Thankful for America…

All my life, I have always thought it was the coolest thing on planet Earth to be an American. I have been to at least 7different countries or political jurisdictions in the world, and whenever someone asks me, “Where are you from?” it is a special thrill to be able to answer, “America – I’m an American.”

Thanksgiving is the unique American holiday. We share Christmas and Easter with every other Christian nation. Most every country celebrates its Independence Day, and the birthdays of their founding heroes. Thanksgiving is ours, where we give our deepest thanks to Providence for the extraordinary gift of America to mankind.

Other countries have their special times to celebrate their uniqueness, when their citizens take justifiable pride in their country’s achievements, and all to the good. Thanksgiving is America’s Day, the time when all Americans – all – get to celebrate the achievements of the most successful society in human history.

Tragically, however, there is a group of Americans for whom Thanksgiving will be bleak. Pessimists.

The purpose of Thanksgiving is to be thankful for being American. Thankful with no buts. This is the day to celebrate the goodness of our country – the moral goodness, the moral decency of American institutions, American history, and the character of the American people.

No whining and moaning about what happened to the Indians, or about slavery and poverty and racism. No buts. Think that pessimists can do this? Let’s see. Ask any you might know to agree that:

• America is the least racist nation on earth (to disagree, another country must be named and knowledgeably described with less racial turmoil and animosity).
• Americans are the most charitable and generous people on our planet; no other people or country comes remotely close.
• America has more religious freedom than any other nation.
• American capitalism has created more wealth for more people than any economy in the world history.
• American soldiers have brought more freedom to more people throughout the world than those of any country in world history.
• Western Civilization, of which America is the pre-eminent example, has brought incalculable benefits to mankind, compared to which its blemishes seem negligible.
• I love being American. I am proud to be an American with no shame, embarrassment, or apology.

The terrible problem pessimists will have answering yes to any of these questions, and thus be thankful for America on Thanksgiving is that they can’t really celebrate being American, for they feel guilty and embarrassed about it.

Yet to truly celebrate Thanksgiving is not just to be thankful for America with no buts, but also to be thankful for America with no fear.

Yesterday, the day before Thanksgiving, a Reuters-Zogby poll was released, claiming its results showed that:

“Americans enter the holiday season in a dark mood, with economic worries, security fears and a lack of confidence in government fueling growing pessimism.”

An inspiring antidote to this pessimism was provided last week (11/16) by Rudy Giuliani in his speech to the Federalist Society. I encourage you to read it entire. It’s funny and instructive. For example:

“I stand with Ronald Reagan. He was once accused of having a 19th century attitude on law and order. He responded that it was a false charge. He had an 18th century attitude.”

The antidote was provided at the end of his speech:

“I get very, very frustrated when I hear Americans talk about or hear certain Americans talk about how difficult the problems we face are, how overwhelming they are, what a dangerous era we live in. I think we’ve lost perspective. We’ve always had difficult problems, we’ve always had great challenges, and we’ve always lived in danger.

Do we think our parents and our grandparents and our great grandparents didn’t live in danger and didn’t have difficult problems? Do we think the Second World War was less difficult that our struggle with Islamic terrorism? Do we think that the Great Depression was a less difficult economic struggle for people to face than the struggles we’re facing now?

Have we entirely lost perspective of the great challenges America has faced in the past and has been able to overcome and overcome brilliantly?”

He could also have used an instance when America was far, far more stuck at the bottom of the barrel than now – in 1980, at the close of the impossibly disastrous Carter presidency with unemployment, inflation, and interest rates staggeringly high and everyone from Henry Kissinger on down convinced we had lost the Cold War.

I want you to trust me on this. By next Thanksgiving, that Reuters-Zogby pessimism will be a distant memory. All the Democrats have to sell is fear, surrender, and taxes.

We, on the other hand, can celebrate Thanksgiving with no pessimistic fear, guilt, or embarrassment. We can revel in the fact that Americans have so impossibly much to celebrate on this day that, by comparison, our country’s flaws don’t matter. That America is the noblest nation in the history of humanity. That we are members of history’s greatest civilization at its prime.

Take the time to savor your presence in history, the incredible blessing Providence has bestowed upon you in being an American, on this day. Drain the goblet of gratitude while liberals and politicos quaff their cup of guilt. Gratitude to Providence for the existence of America, gratitude for the privilege of being American.

