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