Mike Slater Leaves TJ Network….with a legacy

After what some consider a brief run here at

A Family Reunited- A Happy Ending

Some of you will remember a post to this blog on October 9, 2010 that carried a now pretty famous photo of a group of soldiers in formation waiting to be depart for a year in Iraq. The real moving part of the photo was little 4-year-old Paige Bennethum as she held tightly to the hand of her father (one of the soldiers) Staff Sgt. Brett Bennethum, of Pennsylvania.

The photo once again has been making the rounds in national media but this time a more happy theme surrounds it. Sgt. Bennethum has returned home from Iraq and has been reunited with his wife and kids, including little Paige. He is home for good, according to an article that accompanied the photo in the news. I remember, like many other people, being especially moved by the original publishing of the picture. It seemed like such a horrible thing for a 4-year-old to have to go through not to mention the dad and the rest of the family. However, the photo stands as a stark reminder of the reality we as Americans have had to come to grips with as we deal with protecting and preserving this wonderful gift we call freedom.

I have no hidden agendas in reporting on this story, no “anti war” messages, no “give peace a chance” rhetoric….just wanted to take the opportunity to say that thanks to God’s grace and a safe tour of duty in Iraq Paige’s daddy is back home and playing his best role yet…..husband and father.

Yes, we live in a world that knows violence, war, crime, hate and a host of other negative experiences, unfortunately. But, thank God there are still happy endings.

The Feeding Frenzy Has Begun

Only very rarely would I ever post something about what is happening in a celebrity’s life. As a broadcaster and member of the media (whatever that is these days) I understand that when a person’s level of fame escalates to a certain level they are subject to the ever-peering glance of the public. That is simply the way it is and perhaps should be.

However, one celebrity that I feel a more than usual amount of sympathy for recently, is actress (and recent Oscar winner) Sandra Bullock. Granted I don’t know anything about her personal life as it regards to family and marriage, but it seems to me the girl deserves better treatment than to be paraded before the public in the name of newsworthy gossip over something her husband is responsible for.

Hubby Jesse James has apologized for something (not sure exactly what at this time) he says has caused his family grief and pain. The news media says he reportedly was involved with a certain tattooed lady in a sordid affair while wife Sandra was working on the Blind Side movie (for which she won her Best Actress Oscar).

He now says that most of the reported accusations were “untrue and unfounded”. While it’s not my purpose or intent to debate any of this, I do feel that it is unfortunate that innocent people, i.e., Mrs. Bullock and her kids, have to be dragged through all the headlines that are out there.

It is most unfortunate this (whatever it is) has happened and I find it equally unfortunate that in cases like this people can’t protect their personal lives from their professional lives, deal with their dirty laundry and get on with their lives in private.

Perhaps the case could be made in regard to politicians, ministers and others in related categories of celebrity status. Seems to me the difference here is that these types are people that have taken on responsibilities that require upholding certain moral and personal attributes and a level of service different from movie stars, musicians and athletes. These people, in my opinion, should be expected to uphold a certain standard as a public servant according to their particular job or office.

Either way you look at it I still feel it is unfortunate that innocent parties in such cases as Sandra Bullock’s have to endure the added embarrassment the media heaps on them.

The real sad thing here is that the public, you and I, live in a society that is expected to latch onto any bit of controversial gossip that is spewed our way by the media and actually does…with fervor.

This is not going to change and neither do I expect it to. Human nature has had ions of time to evolve to the place where we are today…just sad, in some ways, it has not evolved in some other directions.  Just a thought…..

The Feeding Frenzy Has Begun

Only very rarely would I ever post something about what is happening in a celebrity’s life. As a broadcaster and member of the media (whatever that is these days) I understand that when a person’s level of fame escalates to a certain level they are subject to the ever-peering glance of the public. That is simply the way it is and perhaps should be.

