Oct. 20, 2010 – WATN - Gallagher

I've always wondered Where Are They Now (WATN) when I thought about the comedian, Gallagher. He was a staple of the 1980's and I saw him from a distance a few times.

In August, while on vacation, I took the family to a minor league baseball game in Charleston, SC. The Charleston River Dogs are the Class A affiliate of the New York Yankees.

It was a perfect night for baseball, but what made it special was that comedian Gallagher was there, much to my surprise and delight. And Gallagher was everywhere. He threw out the first pitch. He sang during the 7^th inning stretch. At the end of the game he smashed some watermelons, his trademark shtick. He may have been parking cars for tips for all I know.

I've now had up close brushes with "fame" by meeting Sam Kinison, Carrot Top, and Gallagher, the "Holy Trinity" of comics. Sure it's not Bill Cosby, Robin Williams, or Jerry Sienfeld, but its close enough for me.

Ironically, it was funny how I though Gallagher was taller, but he was quite short. That is actual watermelon residue on my shirt.

I guess it was the sledge hammer/mallet that made him appear larger. I may have to reconsider the spatial sizing of Paul Bunyon and the Pope as well.

Dec. 16, 2009 - WATN - Brian Brosall

My final WHERE ARE THEY NOW, WEDNESDAY (WATN) of 2009 is Brian Bonsall. Who is that, you say?

One of my favorite TV shows of all time was the 1980s NBC sitcom, Family Ties, starring Michael J. Fox.

Alex P. Keaton had a younger brother, Andy, played by Brian Bonsall.

Bonsall, now 28, has been charged in Colorado with second-degree assault after police say he repeatedly hit a friend in the head with a broken wooden stool. He could face between two to six years in prison if convicted of the charge that prosecutors filed last week.

Brian - Then and Now

Police say Bonsall was also wanted on a warrant for missing a court hearing in 2007. In that case, he had been sentenced to two years of probation for assaulting his girlfriend. Bonsall poured an alcoholic beverage on her while she was sleeping and when she tried to leave the apartment, attempted to choke her and throw her on the bed repeatedly.

He is no stranger to the Boulder police department. He was arrested in 2004 for drunk driving.

I think Bosnall is just acting out because he just learned that his TV Mom, Meredith Baxter has come out as a lesbian.

I know somewhere Alex P. Keaton is doing one of those “But Mom!!!” expressions.

Sept. 16, 2009 - Jimmy Carter - WATN- or LOSER

This post meets at the intersection of Where Are They Now? Wednesday (WATN) and the Loser of the Week. It is called Jimmy Carter Way, an actual street in Atlanta.

I bet the Georgia road planning folks are rethinking that proclamation. They should have saved it for a dead-end street.

Every time the former President opens his mouth, the Herbert Hoover Appreciation Society gains a few members.

Mr. Carter has single handily labeled 58% of Americans as racists. That is the latest poll number that is unhappy with Obama’s performance.

Mr Carter told NBC NEWS in response to the populist response of the Tea Parties, "I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man."

He said this "racism inclination still exists. And I think it's bubbled up to the surface because of the belief among many white people, not just in the South but around the country, that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country. It's an abominable circumstance, and it grieves me and concerns me very deeply."

Jimmy – STOP talking, you are insignificant, irrelevant, and an unnecessary distraction. Go build a house.

Who thought Billy Carter was the smarter brother.

May 27, 2009 - WATN - Dom Deluise

This week’s WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WEDNESDAY (WATN) is Dom Deluise.

I know I am late with this one as Dom is also late. That is, Dom died two weeks ago.

Dom was best known for his role with buddy Burt Reynolds in the Cannonball Run movies.

Dom died while I was on my own Cannonball Run. I traveled 2100 miles, thru 9 states in under 60 hours. I chronicled the trip in a previous blog. I learned about Don’s passing during the newsbreak on a All Country, All The Time radio station somewhere in Texas. I think it was called “The Wolf” or “The Coyote” or something catchy.

When I was able to read Dom’s obituary the next day I was stunned. Nowhere in the 932-word article (I was in a truck cab for three days) was there a mention of Dom’s relationship with NCR.

