The Three Greatest Words in the English Language.

It's that Weekend. Yes that one. The one where there is no baseball. There is no football.

(Please don't try to argue that the Pro Bowl is football!)

Enthusiastic baseball and football fans plan for this weekend. It becomes the time when long 

put off projects rise to the top of the to do list. We suddenly have time to fix that toilet

that's been running constantly since the third game of the World Series. It's time to caulk those

drafty widows. It's time because there is time.

There is no football. There is no baseball.

Don't tell me about basketball and ice hockey. Both cannot be watched on television with the

same level of excitement of baseball and football. 

So that brings us to our headline, "The Three Greatest Words in the English Language."

"Pitchers and catchers," baby. "Pitchers and catchers."

For baseball fans, Winters doesn't start on December 23rd. It starts the moment of the final

out of the World Series.

When the Phillies' Brad Lidge struck out Eric Hinske of Tampa Bay to clinch the Series for

Philadelphia. There was pure ecstacy and at the same time deep despair. For in Winning, there is 

losing. 

The season ends and thus begins the long winter of our discontent.

While meteorological winter won't end for six weeks, the hope that abounds with a new season is merely

days away for baseball fans. It will come not when Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig arises from his

burrow to announce six more weeks for Barry Bonds. It comes when one dares to utter the words,

"Pitchers and catchers."

The start of baseball's spring training is just days away. The first players to report will be pitchers and

catchers. Soon after position players will report.

The cold will be just as cold. The snow will continue to fall. But it seems just a bit easier to cope

when you know that in Florida and Arizona, grown men have begun practicing the game of boys.

For fans of teams that both won and lost last season, hope springs eternal with spring training.

The "F" Bomb

This will be one of the very few times I won't try to enhance my post with a picture. To do so would require me to add a picture of a profane sign on the rear window of a pick up truck or the truck's owner.
I refuse.
Hughestown Borough Police have cited (not arrested) a Pittston man for disorderly conduct because of a sign on his truck that uses the "F" word. If found guilty the man faces a fine.
The guy who put the sign on his truck is never going to be chosen to bring the macaroni salad to the MENSA picnic. He incorrectly used the word "your" instead of "you're." The sign purports to make a political statement about speaking English in America. There are even some who are defending the use of the "F" word and the American Civil Liberties Union says it will defend the man in court.
At issue, did he violate the law under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code?
Is there anyone who doesn't know the "F" word?
George Carlin included it in the seven words you can't say on TV. Thrity five plus years later, three of those seven words are commonplace. We have invented words to replace the "F" word but mean the same thing."Freakin' or Friggin," anyone?
In one of our most beloved Christmas Holiday movies, Ralphie gets his mouth washed out with soap for dropping an "F" bomb.
In celebrating the Philadelphia Phillies World Series victory, All-American second baseman Chase Utley used the "F" word in front of a stadium full of adoring fans and countless more watching on television. Many cheered. Few booed.
Just because they used the word, doesn't mean you should or he should.
Don't defend this man using the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Our founders had much loftier goals in mind when they adopted it.
This is not an issue of free-speech.
The man who was cited has changed the sign to replace the "F" word with an "F" and characters. If he believes he was not wrong, why did he change the sign? He changed the sign because he knew he was wrong, just as everyone else knows he was WRONG!
Some people who are defending this man cannot and will not say the word aloud in making their case. They would be fired from their jobs if they did. How long do you think the ACLU would retain an attorney who upon leaving Court comments, "I think the Judge made the wrong (insert expletive here) decision?"
Let me help you. Not long.
This is not a First Amendment case. This is a case of breaking the laws of public decency.
Guilty on all counts.

Bailout!

Here's my idea to save the automobile industry.Don't give the Big Three automakers 25 billion dollars. Give it to the American consumer.Here's how. Allow each household to apply for a "coupon" similar to the ones made available to purchase digital television converter boxes. Fix the amount for new cars, say $10,000.00. Cars will suddenly be affordable. Most will be unable to pay cash for the balance and will have to apply for loans. This will "unfreeze" the credit markets as financial institutions will want to make sure they get a piece of the pie. The current inventory of automobiles will dwindle almost immediately. Consumers will also trade in their current automobiles creating a flood of used cars in the market. The same coupon can be used for a discounted price (certainly not $10,000.00) for used cars. Again, most consumers won't be able to purchase these used cars outright and accordingly financial institutions will compete for auto loans, again unfreezing credit. For used cars, the coupons will be pro-rated for model year, make and fuel efficiency. Consumers who have been shut out of the new car market will suddenly be able to purchase new cars and the infusion of cash should enable Detroit to figure a way out of their financial mess. The biggest advantage will be an immediate benefit to the consumer. Congress, take care of the consumer and the market will solve the problem.