However, one celebrity that I feel a more than usual amount of sympathy for recently, is actress (and recent Oscar winner) Sandra Bullock. Granted I don’t know anything about her personal life as it regards to family and marriage, but it seems to me the girl deserves better treatment than to be paraded before the public in the name of newsworthy gossip over something her husband is responsible for.

Hubby Jesse James has apologized for something (not sure exactly what at this time) he says has caused his family grief and pain. The news media says he reportedly was involved with a certain tattooed lady in a sordid affair while wife Sandra was working on the Blind Side movie (for which she won her Best Actress Oscar).

He now says that most of the reported accusations were “untrue and unfounded”. While it’s not my purpose or intent to debate any of this, I do feel that it is unfortunate that innocent people, i.e., Mrs. Bullock and her kids, have to be drug through all the headlines that are out there.

It is most unfortunate this (whatever it is) has happened and I find it equally unfortunate that in cases like this people can’t protect their personal lives from their professional lives, deal with their dirty laundry and get on with their lives in private.

Perhaps the case could be made in regard to politicians, ministers and others in related categories of celebrity status. Seems to me the difference here is that these types are people that have taken on responsibilities that require upholding certain moral and personal attributes and a level of service different from movie stars, musicians and athletes. These people, in my opinion, should be expected to uphold a certain standard as a public servant according to their particular job or office.

Either way you look at it I still feel it is unfortunate that innocent parties in such cases as Sandra Bullock’s have to endure the added embarrassment the media heaps on them.

The real sad thing here is that the public, you and I, live in a society that is expected to latch onto any bit of controversial gossip that is spewed our way by the media and actually does…with fervor.

This is not going to change and neither do I expect it to. Human nature has had ions of time to evolve to the place where we are today…just sad, in some ways, it has not evolved in some other directions.  Just a thought…..

2009: A Year Best Forgotten?

I suppose it’s all relevant to who you read, listen to or follow, but so many people (in my little universe of awareness) seem to be looking back on 2009 like one would view an obnoxious relative who came to visit, overstayed and finally left after days or weeks of making everyone in the house miserable.

Now, I will be the first to say 2009 was an interesting year, to say the least. A sagging economy (or at least purported to be so), changing administrations in Washington, D.C., and the like kept the media and us talking all year long.

There were tragedies, conflicts, sad news from the war front in Iraq and Afghanistan and other trouble spots in the world like the years before 2009.

At times it seemed to be an overall blue funk over our country due to all the above and especially the state of the economy. Whenever you involve the topic of people’s financial and economic states we all tend to sit and take notice more intently and rightfully so. After all, each of us wants to prosper and see our families provided for more than just adequately.

But, was 2009 really a bad year in the grand scope of things? All of us reading this post apparently made it through the year. Some faring better than others of us, for sure, but we made it through. Many didn’t. And because that’s a reality of every year it’s something I am personally thankful for achieving.

There are a number of ways my family is better off today than we were in the opening days of 2009 just one short year ago. Actually, I can’t think of a single example of anything I can say got worse for us over the past twelve months.

Maybe your situation is not the same and that is certainly possible. But try as I will I just can’t bring myself to the point of believing the year of 2009 was a terrible year.

I understand such a situation is completely subjective but overall 2009 held some good personal memories and learning opportunities for me. Which brings me to a simple teaching probably most of us have heard since we were small children. Did your parents, teachers, or others ever tell you, “You will find the good in the things you look for the good in”?

Yes, there were lots of bad things that happened in 2009 but there were a lot of good things that happened as well, in my opinion. I suppose what matters now is which ones are we going to focus on?

I believe nothing happens by random accident. I know I am opening myself up to criticism here, but it is what I believe. I also believe that whatever negative happens to us can hold positive lessons and opportunities for us as well.  These positive outcomes are not always readily observed or realized, but they are there, I believe, if we are willing to be patient enough to realize them. Sometimes it takes years to reap the good from the bad but eventually we will see positive things come from them.

This is not to say we deserve the bad things that happen to us but that good always has a way of rearing its head in the aftermath of diversity.