Dom was the pitchman for NCR’s ill-fated foray into the Personal Computer field. I don’t blame Dom for NCR’s failure, although his selection as the front man didn’t help.

In 1984, NCR introduced an 8-Bit CP-M-based Decision Mate V (DMV) personal computer. It had 64K RAM, and supported a 5.25 floppy with 32K bytes of storage and a Winchester hard disk with 10M bytes of formatted storage. The drive alone weighed 30 pounds. It was very powerful at the time. However by today’s standards it would only hold the concert version of “Hotel California.”

The real problem was the Operating System. NCR decide to go with CP-M instead of DOS as its platform. Think Beta vs. VHS. However by adding a weight challenged, widely unknown, out of work comic as the face of your product didn’t help. NCR actually bought Super Bowl ads that year with Dom prancing around spouting the virtues of teh NCR PC. I guess Ricardo Montebaum (rich Corinthian leather) or the Clydesdales weren’t available.

NCR did later release PC’s on the DOS platform, but the damage was done. I use an old DMV to prop open the door to my shed in the summer. The old marketing execs that selected Dom Deluise as NCR’s computer spokesperson are also holding doors open – as Wal-Mart greeters. (Not there is anything wrong with that.)

Dom – may you finally rest in peace. I just hope your entry ticket thru the gates of St. Peter wasn’t processed on the CP-M platform-based computer.

March 25, 2009 - WATN - Greg Brady

A previous subject of a Where Are They Now (WATN) Wednesday was Mike Lookinland, aka, Bobby Brady.

Bobby was located with a blood alcohol of .26 next to an overturned car in Utah. Now that Bobby has been found, I’ve issued an APB on Greg Brady, Barry Williams.

I had previously compared high school pictures of my wife to a bad girl version of Marsha Brady.

Shock and Awe were my emotions when I received the below I-phone photo of one, Greg Brady, and my current wife. She was on a “business trip” to Las Vegas.

It seems Greg, er, Barry is now working the LV strip in a dinner theatre show about someone’s wedding.

I’m hoping Barry and his alter ego Johnny Bravo get a brief starring role in a upcoming CSI episode.

Just kidding.

I'm sure Danny Partridge will settle an old debt at some point.

June 4, 2008 - WATN - Lesson 2 for Home School Critics

This week’s WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WEDNESDAY (WATN) is a continuation of my WATN posting from two weeks ago. That post concerned me taking my 1st grader out of school to “home school” him at a baseball game about Diversity, Economics, and Hearing Safety.

Last Wednesday, I continued my “Home Schooling” mission by taking my 1st grader out of school for a another field trip. This time we went to a golf course.

He learned about the GEOMETRY of lining up putts based on a double breaking greens.

He learned about triple digit MATH addition by adding up 18 various digits on a Golf Scorecard. He also learned why there is a 19th hole.

Additionally, he now understands “golf etiquette” and how and when to use his “golf voice.”

His vocabulary now includes terms such as:

MULLIGAN
SHANK
SLICE
DUCK HOOK and
FORE

He also knows that any putt over 6 feet is just a waste of time and that those putts are always good.

Next week, we go to the horse track to learn about letting it ride and about how to use an ATM machines.

May 7, 2008 - WATN - Home School Critics

This week’s WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WEDNESDAY (WATN) concerns Home Schooling Critics.

Yesterday, I took my first grader out of regular school for a Home Schooling Field Trip.

We decide to forgo the museums, zoos, and art exhibits. We decided to take in a baseball game.

My son learned that BIGOTRY, in any form, is bad. He knows how to get along with others regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, or baseball affiliation.

He learned about HEARING SAFETY. Every time the Cincinnati Reds hit a Home Run they let off fire works in the stadium. The Reds hit SEVEN HOME RUNS.

He learned about ECONOMICS as I explained that picking Joey Votto in a fantasy league was a GREAT move as the rookie hit three homers.

So for all of you HOME SCHOOL CRITICS, WHERE ARE YOU NOW?

Teach your child something outside of the normal school curriculum today.

If my son was older, I could have explained to him the tragedy of not being able to take advantage of being in an all-inclusive dining and drinking area. I’m saving the designated driver class until he is at least 12.

