrambling for the number of the nearest pharmacy. Also ask your pediatrician about over-the-counter motion sickness medication if you will be traveling on winding roads.


Change of clothing — for everyone. Diapers and underwear included, of course. Bring jackets, too. If you have a young child, it's a good idea to put your name, address and your cell phone numbers on a piece of paper attached to the child's clothing...just in case.


Legal Documents/Legal Tender. Bring driver licenses (for all drivers), IDs, vehicle registration, current insurance card, vehicle title document, AAA card (or other emergency assistance card) and ATM/debit card, credit card and cash. This is what you need in case you get pulled over by police, towed, broken down and so on. Keep them in one place, preferably in your front pants pocket. Front pockets are harder to pick. You also won't risk that moment of panic if you realize your purse is hanging on the back of a chair in the restaurant, 10 miles back.


Favorite blankie or stuffed animal. Torn or ratty, nothing, but nothing, becomes more valuable on a road trip than your child's "lovey." It connects him to home and makes him more comfortable in a strange place. It also helps him sleep. Don't leave home without it.


Shades. If your vehicle's rear windows aren't heavily tinted (and even if they are), you might need a sunshade to keep the sun out of your little ones' eyes. Built-in sunshades are featured on many luxury sedans, and you can also get them on the Toyota Sienna and the Honda Odyssey. Several add-on sunshade accessories are available on the Web or in baby stores. Even then, it's a good idea to bring sunglasses for the whole family for those times you step out of the car and into a bright, sunny day.

Finally, you may already have a child safety seat, but is it a comfortable one? The rule of thumb is, the less expensive it is, the less padding there is between Junior and a hard piece of plastic. Check it out: Press down on the fabric...is there a lot of cushion, or will it feel like a rock after an hour? Remember: Keep 'em comfortable, and you'll keep everybody happy.

Hey Jude...the cutest version

This video has been making waves on YouTube and it is VERY obvious why.



This kid knows the lyrics better than I do! Probably sings better, too....

One Year Later: The Pain Still Hurts

Today is a rough day.

It's been one year since my Grandmother died. A year that seems to have moved by so fast, but painfully slow at the same time.

It has been a year full of birthdays, holidays and moments that were not the same, because Grandma wasn't there. Grandma died just two short months after my grandfather, her husband. She was my last grandparent; the last connection to where my parents came from.

But I had 25 good years with them. That's about 5 more years that I had with my other grandfather, and about 20 more than my other grandmother.

I know my Dad was always worried when I was growing up, that I wouldn't remember my grandmother, since she died when I was so young. But I remember, and I'll never forget. You can't forget that kind of love.

I know grandparents are a special thing to people, and I know for the rest of my life, I'll never have to second guess that I'm loved. My grandparents always made sure I knew that...and I know that love will never end.

While today is a hard day, it is a good day at the same time. It is a time to think back, remember and know that I'm loved.

Today may be the anniversary of one grandparent, but I take the time to remember them all.

I read the "Irish Blessing" as a part of my eulogy at Grandma's funeral. It was always in her house, the Irish in her coming out. It is what I wish for all my grandparents...

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

"When I miss you, I don't have to go far ... I just have to look inside my heart because that's where I'll find you."
- by Unknown

Barbara says Thank You!!!

Since I joined the WBTV morning team... I've read and heard some really cool comments from viewers.

THANK YOU!

I know seeing a new face is often jolting... and that's all the more reason for me to say thank you for being patient through our transitions... and for giving me a chance.

I'm really having a good time (minus some of these terrible stories we uncover). John, Chris and Chuck are cool, down to earth dudes! And our behind the scenes crew... THEY ROCK!

See you dark and early,

Babbs

One-a-Week: Small Meals

Barbara takes a look at things you can try for one week to help improve your life, and make a healthy change. This week's One a Week involves eating five small meals.



Give it a try and let us know how you are doing!

If you'd like to suggest something that worked for you, we'd like to hear it. Send us an e-mail at inbox@wbtv.com with the subject line "One a Week Idea." Maybe your idea will be a weekly segment!

Just Because it is Funny....

If Wilford Brimley was a cat, and not an spokesman for people with diabetes....



Take a look at the rest...5 Cats that Look Like Wilford Brimley

A Day for Mothers...

Once a year, a mother gets one day all for her own - Mother's Day.