You may hold a totally different opinion and philosophy about life and that is perfectly fine. I just can’t bring myself to write off 2009 as a loser year with no redeeming value. Even in light of some trying times held by 2009 I feel I have advanced in a number of ways and came through it for the better.

And besides, it’s much more fun to look for the good things in life than to expect the bad.

Hope you have the best year ever and whatever last year left you with may it blossom into magnificent blessings and good for you and your loved ones.

Happy 2010. Let’s all look for great things to happen this year.

12 Year Old Plays Music for Little Sick Friend

I love being inspired by people who do simply extraordinary things to help others. But, some of the best inspiration comes, many times, from someone doing something extraordinarily simple that benefits another.

School was out across America on Monday for Columbus Day. A day to sleep in late, watch tv, play video games or spend some quality time on Twitter, FaceBook or MySpace for thousands of kids. One 12-year-old in Virginia opted to do something totally different with her time off from school and it helped a little 4-year-old girl who has become Abby’s friend.

Abby is a musician and songwriter, and a good one too, who spent her day out of school sitting in front of Union Station in Washington, D.C. on Monday playing her guitar and singing to the passersby. Now, Abby is not trying to solicit tips and handouts from the people bustling by. She has a much loftier reason for being there.

Her 4-year-old friend, Taylor Love, is battling neuroblastoma, a  cancer that affects the central nervous system and that has a very high recurrence rate. Taylor currently is in remission but the future is uncertain.

Abby does these mini-concerts in several towns and locations to raise awareness for the disease that has not been researched as much as other common cancers. She plays and sings on the street to raise money for the support of Taylor and her family as well.

What does a 12-year-old girl and a 4-year-old cancer patient have in common? An afwul lot according to Taylor’s mother who says the two are best friends and spend time together inspiring each other.

Abby asks people who stop by her street performances, that have raised reportedly thousands of dollars for cancer research and for Taylor’s family, to write the little girl a note of encouragement. The notes, appropriately known as Love Notes, are taken to Taylor’s mom who reads them to her daughter each night before bed.

The notes are something Taylor looks forward to and Abby says she has people do the notes because you can better encourage a person more wholly if their mind is uplifted as well.

Obviously gifted and wise beyond her 12 years, Abby is a good songwriter as well. Her original composition, inspired by and written for Taylor, has a theme, lyrics and feeling far advanced from what you would expect coming from someone that is not even a teenager yet.

Funny thing about inspiration….when you read about someone that is inspiring or that has done something inspiring it inspires you as well, or at least it does me.

We have all questioned our lot in life if we will be honest with ourselves. We have all wondered just what our purpose on this earth could be as we strive to fulfill that purpose. Abby Miller has found the secret to fulfillment long before most people do in their lives. She has learned that to be fulfilled and to live a  life one only has to use the gifts they have been given to inspire, encourage, uplift and help others.

That’s the simple truth most of us have tried to complicate with complex philosophical contemplating and searching. Be who and what you are and use what you have to benefit others. Gee, that’s really simple.

You can read all about Taylor and Abby, see a lot of pictures, make a donation to the cause and even hear Abby’s great song for Taylor at www.taylorlove.org.  I have to warn you though….you just might get inspired.

One Thing I Hate the Most

In this “politically correct” society we live in there are many opinions on any topic you can bring up. Democrats hate the Republicans, one religious group hates another, one ball team’s fans has a high disdain for the opposing team’s fans and so on and so on.

There are no deep philosophical messages in this post, like there ever is for that matter. No arguments against or for anything will be found here. But just a statement I was recently compelled to make to myself upon seeing a photograph online.

During my lifetime, as many of you, I have lived through a number of wars, skirmishes, police actions, etc. that my country has been involved in. I have personal boyhood friends that fought in Vietnam and other conflicts. I lost some schoolmates to that dastardly war.