April 2, 2008 - WATN - My Blue Cooler

This week’s Where Are They Now? Wednesday? (WATN) concerns my favorite BLUE COOLER.

My BLUE COOLER had been with me longer than my wife and children. While an inanimate object, it provided much joy, especially when occupied with my favorite chilled beverages.

Last Friday, my younger sister and I threw a surprise birthday party for our OLDER sister. Non-disclosures and tact prevent me from announcing which birthday it was for our OLDER sister. However, I’m 46 and I think she may have graduated 4 years ahead of me.

As part of the surprise we loaded 25 of her friends onto a “Party Bus” and toured some Columbus Ohio establishments. I volunteered the use of my BLUE COOLER to provide libations on the bus.

At our last destination we placed the favorite BLUE COOLER by the establishment's entrance as we went inside to say our goodbyes to each other.

I would never have the chance to say “Goodbye” to my oldest, dearest friend, my BLUE COOLER.

Upon leaving, I was shocked to learn that my favorite BLUE COOLER had gone the way of D.B. COOLER, er D. B. Cooper.

My BLUE COOLER was gone, without a trace, without a ransom note. Some one had decided to steal my life long companion, along with approximately 15 Bud Lights, 11 Michelob Ultras, and 3 Samuel Adams Red Cheery Ales.

In a Nancy Kerrigan falsetto voice, I cried, “Why, Oh Why?” (It was 1 a.m.)

I really don’t care about what was IN the cooler. I just want my old friend returned.

Below is a photo of the BLUE COOLER before it was stolen. I photo catalog all of coolers in case of an unwanted abduction.

I plan to eventually photograph my children as a precaution as well.

There are a couple of suspects. Two of the party bus participants were self proclaimed “Hineygate Honeys.” They were bragging about their exploits and past villainy throughout the night.

Should anyone see these villains/vixens with my favorite BLUE COOLER, let me know.

February 20, 2008 - WATN - Kennesaw Mountain Landis

This week’s WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WEDNESDAY (WATN) is Kennesaw Mountain Landis.

Besides having a cool name, Landis was the first Baseball Commissioner. He served as Commissioner from 1920-1944. He is credited with cleaning up baseball after the 1919 Black Sox scandal.

If Landis were around today, we wouldn’t have had the Roger Clemens Circus in Congress last week. Really, with the Iraq War, the price of oil, and other crisis and calamities, should Congress be hosting a BASEBALL INTERVENTION?

Current MLB Commissioner Bud Selig is a disgrace. He was a joke as a used car dealer, before he bought the Milwaukee Brewers and parlayed that into the job as MLB commissioner.

As an employee of the owners, Bud has provided a great return on investment for the current owners. But at what cost?

Under his reign:

- The greatest Hitter of ALL-TIME, Pete Rose will never be in the Hall of Fame.

- The greatest Home Run hitter of ALL-TIME, Barry Bonds, will never be in the Hall of Fame.

- The greatest Pitcher of the MODERN ERA, Roger Clemens, will never be in the Hall of Fame.

NICE LEGACY, BUD!!!

During the Congressional hearings last week, Roger Clemens testified that it was his wife that used Human Growth Hormones (HGH).

We know where the bus stops in Roger’s world. Right on top of his wife. I found the below picture of the Mr. And Mrs. Clemens.

I believe Mrs. Clemens did take a full dose of HGH along with a side of Silicone. If HGH has this effect on middle age women, then Jenny Craig will be in Chapter 11 faster than Evelyn Wood.

My Where Are They Now Wednesday? (WATN) is the strong business and moral leader for America’s pastime. Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio, or in this case, Kennesaw Mountain Landis?

January 30, 2008 - Where Are They Now? Wednesday - Strong Candidates

This week’s WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WEDNESDAY (WATN) are the Politicians with stick-to-itiveness.

They lose one primary and they drop out of the campaign. I PEEVED about the Accelerated Primary Schedule last October. I was upset that so much weight was put on three states (IA, NH, and SC) when they do not represent most of the country and only account for 2.9% of the general population.

So here we are on January 30, with few, good choices. I had correctly handicapped the Democratic field a year ago on January 22, 2007.

Some successful politicians lost their first major campaigns:

George W. Bush unsuccessfully ran for the 19th Congressional District in TX in 1978.

