OK, Now What?

Our top story tonight: Osama Bin Laden is *still* dead.

But seriously, while we have every reason to celebrate, recite the Pledge of Allegiance, sing our national anthem and other patriotic songs, may we be reminded the mission is far from over. The war against terror is still going on. As a friend on Facebook posted, “(Bin Laden) may now be dead. But all I will say is brace yourself.”

So, just how do we brace ourselves? For some answers, let’s turn the clock back to 2001 — when it all began.

Days after 9/11/01, Charles Jaco posted a commentary on his website — nearly all of which can apply to the present day. If his name rings a bell, you’ll recall he was a correspondent with CNN. (In case the name doesn’t ring a bell, his last name is pronounced as if you were saying the letter “J” and syllable “co” with a hard “C”.)

Perhaps his most notable assignment for the network came during the 1991 Gulf War. A few years after the war, Jaco left CNN and returned to his native Missouri. He has since worked in local radio and TV in St. Louis — and his reporting can currently be seen on KTVI television.

But back to Jaco’s commentary. It began with an obituary to “the old America” — and how a new one began less than a minute later. It continues with a few helpful tips worth revisiting.

Jaco opined a nationwide “neighborhood watch” began on 9/11/01. He also recommended we should “stop being afraid”, to “get over” ourselves and “know the enemy”.

The link to that commentary is here — and is worth the look. May God continue to bless America, land that we love, and keep it safe from harm. Along the way, may we do our part to keep this great land of ours free of terror.

What Was He Thinking?

OK, football fans, you’re tired about hearing of the NFL lockout. So, you’re searching for something good. No, maybe something great. Enter -– probably the only reason I’m still rooting for the hapless Cincinnati Bengals -– Ben-Gal cheerleader Laura Vikmanis.

Don’t know the name? Google her name, skim over images –- and then come back to this.

OK, let’s get the obvious out of the way. At 42, she’s the oldest cheerleader on the squad, the oldest cheerleader in the league and the cougar in a sea of kittens.

Legend has it her husband left her for a younger woman -– leaving Laura to reinvent herself. She tried out for the Ben-Gals when she turned 39, was rejected, tried again and made the cut.

Now, reportedly, motherhood and other matters took a toll on her weight during her marriage. Still, that’s not an excuse for the now ex-husband to just leave spousal responsibility behind.

On the one hand, I love her comeback story -– and plans call for that story to be made into a movie. On the other hand, it just makes me ask –- what part of “in sickness and in health” did this dingbat not understand?

Reunion (Laughter is Everywhere)

The 15th anniversary of RockTrax on Rock 104 is next month. In the last few weeks and months, I’ve been recalling the moments leading up to my departure from SL-100 and the crossing of the street to Rock 104 that followed.

For example, *the* moment in mid-March of 1996 — when Larry Blakeney called and asked, “Ready to work for us?” He offered a chance for me to sleep on it — but I didn’t hesitate in saying “Yes.” A call to Stephen St. James during his shift was in order soon thereafter. He got the news he and I would be professionally reunited. Much of the first week of April of ’96 was spent crafting RockTrax, taking care of paperwork, etc. Oh, and catching up with Stephen. As noted earlier, Stephen’s no longer with us. But, I know he’d want to remember happier moments.

Prior to my hiring at Rock 104, one of those moments happened, as I recall, in mid-February of 1996. I was still on “the old show” at SL and a lady named Deborah Hamlin called. The following conversation didn’t end up on air -– but I remembered she called to tell me she enjoyed my program. Deborah added “the old show” was really one of few reasons she tuned in to SL. (Knowing how You-Know-Who’s morning show was going nowhere fast after his suspension, who was I to argue with a new found fan?)

Deborah would call back in the weeks that followed to requests songs. In mid-March of ’96, I privately told her I was resigning from SL –- to front a similar show on Rock 104. She was thrilled for me and wished me lots of luck.

I lost touch with Deborah about a year or so into RockTrax. She and her then-husband welcomed three kids into their marriage. In reconnecting with Deborah recently, I’ve learned she is since divorced; she and the kids have relocated to Kansas. I’m pleased to tell you she found love again since the relocation.

I’m further pleased to tell you Deborah has become an author. Her latest book — My Optimism is Killing Me! — is now available at your nearest bookstore and the usual online outlets. The excerpts at www.deborah-hamlin.com as well as her columns on www.moonbaby.biz had me, as the cool kids say, ROTFLMAO.

Deborah’s coming back to these neighborhoods for book signings on March 12 at Say It With Flowers in Columbia and March 15 at Main Street Books in Hattiesburg. Her personal appearances will then take her to New Orleans on St. Patrick’s Day at Maple Street Book Shop.

If you’re in need of a laugh, take a look at Deborah’s work. You’ll be glad you did.

