Greetings From Bean-Town:
Since the last time I had a blog post, the Republicans have taken back control of the house, and I went to my job all last week and earned a living. Overall, it wasn't a bad week (LOL!!!)...
...but seriously, this past week wasn't bad. I managed to get quite a bit done in a very short amount of time, and did it all on my own accordance. Overall, pretty good time had by all.
Remember, you read the following at your own risk, and if you get offended, just keep this in mind. You can always go somewhere else if you don't like what I post or do not agree with my point-of-view. No one is stopping you!
Getting into a "random topic of the day" category, what's your opinion on people who live off of government programs and subsidies who are just flat out lazy and refuse to (A) get a job, or (B) do anything with their life that's worthwhile?...
I'm not talking about people who are "really" in need of it (such as retirees or something similiar to that), or those who had a workplace injury and are to the point where they're in pain from the moment they wake up in the morning till the moment they go back to sleep, or even those who have a sickness such as addiction, chronic health issues, and etc. That's a completely different thing that I understand fully (and believe me, I'm not saying anything negative about that or anyone who falls into any of those categories). I'm talking about those who work under the table, earn kick-backs from other sources that are not reported, and get involved in MAJOR physical activity...yet, once a month, they walk to their mailbox (or sit in front of their computer and look at their self-over-stated bank statement via direct deposit), and get a check from the government that they shouldn't even be getting a penny of (and I'm sure everyone has known someone at some point or another that is like this). That's what I'm talking about...those that commit "fraud" and cheat the system.
There are people who really need that money more-so than others, but because of loop-holes in the laws, there are people who should be entitled to the maximum amount of benefits who are not, and then those who have no other life but cheating & lying get their wallets padded in the end. It doesn't seem right to me!
Speaking of benefits, same idea goes for the SNAP program in this country as well (which for those of you from the generations before this one, that's the new name for the food stamp program). I'm all for helping those in need and families that are having a tough go of it (always have been and always will be...after all, I was one of those kids who lived off of the government programs at one point in my life when I was MUCH younger), but I tend to have a real issue with certain parents (and I'm sure you've known a few) who every nine-months pop out a baby, then as quickly as they gave birth, they're pregnant again...but by a different father. Sometimes, it really seems as if the government programs (like SNAP) are only built these days for situations as listed in the previous sentence. I know they're not, but sometimes it seems that way.
Life is precious, but so is common-sense. Seriously, how tough is it as a male to keep it in your pants, and as a woman to keep your legs closed?...I'm really beginning to wonder about that myself. I'm all for people having kids and starting a family, but I think once you hit double digits of offspring and every-one of the child support payments you're receiving for those children are coming from different sources, I think it's time to re-evaluate your life choices!
Moving onto a completely different subject (and one that I'm sure will cause a little bit of a stir if the previous opinions haven't already), it's been close to a year-and-a-half ago now that I was a paul bearer and a part of laying to rest a pioneer and innovator of Lima Radio, "Les Rau". I look back on everything he (and Art Versnick included) did to bring great radio and entertainment to my hometown of Lima, and it makes me smile. It's sort of funny because at the funeral, Art stood up and spoke, and with his trademark deep yet projecting voice said, "if we would have known then what we know now, we wouldn't have sold the stations as we did".
I bring that up to transition to what I'm about to say.
I honestly believe that the day that I, along with the others involved in carrying Mr. Rau's casket to his final resting place, carried not just the man who helped in the re-inventing & pioneering of entertaining radio in Lima to his grave, but I felt as I was walking away from the graveside service and back to the car, "Lima radio is now officially dead"...and, I even said that to my dad when we got back into the car on the way back to the church for the traditional meal.
I believe that the day that Les Rau was laid to rest was the day that Lima radio officially ceased to exist anymore. There are still stations on the air in Lima (don't get me wrong), but it's not ANYTHING like it once was. All interaction & area-related programming in Lima radio has been replaced by people (with the exception of a VERY select few) who do not care one bit about what goes out over the air, and that is more than evident and clear when you turn the stations on. It's pretty sad when the majority of the people I associate with will listen to radio outside of the area, and won't even touch what Lima has to offer...and you know, I don't blame them. I spent just over twelve-and-a-half years in the radio business in Lima in various positions from board-op, to imaging director, to MD, to APD, to writer/producer (yes, an ACTUAL producer...NOT a board-op), and progressively over the last 2-4 years (I'd say from late 2006 up to now), the climate for radio in Lima has just taken a dramatic (and sometimes turbulent) downfall. You've got one group of stations that have the highest rated stations in town with little to no dollars to show for it...then, the opposite on the other end of town with a cluster that has so much money they don't know what to do with it (so they build kitchenettes & put flat screen TV's in the studios that serve no real purpose), but yet in the end, they can't seem to even come close to the number one rated station in town if they combined all of their clustered stations ratings together. It makes absolutely no sense!
It's kind of embarrasing when the christian station that still has turn-tables and cassette decks in their production rooms and on-air studios that is supported off of listener donations has better programming and a better product on the air than the commercial stations...it really is!
Radio...radio, radio, radio...that was what I started my life out doing. I'm not involved in it anymore, but I used to be.
You know, I've been thinking more and more lately about what would've happened had I never got into the business in the first place, and I walk away with the answer..."I don't know". I have a pretty good concept on what "might" have happened, but of course unless I know for sure (which I do not), then I'll never really know. All I know is that I'm starting to reach the point now after being out of the business for just under a year-and-a-half that I'm starting to miss it. I don't miss the general jargon I had to go through in the Lima market, but I miss the business itself. I miss the fun I used to have...I miss the people I used to be able to interact with...I miss being able to basically be a production factory for people who can actually PROGRAM...but most of all, I miss my first love. I know that sounds so cheesy and self-centered, but I do. Unless there is a dramatic turn of events anytime soon (which I do not see happening), I will never work in Lima radio ever again...although, I do find it rather interesting (and I'm sure you will too) that my former employer of Maverick Media Of Lima kept me on as an independent contractor for just over six months after I left in May of 2009, so I guess I wasn't ALL bad (but, it is sort of a funny story when you hear WHY they won't use me anymore for their outside work, it really is...which maybe I might have to get into at a later time and place if I can get the time).
On a TV now, for anyone that is a fan of good cable television and Horror Movies (and also anyone that likes to have the "you-know-what" scared out of them), check into "The Walking Dead" on AMC sunday nights at 10pm. As Vanity Fair said, it's "The Best New Show On Television". Check it out!
Well, that's it...that's all I have for right now. Time to start another work week, and this has the potential to be a REALLY big week for me. I'll keep you posted!
Have a good one everybody. Be good, and stay blessed...
JAY THOMAS
(11-07-2010)
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