Giving such thanks for being American is a curiously humbling experience. Humbling in an Einsteinian sense. There’s a story about Albert Einstein attending a scientific conference with a friend, who points out a young promising physicist. “Professor Anderson,” Einstein’s friend comments in admiration, “is a very humble man.” Einstein looks at his friend with scorn, and replies derisively, “Humble?? He hasn’t done anything yet to be humble about!”

Just as Einstein had accomplished more to be humble about than any other scientist, so America has accomplished more to be humble about than any nation in the saga of civilization. It’s funny how real pride and real humility are two sides of the same coin.

So primarily, Thanksgiving is the opportunity to express our gratitude towards Providence for the humbling honor of participating in and contributing to a civilization that stands at the pinnacle of history, a civilization that the Greeks would have called makarios – blessed.

For me personally, it is an opportunity to thank all of you for being a part of my listening audience. Quite frankly, it is an honor to broadcast for you, for people whose values I share. Please accept my deepest wishes for the Happiest of Thanksgivings. On this day, every American has the opportunity to be thankful for America.

He Didn’t Just Say That…Did He?

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) told reporters that civilian courts are well-suited to prosecute al Qaeda terrorists and that “if people don’t believe in our system, maybe they ought to go somewhere else.”

Conrad also dismissed a question about the rights of terrorists captured on foreign battlefields and the rules of evidence in terms of a civilian court trial as not serious.

Attorney General Eric Holder announced on Nov. 13 that five suspects in the 9/11 attacks would be tried in a civilian court in New York City instead of facing a military trial.

My Response:

Hey Conrad.  You can kiss my ass, sir.

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” The Tenth Amendment.

The Constitution was designed specifically with the purpose of limiting the powers of the federal government while preserving the power of the States.  Not preserving the rights of some cracked in the head extremist nutjob.

Yet, today, the federal government has managed to become a leviathan; its tentacles protruding into every aspect of its citizen’s lives. One tentacle reaches into your pocket while the other gives your money to someone else. It hovers over its citizens with the intention of protecting them, but concomitantly suffocates them.  Even worse, it ignores them while slapping them in the face with a grand standing trial of a terrorist.

Where is the constitutional authority for a mandatory federal retirement program; or a mandatory health care system; or a Department of Education? These are powers reserved for the States as per the Tenth Amendment.

Like an insatiable beast, this leviathan lives off of two main food groups: paychecks and ignorance. Foolish appeasers promise to feed the beast even more of these foodstuffs.

The current batch of Democrat cool aid drinkers have promised college for everyone, free health care for everyone, free kindergarten for all kids, continued retirement for everyone, a cure for cancer, renewable energy for everyone, and five thousand dollars for every newborn; all of these programs thrown on the back of citizens that these demagogues consider to be too wealthy. In fact, the supposedly wealthy now fund 50% of tax receipts despite only consisting of 5% of the population. Furthermore, these taxpayers are taxed at a higher rate than the rest of their countrymen.

From where does the federal government derive such power? It certainly is not provided by the Constitution.

And if you don’t like that Mr.Conrad….you…can leave.

Double Standard?

Bad Side…LIVE! (November 24th, 2009)

NEW YORK – Adam Lambert’s racy American Music Awards performance cost him a gig on “Good Morning America,” but he will perform live instead on ABC’s morning rivals at CBS.

Lambert was to sing Wednesday on “GMA,” but the network said Tuesday it was canceling the openly gay singer because “we were concerned about airing a similar concert so early in the morning.”

While singing his new song, “For Your Entertainment,” at the awards program on Sunday, Lambert kissed a male keyboardist, fondled a dancer and had another dancer briefly stuff his face in Lambert’s crotch. The performance prompted many complaints to ABC, and the network cut out the brief oral sex simulation for its West Coast broadcasts.

 

My Response:

Hold up a second. Lets forget for a moment that Adam (as horrible an entertainer as he is) is gay. Lets look at him like an entertainer. A singer. So he gets censored and then as a result of that, gets booted from a morning talk show gig. Sounds like the PC Police are out in full force again and they have blinders on.