Just last year while standing at a replica of the famed Viet Nam wall that toured through Jackson I was struck with such an intense feeling of guilt as I looked up the names of my fallen friends on that ominous monument. A guilt that ran through me from head to toe for a few days. A guilt that expressed itself in contemplation as to why these friends were not allowed to grow older, have careers, families, children and lives like I have.

I never came up with an answer to the question but walked away changed somewhat by the experience. Though I have never taken lightly the sacrifice countless numbers of American soldiers have made for my freedom, after this experience I certainly could not be anything but deeply humbled by the way things have turned out.

A similar experience took place today upon finding a photograph online at a news site. It says it all to me. It shows a young girl holding on to her daddy’s hand moments before he was deployed to Iraq over a year ago. The story went on to say her dad is still in Iraq for about another year.

You can say what you will about why we are in Iraq, Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world defending freedom, etc.. But, four-year-olds were never intended to have to understand the sacrifice that war brings to families and countries.

Support the war, or wars, or not, agree with anyone else’s political standing or not….we all can agree on one thing.  I hate war.

Daddy leaves for war

Read the entire story here.

Reason to be Scared?

Lou Pritchett, a former vice president of Proctor & Gamble who retired in 1989, wrote the following letter to President Obama. Now, he didn’t send it to the president. Instead, he mailed it to the New York Times who basically ignored it totally.

However, at last report over half million people have seen the letter that made it somehow to the Internet. I am sure this number is growing daily but the half mil is the only figures I have seen.

Now, before posting the letter, some of you may have seen by now, on this blog I want to preface my doing so with a few remarks of my own.

First of all, growing up in the South I know full well racism has been an issue and a tragedy in generations past. I will be the first to admit it is still around today, unfortunately. And, with the national media recently proclaiming racism as the main reason some Americans don’t like Barack Obama more and more people, in my opinion, will latch on to that kind of reasoning when anyone opposes the president on any matter.

I am not a predjudiced person nor am I a racist. I don’t even feel the need to defend my personal standing on the issue as I feel my past speaks strongly enough for itself. I only say this for the benefit of anyone who may revert to such an opinion of me for posting this letter here.

Why am I posting it then? As much as anything, I am posting it because of the character and standing behind the man who wrote it. Lou Pritchett. In today’s world you can find as many different opinions almost as they are people to express them. But, considering Mr. Pritchett’s background, experience and level of respect in national and international business circles I think it is of value to consider what he has to say.

Afterall, any lunatic-fringe nutcase out there can be heard today (usually by national media news outlets)  regardless of their background good bad or otherwise.  So, I think it only fair Lou Pritchett has his say.

Is he right on? Is he crazy? You make up your own mind. It is just my function here to present his viewpoint. And, for the record….personally, I can’t bring myself to think he is nothing other than spot on in light of what is going on in our country today. You be your own judge. To we have a reason to be scared?

Here, in it’s entirety, is Lou Pritchett’s letter that was mailed to the New York Times who chose to ignore it without an acknowledgement of any kind.

AN OPEN LETTER TO

PRESIDENT OBAMA

By Lou Pritchett

Dear President Obama:

You are the thirteenth President under whom I have lived and unlike any of the others, you truly scare me.

You scare me because after months of exposure, I know nothing about you.

You scare me because I do not know how you paid for your expensive Ivy League education and your upscale lifestyle and housing with no visible signs of support.

You scare me because you did not spend the formative years of youth growing up in America and culturally you are not an American.

You scare me because you have never run a company or met a payroll.

You scare me because you have never had military experience, thus don’t understand it at its core.

You scare me because you lack humility and ‘class’, always blaming others.

You scare me because for over half your life you have aligned yourself with radical extremists who hate America and you refuse to publicly denounce these radicals who wish to see America fail.

You scare me because you are a cheerleader for the ‘blame America’ crowd and deliver this message abroad.

You scare me because you want to change America to a European style country where the government sector dominates instead of the private sector.

You scare me because you want to replace our health care system with a government controlled one.

You scare me because you prefer ‘wind mills’ to responsibly capitalizing on our own vast oil, coal and shale reserves.

