Untitled

You KNOW the economy is bad when a town whose main businesses are strip clubs files for bankruptcy. http://ping.fm/MUK86

via Ping.fm

Posted via web from Mark Edwards 3.0

Untitled

It gives me great pleasure to know that no matter how big of a jerk I am, I will always look like a Saint when compared to Glenn Beck.

via Ping.fm

Posted via web from Mark Edwards 3.0

Clear Channel Is Now Part of the Lying Media - sarah palin - Gawker

via gawker.com

OK.....MAYBE Clear Channel, and Premiere Radio Networks, isn't COMPLETELY evil after all....

Posted via web from Mark Edwards 3.0

The Cubs Are Back In First Place!

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All hail the FIRST PLACE Chicago Cubs! Let' celebrate with a song, shall we? http://ping.fm/JaBx4

via Ping.fm

Posted via web from Mark Edwards 3.0

Share socially across the Web | Webware - CNET

via news.cnet.com

Great primer on how to post your info everywhere so nobody misses it...

Posted via web from Mark Edwards 3.0

Why Billboard.com is Destined for Failure

via readwriteweb.com

The rat bastards at Nielsen KILLED Radio and Records, the Bible of radio and the music industry, and are trying to force everyone to Billboard.com, a shadow of what was once a great brand. They should be ashamed of themselves, and they will fail, if for no other reason than KARMA.

Posted via web from Mark Edwards 3.0

socialmedian: Twitter Banned From White House

Check out this website I found at socialmedian.com

Posted via web from Mark Edwards 3.0

WALTER CRONKITE - Media Decoder Blog

via mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com

CBS to Show Tribute to Cronkite Sunday Night
By Brian Stelter

CBS will honor Walter Cronkite’s career and life in a one-hour prime time special Sunday at 7 p.m., the network said Friday.

Mr. Cronkite, the legendary CBS anchorman, died Friday evening. The tribute, titled “That’s The Way It Is: Remembering Walter Cronkite,” will replace “60 Minutes” on Sunday.

Posted via web from Mark Edwards 3.0

What Walter Cronkite, Dead at 92, Did for Journalism

What Walter Cronkite, Dead at 92, Did for Journalism

Shared via AddThis

Remembering Walter Cronkite

Sad news that Walter Cronkite has passed away. This is perhaps his most famous video. This man was a true giant. TV news hasn't been the same since he left, and his not being with us any longer leaves a massive void.

I can only hope he and Edward R. Murrow are together remembering when TV news was a noble profession.

My All Star Moment

I try not to use this blog to brag on myself too often. I'd rather use it to share quirky things, talk about issues that affect me and others, and communicate things I find interesting. So please allow me to indulge myself and share a truly remarkable experience I had yesterday.

The Major League All Star game is in St. Louis this week, and I was fortunate enough to be granted the opportunity to cover the festivities on behalf of my radio stations. I went to Busch Stadium Saturday, before the hoards of reporters got there, to pick up my credentials. The plan was to get them, go home, and watch the Cubs on TV. I should have covered the huge Sheryl Crow concert under the Gateway Arch, but Ms. Crow continues her track record of being perhaps the most unfriendly (to radio) artist on the planet and we were unable to interview her before the show or get access to the concert. But that's another story and I truly believe the Karma Train will take care of it in the end.

OK, back to the reason for this post. I'm walking out of the press room at Busch Stadium and a woman stops me on the street and asks me if I have an hour or so of spare time. I did, and asked her what for assuming it was some kind of research activity and I could politely decline. She says they need people to be part of the rehearsal for the opening ceremonies of the All Star Game! Hmmm...let me think about that for a nanosecond. I'M IN! So she takes me in, next thing I know I'm on the field, and someone slaps a sticker of me saying I'm Johan Santana. Interesting twist of fate since he's a member of the New York Mets and I've pretty much hated the Mets since 1969. But no matter, I'm Johan Santana and I'm, at least for rehearsal, an All Star.

As you can see, the resemblance between me and Johan is uncanny.

So I'm an All Star and they put me in the Cardinals dugout, which will be the National League dugout for the game. Now, I've been in that dugout before, and I must say I've never seen a cleaner, more spruced up baseball dugout. Nice to have the big game in town. All us "players" have to line up in order and get to run out on the field and stand on the first base line as the players will do Tuesday. This is clearly a TV rehearsal, as everything we do is on the Jumbotron and there's a guy with a camera shooting close-ups of us when our player's name is mentioned over the PA system. Sadly I couldn't grab a pic of myself on the big screen. But I'll be contacting everyone who may have a copy of he video to see if I can add it to my collection.

Once we're on the field, we go through all the pre-game ceremonies as if we're the players. I probably shouldn't give all the details of what's happening before the game, but I must say as a baseball fan and an American, the ceremonies are truly moving. Every living President is part of them through the magic of video and there are some very special moments that everyone in the family should not miss. You can go to the bathroom when Sheryl Crow is singing the National Anthem. Nothing against the Anthem, just the "artist".

You can see the field all set for the game and some of the graphics on the scoreboard in this picture. I must hand it to Major League Baseball for planning a truly inspiring pregame celebration. If you ever wondered how they get things like the All Star logo on the field, a crew of painters HAND PAINTED the logo Saturday morning. The ground crew kept on telling us to make sure we didn't step on the logo because the paint may still be wet.

This is all really geeky, and unfortunately I'm geeky about a few things and baseball is certainly one of them. I could gush for hours about how cool it was to be a part of the rehearsal. The hour it was supposed to last became three and a half hours in 90 degree heat, but we got to go through the ceremonies many times, and every time I ran onto the field I couldn't help but get choked up a bit, thinking about how much I love baseball, my heroes The Chicago Cubs, and how my late Grandfather and Father introduced me to the game, as a fan and gave me the chance to play baseball knowing I'd never have the chance to actually be a competitor because of my vision.

So there was no Sheryl Crow, its pouring rain on Sunday and I'm staying home instead of going to the Futures game and Celebrity Softball game featuring MISTER Cub Ernie Banks, and I have the challenge of doing my regular job and trying to attend some of the All Star festivities in the days ahead.