On this day, we tell our mother what we should be saying all year long...how special she is, how much we love her and how we owe her more than we could ever say.

And somehow...it's enough. She takes that love, and knows that you mean to say it every time you see her.

Its days like today that I take time to reflect on just how important my mother is to me.

When I've disappointed her, the sadness in her eyes are like needles to my skin, but I know no matter what - she'll always love me. And that love can never be tarnished.

"The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness."
- Honore de Balzac

My mother is like a one-woman band, when it comes to being my cheering section, and my stepping stone when I fall. I know that no matter where I am, or how old I get - my mother will always be my number one fan. Sitting at the sideline of my life...cheering me on.

So on this day, I join the rest of the nation in saying:

"Thanks Mom...I love you, Happy Mother's Day!"

Lincolnton Relay for Life

This past Saturday, the Morning Gang and Molly headed out to the Lincolnton Relay for Life to raise money and awareness.

This is a music video one of the editors, Sarah, put together with some of the pictures from the event. Hope you enjoy!



How can you help? Check out the website, NCRelayForLife.org

Gone Fishin'...

Something new in Chris' weather forecast for all you lovers of fishing...your own forecast!

Find out how the fish are biting and what to expect on the lake...with Chris' Fishin' Forecast.

(Click Below for today's forecast!)

Is it Too Late to Apologize?

Wow...it has been a while since the last post. Sorry about that!

With the Raycom buyout, vacations and sweep - we've been super busy to make sure we are doing our very best for you.

So it's the day after primaries, and all the hub-bub and visits to North Carolina are over, as the candidates for President move on to other states.

It was kind of nice having them all in, begging for votes, putting North Carolina at the center of something VERY important for the nation...one of the closest races EVER for the Democratic nomination.

Several local upsets in races around Mecklenburg County...and the "Mackey Effect" seems to be in full swing.

Thanks for all those who got out and voted, it is SOOOO important to make sure our voices are heard.

Hopefully we won't be strangers again with such a long lull!

Mecklenburg County Has A Blog!

Mecklenburg County may be losing the Mecklenburgs show...but there is a new way for you to keep up with what's going on in the county.

They have a blog! You can visit the blog by going to http://meckconnect.wordpress.com/.

The goal of the blog is to find out what motivates people to become engaged and involved as owners of their community and their local government.

Check it out!

Surviving the Storm

When my friends and I were planning our short vacation to Atlanta, we wanted to make sure we got in several sights: the World of Coke, the Aquarium, CNN, Six Flags and the Zoo - but we never...EVER even considered we'd be running from a tornado!



Okay, maybe running is a little extreme, but we were in Centennial Park literally minutes before a F-2 tornado hit the city. While out and about on Friday, we heard about an outdoor art gallery that would be in the park that night - so we decided to check it out.

My friends - Dan and Mia were looking through the art exhibit, while I sat with my roommate, who had hurt her foot. While we were sitting, the storm was rolling in, and we could see some big lightning coming into the city - the storm looked really bad.

Dan and Mia didn't notice the storm right away, so they were spending a good bit of time going through the gallery and talking about each piece. Karla - my roommate - and I were talking about how close the storm was getting, when a homeless man walked up to us and asked to sit down.

We didn't want to be rude, so we told him he could sit where ever he wanted, he didn't need our permission. He then started talking to us, and asking where we were from. We talked for a few minutes, of course not giving away any vital information that could put us in danger later. He seemed nice enough, but you still have to be cautious. After a while, it became apparent that he was completely drunk, and even downed a bottle of liquor in one swig while sitting with us.

That's when he became a little more aggressive and started getting closer to us. I'm not Spiderman or anything, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out this was not a good situation. Dan and Mia were on their way back to where we were sitting and we politely, but quickly removed ourselves.

The four of us quickly went through the gallery, because the storm was getting MUCH closer and we wanted to get away from the man. We then figured it was time to leave, so we headed for the MARTA station a couple blocks away.

As soon as we got to the Northbound line, the power in the station went out. The entire MARTA station was in complete darkness, before kicking back on about a minute later. We didn't know right away, but we had just been hit by a tornado.

The train came, we got on and attempted to ride to our station. My dad called and asked if were okay because he'd been watching the SEC championship (which was at the Georgia Dome) and had heard it had been hit by a possible tornado. That's when we knew and we were hit by the reality of how close we were.