Bill Clinton, a many time loser (insert own joke here), failed to win his 1974 race to be a Arkansas Congressman. He also became the youngest ex-Governor when he lost his 1980 re-election bid.

What if Presidents #42 and #43 would have given up their political aspirations as easily as the current Presidential Candidates have thrown in the towel? Oh, dare to dream.

In 1992, Bill Clinton didn’t WIN a primary until the seventh contest. We haven’t had 7 primaries yet and already 8 Democratic candidates have given up, leaving only 2 undesirables.

The Republican field isn’t any better. All they want to do is compare themselves to Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan lost his Presidential bids in 1968 and 1976, yet he had perseverance. Reagan was great, but let’s move on. We need FORWARD THINKING. The closet any of the final 3 Republican candidates can get to Reagan is when they fly in to Washington D.C. and land at his airport.

Today’s politicians quit TOO EARLY and TOO OFTEN.

WHERE ARE THE RESILIENT CANDIDATES NOW? We need candidates that can lose a little, only to gain later. All we have now are QUITTERS.

I tell my children that they should expect disappointment. My wife says the secret to our long marriage is LOW EXPECTATIONS. There you go. Aim low, hit the mark, claim success.

Come on candidates. It’s should be a marathon, not a sprint. I live in Ohio and we won’t hold a primary till March. Will any candidates be left by then?

September 26 - Where Are They Now? Wednesday - If the Moccasin fits ...

My WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WEDNESDAY (WATN) has to do with Nike’s announcement about releasing a shoe designed specifically for Native Americans. I saw the press release on CNNMoney.com.

WHERE IS THE MORAL/ETHNIC OUTRAGE?

If Nike would have released an African American shoe, I’m sure the Reverends’ Sharpton and Jackson would have been first in line to protest. Worse yet, if Nike had released a “European-American” or “Whites-Only” shoe, the outrage would be 7/24 on all the cable networks.

As a one-eighth American Cherokee, I’m a little offended. Probably about 7 % offended, but not 12.5 %. Besides, my Indian ancestors already have a shoe. IT’S CALLED A MOCCASIN.

At left, is my son with one of our yard decoration that reminds us of our ancestors’ struggles with being kept down by the White Man and exploited for strictly marketing purposes. We got a great deal on it at a yard sale.

I’m 100% outraged that my people do not have a Reverend Sharpton or Reverend Jackson to defend us. Where are you Jim Plunkett? What happened to Ben “Nighthorse” Campbell?

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Below is my daughter playing in the Tee Pee I have erected in my yard as a protest.

August 15 - Where Are They Now? Wednesday - Elvis

Thursday marks the 30-year anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death. There are some that still consider this the ANNIVERSARY of Elvis’ DISAPPEARANCE. They think that Elvis has only TEMPORARILY left the building and IS STILL ALIVE.

Given this, Elvis is the obvious subject of this week’s WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WEDNESDAY (WATN).

If Elvis was still alive today, he would be 72 years old and would have severe heart disease.

I’ve been a large Elvis fan for years.

I almost named my first child, Elvis, but I was thankfully over-ruled by people that had received more sleep that day.

I’ve toured Graceland twice. I was asked to leave during the second visit when my probing questions about Graceland’s continued depiction of Elvis “natural death” at age 42, ruffled a few feathers.

I performed an Elvis karaoke version of Suspicious Minds to my bride at our 1992 wedding. OK – my choice of songs could have been better. However, Suspicious Minds, recorded in 1969, was Elvis’ 18th and last #1 hit (1969).

I dressed as Elvis at a 1994 Halloween Party (above, left).

I received a life size Elvis cutout from one of my sister’s suitors at Christmas in 1998 (at right).

So where is Elvis?

I believe he is dead. So my answer is somewhere in Memphis, give or take six feet (under).

July 18 - Where Are They Now? Wednesday - Fairies

This week’s WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (WATN) WEDNESDAY is FAIRIES.

Where are the NON-TOOTH FAIRIES?

I’m sure nothing “Ne-Fairy-Us” (nefarious) is going on. (Rim shot)

We have always have PSEUDO FAIRIES that accentuate the positive: The Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, and The Great Pumpkin.