But none of that matters. For three and a half hours, I was an All Star.

I was minding my own business and found myself as part of the Dress Rehearsal for the All Star Game

 

One of the stranger, yet amazing twists of fate.  Full post coming soon.

Posted via email from Mark Edwards 3.0

Has ABC News learned a lesson about Matt Drudge? | Media Matters for America

via mediamatters.org

Posted via web from Mark Edwards 3.0

The Way We Die Now | The Awl

via theawl.com

It is admittedly still early in our Summer of Death, but I have to believe that when we look back at the sunny season of 2009 from the vantage point of twenty years on, this is how we'll see those more innocent times. Kudos to graphic artist Todd Grantham for so expertly capturing the zeitgeist.

Posted via web from Mark Edwards 3.0

Sculpture to Invigorate St. Louis, a Shrinking City - NYTimes.com

The good news is the New York Times likes the new sculpture park in St. Louis. The bad news is that's about the only thing they like about the city. At least they didn't mention Ballpark Village, the hole in the ground that was supposed to be an urban paradise of shopping, dining, drinking, and living that was supposed to be opened by next week's All Star Game.


Art - CLOSE READING - Sculpture to Invigorate St. Louis, a Shrinking City - NYTimes.com

The Star Spangled Symphony

Happy Fourth Of July.

Words really can't describe this.

WATCH IT.

Thought For The Day, July 1, 2009

My Damn Channel » Stand By Me » Stand By Me

Rob Barnett's MyDamnChannel.com continues to break new ground.

On June 24, Iranian Superstar Andy Madadian went into an LA recording studio with Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and American record producers Don Was and John Shanks to record a musical message of worldwide solidarity with the people of Iran.

This version of the old Ben E. King classic is not for sale - it was not meant to be on the Billboard charts or even manufactured as a CD.....it's intended to be downloaded and shared by the Iranian people...to give voice to the sentiment that all people of the world stand together....the handwritten Farsi sign in the video translates to "we are one".

If you know someone in Iran - or someone who knows someone in Iran - please share this link:

http://www.MyDamnChannel.com/DonWas



Kudos to the artists and to My Damn Channel for using the Interwebs for good. The good of the Iranian people and the world.

St. Louis - Daily RFT - Keith Olbermann Names Missouri Lawmaker "World's Worst Person"

via blogs.riverfronttimes.com

She would call the state "Mizz-ur-uh".

Posted via web from markedwards's posterous

Iran Revolution 2009

There is so much to say about what's happening in Iran and around the world. The rigging of an election, the terror heaped upon citizens by government, and how the story has been broadcast and spun by both Mainstream Media and the brave new world of Social Media.

There are hours of video, thousands of pictures, and scores of real life stories about the mess in Iran. I think this video is very powerful and brings so many of the emotions together. I don't know the person who created it, but she is very gifted. Thanks to Alyssa Milano for passing this along.

Watch it. And be thankful for our "freedom", as flawed as it may be.

I guess I can't avoid a droplet of humor in any post, and I'm paraphrasing a joke I heard Friday. At least in America, when we steal an election the results are close. (reference to 2000) Sadly, it seems that you can't say that about the "election" in Iran.

PRAISE FOR METRO ST. LOUIS!

Its no secret that I've been more than a little bit critical of Metro, the St. Louis public transit system, for their incomprehensible lack of decent management and horrendous service cuts. The cuts have made thousands of people in the St. Louis region change their commuting habits, and many even change their jobs.

I won't rehash old posts, but I've written below about the tremendous efforts of the Mayor and staff of the city of Chesterfield, MO to get service restored to that suburb. For that I am eternally grateful. Now comes word from Metro that
a significant amount of bus service is likely to be restored in August of this year.

Assuming Missouri Governor Jay Nixon finds the bill on the pile of unsigned laws on his desk and signs it in the near future, about a third of the bus service that was slashed earlier this year will be returned.

It ain't over til its over, but it looks like Metro has worked hard to get the money they need and put it where its most needed. I applaud them on their efforts and only hope everything goes as planned.

Of course, the situation will be updated here.

Milton Bradley Makes Me Want To Scream

Some things are beyond belief. Take, for instance, Friday's performance by now legendary Chicago Cub Milton Bradley.

Dear God In Heaven...

We Believe Trailer

I usually don't get too excited about documentary films. I respect the work of the film makers, I admire their dedication, but it takes a lot to get me to a theatre to see a documentary.

However, That's going to change this summer. Thanks to Tom Lisack at CBS for turning me on to what, at least for me, will be THE cinematic event of the year.

Just watch the trailer.

After Noon Wednesday, my kids are no longer the school district's responsibility. Lord have mercy on my soul.

CUTS IN ST. LOUIS BUS SERVICE MAY BE RESTORED

Friday, May 22-I just got this note from Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill's office with very good potential news for the St. Louis area's Metro transit system.

Good news for Metro St. Louis and the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority
– a bill that passed the Senate late yesterday included language that will allow transit agencies in large cities to use some of their stimulus funding in a way that will help them to preserve services and avoid layoffs. A provision included in the legislation will make it possible for transit agencies to use up to 10 percent of their stimulus funding for operation costs. Last week, McCaskill asked that funding be available for operational costs, rather than for construction and capitol improvements only. The
legislation goes to House-Senate negotiations next, and we will keep you
updated on its progress.
READ MORE ABOUT MCCASKILL’S REQUEST

We still have a LONG way to go before Metro can even begin to restore a fragment of service they've lost, but with The possibility of some money from the State of Missouri to help fund the transit system, there is a faint glimmer of hope that some service might be resorted.
I'm being a bit more pragmatic than some only because both Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and President Obama have the final say on if the money will flow to Metro or not. Beyond that, the people who run Metro and their sometimes unpredictable Board Of Commissioiners need to finalize the services changes they're currently pimping on their website and actully make them happen.

Let's just hope the hard work of Senator McCaskill, the few people who really care about mass transit in St. Louis, and others isn't negated by the incompetent leadership at Metro.

UPDATE MAY 23 The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting that Metro plans to use the state money to restore and expand routes in August.