Here is what I mean. So, yeah, Adam chooses to be an inconsiderate role model (this was ABC during prime time) and he plants a kiss on some keyboarist. What’s the difference between that and Madonna kissing Britney? Hmmm? Here is something more interesting. Adam grabs some guys crotch and everyone gets uppity and calls this vulger and disgusting, yet in the opening act with janet Jackson, she does the very same thing, grabs some guys crotch and no one says boo?

WTF people?!

Hold on a second. I just thought of something. Is it “political correctness” or “social correctness” that we are seeking? Also, is there such a thing as “political correctness”? Politicians seldom if ever seem to get things right, the term seems to be oxy-moronic. Maybe I just created a new word that may be determined to be politically incorrect. For the time being I can’t think of a better word to use so I’m leaving it in there.

It used to be that you could say, “I keep you in my thoughts and prayers.” Now it is politically correct to say, “I keep you in my thoughts.” Apparently it is incorrect to pray for someone because it might be offensive.

I used to think that it wasn’t what you said but how you said it that made the difference. Now I think that it isn’t what you said but who said it that makes the difference.

Compare Rap music lyrics to the word choice of Don Imus and you’ll have a better understanding. There are double standards. Stevie Wonder can sing about being a “nappy headed little boy” but I can’t call Stevie Wonder a “nappy headed little boy”.

It has gotten to the point that if you have a point to make you might want to keep your ideas to yourself. Be aware of what you say and certainly how you say it, it might be considered inappropriate by others.

When I played basketball in high school I played on the boys team. Do young African-American males play on the boys team or is it that politically incorrect to say? I don’t know. I used to think…I know what to say but I don’t know how to say it anymore for fear of upsetting somebody. Maybe I’ll just keep my mouth shut and my fingers off of the keyboard. But, if I do that this “political correctness” stuff is going to perpetuate itself. Pretty soon we might be living in a world of silence because everybody is afraid to say anything out of the fear that it might be offensive. Now I think, screw what you think, I am going to say what I mean.

The N.A.A.C.P. (The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is a well-founded organization yet you can’t refer to a person as being colored. The term colored is offensive and racial in nature. You can have red hair, blue eyes or yellow teeth but skin color is different.

I didn’t know it until this week but according to the Reverend Al Sharpton the word “lynch” is a specific racial term. I wonder how Merrill feels about that. I looked it up in various dictionaries and did not find any definition applying the word to any specific race. Maybe Al is just a little sensitive, I don’t know. Unfortunately, the lady who used the word “lynch” was suspended from her job for two weeks due in part to the insistence of Al Sharpton, actually he wanted her fired. I can only assume that the executives of the Golf Channel were afraid that to do otherwise might further incense the Reverend Al Sharpton. At any rate a lady who meant nothing offensive by her comments is temporarily out of work because of her word choice. Like I said earlier it isn’t what you say but who says it.

The English language seems to change daily. New words come and old words remain but are less popular due to political correctness. Who really knows what is safe and not so safe today. Words that were perfectly acceptable in the past are now deemed to be discriminatory or inappropriate.

Does changing the “flavor of the day” word really change anything? Is there any difference between a secretary and an administrative assistant? Do custodial engineers clean better than janitors?

How can it be politically incorrect to tell a lady (girl? female? woman?) at your place of employment that her hair looks nice? Because it may be construed as sexual in nature and be held against both you and your employer. Yet you can tell the same lady (girl? female? woman?) that her hair looks nice at a club and it is a compliment? What is the poor bartender that works at the club supposed to say to a lady (girl? female? woman?) co-worker (or is it associate?) when he thinks her hair looks nice. Maybe he should just SHUT UP!

Special interest groups have imposed “Political correctness” upon us.

This is a nation that was founded upon many principles not the least of which is “Freedom of Speech.” If we don’t speak up soon we are going to lose this Constitutional right. The question that we must ask is what are the right words to choose when representing our rights. No matter what words we choose somebody will take exception to them, be offended by them or feel discriminated against by them. However, if we don’t say something now we might not ever be able to say something later!

 

Should Osama Have Basic Rights?

The Bad Side…LIVE! (November 23rd, 2009)

When asked whether al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden should have the right to remain silent and be given a lawyer, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) told reporters that everyone who is accused of a crime should have the same “basic rights” afforded by the U.S. Constitution.