Stephen St. James: 1973-2011

Stephen St. James

(Cross-posted from DougMorris.net.)

When my wife died four years ago, a relative told me that God must have needed Cindy for a reason.

Today, I tell you God must have needed Stephen St. James for a reason. Stephen has died after a battle with brain cancer.

For a vast majority of Rock 104’s existence, Stephen worked in afternoon drive. He also served as the operations manager for our parent company, Blakeney Communications. Stephen previously worked at other radio stations in the Pine Belt and Meridian.

When Stephen and I worked at one of those other stations, he taught me the nuts and bolts of the business – when to introduce songs, when to air the weather forecast, when to play contests and so forth. When severe weather hit our neighborhoods in November of 1992, Stephen talked me through how we should cover the storm.

Stephen would want us to continue to rock the Pine Belt and serve the public trust. While we mourn, we will also continue to move forward without him.

In moving forward, we will miss Stephen’s sharp sense of humor and insight in the business.

Our condolences to his wife, Marilyn, and his family.

Godspeed, Stephen. We’ll miss you dearly.

The Voice

Well, folks, I think we have our first feel good story of 2011. It’s the story of the homeless former radio announcer in Columbus, Ohio, who’s looking for work.

Ever since this video went viral, Ted Williams, the homeless man seen in the above clip, has been offered several jobs. Reportedly, offers include P.A. announcer for the Cleveland Cavaliers (and even they could use some good news post-LeBron) and commercial voice work for an Ohio credit union. And that’s just the beginning.

Looks like it’s already a Happy New Year for Williams. May this be the start of brighter days ahead.

Aloha, Danno

Last week, I visited my parents in Tennessee. While there, I got a chance to watch the new, re-imagined Hawaii Five-0 for the first time. As I expected, this new series is a police procedural drama along the lines of NCIS, CSI: and their respective spin-offs.

While many fans of the original Hawaii Five-O series have not warmed up to the new Five-0, CBS has picked up the reboot for a full season.

As a matter of semantics, the original show’s title ended in the letter O while the current version expresses the last character as the number 0, but still pronounced “oh”. Regardless of how you express it, “Five-O” is a nod to the fact Hawaii is the 50th state in the union.

While in Tennessee, I was trying to figure out who’s the new McGarrett and the new Danno. I also asked Mom if there’s a new Wo Fat in this version.

Then, as you might expect, discussion turned to the original Five-O and the Jack Lord days. We were trying to figure out who played the original Danno (only “Helen Hayes’ son” came to Mom’s mind) and a quick internet search revealed the answer — James MacArthur.

Today, word came of MacArthur’s passing — reportedly of “natural causes”. Unless you’re a devoted fan of the original show, you’re probably not aware there were plans for a “sequel” version of Five-O in the mid-’90s.

Had CBS given the sequel its blessing, MacArthur would have reprised his role as “Danno”. Only this time, Danno moved up in the land of aloha as the state’s governor. For the record, Jack Lord was still with us the time the 1996 pilot was shot — but he was in declining health and believed to be battling Alzheimer’s. Lord died just weeks into 1998.

I think it’s safe to say the next episode of Five-0 is almost ready to air. I would hope they can take 10 or 15 seconds to display something to this effect on screen…

In Memoriam

James MacArthur

The original “Danno”

1937-2010

Here We Go Again

Ho hum, more marital infidelity in the news. Latest developments involve a hometown hero.

Rather than go into the sordid details — for you probably already know same, we’re bound to hear more and we’ll grow tired of hearing all about the situation — let me just throw out a couple of questions to those who’ve run afoul of marital responsibility.

1. Why aren’t you giving us, the unmarried men, a chance at these women? (Disclosure for first time visitors: I’ve been widowed since the 10th night of 2007.) You could do us a favor by hooking us up.

2. The better question. What part of “love, honor and cherish” your wife are you failing to understand?

Tiger, Elin Divorce

First and foremost, I don’t root for failure (well, unless it’s That State Up North against my Buckeyes or something else to that effect). Whenever I hear of a couple “going through” a divorce, my hope and prayer is that something will trigger both parties to rethink the proceedings and make an effort to reconcile. If the reconciliation hope and prayer aren’t answered, I simply pray for a peaceful end.

In this situation with Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren — where Tiger cheated again and again — there really was no other choice in the matter.

I don’t follow golf — but the media, perhaps rightfully so, have noticed Tiger’s not been on his A game this year on the pro golf circuit. Hate to say it — but it’s not a surprise. Now that Tiger and Elin are parting company, will he rebound or slip into irrelevance? Time will tell.

As for Elin, alimony payments have not been disclosed. Whatever Tiger will be paying to Elin in alimony, I sincerely hope she uses the money to benefit great projects. Something Tiger should’ve done all along.