Again, one can only hope all this news is true, the bills that will provide the money will be signed by the President and Governor, and that Metro doesn't manage to find a way to screw things up.

A man can dream.

A musical morsel for a May Monday. http://ping.fm/rIvA7 Yes, I have nothing more witty, so Jimmy Buffett gets called in from the bullpen

I'd volunteer to be the second face transplant receipient, as long as they'd give me George Clooney's face.

METRO LOSES AGAIN-ST. LOUIS TRANSIT TO SUFFER MORE PAIN

Sometimes I don't even have to do the writing, and I can let the source speak for itself. Case in point, the "Metro Memo" e mail that just landed in my inbox. Text is below, click on the headline above to see the complete pretty Interwebs version.

As most of us who have an understanding of Missouri politics could have guessed, Metro has lost its second bid to get state funding to keep itself in business. Oh, and while they're at it, they're again cutting the hours they're available to give their disenfranchised customers what they claim to be "customer service".

May is coming tomorrow. I can't wait for the next half hour video briefing on how things didn't go so well in Jefferson City. Get me some popcorn!

April 30, 2009

Welcome to Metro's electronic magazine! You are receiving this
e-zine because of your connection to Metro or your interest in regional transit issues.

· Update on Metro Transit Funding from State of Missouri · Customer Service and Transit Information Hours Reduced
· Metro Official to Speak at Community Action Meeting
· Celebrate Chess with a Metro Art Bus Painting Event

House Bill 22 is Defeated

On Thursday, April 30, Missouri House Bill (HB) 22, which included $12 million of Stimulus/Stabilization funding for Metro, was defeated during a final vote by the Missouri House of Representatives.

Earlier in April, Missouri House Budget Chairman Allen Icet introduced HB 20, which allocated $20 million to Metro from the Federal Budget Stabilization Fund. Last week, it was announced that Missouri Speaker of the House Ron Richard and House Budget Chairman Allen Icet were redirecting their plan for those funds and filed HB 22, which did not include transit funding for Metro.

On Wednesday, April 29, Missouri Representatives amended HB 22 to include $12 million for Metro transit funding. Unfortunately, the final vote on the bill resulted in its defeat.

Lt. Governor Peter Kinder has pledged to work to revive the bill. In addition to Metro funding, the bill contained funding for a variety of state projects, including a Columbia, MO Cancer Center and a plant science center in Mexico, MO.

If you would like your voice heard on this critical funding proposal, now is the time to contact your Missouri State Senators and Representatives. You can find your state officials, including their contact information, by using the "Find Your Elected Officials" feature on www.congress.org.


Metro Transit Information and Customer Service Hours to Change on May 4, 2009

Beginning Monday, May 4, 2009, Metro’s Transit Information and Customer Service Call Center will change its hours to 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

This change in Transit Information and Customer Service hours is a part of the March 30 transit service reductions, and was postponed to help customers adjust to the new route and schedule changes.

The Transit Information group provides MetroBus and MetroLink schedules and trip planning for customers. Transit Information Operators are currently available between 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Customer Service group assists customers who have questions or comments about Metro’s services, or who want to report lost items. Customer Service Representatives are currently available from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

“We have been able to help most of our customers through the recent service reduction and, along with field supervisors, are continuing to work with them on issues of service such as crowded buses and trains,” said Sandra Shaner, Director of Customer Service for Metro. “We have additional customer resources available through internet access to schedules and TripFinder software for use after hours. E-mails, answered during working hours, also provide a convenience for customers who can write to us at any time about service or with advance routing questions.”

Metro Transit Information may be reached by phone or email:
314-231-2345 from Missouri
618-271-2345 from Illinois
transitinformation@metrostlouis.org

Metro Customer Service may be reached by phone or email:
314-982-1406 from Missouri
618-271-7879 from Illinois
customerservice@metrostlouis.org

Customers may also visit www.metrostlouis.org for information about Metro’s services.

The Austin Model-Polar Opposite of St. Louis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3fUkvuvFHg&feature=channel_page

Clicking on the above video will take you to its YouTube site. You can also click on the headline to be taken to the video. Sorry, embedding of this video has been disabled, but I assure you its worth watching.

Submitted for your approval (sorry Rod) a commercial from candidate for Mayor of Austin, Texas Brewster McCracken. In this spot, the candidate takes an objective look at the CITY of St. Louis and how it went from boomtown to laughingstock. His message? Don't let what happened to St. Louis happen to Austin.

McCracken is spot on. The CITY of St. Louis has been allowed to die because of petty politics, a complete lack of vision for the region, and denying its residents essential services like well paved streets, decent schools, and functioning public transit.

As you can imagine, the locals here are up in arms about this shot at St. Louis. They're hurt, and I don't blame them. Its harsh, but its completely true.

St. Louis is the poster child of how to kill a city's soul, drive the people and businesses you need to thrive to the suburbs (where I live and could not be happier), and have city and county leadership spending too much time at the baseball stadium (with the vacant lot next door that was supposed to be a multi million dollar shopping/office/residential mecca in time for July's All Star Game) and not enough time looking around to see what a mess they've made or thinking of realistic ways to improve the quality of life in the region.

I don't know anything about Brewster McCracken. Wait, I do know ONE thing. He's got a better view of the sorry state of St. Louis than the people running our region do. Maybe our local leaders will take a minute, watch this commercial, and ponder what they've done to the once grand CITY of St. Louis.

Perhaps during the seventh inning stretch?

Its only 9:10AM on Monday and I already feel like I've been through a week's worth of drama and disasters. Please shoot me now.

Metro Discovers It Has A PR Problem (DUH)

I've got to hand it to the fine people at Metro, the public transit agency in St. Louis.

I won't go into all the farces and fiascoes they've been responsible for lately, you can read them on earlier blog posts. But I've got to give them the award for UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE DECADE in Friday's article from The St. Louis Beacon. You can click on the headline to read the whole story about their budget problems and how the State of Missouri is going to ride in (presumably NOT on a bus) with twenty million bucks to bail them out. But if you go down to the bottom of the story, you see Metro's solution to one of the worst Public Relations practices in the Universe:

Making the case to the Public

Although 486 positions --- mostly bus drivers --- have been cut, Metro is trying to do some "resource shifting" to add a person to help bring the agency into the new technological age.