On Capitol Hill on Nov. 19, a reporter asked Kucinich, “If and when the U.S. captures Osama Bin Laden, should he have the right to remain silent and be given a lawyer–told he can get a lawyer?”

Kucinich said: “I think that America does best when the values that we want other nations to share that we profess and stand by, and I think that every one who is accused of a crime should have the basic rights that are afforded. I mean, that’s what America’s about.”

My Response:

Does this sound right to anybody? Lets think about this.  The self proclaimed mastermind behind the most notorious terrorist group in the world today.  A man that claims responsibility for over 10,000 deaths.  A man who would no sooner spit on the Constitution or in our faces than to be tried by that Constitution…and this ear wax of a human being (Kucinich)  suddenly gets behind the Constitution by saying it’s what we are all about?

(BUZZER)

Look, I have always said I will defend this Constitution, but only when it comes to those that it is designed to protect.  Lets forget (if at all possible) the fact that Osama Bin Laden is whom he is as far as being a terrorist.  Lets take the most important thing into consideration.  He’s not a US citizen to which this situation would apply.

And that brings me to another thing.  Kevin, in Colchester dropped me an IM this afternoon, asking about the new time slot.  He also wanted to know what my thought was on some of the media heads calling Gitmo unconstitutional.

Kevin?

The media has merged two different situations happening in the same place. Guantanamo (or Gitmo as it is known by Marines stationed there) is a US Navy/Marine base that was forcibly taken in time of war. While the question of whether or not we should still occupy this position is up for debate. Keeping control of territory that was “legally” taken in a war is completely constitutional. It may have fallen out of favor in modern times, but it is not illegal.

The other issue that has been morphed into the same situation is the fact that the US government has used the fact that the base is located in a foreign country for (what the PCrs like to call) dubious reasons. Since it is a military base, things that seem normal in the continental US, don’t apply. There is no free access for the press. Or even the basic human rights that a prisoner could expect being incarcerated in say Florida.

Kevin says:

“After the 9/11 attacks, which the US government used to its advantage in every possible way, the accused terrorists were held at this facility. The key point to that statement is accused. There are still people being held there almost 8 years after the fact that still haven’t even been charged yet. The last time I heard we didn’t subscribe to the Napoleonic law code. By our laws you are innocent until you have been found guilty. Not held in captivity until enough evidence can be found to convict you.”

Even though a US military base is considered American territory, it is still outside our borders, Kevin. Since Gitmo is a hostile base the rules are different.

Humiliation, torture, and religious persecution can all happen and be covered up by that all powerful “top secret” stamp that the military and the government can use.

There are some that will say what has happened at the base are wrong, unconstitutional, and against the concepts that Americans claim to live by. I pose this fact.  What has taken place there and to whom it has affected, has nothing to do with the Constitution.  Those incarcerated there do not hold any US citizenship.  They have been accused of war crimes in many instances, which takes time and effort to clarify.  But again, there is no right to a speedy trial here.

If I were in charge, I’d say “whoa there, Achmed, yer not goin anywhere until I know you are not going to strap a bomb to your balls and walk into a crowded Macy’s screaming ‘Allah Akbar’, ya dig?”

The tree you should be barking up is the Geneva Convention laws and even then, the torture tactics that were used (successfully I might add) at Gitmo are not even covered by the Geneva Convention. The press has made these actions synonymous with the military base. Curse the actions that have taken place there and the officials that order and condone them, but don’t confuse it with what Gitmo is and what it has done to protect out land, interests and most importantly, our citizens.

For whatever reason you choose to believe in or disagree with, we have kept the area of the base and not returned it to Cuba. That is not unconstitutional. The two are not interchangeable just because as of late the same name is used for both situations.

So the military base of Guantanamo is a perfectly legal aspect of the US military. That makes the question of unconstitutionality easily answered and this is one more reason I say we don’t give up so easily on this.

John Riggins Is Not Happy!

Seriously?  Detroit 19 Washington 14?  Is this at all possible?  Good frickin Christ here.

Put simply, the Redskins offence is as anemic as an albino who’s into “cutting.” I’ve also seen more confidence out of the Numa Numa kid (that’s takes balls, baby) than I do out of Jim Zorn.

If  Zorn was a pen chewer, he’d keep Bic in business with a nervous habit.  This guy can’t pull the trigger on risky plays or when he is backed up against his own goal line.