Because of the storms, they shut down the MARTA just one station before where our car was parked. We were trying to figure out how to get back to the car, but a few minutes later - we heard they were starting the MARTA back. It was only going one more stop - but that was all we needed.

We got back to the hotel, called our parents so they wouldn't freak out and then watched the coverage from the local tv stations.

Now, Mia and I are both in the news business - me here at WBTV, and Mia is a photographer with CN2 in Rock Hill. We started talking about going back on Saturday and looking at the damage. We went back and were taking pictures with our cell phones and cameras. We even got on TV accidentally, because the reporter was referencing us when talking about the people coming out to see the damage. Ooops!

I wanted to share some pics from the damage. Notice the blue billboard in this first picture - that's what the billboard looked like BEFORE the storm (P.S. - that's Mia pointing to Anderson Cooper, the storm blew him away too).



Here's what that same sign looked like - after the storm...





Notice the cars, three of them crushed when this billboard fell down. The billboard was across the street from the CNN Tower, right beside Centennial Park. The CNN Tower was hit pretty hard as well...windows busted out, the glass roof above the food court fell in, cutting a few people.





The CNN Tower wasn't the only place hit. In the last picture, you can see the Philips Arena was hit hard too. A building near that blue billboard was destroyed. The damage was pretty intense in such a short section of the city, bricks were everywhere - including on a couple cars!





Two of the five or six Olympic Torches that line Centennial Park were knocked over by the storm. The tornado ripped the Torches out of the base and tossed them a couple feet to the ground.





We don't know what happened to that homeless man that scared us off, but we hope he was able to get away from the storm safely. After all, if it wasn't for him, we could have still been at that art exhibit when the storm hit.

Next time we go on vacation, we're calling the mayor of the city first...just to give them a heads up that destruction is on the way!

Covering The Deaths Of Two Salisbury Firefighters

This blog was written by WBTV reporter David Whisenant:

I almost didn't go. I was at my usual Friday morning prayer breakfast at the Checkered Flag. Three friends and I meet every week, we enjoy each other's company and then we pray out loud together for specific needs. Yeah, the people in the other booths think we're nuts, but such is the Christian walk. Anyway, someone called to tell me there was a fire at Salisbury Millworks, probably not a big deal, and the Salisbury Fire Department was already on scene, and that usually means no matter how close I am the fire is out before I can get to it. Something told me to go, I can't describe it, but I apologized to my friends and left.

I got to the fire in just a couple of minutes. At first I was run off by an employee, that's okay, that happens, and it turned out to put me in a better camera position at the front of the plant instead of the back side off Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue. I was there early, first reporter on the scene, and I started rolling video in my camera. Initially, from the eye of a news photographer, it wasn't an astounding sight...smoke coming out of some windows in what appeared to be a small office building. I exchanged "good mornings" with police officer Andy Efird and rookie officer Andy Carlton. I nodded at some of the firefighters who were going about their work in the usual professional manner. I called the WBTV assignment desk and told them werhe I was, told them I was covering a fire, probably not a big deal, I'd stay a few more minutes and run to the bureau on the square in downtown Salisbury and feed in some video for noon.

At some point, and I can't really put my finger on the time, something changed. I remember the police had allowed me to cross the railroad tracks and get some closer images. The smoke coming from building was heavier, and it was darker in color. I remember seeing a bright orange glow in the window that I believe was in owner Norde Wilson's office. I interviewed Wilson a few minutes later, he was still confidant that the fire would be extinguished quickly, and he had high praise for the Salisbury Fire Department. His only regret, at that point, was that some fine cherry woodwork in his office was probably being destroyed as he watched. Then another significant change.

The smoke was mixed with flames coming from the roof of the office, flames mixed with smoke now pouring out of Wilson's office window. Now there was more smoke and it was coming from eaves and doorways, garage doors and windows, and it wasn't just in the office, it was coming from the huge manufacturing area that ran nearly a block long. Soon the flames overpowered the smoke...bright, orange, fierce, crawling on every surface, being fueled by superheated air. I even zoomed in with my camera on a specific spot in which I saw a bright blue flame near the front of the building. A firefighter told me it was probably one of the chemicals used in the plant now on fire. The flames were so big at this point, leaping into the air over the brick building now struggling to stay standing. Then another change, and one that was haunting.