"Metro is behind the curve on new media," Metro spokeswoman Dianne Williams said. It’s not a question of preserving a bus driver instead of adding a public relations person. That person could assist "in bringing back enough money to put a whole lot more than one bus driver back on the street," she said.

"Everyone tells us we've got to get out in the community and tell the people our story," Baer said. Instead of using volunteers, "I don't think it's unreasonable to add one new media person," he added.

"We're looking at improving our public relations with the community," Klevorn said.

REALLY? YOU THINK?

If Metro had the slightest clue how to communicate with the public, both its customers and (more importantly) the people who can help fund their operation, they might not be in the horrific mess they've put themselves in.

But the Big Guy at Metro, Robert Baer remains clueless. Must be busy working on May's half hour update to the world.

Oh and Bob, thanks for not responding to my e mail of my last post. THAT'S the kind of "Public Relations" that keeps Metro so in touch with the community.

ST. LOUIS METRO AT ITS FINEST

As a media consumer and media professional, I've always been of the belief that brevity is key in communicating a message. Obviously, the good people at Metro, the agency responsible for the transit disaster in St. Louis, missed that memo.

Submitted for your approval and available by clicking the headline on this post, the newly posted Metro Customer Focus for April 2009.

Where do I begin to discuss the faults with this attempt to tell their tale of woe by FINALLY trotting our their President and CEO to talk about everything they're trying to do to get transit service restored to St. Louis?

Here are a few observations:

• THE VIDEO IS 24 MINUTES AND 26 SECONDS LONG. Mind you, that's less than the time between most bus service in St. Louis, but its FAR too long to hold even the most interested person's attention so whatever messages are supposed to be communicated are lost in the blur of the diatribe.
• Someone at Metro or their overpaid production company found the new technology called STEREO for this presentation! You get to hear the Metro Director of Communications asking questions in the right speaker and the Boss answering them in the left speaker. Let's hope everyone watching on their computer has two good working speakers so they can enjoy the miracle of binural sound.
• There's no transcript of ability to download the unnecessarily long video, so if you have a life or can't plant yourself for 24:26, you're out of luck.

Again, Metro shows its true inability to connect with the rest of the free world by trying to get their message out, but in a completely ineffective way. How much did the production, hosting, and bandwidth cost, and will they see any kind of ROI? Could the money be used somewhere else, like getting people to ride the nearly empty busses they've put into my part of the St. Louis area?

I pray that their efforts to make operating funds come from the State and Federal governments are just a little bit better thought out than this, another classic Metro public relations fiasco.

LAST MINUTE DEAL SAVES SOME WEST COUNTY BUS SERVICE

From stltoday.com:

Metro OKs buses to job centers
By Ken Leiser
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/27/2009

Buses will continue to roll to employment centers in the Chesterfield Valley through the end of the year under a tentative agreement announced today.

Massive service cuts will take effect on Monday and were to cut off bus service west of Interstate 270. But Chesterfield Mayor John Nations today pledged more than $173,000 to create a new route that will reach employers along the Highway 40 corridor.

That will represent the local match for a federal job access and reverse commute grant, said Metro Ray Friem, Metro's senior vice president for transit operations. Fare collections will cover the remainder of the cost.

Metro's board of commissioners authorized its top executive, Bob Baer, to negotiate details of the agreement with Chesterfield and others who are working to maintain bus service to far west St. Louis County through Dec. 31.

"Public transportation is an extremely important element of building a good business climate and consequently creating a good quality of life," Nations told reporters after today's Metro Board of Commissioners meeting.

The new route would begin at the Clayton MetroLink station, then go to the Ballas bus transfer center and points west along Highway 40.

Nations said there are 26,000 jobs in Chesterfield alone and public transportation is "an integral part" of that effort. It is critical to the nursing homes, hospitals and service sectors.

Chesterfield's pledge could include a mix of public and private money from businesses that have so far agreed to cover part of the cost, Nations said. Businesses may wind up funding the entire local share.

Some Metro commissioners expressed concerns about authorizing the 11th-hour deal without all of the specifics in hand. But others said it was important to prevent a disruption in bus service to parts of the region.

Metro, the region's largest transit agency, will dramatically scale back the reach of its bus system - wiping out two dozen bus routes and modifying others. Beginning Monday, service will be suspended to 2,300 of the 9,000 bus stops and bus shelters in the Missouri half of Metro's system.
MetroLink trains will run less frequently on both sides of the Mississippi River during peak commute periods.
Buses and trains that remain are expected to be more crowded.

This is significantly less service than there is today, but it is service that will reach the retail centers, nursing homes, and hospitals that were about to be cut off from public transit.

I applaud the hard work of The City of Chesterfield and especially Libbey Malberg, the city's Assistant City Administrator for Community Services & Economic Development. This is a rare example of a city government (Chesterfield, NOT St. Louis) working hard and committing resources in order to maintain jobs and quality of life for its citizens.

Of course, Metro has not posted official word of this deal or released the final route map and schedules. If this route starts Monday, they've got some quick work to do, something they aren't always known for.

In any event, this is a little victory, and for that I am thankful.

Lost Generation

I guess this video has been floating around for a while, but if you haven't seen it, its worth 1:44 of your time. Thanks to Dave Logan for passing it along!

ST. LOUIS PUBLIC TRANSIT TO BE WORSE THAN BEIRUT

AS WITH ALL POSTS ABOUT THE PUBLIC TRANSIT SITUATION IN ST. LOUIS, THESE COMMENTS ARE PURELY PERSONAL OPINION AND NOT CONNECTED IN ANY WAY WITH MY EMPLOYMENT OR EMPLOYER.

Monday, March 30 is the day that the St. Louis region regresses to the Stone Age in terms of its public transit system, or lack thereof.

The March 22nd St. Louis Post-Dispatch has two well written articles about the situation. The first story, which the graphic comes from, is an overview of the transit changes to come. Story number two looks at the way regular people will be affected by the changes.