You scare me because you want to kill the American capitalist goose that lays the golden egg which provides the highest standard of living in the world.

You scare me because you have begun to use ‘extortion’ tactics against certain banks and corporations.

You scare me because your own political party shrinks from challenging you on your wild and irresponsible spending proposals.

You scare me because you will not openly listen to or even consider opposing points of view from intelligent people.

You scare me because you falsely believe that you are both omnipotent and omniscient.

You scare me because the media gives you a free pass on everything you do.

You scare me because you demonize and want to silence the Limbaughs, Hannitys, O’Relllys and Becks who offer opposing, conservative points of view.

You scare me because you prefer controlling over governing.

Finally, you scare me because if you serve a second term I will probably not feel safe in writing a similar letter in 8 years.

Lou Pritchett

Note: Lou Pritchett is a former vice president of Procter & Gamble whose career at that company spanned 36 years before his retirement in 1989, and he is the author of the 1995 business book, Stop Paddling & Start Rocking the Boat.

(Mr. Pritchett confirmed that he was indeed the author of the much-circulated “open letter.” “I did write the ‘you scare me’ letter. I sent it to the NY Times but they never acknowledged or published it. However, it hit the internet and according to the ‘experts’ has had over 500,000 hits.)

A Teenager With $3 Million Dollars?

It made news six years ago in England when then 16-year-old Callie Rogers won $3 million in a British lottery. Wow, what ever could a 16-year-old do with that kind of money? Now, let’s fast forward to 2009 and see. Today Callie is 22-years-old, a mother of two and all that’s left of her winnings is about $32,000.

Where did the dough go? For starters, she bought her parents and grandparents new homes. A nice gesture for sure. She also purchased a new home for herself, another good investment. Then things got crazy.

Callie reports that after the houses and new cars she spent over $700,000 on partying, shopping sprees and breast augmentation. Sure, something all 16-year-girls are in dire need of (sarcasm).

There were the usual loans to relatives (funny how these moochers always immediately decide they really do love you and come out of the woodwork when they smell money), and other lavish gifts, etc. But the saddest expenditure Callie says she made was blowing (pardon the pun) $400,000 on cocaine. Most of this was given to, by her own admission, her boyfriend. Some “boyfriend”, huh!

We’ve all heard stories about how big lottery winners end up dead broke and worse off than they were before they won. It has been said that the odds are against anyone winning a large sum of money truly finding happiness as a result.

Though some of these people, including Callie Rogers, eventually say they wish they had never won the lottery I don’t think it is fair to group everyone who wins big in this same category. After all, there have been lottery winners that have handled their new found fortune with positive results, haven’t there?

Anyway, as most people who read Callie’s story, I put myself in her place and asked myself what I would do with such an unexpected financial windfall. Though I don’t consider myself a money management guru, by any definition, I honestly think I would do things differently than most of the reported ultimately “unhappy” winners. I believe I would be able to parlay my winnings into something that would support my family and me for the rest of our lives.

The primary reason I think this is different from the perspective Callie was coming from. First of all, I wouldn’t be interested in lavish shopping sprees because, at this point in my life, there’s not that much junk I want in the line of designer clothes and bling.  Secondly, not having that many relatives left (another characteristic that comes from being older) I wouldn’t spend money on new homes for anyone but perhaps my own immediate family. And, those would be modestly priced at best because I know enough to realize that huge expensive homes require ongoing huge expensive upkeep, repair and maintenance.

Thirdly, cars (notice the plural form) would not get a lot of my winnings because to collect a bunch of expensive or exotic cars to collect dust in a secure garage (another expense) doesn’t turn me on either.

Now, regarding those mooching friends and relatives. I would not have a problem with saying “NO” to any of these that show up on my doorstep with their hat in their hand and a sad story. Call me cynical if you like, but I think I would see through the thinly veiled veneer of such tales to the point I would quickly give them the brush.