No one told me firefighters were hurt, I didn't hear the "Mayday" call from Captain Barkley, but I didn't need to. You could see it on the faces. I knew something had happened and that it was horrible. Chief Parnell walked by with a look of shock and sadness. I called the station back and said they better send me some help because I knew now this was not just a structure fire like I'd seen hundreds of times in my career. I saw the ambulance move in close to the building, that was surprising since it was so near the flames. Chief Parnell then walked by and asked me and the other news crews if we would hold off reporting anything until families could be notified. At that point I didn't know what had happened, but those words made it pretty clear to me that at least one firefighter had died.

Two years ago for a story, Chief Parnell dressed me up in fire turn out gear and let me go into a building the department was burning for training. I can still feel the heat from the day. As I crawled on the floor I wondered how firefighters could do this and keep their senses. I remember that there was a point, probably just a minute or two into it that the firefighters started to pull me out. I wasn't ready to go, but I saw a part of plastic on the cover of my camera start melting. I didn't need anymore convincing. But now on this early March this was no training fire, no experiment, this was a raging inferno that had claimed victims.

What I noticed next was truly telling about the character of these men and women. They didn't stop fighting this fire. There were one or two who took ten second to hug, but then they charged right back in. The grief, the pain, had to put aside, for now, while the flames continued to wrap their fingers around the building and consume a car that an employee had parked earlier in a spot he was certain was out of reach of the fire in its infancy. I still had a job to do, I had a story to tell. The station did send some help and I spent the rest of the day on the scene of the fire. I had to to three live reports in our noon news, plus one at 5, one at 6, one at 7, and an additional story for WFMY in Greensboro and WRAL in Raleigh. My video, those unbelieveable images, went out to CBS News in New York and to CBS and affiliated stations across the world.

I cried at the end of my 5 pm live shot. I couldn't help it. This is my hometown, these are people I know and respect, and they're hurting, so I'm hurting. It may not have been professional, but it was real. I said something to the effect that in my 16 years of covering news on television, this was the worst, the bottom line worst story I had ever covered. I've seen a lot of bad things, suffering, anger, but this was the nadir of all of it. That led me to do some things out of character for me. I snapped at several people in our newsroom, including our anchor Maureen O'Boyle. I snapped at good people at Rowan Regional Medical Center, I snapped at my wife. I knew I had to get my temprement under control. I prayed for peace for myself, but then felt guilty asking God for anything when so many people needed so much more than I.

The next few days were truly a blur of events and images, some sad and heartbreaking, some hopeful and wonderful. The show of support from the community was truly encouraging. Banners, ribbons, signs, all offered prayers to the families of the fallen firefighters, and for those still on the job. As a reporter it was good to have some positive things to say about the horror that I had seen on Friday, but there were difficult and awkward moments. As always, some of my cohorts in the media didn't want to respect what I felt were reasonable rules for covering the aftermath of such tragedies. And as is often the case, they, including one television station that had repeatedly reported inaccurate information on the day of the fire and with virtually no ties to this community, was rewarded for their aggressive efforts. I just didn't think this was the time to be concerned with beating the competition. I did stories about how out of town firefighters were covering for Salisbury and Rowan County, and I talked to Brad Jordan, a firefighter who was there Friday and who had seen death before when he was riding with firefighter Jim Shue of the Locke Fire Department around 12 years ago and was involved in an accident in the fire truck that took Shue's life. Yet here was Jordan, married to a firefighter, and ready to run on the next call.

The day of the funeral was another milestone. For days there was behind the scene drama about how the media would be allowed to cover the event. I wanted to have my camera there and I was willing to "pool" the video. That's a media term that means everybody gets the same thing I get. I thought this was an historic event and that it should be documented, but my perspective on it should not overrule the wishes of two families dealing with immense grief. The family did approve the request, but again, there was more drama that lasted right up until the morning of the service. We in the media usually play nice together, from television to print and radio, but there are those times that one outlet or another has to push the bounds of reason and sensitivity. In the end ot worked out, and the television camera in the chapel made it possible for the overflow crowd in Keppel Auditorium to still see and hear the images of a moving and emotional service.