But what about the less than ideal situations?

I’m talking about the imaginary people that come to visit your children when something is extracted or falls off their body.

Everyone knows about the TOOTH FAIRY, but what about the TONSIL FAIRY or the APPENDIX FAIRY? And God forbid they get visited by the SPLEEN FAIRY.

We could have a BONE FAIRY in the image of Evil Knievel. Some would argue that we already have an OBESITY FAIRY – Richard Simmons.

I may have circumvented normal Fairy Protocol, but I saw a void, and recently invented THE NAIL FAIRY.

My 4-year old severely pinched her thumb in the mailbox. At the time she was under another parent’s supervision.

Based upon her advanced medical education, the “supervising” parent performed triage and determined that the swelling and discoloration did not warrant a doctor visit for 11 days.

When my daughter finally saw a specialist she did in fact have a thumb fracture. The hand specialist apparently also had a minor specialty in sarcasm. He stated that he could in fact have helped her, HAD he SEEN her TWO WEEKS ago when the injury occurred.

Within the next week, her damaged nail fell off. Enter stage right, the NAIL FAIRY.

It turns out the market rate for a thumbnail is $3. It must be UNION SCALE as it is the same rate for a front tooth.

Below is a picture of the amazingly still happy, yet nail-less girl, with her older sister and money manager.

In conclusion, I believe that FAIRY CREATION should be left to the discretion of all parents. You can use your own imagination for the CONSTIPATION FAIRY.

Life is TOO short, our children are growing up TOO fast, and our children are apparently TOO fragile.

So to answer the WATN question about where have all the fairies gone?

The answer is nowhere. They just have not been invented yet.

July 11 - Where Are They Now? Wednesday - Political Duels

Today is the anniversary of the famous duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton.

On this date in 1804 the then Vice President Burr mortally wounded former Treasury Secretary Hamilton during a pistol duel in Wechawken, N.J.

This is the subject of this week’s WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WEDNESDAY.

Where have all the good duels gone?

Vice President Cheney shot someone last year, but he was a friend. I think Cheney should take Nevada Senator Harry Reid for a walk in the woods, say ten paces.

To be fair to both parties, Ted Kennedy could play car chicken on a small bridge with any Republican of his choice.

Politicians do not have the same convictions as they had back then. The only convictions politicians have today are for bribery, indecent exposure, and felony lying. (Is that the sound of a rim shot I hear?)

It would be great if politicians actually stood behind their campaign promises.

Yo, Democrats, how’s that troop withdrawal going?

Yo, Congress, got that border fence built yet?

On October 11, 2002 Hillary Clinton cast her vote supporting the President's resolution to go to war. She said her vote was cast with the "conviction" that the war authorization "best serves the security of our nation."

Hillary also said that she rejected setting a timetable to withdraw from Iraq. Her exact words:"I reject a rigid timetable that the terrorists can exploit, and I reject an open timetable that has no ending attached to it." (Associated Press, 12/3/05)

But in recent months and days, Hillary has voted against providing funds to support our troops and their safety. The legislation she voted against provided $1.6 billion for body armor, $2.4 billion to help combat IEDs, and $3 billion for mine resistant vehicles.

And now she is saying that "this is not our fight." She wants to withdraw.

Could Hillary be running for office and want to go with the poilitical winds?

It’s too bad more politicians don’t share the fire that Burr and Hamilton emanated. You can show commitment without violence.

John McCain is the only current Presidential candidate that has stayed true to himself. Unfortunately, McCain’s campaign will flame because of the consistency of his convictions.

So WHERE ARE THEY NOW, the politicians with the character to stand by their convictions and fight for them to the death?

Two hundred years ago they were referred to as Patriots. Today we call them Insurgents.

June 6 - Where Are They Now? Wednesday - Political Correctness Police

This week’s WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WEDNESDAY (WATN) is the POLITICAL CORRECTNESS POLICE.

You know who you are. You ran Don Imus out of town. You jump at the chance to play the RACE CARD and forward your own racist agenda.