A peek at my previous posts will make my thoughts on how we were forced into this service reduction plan clear, so I won't waste bandwidth repeating them here. I urge you to look at those posts to get some background on this horrific situation.

Yes, as a visually handicapped person, I am directly affected by these changes since I don't drive and Metro is cutting any buses that come near me on March 30th. I've been fortunate enough to be included in meetings and communications about Metro's overtures to return service to the Chesterfield Valley, an important business destination, and some of the nursing homes in my area that rely on bus riders for employment.

Metro's publicized that they want to do everything they can to help restore the service, they've just forgotten to mention to the public that they've asked the businesses and governments in the West St. Louis County area for $300,000 to start the greatly reduced route and keep it running until the end of the year. They've also not mentioned that there will be at least a $600,000 shortfall should that service extend into 2010, and that's ONLY assuming they get a million dollars in Federal matching funds and $400,000 in farebox revenue. So yes, they've offered to help, but in today's economy, it seems fairly safe to assume that the resumption of service is a longshot at best. I think I'd rather bet on the St. Louis Rams to win the 2010 Super Bowl.

Forget my personal situation. I'll figure out how to get to work. I'm every bit as concerned about the long term impact these changes are about to have on the St. Louis region. Here's the bottom line. St. Louis becomes a THIRD class mass transit region on March 30th. Metro's years of mismanagement, the horrendous Prop M campaign orchestrated by St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley and his cronies, and lack of honest public education about the economic impact of a horrid public transit system will converge into a perfect storm that will put people out of work, leave employers scrambling to find workers-even in this recession, and make anyone looking to expand or bring a business to St. Louis think twice.

I've said in other forums that St. Louis has a worse public transit system than Beirut. Here's proof.

I've had a number of conversations with senior Metro staffers about this situation, and it does seem that they do have real sympathy for the individuals about to the stranded and the huge hit the already staggering St. Louis economy is about to take. They had a plan to essentially launder Federal Highway Administration money and get their hands on it for operating revenue, but the Feds saw right through that and stopped it. They say they're still working on ways to increase service, and if nothing else they're putting another tax increase on the ballot in April, 2010. However, anything they do at this point to address the problems they've gotten themselves into over the years is far too little, and far too late.

We as citizens of the St. Louis region should be embarrassed and ashamed of our "leaders" and the Metro Board Of Commissioners for letting this happen.

GUEST POST-ARE YOU HAPPY OR CONTENT?

I came across this well crafted essay from one of the media industry's most gifted researchers, Bob Lawrence, the President of Pinnacle Media Worldwide and thought it just had to be shared.

ARE YOU "HAPPY" OR "CONTENT"?

Where do we go from here? We look around around and see some of the most wonderfully, talented people out of work; people who could really make a positive difference for so many struggling radio stations. As a result, many of us are working even harder to take up the slack. The truth is though, that the product is not at the forefront of everyone's mind and we can't really blame anyone. Everyone is very much in the same situation; survival mode! I am about to tell you somethings you no doubt, already know, but do you keep them with you as life's trump card?

The stress levels in every area from programming to sales seem to be at an all time high and all are looking for a big miracle. We're even making deals with God. "Ok, Lord... we've learned our lesson and we promise to never allow ourselves to get in this terrible situation again... Now, will you please fix it for us?" I am a believer and I have strong faith. I also believe in miracles, but I believe that God gives us what we need rather than what we want and frankly, what we need this time is probably not what we want. What's needed just may be a good dose of reality!

No matter where in the world you live and work, we are all blessed, or "lucky" if you prefer. What we do tend to forget however, is that doesn't imply we have everything we want, nor does it suggest that we'll all be healthy, wealthy, and wise. It seems to me that we all must realize that being "content" isn't always synonymous with being "happy". I only learned recently to try being content with what I have, rather than what I don't have. No one says we have to like everything in life, either personally or professionally, but we can be "content" with it all. There are certainly lessons to be learned from our successes, as well as the trials. How we look at the place we are in life will help us learn and move to whatever is next.

My wife noted just a week ago, one evening when out to dinner, "When you were building your business, you seemed under such great stress. You were always on the road and disconnected from our family." She went on to add, "Today, when things are harder" (and it is harder for us too; perhaps even more so), "you seem more at ease and are leaning more on us then before." Wow! What an epiphany and what a blessing! Things were better professionally and business was very good - but the cost was a sacrifice for my family.

You have no doubt heard the following expressions... but do we live them?

"If there were no valleys there would be no beautiful mountains."
"If the rocks were smooth, we would never be able to climb them."
"If not for the rain, how would we appreciate the sunshine?"
(Ask San Diegans about that last one. We only get nine inches of rain a year, so when it comes, we love it!)


You get the point. While we sometimes find it so difficult to navigate through the tough times, it certainly gives us an appreciation for the good ones. Think back to the late 90's when we all experienced double-digit growth beyond what we thought possible? Did we learn from that and did anyone really think it would last forever? They called it all a bubble for a reason... they burst!

In the last several years, we have seen a good deal of thievery, deceit, lying, underhandedness, and shady business practices by many, only to fill their pockets, while good, honest people have paid a serious price. I heard someone recently say, "Money can't buy happiness, but it sure can help rent it for a while." I thought about that for a moment before realizing that this sort of thinking is what pulls us down the old rabbit hole. The truth is that money will never create happiness, nor even rent it for a short time. As trite as it sounds, happiness comes from within.

Are you content? I hope so, because of this I am certain... neither money, nor a flourishing business will make you happy. Your faith, your spouse, your children, your friends... only the relationships in your life will bring happiness. Liam Neeson was on the set of a new picture just Monday, for no doubt a proverbial boatload of money, when he rushed to be with his wife, actress Natasha Richardson. Sadly, she passed away Wednesday evening as a result of what at first, appeared to be a minor fall on a beginner skip slope in Canada. You can be sure that the academy award winning actor would gladly give it all up, if only...