Outside the chapel there was a little more media drama, and even some light comedy. The media area was down Oliver's Way, a beautiful walkway that runs from the chapel to the auditorium, problem is, the other cameras and crews were behind a small weeping willow tree. Deputy Chief Steve Whitley had agreed to that position, after much begging on our part, and he was serious about any violations of the ground rules. I mean so serious that he called the magistrate and the judge Thursday morning to give them a "heads up" that he may be bringing in some media types if they crossed the line. I love Chief Whitley, there's just enough of an edge to him that you know he's serious, but he's also a little playful behind the Serengeti sunglasses. We joked about the tree maybe falling prey to an unknown lumberjack of beaver, but to our amazement, and pleasure, Catawba officials simply dug it up and moved it. It was a major and unexpected concession, and one that was truly appreciated. On the other hand, you had the presence of the news helicopters. Those choppers, Sky 3, Chopper 9, and Air Star, are a vital part of broadcast news gathering, but they are loud and intrusive. The stations were given two conflicting rules on chopper access, and when that is the case, you always go by the one that allows the most access. Lt. Rory Collins of the Salisbury Police Department first noticed the "wop wop wop" of the birds and started telling the station's representatives on the ground to have the choppers back off a few miles. They did, and with the amazing technology of the zoom lens, they were still able to provide gripping images of the procession and the traditional rituals normally observed with the funeral of a firefighter.

I think I wrote this as therapy for myself. I wanted to remember these images and the feelings I experienced during this mouornful time. I prayed hard this week, for the Islers and the Monroes, for Chief Parnell, Captain Barkley, our Salisbury city public information officer Karen Wilkinson who was suffering in her own way as the cousin of Justin Monroe. I also prayed for myself and I asked others to help me with that effort. I just wanted to conduct myself first as a Christian, then secondly as a sensitive and compassionte reporter who still had a job to do. One of the speakers at the funeral said that God can bring that which is good out of that which is tragic. I know he can, I certainly was an eyewitness to that this week, both the tragic that we leave behind, and the good that drives us to hope through the grace of God.

Oh March....you move SOOOOO slow.

You know, I used to love the month of March, and now I'm just loving when its over!

No, its not because April is so great - I'm just done with March.

It used to be so good with my dad's birthday, March Madness, St. Patty's Day - everything a half-Irish man needs! But in the last couple of years, so many bad things have happened in March, that its starting to bum me out.

But this year, I'm hoping to turn things around. I'm taking off during the hardest part of the month and taking a VACATION with my friends. This will be the first time since I've worked here that I actually go somewhere on my vacation.

Hopefully it'll be good.

And to all my Irish brethren out there....the countdown is on!

When a Problem Comes Along, You Must Whip It!

A big pop movie icon collection going up for auction next month!

They've got a helmet signed by Tom Hanks, Christopher Reeve's Superman suit, and even Indiana Jones' whip and chalice from The Last Crusade... all kinds of great stuff!

Now, we had a replica whip - and the anchors had just too much fun with it!

(Click Picture to Watch!)


All the proceeds are going to the Audubon Society.

Step Show Throwdown!

The CIAA is gearing up for Funky Fresh Friday with a TON of events uptown, including the CIAA Step Show Throwdown.

Some of the boys from Kappa Alpha Psi at UNC Charlotte stopped by to give a little preview of what you can expect on Friday night.

(Click Picture for Video)


So who will win the battle? Guess you'll have to be there to find out!

Frustrations From A New Homeowner

As a new homeowner the news about surging foreclosure rates and low home prices has me worried. And I'm sure I'm not alone. Even people who aren't at risk for foreclosure have a lot to worry about. For instance I'm not worried about foreclosing myself, but instead I'm worried that other people in my area will foreclose. I'm also worried that selling my condo will be harder than originally thought.

I bought my place over the summer. I knew going in that most of the country was having foreclosure problems, but everything I read and was told was that Charlotte seemed to be immune. So I took the big plunge and bought. The good part about buying when I did was that it was still easy. I wasn't under a ton of scrutiny from the bank. Lately I've been hearing horror stories from people who are trying to buy right now. A lot of banks and mortgage companies are cracking down on who they let buy. Some people have told me they can't even get their mortgage companies to call them back.

Of course buying right now comes with some rewards. For instance next to nothing interest rates.

Either way, the economical problems aren't going away anytime soon, which will impact everyone. It may impact when I decide to sell, the amount of upgrades I do to my place, and the price I'll eventually get for my home.