That’s saying nothing about the recent signings, draft picks and trades the front office have pulled out of their asses.  Albert Haynesworth is not worth $100 Million bucks in any God damn sport.  NO ONE is to be quite honest.

Jason Campbell has no arm and can’t lead a college team, much less the Redskins.  Santana Moss is the go to guy in the receiving corp?  Santana Moss?!  I’m not digging on him but how far down the fantasy list is this guy.  I’d go with Chris Cooley at TE as the go to guy but Campbell can’t seem to see when Cooley is open!  That or he cares not to throw to him as often as he should be.  And with the front line all torn apart and looking nothing like they used to, Clinton Portis is gonna just absolutely drown in the backfield.

The only shiny object on this team is the fact that it’s defense can keep them in games… so far that is.  I’ve a feeling injuries and apathy will, in time, effect the big red D and it’ll be all over by Halloween.

Just please, God, let them win more than 1 game.  I hate Dallas and to match how stinky they were when they were 1-15 one year would just be the deal breaker.  I’d have to start rooting for the Jets.  The Jets!

Do you hear me!?

::heavy sigh::

Yep.  Today the Redskin made John Riggins cry.

What Are You Listening To?

So, my buddy Steve from Ohio has turned me onto a new thing.  Well, not so new but new to me.  Blip.fm!

Usually late Saturdays nights, after my talk show on TalkRadiox, you can find me doing an extra hour called Club Hollywood.  It’s an hour of music that I play that I find really good or at least oddly entertaining (Reverend Horton Heat anyone?).

I love being a talk jock but sometimes just being a DJ is fun to do.  It’s less talk to deal with so there is little in prep work for the hour show.  I have a ton of MP3s stored up and quite frankly, that takes a crap load of storage space.

Enter Blip.fm.  Most of the non RIAA songs I love to play are here.  Some of the songs I have gotten permission to play are here.  Those that are not, I still have on MP3.  I’m hooked up!  So check out my new Blip.fm Station if you wish.  Or just look to the right over there…——->

That’s where you will find the Tyler Tweets, which Blip.fm is automatically tied to now!  Visit, enjoy, give props and become a fan today!

The World According To Mark

It seems I have failed again.  Or so says a gentlemen by the name of Mark Halburn.   That would be the gentleman in the picture you see to your left.

Careful!

It’s been proven just glancing at his photo can cause one to become nauseated and a little weak in the knees.  So don’t stare too long, even though I know that you like to look at train wrecks or car accidents on the highway.

For those of you that do not know Halburn and his exploits, let me direct you to this post over at Girl Of Words.  It’s the entire, sad story of an entitlist, a selfish bastard, a tax cheat, a whiner, a complainer, a stuck in a dead end job, court proven certifiable crazy man from West Virginia.  You’ll soon get the picture if you dare enter this abysmal soap opera that is Mark Halburn.

For those that have been keeping up with the story, I commend your iron guts.  Recently, I have been pretty quiet about Mr. Halburn and his exploits.  That was until Monday.  Seems as if Mark finally got to tune into my radio show archive from May 28th.  Hello?  Earth to Mark?  Can we say old news?

On the May 28th show I read, verbatim, the letter from his former lawyer on the Wal Mart case which explained why Mr. Clifford had excused himself.  In a nutshell, Mr. Clifford wasn’t at all comfortable with the way Mark handled any situation.  With thanks to Jacque Jo from Girl Of Words, I read the letter (of public record) and made a few comments.

Well, Monday I got this mail I mentioned from Mark Halburn and I present it to you.

Tyler:

I just heard your May 28th podcast. Call me about the Clifford letter. You have a fraction of the situation right and most of it wrong.

Many thanks!

Mark Hallburn

Publisher

Putnam County’s News Leader

304-415-6397

Once again, in a desperate attempt to prove to the world that Mark is right and every other single living creature on earth is wrong, Mark spouts.  Of course I didn’t call him.  There was no need to.  I read the letter verbatim and there is nothing else to be said on the matter.

However, I did answer Mark’s letter…live on air.  You can find it here.

Enjoy!

It seems I have failed again.  Or so says a gentlemen by the name of Mark Halburn.   That would be the gentleman in the picture you see to your left.

Careful!