I know we all do what we have to do. I'm not implying it should, or can be any other way. What I am suggesting is that it doesn't have to consume us and make us miserable. Ok - none of us probably have as much money as we had five years ago, or perhaps even a year ago, but we can still be content. No matter what, we will always have all the wonderful relationships and friendships that have been nurtured over a lifetime. It's only when we learn to be content, regardless of the prize in the end, that we can see the true reward of the blessings in all those things we already have.

Thanks to Bob for sharing. Definitely something to think about in these insane times. You can find out more about Bob and his company by clicking the link at the top of the post.

Metro Wastes MORE Money

The fine people at St. Louis' Metro Public Transit Agency covered the bus stop I use to get to and from my office with this snappy cover.

Not trying to sound like a "banner geek", but having bought a number of banners over the years, I was struck by the high quality of the cover. Heavy weight vinyl, metal grommets, sewn edges, held in place by multiple zip ties. First class all the way. NOT an inexpensive item, and I'm told they put these on some 2300 bus stops in the St. Louis area.

Metro is making it impossible for thousands of people to get to their jobs after March 30th, but they can pay a pile of money for these "temporary" Bus Stop Sign Covers. Another absurd use of money by a horrendously mismanaged part of the inept St. Louis government system.

All of this while Metro continues to spread false hope that the Federal Government is going to give them money to continue suburban transit. The St. Louis Beacon fell victim to reporting the pipe dreams of Metro's Chief Operating Officer that through a complicated slight of hand move, Metro might get a few bucks to keep running buses to bring people from the city to their much needed jobs in the suburbs.

I wonder how many actual bus lines Metro could have kept running with the huge amount of money they spent to have these "temporary" covers made?

Metro To St. Louis suburbs: Pay Up Or Shut Up. County Official To Mayors: Drop Dead

Click above to read an article from the St. Louis Beacon Website about the local transit agency's response to mayors who want to find a way to get workers from the City of St. Louis to jobs in the suburbs.

For a real laugh riot, pay special attention to the comments from the representative of the St. Louis County government. Nice level of concern for both the region's citizens and its economy.

I've said it before and I have to say it again. Without adequate public transit, the St. Louis region is destined to drop to second class status when it comes to attracting and keeping businesses. Its a crime.

A Prophetic Look Back

I'm no fan of Osama Bin Laden, so please don't think of this as any kind of an endorsement of him or his actions.


That being said, I found an interesting story on Brian Sullivan's FriendFeed that was just plain eerie. Click the link above and read a story from CNN on November 1, 2004.


You think someone should have paid more attention to that story when it ran? W? Dick? Donald?

Maybe you don't have to fly planes into buildings to bring a country to its collective knees.

Another Sad Day For St. Louis

Interesting, some people at work sent this to me as I toil away from home, a victim of the horrid transit system in St. Louis, unable to get to work on a snow day. I believe they did it to antagonize me. All it did was remind me to forget to approve their time sheets before the next payroll goes in.

This "artwork" was done at the site of Ballpark Village, a huge mixed use residential/office/retail development that was supposed to be built along with Busch "$5 for a bottle of water" Stadium nearly half a decade ago. The lot, like the dreams of many Cardinal fans, remains empty and one of the many Cards fans with no job and no hope had to vandalize public property, commit the act of breaking and entering, and deface a beautiful snowy scene.

As an American, I'm saddened by this crass display of tomfoolery that again taints the image of St. Louis and attacks the Chicago National League Ball Club. With a full three weeks before the start of Spring Training, it is clear to me that the Cardinal Nation has seen their future, and it is truly dismal. Given the choice of supporting the second tier Cardinals and the defending National League Central Champion Chicago Cubs, I would be a very sad person should I be forced by history or choice to support the Cardinals. Cardinals fans have already realized that their prospects of a successful 2009 season are as dim as seeing me in a Speedo while I'm in Boss Angeles for the Grammy Awards next week.

We are at a critical time in our country's history. The recession, wars around the world, and an uncertain future are things that should weigh heavily on the minds of right thinking souls. I have pity for the perpetrators of this lame stunt. This vandalism does not upset me as a Cubs fan as many hoped it would. It saddens me as a Child Of The Universe that the populace of St. Louis must stoop so low for cheap thrills.

Please, take 17 minutes out of your day and watch this http://ping.fm/z9J71 And if you have kids, please have them watch it too. A lot has changed in 46 years.

Inept St. Louis County Government and Metro Public Transit botch funding bid and leave thousands of commuters, including me, without transportation (updated link) http://ping.fm/9wK0x

"I'm Screwed By Metro" in St. Louis Newspaper

More on the ugliness that is about to enter my life thanks to the St. Louis County Government and Bi-State Development Agency (Metro) incompetence in not getting funding for mass transit in the St. Louis area. Thanks to the Suburban Journals (click headline above for link to the story) for the chance to share my point of view. Again, this is my PERSONAL issue and in no way connected with my employment or employer.

Riders lose their way Metro service cuts will leave riders out in the cold


Rick Graefe photo/ Jim Moody of Mehlville waits for his bus to Chesterfield at the Ballas Road bus depot. Moody takes a bus from South County Mall to the depot then transfers onto the 58 line to get to work in Chesterfield.

By Shawn ClubbMonday, January 5, 2009 12:05 PM CST



Jim Moody doesn't need public transportation to get to work. He takes it for his sanity."I do it because I hate the traffic on (Interstate) 270," he said. "There's always an accident."When Metro cuts bus routes from Moody's home in Mehlville and to his office in Chesterfield, he said he will just have to drive.



But for Mark Edwards, the situation does not have a simple solution."In a word, I'm screwed by Metro," said Edwards, who has a visual handicap that prevents him from driving.Thousands of people who live or work in South County and West County are having to find alternatives if they use public transportation. Metro will eliminate all of the bus routes in these areas at the end of March to reduce its budget after failure of a county referendum to help fund the system.It will mean the end of the line for many people who can't drive, can't afford a vehicle, hate traffic or want to be environmentally-responsible.