I'm Back

I'm back and will be catching up in the next few days

And the Winner is...

I floated this idea months ago, so it's time to drag the dead horse out of the barn and well, do what we do to dead horses. Senator Barack Obama says he has made his choice of runningmate. All eyes will be on the contenders who must fly to Illinois to join the Presidential nominee for the announcement and campaigning on Saturday. The only person who can hop on that plane without raising suspicion is Caroline Kennedy. She will be in Illinois on Saturday, as Senator Obama's pick for Vice President. If Obama picks Biden, or any other of the rumored candidates, he only magnifies his lack of experience. By choosing Kennedy, he makes a bold stroke; truly new young leadership for America. Women will be satisfied after the initial shock and Hillary Clinton will be out of the picture. The Senator needs to effectively push the Clintons to the sidelines and quickly. That leaves Senator McCain to pick his runningmate and no doubt it will be another mature, white politician. The Democrats offer a ticket that is youthful and historic. The Republicans offer a ticket that looks like every other ticket they have ever offered. If Obama doesn't pick Kennedy, Senator McCain should choose a woman to join him. He needs to attract those women who feel disenfranchised by Hillary Clinton's perceived slight. If the Democratic ticket is Obama/Kennedy, Senator McCain could also choose a woman and really stir the pot. If he picks an older experienced woman (Kay Bailey Hutchison) or a Washington outsider (Carly Fiorina) he could attempt to blunt the Kennedy choice. Whatever happens, here's my prediction; a woman will occupy the Office of Vice President for the first time in our history in 2009. That's my opinion. I could be wrong.

The Late Great Terry McNulty

She says, "Pushy."
He says, "Is that you Reba or did I forget to bring the cat in?"
She says, "Don't be a wisenheimer Pushy. I have some bad news."
He says, "Bad news Reba?"
She says, "Yes Pushy. That wonderful Terry McNulty died."
He says, "I know Reba. It was all the talk at Naomi's Cafe. Cafe."
She says, "My sister Shirley called to tell me. She heard it from Flossie Guzek."
He says, "Shoo-Shoo Schumacher, Finch and I raised our glasses to Terry."
She says, "Flossie had a vision Pushy."
He says, "I had so much to drink I had double vision."
She says, "Never you mind Pushy. Flossie said she had a vision of Terry standing at the Pearly Gates."
He says, "Go on Reba."
She says, "Flossie said St. Peter wouldn't let Terry into heaven until he answered one question."
She says, "St. Peter asked Terry if there were really people in the studio for the Pineapple Feature?"
He says, "Good question. Wait 'til God finds out it was all made up."
She says, Pushy Bosco!"

August 11th marks the two year anniversary of the death of Terry McNulty. He was my colleague, my mentor and my friend.

The funeral mass at Our Lady of Snows Church in Clarks Summit was the greatest gathering of local broadcast talent in one room, with the possible exception of when Terry entered a studio alone.

When we open the local broadcasting Hall of Fame, Terry will be in the first class.

Rest in Peace, dear friend.

Debit Card Debacle

Sources tell me the Luzerne County Debit Card case is about to break. For the unfamiliar, several county managers are accused of using their county-issued debit cards on items that were not county business. After the story broke, all of them ponied up to the bar (sorry Sam Hyder) and reimbursed Luzerne County for their "unjustified" bills.

Earlier this year, there was a spate of arrests in Luzerne County of Tax Collectors and government employees who were charged with dipping into the public till. Lawyers for all of them tried to have their clients make restitution to mitigate their arrests. District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll, to her credit, said, "no." The accused had violated the public trust and simply paying back what they had stolen was no way out.

Here are the courses of action as I understand them. First, all used county money as income and therefore are liable for paying taxes, even if they made restitution. Two, the issue of public trust. Federal investigators have been placed in a box by D.A. Carroll. If the feds don't make arrests and close the case, they'll look like they've done nothing.

Let's hope this goes down the right way.