Upgrades are good but there's a fine line between making your house more sell able and out pricing yourself. Right now I'm just trying to walk a fine line. For instance should I tile my kitchen and bathrooms? Should I redo my counter tops in my kitchen? Should I redo my closet? What kinds of things would be positive changes and what would be too much?

Anyone with any ideas feel free to comment.

Are You Ready for Some SOFTBAAAAAAAAAAAALL?

I am completely pumped.

There are a couple times of years that I truly love...Football Season, My Birthday/Christmas, and of course...Media League Softball Season!



That's right! This will be my third year ON the team...fourth year being around it. There is something exciting about getting out and playing a game of softball on a league...win or lose.

And yes, we've had our share of both...

Do I hate losing? Of course!

Do I have fun regardless? You betcha!

So with practice kicking off on Saturday morning - you can just call me the HAPPY PRODUCER!

Stand by Your Ham...

That's right...your ham!

Farmers in the U.K are trying a new way to bring attention to their issue, so they are hitting the Internet with a catchy new song. This is a parody of Tammy Wynette's "Stand by Your Man."

'Stand by Your Ham'

Right now it's hard to make a living
Rearing all your pigs for pork and ham.
The supermarkets make money
But we don't make any money
And that's quite hard to understand
But if they gave us a little more money
Gave us farmers a fairer share.
Coz we take good care of our pigs
We're so proud of them
To us they're more than pork and ham.

(Chorus)
Stand by your ham.
Sausages, pork and bacon
Help us to stay in business
Because our pigs are worth it.
Stand by your ham.
Sausages, pork and bacon
Keep givin' all the help you can
Stand by your ham.

But you have to seriously ask...can this be more than just a catchy song?

I think its a great effort, but I don't know that it'll actually make a difference in the price of feed for the Wilbur and the rest of the porkers.

Sorry Farmers...great song, but it ain't gonna help!

Way To Go Vols!

Just wanted to take a quick minute and congratulate the Tennessee Vols! I became a TN basketball fan after moving to Tennessee from Ohio a few years ago. When I first got to Tennessee, the men's basketball team had just hired Bruce Pearl as their new coach.

Pearl should go down in history as being one of the best basketball coaches! He took a team that rarely made it to the NCAA tournament to a few years later being the number one team in the country. Now in all fairness the team has only had that title for a day or so but it's a great accomplishment for a team that has never been number one!

Once again congratulations to Bruce Pearl and the team for a season well done! Let's hope they can take it all the way!

Picture Courtesy: SEC Sports

Don't Screw Up... I'm Watching You!

I don't like listening to the radio in the car anymore...if the dial goes anywhere near a country station. Why? Because there is a country song out that scares the snot out of me.

Its called "Watching You" by Rodney Atkins. If you haven't heard it before, download it - or ask someone who has it. Even if you don't like country...

And its not SUPPOSED to be scary...its supposed to be a feel good kinda song. But when I listen to the lyrics of the song, I get scared about growing up and being a parent.

Here's the chorus:

"He said I've been watching you dad, ain't that cool
I'm your buckaroo, I wanna be like you
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are
We got cowboy boots and camo pants
Yeah we're just alike, hey ain't we dad
I wanna do everything you do
So I've been watching you"

This scares me. I feel like as a person, I'm an okay person. I have respect for my elders, and I try and be a good person - but having someone that looks up to me 24/7...

*Shudders*

I don't think I'm ready for this kind of responsibility. Not yet.

By the way...this is only the second song to ever give me the heebe-jeebes. The other song was "Hotel California"...when I was like eight. I used to hear the song and picture little gremlin-like, clownish creatures coming to get me and taking me away forever.

But that could never happen.

Right...?

Political Observations

While I normally shy away from politics... at least for blogging purposes, I had some thoughts this weekend. I was reading an article about the upcoming Presidential race and I came to two very different conclusions about two very different candidates.

The first was about John McCain. After reading an article in the New York Times it became apparent that the Times did what John McCain couldn't, get Republican backers for himself. After the article ran last week, accusing McCain of an inappropriate relationship with a lobbyist, GOP's came out of the woodwork to support him. These were the same republican leaders who had shunned McCain for not being republican enough. In the word's of my boyfriend, "Being attacked by the Times was like a badge of honor." Essentially now that McCain has been attacked by liberals, he's conservative enough for Republicans again.