A baseball executive, Al Campanis, was fired because of “racially insensitive" remarks about blacks in 1987. Per Wikipedia:

“Campanis' infamous remarks took place on the late-night ABC News program Nightline, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's Major League Baseball debut (April 15, 1947). Campanis, who had played alongside Robinson and was known for being close to him, was being interviewed about the subject. Nightline anchorman Ted Koppel asked him why, at the time, there had been few black managers and no black general managers in Major League Baseball. Campanis' reply was that blacks "may not have some of the necessities to be, let's say, a field manager, or, perhaps, a general manager" for these positions.”

Elsewhere in the interview he said that blacks are often poor swimmers "because they don't have the buoyancy."

I’m not sure if blacks lack buoyancy or not. They probably lack the desire for competitive swimming. I can’t recall any black Olympic swimmers from the US or from an African nation.

The reason I want to locate the Political Correctness Police is that earlier this week Gary Sheffield, Detroit Tiger player, said something in the same context as Mr. Campanis. The only difference in their statements is that Sheffield is black.

In the June, 2007 issue of GQ Magazine, Sheffield was quoted saying that there are more Latin baseball players than black players because Latinos are easier to control.

“What I called is that you’re going to see more black faces, but there ain’t no English going to be coming out. ... (It’s about) being able to tell (Latin players) what to do — being able to control them,” he told the magazine. “Where I’m from, you can’t control us.” He went on to elaborate, "They have more to lose than we do. You can send them back across the island. You can’t send us back. We’re already here.”

You look beyond Sheffield’s obvious ignorance, you see truly racist remarks. If a white player or executive would have said the same statement, they would have been learning Japanese at this point. Because they would have only been able to be part of baseball in another country.

Sheffield should know that less and less blacks are playing baseball at the Little League level, the high school level, and the college level. These are all feeder players that may eventually play Major League baseball. Less input means less output.

Sheffield is an equal opportunity offender. When he played with the Dodgers, Sheffield was quoted about teammate Shawn Green missing a game with the Dodgers because of Yom Kippur during a crucial pennant stretch: "Religion is an important thing as long as you worship the right God."

So Mr. Jackson and Mr. Al Sharpton must be vacation this week and unable to get emails or voice mails. Clearly they would want to be the first to demand justice for Mr. Sheffield’s racist remarks.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

May 30 - Where Are They Now? Wednesday - Fred Thompson

This week’s WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WEDNESDAY is Fred Thompson.

Fred, we need you as a candidate for President.

It’s not that you look and sound like a President. You are truly Reagan-esque and from Central Casting. You are electable in what is predicted to be a tough 2008 campaign for Republicans.

What you offer is real views on Immigration, Iran, Iraq, and the War on Terror.

Mr. Thompson, get in the race.

I always loved the Lee Iacocco line, “Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way.”

Mr. Thompson – please LEAD. McCain and Giuliani, get out of the way. Romney, I like your business acumen and drive. Why don’t you become the VP.

The rest of the also-rans like Brownback, Huckabee, and Paul should just follow.

Maybe Tommy Thompson should be the VP. I'm sure Thompson & Thompson would get the backing of most law firms and shoe manufacturers.

Stay tuned. I expect BIG things from Mr. Thompson.

Where Are You Now? Mr. Thompson - IN THE RACE!!!

April 25 - Where Are They Now? Wednesday - WKRP

This week’s WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WEDNESDAY (WATN) is dedicated to the cast of WKRP in Cincinnati. The first season of the show was released on DVD on April 24.

WKRP in Cincinnati (1978-1982) was a situation comedy on CBS based upon the misadventures of a fictional radio station.

It is one of my top five comedy shows of all times. I previously blogged about the TV show, NewsRadio, on a WATN blog on November 15, 2006.

WKRP was inspirational and prophetic for me.

If you sense a trend about radio shows, you are correct. I started and was the President of the first Radio Club at my High School in 1979. I had a show on WOUZ and WHIZ in 1979-1980 while still in high school. I might have pursued a career in the industry if I had not seen the pay stub of the head sportscaster at WHIZ.

He assured me that I shouldn’t worry. The folks in the “big” markets were pulling down twice as much. I thought “Wow.” I could live in a double–wide then. Try to ignore my flannel shirt in the photo. It was a very cold day in the studio that day.

So where is the cast from WKRP now?