It’s been proven just glancing at his photo can cause one to become nauseated and a little weak in the knees.  So don’t stare too long, even though I know that you like to look at train wrecks or car accidents on the highway.

For those of you that do not know Halburn and his exploits, let me direct you to this post over at Girl Of Words.  It’s the entire, sad story of an entitlist, a selfish bastard, a tax cheat, a whiner, a complainer, a stuck in a dead end job, court proven certifiable crazy man from West Virginia.  You’ll soon get the picture if you dare enter this abysmal soap opera that is Mark Halburn.

For those that have been keeping up with the story, I commend your iron guts.  Recently, I have been pretty quiet about Mr. Halburn and his exploi

“Are You A Doctor?”

“I am today.”

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be someone else for a day?  After having a discussion with a long time customer of mine it got me thinking about one of my favorite TV shows in the late 90’s.  The Pretender.  I sometimes feel like I am like the main character in that series, Jarod.

Why?

I think mainly it’s due to what I have done in my life and what I do in my life.  First, let me tell you about Jarod.  Jarod was a child who was abducted at a young age and raised in a think tank called The Centre, based in the fictional town of Blue Cove, Delaware.  He was a genius and former child prodigy with “the ability to become anyone he wants to be,” i.e., to flawlessly impersonate anyone in virtually any line of work.

After talking to Ron (my long time customer) about all the things I do in my life that keeps me busy, he smiled and said;

“You are a Pretender.”

That made me laugh at first because of the simple fact that I was (and still am) addicted to that show.  Then it struck me as I listed out all the jobs I have had (since my first one) and I realized, hell, I sort of am like Jarod.  Minus all the genius and child prodigy stuff.

In just a quick sampling of what I have done for work I found the list to be longer than I thought (considering the lengths of time I have been at certain jobs) that it should be.

Tree and plant unloader for Four Seasons.

Spool Stripper for Johnson Filaments (Now known as Astin Johnson)

Lumber loader, warehouse manager, shift supervisor, kitchen cabinet designer all at Plywood Ranch.

Video Store Manager at Video Plus.

Floor Manager at Pet Food Warehouse.

Assistant Manager at Record Town, Store Manager at Saturday Matinee & District Assistant for Transworld Music (Now known as FYE)

Store Manager for Action TV Rental Center

Deli Delivery for Noonie’s Deli.

Night Manager at Coastal BP

Store Manager for Passport Video

Fitness Trainer at All American Fitness

Computer Programmer & traveling sales director at EPIC Multi Media.

Thermographer & Training Supervisor at Infrared Analyzers

Partner in Internet radio station as well as show host.

Owner of Passport Video.

This doesn’t include the two week stint in Daytona where I sold shells and sea rocks to tourists that will pay for anything with a name on it and the two weeks I helped out as a Bouncer at a nightclub for free drinks and covers.

What surprises me about this list is what I did for each job.  I’ve done menial stuff like cleaning toilets and sweeping floors to graphic design and major marketing campaigns.  It’s like beyond being a Jack of All Trades.  I have filled each role to the best of my abilities.  Each job I immersed myself in to make sure I excelled and understood what I was doing.

I have to wonder about the comparison between myself and Jarod.  Jarod would spend hours, days or weeks preparing for what he was going to be next.  Needless to say, he was like a walking fantasy sports/work star.  Race driver one week, doctor the next, exterminator the next.

Now, I have killed my fair share of bugs but exterminator doesn’t sound like me.  However, I do run a fantasy baseball team (going on 16 years now), 2 fantasy NASCAR teams, usually a fantasy football team or two a year and I have a MMO (simulation sports game) baseball player.

I used to write short stories for Sci/Fi, Men’s adventure, fantasy and romance but time management has not allowed for that kind of writing.  Never to fear, I still write for my own radio show otherwise I’d be a rambling idiot on air.

::grins::

Yep.  Much like Jarod, I’ve never had to change my appearance and sometimes I do truly feel like The Pretender.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be someone else for a day?  After having a discussion with a long time customer of mine it got me thinking about one of my favorite TV shows in the late 90’s.  The Pretender.  I sometimes feel like I am like the main character in that series, Jarod.

Why?