The second thought was about Hillary Clinton. I don't think she'll get a fair shake when it comes to this Presidential Race. In fact I don't think most women would get a fair shake. As much as we'd like to say Gender shouldn't or doesn't play a role into politics, I think we all know it does. I think even more so than race.

Throughout the race we've seen several faces of Senator Clinton. We've seen the tough, loud, mud slinging, accusation throwing Clinton and we've also seen the crying, emotional Clinton. I think both sides are bad for her run. Let's be honest, there are words that people use to describe women like Hillary. It doesn't matter how capable a woman is, if she's outspoken and harsh, it doesn't settle well with men or women. But as soon as she tries to show a little emotion, to show she's not as hard as she seems, people say "see she's crying, that's why we can't have a woman president."

I'm not saying a woman president is not possible, I just think it would take a candidate that is charming, relatable to both men and women, tough but not threatening (especially to men). I hope one day in the near future there is a woman President, but I don't think Clinton is the woman who will get the job.

Just food for thought.

Skinny Fellas Need Not Apply!

That's right fellas...your wife might be harping about those few extra pounds, but the Florida Marlins want you, spare tire and all!

The National League baseball team is puting together an all-male, plus-size cheerleading squad to be dubbed "The Manatees." The team hopes to recruit seven to 10 tubby men to dance, cheer and jiggle during Friday and Saturday home games.



But the competition was not easy - these big boys still had to be agile!



The Manatees won’t be paid, but they’ll get tickets for the games they perform...and you have to imagine a hot dog or two.

Now, maybe I'm just biased...but I don't think these fellas have anything on the Suchan Shuffle!



Get down with your bad self, Chris!

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

We can't thank you enough!

This is our 100th blog to date! We weren't exactly a blogging bunch, but you guys really stuck with us (even when we took LONG Christmas break)!

We hope to continue feeling the love and support from you guys, and we love getting the feedback!

So keep telling us what you think by comment, email, or phone call! We want to keep hearing from you. You make us better!

So from the entire Morning Show and staff here at WBTV...Thanks!

It's the Mega Recession Saver Blog!

All week long we've been showing you some good tips on how to easily save a few bucks around the house.

Who knew you could just change a few things and save so much money!

So we've combined all our reports and have them here for you to watch one more time! Just click the pictures to see the video.

Day One


Day Two


Day Three


Day Four


Day Five


Now go out and save some money...and ENERGY!

Maybe I'm Just Green With Envy

Forbes Magazine, what did Charlotte do to you? I'm usually not one to defend a city I live in, just because I live there, but there are exceptions.

You may have heard on the news, Forbes Magazine has published an article naming America's Most Jealous Cities. Charlotte ranked number 2 on the list. According to Forbes, the list was made up of cities with the highest property crime. The thought is, if people are stealing, it must be because they are jealous.

I suppose Forbes makes a valid point, there is a lot of property crime in Charlotte. But my thinking is, it's better to have a lot of property crime, than a lot of violent crime! Maybe the magazine's next article could be "America's Most Hateful Cities" or "America's Most Laziest Cities" for cities with high unemployment rates. Seriously, it isn't nice.

I've heard a lot of people talking about how stealing has nothing to do with jealousy but instead with poverty rates. Honestly, I'm not that worked up on why people steal ( I don't defend criminals), I'm more upset that Forbes Magazine has nothing better to do than to beat up on Charlotte (AGAIN) and to make light of crime trends.

My question is, why doesn't Forbes Magazine look on the bright side of life? How about "America's Most Modern Cities" or "America's Greenest Cities" or even "America's Most Beautiful Cities." ... After all we are number 2 in the number of people who undergo plastic surgery.

What's the old saying? Something about people pick on you because they are jealous of you... Hmmm makes you wonder if it's Forbes Magazine that's got the jealousy Jones.

You're Only Crazy if You ANSWER the Voices in Your Head...Right?

That's right...its getting to that point where the anchors, Chris and Chuck are starting to hear voices in their heads.

I don't know if its the early hours, the lack of sleep or too much coffee - but you gotta watch out for those extra voices!

(click picture to watch video)

So Who is Your Favorite?

We did one of our longest polls ever...and you responded in huge numbers!

With all the campaigning and hoop-lah around the elections this year, we wanted to know what you really think. But I have to admit, the poll kinda surprised me.