The cast included (clockwise from front).

Howard Hesseman, 67 (Dr. Johnny Fever), guest-starred as a "Boston Legal" judge and on "House."

Loni Anderson, 61 (Jennifer Marlowe), appeared in seven episodes of Tori Spelling's "So NoTORIous" last year.

Richard Sanders, 66 (Les Nessman), continues to act and often re-creates the "turkey drop" near Thankgsiving for radio stations.

Frank Bonner, 65 (Herb Tarlek), has directed numerous sitcoms; appeared in the 2004 comedy film, "Shut Up and Kiss Me!"

Gary Sandy, 61 (Andy Travis), owns a farm near Louisville and appears in local theatre productions.

Jan Smithers, 57 (Bailey Quarters), has no TV credits since 1986, when she married actor James Brolin. They divorced in 1995. Bad move. He ended up with Barbara Streisand.

Gordon Jump (Arthur Carlson), was also known fo Maytag commercials, died in 2003 at age 71.

Tim Reid, 62 (Venus Flytrap), owns New Millennium Studios in Petersburg, VA. He had recurring roles on "Sister, Sister" and "That '70s Show."

So how can WKRP be inspirational and prophetic for me if I gave up on my radio announcer dream? I do live in Cincinnati.

April 11 - Where Are They Now? Wednesday - Yankel Rosenbaum

This week’s WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WEDNESDAY is Yankel Rosenbaum. Who is Yankel Rosenbaum, you ask? I’ll get to that.

Last Wednesday, Don Imus made a comment about the Rutgers Women’s Basketball Team. He called them, “Nappy Headed Ho’s.”

I occasionally listen to Imus because he frequently has politicians or interesting guests. His irreverent questions make for interesting entertainment. He was Jon Stewart before Jon Stewart was given a stage.

As for the latest political correctness, media created event, Imus made an attempt at humor that failed. It went virtually unnoticed until Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson decided they hadn’t been in front of a camera in a while.

Here’s my question. Who appointed Sharpton and Jackson as the spokespersons for the African American community? What about Barack Obama or Colin Powell? They seem like reasonable role models. Or how about James Earl Jones? That is a voice that people could get behind.

I previously blogged about the Reverend Jesse Jackson on June 30, 2006.

In 2001, it was revealed that Jackson had an extramarital affair with a staffer Karin Stanford that resulted in the birth of their daughter, Ashley. According to CNN, in August of 1999, The Rainbow Push Coalition had paid Stanford $15,000 in moving expenses and $21,000 in payment for contracting work. It was unethical, if not illegal, to use charitable contributions to pay hush money to your lover or dare I say Ho.

In addition Rev. Jackson had referred to Jews as "Hymies" and to New York City as "Hymietown" in January 1984 during a conversation with Washington Post reporter, Milton Coleman.

As for Al Sharpton, there is the Tawana Brawley affair. In 1987, Tawana, a 15-year-old black girl, was found smeared with feces, lying in a garbage bag, her clothing torn and burned and with various slurs and epithets written on her body in charcoal. Brawley claimed that she had been assaulted and raped by six white men, some of them police officers, in the town of Wappingers Falls, New York.

Al Sharpton handled Brawley’s publicity. He stirred racial tensions by launching a full-fledged media circus. Sharpton claimed that the entire case was a coverup going all the way up to the state government. He named New York prosecutor Steven Pagones specifically, calling him a racist and a rapist, among other accusations.

A grand jury was convened; after seven months of examining police and medical records, the jury determined that Brawley lied about being assaulted by the police. Sharpton, was later successfully sued for statements made in connection with the case, and ordered to pay $345,000 in damages. The jury found Sharpton liable for making seven defamatory statements about Pagones.

Even though Brawley finally admitted it was all a hoax, Sharpton has never apologized to Pagones for naming him a perpetrator.

So you have two documented racists in Jackson and Sharpton trying to represent themselves as a higher moral authority.

What Imus said was wrong. But I’m not sure it was racist. Some of the Rutger’s basketball plyers were white.