I think mainly it’s due to what I have done in my life and what I do in my life.  First, let me tell you about Jarod.  Jarod was a child who was abducted at a young age and raised in a think tank called The Centre, based in the fictional town of Blue Cove, Delaware.  He was a genius and former child prodigy with “the ability to become anyone he wants to be,” i.e., to flawlessly impersonate anyone in virtually any line of work.

After talking to Ron (my long time customer) about all the things I do in my life that keeps me busy, he smiled and said;

“You are a Pretender.”

That made me laugh at first because of the simple fact that I was (and still am) addicted to that show.  Then it struck me as I listed out all the jobs I have had (since my first one) and I realized, hell, I sort of am like Jarod.  Minus all the genius and child prodigy stuff.

In just a quick sampling of what I have done for work I found the list to be longer than I thought (considering the lengths of time I have been at certain jobs) that it should be.

Tree and plant unloader for Four Seasons.

Spool Stripper for Johnson Filaments (Now known as Astin Johnson)

Lumber loader, warehouse manager, shift supervisor, kitchen cabinet designer all at Plywood Ranch.

Video Store Manager at Video Plus.

Floor Manager at Pet Food Warehouse.

Assistant Manager at Record Town, Store Manager at Saturday Matinee & District Assistant for Transworld Music (Now known as FYE)

Store Manager for Action TV Rental Center

Deli Delivery for Noonie’s Deli.

Night Manager at Coastal BP

Store Manager for Passport Video

Fitness Trainer at All American Fitness

Computer Programmer & traveling sales director at EPIC Multi Media.

Thermographer & Training Supervisor at Infrared Analyzers

Partner in Internet radio station as well as show host.

Owner of Passport Video.

This doesn’t include the two week stint in Daytona where I sold shells and sea rocks to tourists that will pay for anything with a name on it and the two weeks I helped out as a Bouncer at a nightclub for free drinks and covers.

What surprises me about this list is what I did for each job.  I’ve done menial stuff like cleaning toilets and sweeping floors to graphic design and major marketing campaigns.  It’s like beyond being a Jack of All Trades.  I have filled each role to the best of my abilities.  Each job I immersed myself in to make sure I excelled and understood what I was doing.

I have to wonder about the comparison between myself and Jarod.  Jarod would spend hours, days or weeks preparing for what he was going to be next.  Needless to say, he was like a walking fantasy sports/work star.  Race driver one week, doctor the next, exterminator the next.

Now, I have killed my fair share of bugs but exterminator doesn’t sound like me.  However, I do run a fantasy baseball team (going on 16 years now), 2 fantasy NASCAR teams, usually a fantasy football team or two a year and I have a MMO (simulation sports game) baseball player.

I used to write short stories for Sci/Fi, Men’s adventure, fantasy and romance but time management has not allowed for that kind of writing.  Never to fear, I still write for my own radio show otherwise I’d be a rambling idiot on air.

::grins::

Yep.  Much like Jarod, I’ve never had to change my appearance and sometimes I do truly feel like The Pretender…but not a Doctor.

Attention: We’ve Had A Program Change!

Format Changes

After some lengtly discussions at the radio station, after we debuted on KTRX 99.9 and some damage to some transmitters in McKinney due to really bad electical storms, it was decided that TalkradioX would take control of the AM transmitter of 1650 AM!

The Mighty 1650 played great oldies music for the fans in North Dallas and it’s more fitting that the music shows should be on FM.  The Mighty is now known as The Mighty 100 and now…is in stereo!

Talkradiox easily made the switch to classic AM airwaves which has a broader coverage area in McKinney and the North Dallas area.  So for all you Texas Talk radio fans, join us at KTRX 1650 TalkRadioX!

KTRX 99.9 FM!

KTRX 99.9 FM Goes Live!

In the early hours of July 27th, TalkradioX, the home station where I broadcast my radio show The Bad Side Live, went live on it’s very own FM station.

KTRX 99.9 FM fired up the transmitter at Midnight and will be covering the North Dallas are of McKinney, Tx!  A deal was brokered between Jim ( a long time supporter of TalkRadioX and The Bad Side Live), the owner of The Mighty 1650 AM and the owner of TalkradioX, Antubert putting into play the newest station to carry TRX product.

KTRX will carry the same exact prgraming as the Internet site of Talkradiox does, supplying the fans in North Dallas all the great shows that make up the daily schedule!