Obama and McCain appear to be the big winners nationwide, but that's not what our poll showed. The poll started BEFORE Mitt Romney dropped out of the race.

33% - John McCain
29% - Hillary Clinton
27% - Barack Obama
12% - Mitt Romney

So what do you think? Will McCain and be the big winners in North Carolina, when its Primary time?

So What Happens During Commercials?

Dancing....and LOTS of it.

Sometimes the anchors have to blow off a little steam, and you know - every once in a while, those commercials have pretty good songs.

(click the picture to watch)


Yes...feel bad for us. And pray...pray hard.

Looking for a Good Movie? It Could Save Your Life!

That's right...save your life.

How crazy is this? A firefighter in Colleton County, South Carolina was walking out of a Waffle House - when he was shot by two men fighting over a gun...and didn't know it!

The reason he didn't know? He had a DVD in his pocket, and the bullet was stopped by the DVD!

That's just crazy.

Instead of getting shot, he only has a bruise. He didn't even know he had been shot, until he noticed a bullet hole in his jacket, the shattered DVD case and a piece of the bullet.

And as much as I'd love to add more irony and say the DVD was Touched By and Angel, Highway to Heaven or Saving Private Ryan....it was just a TV show about fire extinguishers.

Oh well...

Nightmare in the Lunchroom!

You know, I'm starting to feel REALLY old these days.

Why?

Because I've started using the "When I was in school, (fill in the blank)" a LOT lately. I'm starting to see what my parents were talking about, when I was in school myself.

Seems like schools are becoming more and more dangerous. If you aren't worrying about getting beat up (or shot), you have to worry about MRSA, tuberculosis and now tainted beef!

I'll be the first to admit that I always assumed cafeteria food was tainted, but that was just because of the taste.

Today, students in local schools are learning that they could have eaten tainted beef. This is all part of the 143 million pounds of beef being recalled...the largest beef recall - ever!

Charlotte Mecklenburg County Schools aren't the only ones though, 25 districts in North Carolina are affected. The local ones are Caldwell County, Cleveland County, Gaston County, Hickory Public Schools, and Rowan-Salisbury Schools.

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture released a full list.

You know, with all these problems, I can see how home schooling is becoming a more legitimate option for parents.

Dem der chillins might not get one of dem fancy edumcations, but hey, it's all good!

Horseback Riding Adventure

Following Valentine's Day every year is my wife Kara's birthday. I get a couple of days between the two very important dates but they feel very much like one big celebration to me. I'm always looking for a little something different to do and this year, I decided to take her horseback riding. Considering her love for horses from years spent growing up on a farm in Texas, the first mention of my birthday idea received rave reviews from Kara (sigh of relief for me-hah).

We went to Latta Plantation on Mountain Island Lake this past Saturday for the two hour sunset ride followed by a BBQ dinner next to a bonfire. To say the very least, it was an extremely successful day as we both had an absolute blast along with a few stories afterwards. Here are a few pictures from the adventure...

Here's Kara posing with Benny in his corral before the ride... who proved to be a huge challenge for her! Despite her years of experience with horses, Benny took a little while for Kara to adjust too... how many times did I look back only to see Benny and Kara wondering off the trail somewhere?! LOL... I tell you what, if I was on Benny he would have taken me to Salisbury. So it was definitely wise she was riding him rather than me-hah! Note his tongue sticking out, perhaps this was a clue as to what he thought about the idea:)

This was my horse, Little Charley. His funny quirk was chewing his tongue which you see on the upper left. That was pretty hilarious to watch. Little Charley was an outstanding horse to ride! Probably helped that I buttered him up with bisquit treats before our ride which you see in the upper right:)

On the left side you'll see a picture Kara took from on top of Benny showing one of the trails we were on. I'm some distance ahead of the two of them. The picture next to it on the right is Clint Eastwood... excuse me, I mean that's me on Little Charley next to the shore of Mountain Island Lake.

I just want to thank the entire staff at Latta Plantation's equestrian center for the great ride followed by the steak and chicken dinner afterwards!! That meal was simply awesome! Our only complaint after the ride, extreme soreness in the lower back and 'backseat' if you will. Wow... it was tough to sit down the next day-hah! But it was all worth it as I had a blast and Kara was very pleased with her birthday weekend:) Success...