Callie’s largest single expense was her cocaine habit (or “boyfriend” habit whatever the case may be). Neither of these would be a problem since I don’t do drugs. Heck, I don’t even like to take an aspirin. I’ve always been a coward when it comes to swallowing anything pharmaceutical or sticking anything in my arm. I’m just funny that way. And, I think the “boyfriend” thing goes without saying (more sarcasm) as does the breast augmentation issue.

Therefore, I think should I win the lottery anytime soon I will be financially fixed for life outside of a few minor luxuries I would allow my family and myself.  I am sorry Callie wishes she had never won the lottery and am sorry for all those other winners that are yet unhappy people even after winning big money.

There may be a lot of human psychology at play here but more than I have time to explore today. I will close with two statements, however. First of all, money won’t buy happiness (though it may buy a reasonable facsimile, according to some folks), but if used properly it can be a great catalyst to reducing many of life’s problems.

And secondly, there is one reason I will never win the lottery. That reason is because, as I understand, you must actually buy a lottery ticket to even have a chance to win. Personally, I can think of hundreds of other places to spend my money that have a much higher chance of bringing a good return on it.

Just a thought……

Cash For Clunkers….I don’t think so.

Seems everyone is getting caught up in the government’s Cash for Clunkers program where certain “gas guzzling” vehicles are being taken on a trade-in for a new, more gasoline efficient ride. Uncle Sam will even foot part of the bill for you depending on the “clunker” you trade in, etc. up to $4,500.

The program ran its course in the first few days of existence and just this morning the U.S. Government announced it is trying to come up with an additional $2 Billion to extend the program.

As has happened on occasion in the past I fall into somewhat of a different position on all this. While I am all for us Americans lowering our dependence on foreign oil and am all for people driving nice new shiny cars (something I personally have  never really had a desire to do for many reasons) I am not a fan of “Cash for Clunkers” for the following reasons.

First of all, I like driving my old clunker (a ’96 model). It runs well, is comfortable, gets us from point A to point B and most of all is paid for. I have not had a car payment in a number of years now and have grown quite accustomed to being in this group of consumers.

I purchased (or more accurately am purchasing) my home many years ago and have refinanced a couple of times over the years to save interest. My monthly mortgage payment is lower than most people pay to rent a modest apartment. So, I don’t really take to the idea of having a large monthly vehicle payment/interest that would be more than my house payment. Just doesn’t set well with me for some reason.

Secondly, I like my car. It has everything I need in a vehicle (and more). It has a great air conditioner, radio, CD player (that includes a MP3 player), cargo space for my guitars, amps and accessories and still looks great though it is 13 years old.

It rides well and except for usually needing a major cleaning inside and out (something I am not real disciplined at doing or having done often enough) it serves me well.

Yes, it is not the most fuel efficient vehicle on the road and gets only about 15-16 miles per gallon but (did I mention) it is paid for.

Having a vehicle that gets 24 miles per gallon could save me somewhere around $700 dollars a year, or more. I could be riding around in a newer, more aesthetically appealing car but at the end of every month would be forking out a large car payment I don’t have to pay now. That is much more aesthetically appealing to me personally.

My dad used to tell me that a person never betters himself financially by attempting to “borrow” himself out of debt. For this reason I can’t see how the government thinks me getting rid of a car I am perfectly happy with and strapping myself into more debt is really all that good for the economy.

I suppose it’s good for someone’s economic situation, i.e. the car dealer’s but certainly not mine…or the government’s for that matter.

No thanks Uncle Sam. I think I will hold on to my old “clunker” for a while as long as it performs at the level it is performing at currently. I don’t hold anything against all those folks who want to buy a new vehicle anyway and have a clunker around the house to trade in. Just not something I want to get into myself.

So, if when I pass you by on the highway in my 13 year old car that’s not as fuel efficient as your new, government subsidized, sleek looking vehicle, it’s OK is you want to laugh at me. Primarily because that is exactly what I will be doing at the end of the month when your shiny, fuel-efficient, sleek car payment is due.    Just a thought……