Don Imus has called Rush Limbaugh a “fat, pill-popping loser.” He called Lesley Stahl a “gutless, lying weasel.” He hung up on Tucker Carlson and called him a “bow-tie-wearing pussy.” Don Imus has a pattern of name-calling. It doesn’t make him a racist

Unfortunately, Imus cannot pursue the same avenue of rehab afforded other recently pronounced racists: Michael Richards and Mel Gibson. Imus went to rehab in 1987 for cocaine and alcohol abuse. He has been clean for 20 years.

Interestingly, the Rutgers team held a press conference on Tuesday. One player said she was severely harmed by Imus’ statements and that she would never be able to get over it. Come on, you can’t tell me there isn’t “trash talking” in Basketball. The last time I was in NYC, I was subjected to worse verbal abuse on the subway. I’ll bet she’ll get over it when her lawyer extorts blood money for her pain and suffering from Imus.

So back to my question, who is Yankel Rosenbaum?

In 1991, Al Sharpton ignited a four-day riot in Crown Heights, NY. It was prompted by the accidental death of a young African American, Gavin Cato, who was struck by a funeral motorcade for a prominent Jewish rabbi.

Al Sharpton became the de-facto representative for the Cato family. During the funeral he referred to "diamond merchants" considered a code word for Hasidic Jews, for shedding "the blood of innocent babies" leading marchers shouting "No Justice No Peace.” Sharpton lit the proverbial match to start the riots by inflaming the tension between the black and Jewish communities. A visiting rabbinical student from Australia by the name of Yankel Rosenbaum, 29 years old, was killed during the rioting by a mob shouting "Kill the Jew.”

So Yankel Rosenbaum is the collateral damage brought on by Al Sharpton’s rhetoric. Don Imus’ langauge may have caused harm, but no one died.

Who’s the racist, Don Imus or Al Sharpton?

Who thought Michael Jackson would be the least controversial person in this photo?

March 21 - Where Are They Now? Wednesday - Hot Springs Class of 1964

This week’s WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WEDNESDAY focuses on the below picture.


How many times have you seen this Classmates.com pop-up ad on your computer?

It was bugging me for the longest time. I thought, “Hey, I know that girl.”

Then it hit me. I went to school with that girl.

I immediately dusted off my High School yearbook. There she was, Carolyn B.

I remember her from Career Day. Carolyn said she wanted to get into computers. Little did I know she wanted get into EVERY computer.

What would be funny is to see the below ad for Classmates.com.

I wonder WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Oh, yes, they hooked up, at least once. It’s Bill and Hillary.

They want to control your taxes, your education, your healthcare, and in some instances your daughter.

February 21 - Where Are They Now? Wednesady - Ohio Border Patrol

This week’s WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WEDNESDAY is the Ohio Border Patrol.

Why is this important? It is because the new Ohio Governor, Ted (one-termer) Strickland was recently quoted in response to Ohio’s ability to accept Iraqi war refugees.

The Bush administration plans to allow about 7,000 Iraqi refugees to settle in the United States over the next year.

On February 14, Gov. Ted Strickland had a message for President Bush:

Strickland stated, “I am sympathetic to the plight of the innocent Iraqi people who have fled that country. However, I would not want to ask Ohioans to accept a greater burden than they already have borne for the Bush administration's failed policies.''

Gov. Strickland stated that any plan to relocate thousands of refugees uprooted by the Iraq war to the United States shouldn't include Ohio.

So my logical question is, how is this enforced? Where is the Ohio Border Patrol?

I recently tested the security of the Ohio border. It was quite porous. I went form Ohio to Kentucky to Ohio and back Kentucky over a series of bridges. I crossed the border undetected. At one point I even removed my shoes, (when entering Kentucky), to test any possible enhanced border alerts or triggers.

In reality, a guard shack between Michigan and Ohio would be helpful. Stopping the migration of michiganders into the Buckeye state would help raise Ohio education scores and reduce prison populations.

Strickland joins a growing list of Ohio politicians that speak first, think second, and usually apologize for their STUPIDITY.

Last week the Cincinnati City Council voted to reject Bush’s troop surge strategy in Iraq. It seems the City Council had solved all of the local crime, economic, and infrastructure issues so that they could now move on to larger, international issues.

As a member of the neighborhood crime watch, I’m going to move that we expand our span of coverage to address the situation in Darfur.