Edwards, who lives in Chesterfield, takes an express bus to his job in midtown St. Louis. Because Metro will eliminate all West County service west of Interstate 270, he will be cut off.Edwards has a condition called optic nerve atrophy, which he describes as "a bad phone connection in the eye," so he cannot drive. He has looked into ride-sharing programs such as RideFinders, but he said it is a hard service to use. He also has contacted local large employers to see if he can find a ride through one of their employees."If March 30 comes and I don't have a ride, I'll be paying ridiculous money for cabs," Edwards said. "I don't really have an answer yet."



MJ Maroney, who lives in south St. Louis, also might end up taking a cab for part of her commute to work in an insurance business at Maryville Center. She used to take a scooter to work on days when the weather allowed it, but a crash has her undergoing physical therapy and riding MetroLink and the bus. Even when she recovers, she won't be able to ride until she can buy a new scooter.Maroney previously depended on the bus for transportation when her employer used to be located in Earth City. She said Metro changed that route and made it twice as long, so she bought the scooter.When Metro cuts service, Maroney plans to ride public transportation as far as she can to the Ballas Transit Center, which is located three miles from her job. She'll then take a cab."That will be $10 a day, $50 a week, $200 a month," she said. "That's ridiculous. That's going to be expensive. They're raising prices and decreasing service. It's painful to the very people who can least afford the pain."



Mark Gilligan, like Moody, also will go back to driving. He has taken the bus since May to get exercise, save money and gas and cut down on pollution. The 17 Oakville bus he takes from South County will be eliminated. The 49 Lindbergh bus he takes to get to work at Ursuline Academy in Kirkwood will be rerouted.Gilligan said he voted for passage of Proposition M in November, but he did it despite not seeing an effort by Metro to sell the need for the funding."Most people certainly did not know what was at stake - and that is definitely your fault," he wrote in a letter to Metro. "Now you seem to be seeking to 'punish' the riders in the areas where the votes did not go your way with your ridiculously unfair cuts."



Todd Plesko, Metro's chief of planning and system development, said he can see where riders would think certain areas are being punished when they look at the route cuts. He said the route eliminations were done to cut the budget. He said Metro had to cut routes that are highly subsidized due to low ridership."Coming up with $40 million worth of savings was not easy," said Plesko, noting that Metro had to raise rates effective Jan. 1.All Metro routes are subsidized, Plesko said. Including ones that are used heavily, such as the 70 Grand bus, which is subsidized by less than a dollar per passenger boarding. The 17 Oakville bus that Gilligan rides is subsidized by $13 per boarding, Plesko said. It carries just 232 passengers per day.Other routes with high subsidies that are being eliminated include the Eureka Express at $12 per boarding and Tesson Ferry route at $12.26 per boarding.Gilligan wonders why Metro couldn't just cut the number of times a route is run instead of eliminating it altogether."Metro said 'Let's preserve routes with the lowest subsidy that support the largest number of riders and not divert money from those routes,'" Plesko said. "Our instruction from the board and our funding partners was to serve the largest number of people and the largest number of jobs and do a credible job of serving areas where you can afford to provide service."



The service cuts are what Metro staff calls Plan D. Other plans had been brought to Metro's board for approval. Plan B included some West County and South County routes but would have cost an additional $7 million to $8 million. Plesko said Metro asked the city and county governments if they could fund Plan B but were told there was no money for it.



Like Gilligan, Edwards and Moody also think Metro did a poor job in convincing the public that the agency needed the funding that passage of Proposition M would have given it. Edwards said the loss of these routes will cripple the ability of the region to grow.Plesko said Metro and the city and county governments have asked for Metro to receiving funding as part of the federal government bailouts. He said Metro will be meeting with state leaders to seek funding. He also anticipates there will be an effort in the next year and a half to ask voters to approve more local funding. He said any such effort would require Metro to specify what the people of West County and South County would get with increased funding.



These service cuts are viewed by Metro staff as tragic, Plesko said."Metro is horrified that this is what this has come to," he said. "We're not going to give up. We're going to try to convince people that having good public transit is good for the region."

For the first time EVER, Google Reader is EMPTY. Read, shared, deleted in preparation for the New Year. Sorry if I overshared today.

St. Louis Moves Closer To Second Class City Status

Please let me make it perfectly clear that this, uh, rant is my PERSONAL opinion only and has no connection to my employment or employer.


On November 4th, voters in St. Louis County voted down a half cent sales tax that, among other things, would fund public transit in the region, called Metro. Prop M was defeated because St. Louis is simply not a "mass transit" town, and the people behind the measure had no clue how to get it sold to the electorate. I have to share my thoughts on this, both because I am deeply concerned about the economic future of the St. Louis region and because I rely on public transportation due to my visual handicap.

The failure of Prop M will hurt not only the riders of Metro, but the region as a whole. Businesses in places like the Chesterfield Valley (near where I live) and the Hospital Corridor (St. John's, MoBap, St. Luke's) will be unable to hire employees who have had no other way to get to work than public transit. Business in the city will even have problems getting people to work for them when applicants have no other means to get to work than public transit. Let's face it, some of these people are the ones who need (and will take) jobs the most. Frequency of service throughout what's left of the MetroBus and MetroLink system, will be reduced, and in the end fares will go up.

Nothing good has come out of this service reduction manifesto. The campaign to get the measure passed was a joke, filled with touchy feely claims about air quality and oversized postcards delivered every day (one day I got THREE different ones) that said NOTHING of substance about the measure. Despite what was said by others, it was almost impossible for a reasonably intelligent St. Louis County resident to get the full details of the proposition within the context of the campaign to pass it. This was mishandled by Metro, St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley's office, and stakeholders in Metro's continued viability. In short, it was one of the most ill conceived and poorly executed campaigns in modern history.

We can't change what's going to happen in March, but we should hold those responsible for this fiasco accountable for their actions. How many Bi-State Board members ride the bus on a regular basis? I'm guessing not many. When's the last time Mr. Dooley (pictured) or his lackeys stood out in the cold waiting for a bus that is woefully behind schedule or simply never comes? The smart money says NEVER. These people were charged with getting this measure passed, and they failed in grand style. Now hundreds of thousands of people in the region will pay for their folly, both the people who depended on Metro to get around and the business owners who needed public transit to get their employees to and from work.

Can the system be fixed? Probably not. Our region has had substandard mass transit for years, and its gotten worse. Good luck attracting new business to the area once they find out their workers pretty much have no option but to drive to work if they live in the suburbs. Fat chance attracting major conventions and athletic events when there's no viable public transit in St. Louis.

Can the people who made the measure fail because they weren't men (or women) enough to tell St. Louisians what would REALLY happen if the measure failed be held accountable? ABSOLUTELY. And once employees and employers see what a disservice their elected officials and Metro have done for them, opposition will come forward.

Hey Charlie, what time will your driver pick me up to take me to work on March 30th? Since you and your stooges, along with the completely disconnected Bi-State Board have made my bus vanish, I'm sure you'll want to make sure that I, as someone who can help vote you and your henchmen out of office when the time comes, will want to make sure I can keep working and paying taxes.

Or do you even care?

All I Want for Christmas Is... Jews

Happy Hanukah! I think this song says it all.

40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 Minutes

A tip of the Cubs hat to Chris Kennedy at Joint Communications for passing this along. These days, we need a little "sumptin sumptin" to help get us motivated.


40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 Minutes @ Yahoo! Video

Receiving the Gift of Giving

The great Chris Pirillo has a wonderful blog post about sharing the Christmas spirit of giving, and a chance to win a toy package to give to your family or a deserving charity like Toys For Tots. Please check it out by clicking on the headline of this post.

Thank you on behalf of your pal, Santa Jew. Yes, that's me up there. Guess its time for a shave.

Its About Freakin' Time

After my long relationship with the Walt Disney Company, they've finally decided to give me the recognition I deserve.



Seriously, great marketing plan from the people at Disney Parks. Click Here if you want to make your own.

Johnny Cash Christmas Special

A classic Christmas nugget worth sharing and watching!

Dancing Boyz

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

A tip o'the Santa Hat to the Elves at http://www,jibjab.com/ and http://www.officemax.com/ for the Holiday fun!

Follow my St Louis radio stations on Twitter! @Y98 and @KEZK are up and running, and they will be updated often with contest and music info!

Straight No Chaser Reunited

This is a fascinating story about a group of guys who were last year's YouTube sensation and now have gotten back together after 10 years to create a Christmas CD. The song is an instant hit on KEZK.

I guess it proves that you CAN realize your dreams, even if its ten years later. Enjoy this video and check out the song "The Twelve Days Of Christmas" on kezk.com or YouTube.

CrisisWire: Your Aggregate Source for a Catastrophe (http://ping.fm/2S4NJ)

I must say the Blackberry Curve I have from Verizon is a complete piece of garbage and I've been on with BAD tech support for 45 min. Now the browser has stopped working. FAIL

Special Comment on Gay Marriage ~ Keith Olbermann

Yes, he's sometimes over the top, but KO nails it when he speaks out about the passing of California's Prop 8, one of the most shameful votes in our recent history. Let's hope that less selfish people can get things right in California and across the country.

New Yorker Cover: 'Reflection' (Barack Obama Victory)

The cover of the next New Yorker in animated form. Check their website for a spectacular piece on the Obama campaign or find it at my delicious.com account, conveniently linked just to your right.

35+ Sites Made for Web Savvy Families

35+ Sites Made for Web Savvy Families

Studs Terkel dies

Chicago legend Studs Terkel dies at 96. The Chicago Tribune's Rick Kogan wrote an incredible obit.

read more digg story

Hollywood Declares Themselves - Part 2

A followup to the first star studded video. Mad props to Steven Spielberg and Hollywood's finest for an important message.

Election Madness

As Election Day nears, an analysis of what could tip the vote in either direction.


Why, oh why, do Cubs fans get beaten down? Why can't you love? Isn't there enough hate in the world?

Let's NOT Repeat Election Night 2000

From the archives. What went wrong on Election Night 2000. Must read for all journalists and political junkies. http://archives.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/stories/02/02/cnn.report/cnn.pdf

Are you better off?

With the election days away, this ad will start airing in Ohio and Florida. The Gipper's own words have come back to haunt what's left of his political party.

CONGRATS to Amy Poehler on the birth of a baby boy! If TMZ has the story, it must be true. http://ping.fm/yHMwa

Wassup 2008

Classic viral video, and it is indeed the ORIGINAL CAST of the famous Bud spot!

Ron Howard's Call to Action

If ever there was MUST SEE TV, this is it! Please take the time to watch this.

LINK OF THE DAY, WEEK, MONTH. http://ping.fm/vBQn3 Great Flash site. Click on everything for quotes from Sarah the P.

KEZK In Time Magazine

So I'm minding my own business reading the new issue of Time magazine. There's an article in it about race and the upcoming election focusing on Lincoln County, Missouri, an area not far from St. Louis. Imagine my surprise when I took a good look at the photo. If you have the print edition, its easier to see, but a close inspection of the picture on the web site (try clicking the "enlarge" button next to the photo) shows that the man on the right is wearing a KEZK t-shirt! For those who don't know, KEZK is one of the radio stations I program in St. Louis.

Here's the link to the story online from the Time website Its in the October 20 issue of Time, available on newsstands now.

It takes so little to make me happy.

DESTROYED my BlackBerry. The new STORM (VZW's offering) won't be out for 4 weeks so I had to buy a Curve to tide me over. VZW, RIM-HELP ME!

Arrrrgh. DROPPED and DESTROYED my BlackBerry. The new 9000 won't be out for 4 weeks so I have to buy a Curve to tide me over. HELP ME RIM!

Cubs LOSE. Dream season OVER. 101 years without a World Series win. I'm not sure its possible to be more sad and despondent than I am now.

TWO Posts In One Day?

I couldn't resist.

As we near the beginning of the 2008 CUBS CENTENNIAL CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON PLAYOFF DRIVE, an incredible piece from the New York Times showing the history of the Cubs in the playoffs. Truly amazing!

HAPPY CUBTOBER

Anyone who's been around me for any length of time knows about my rabid devotion to the Chicago Cubs. My Grandfather was a Cubs fan. My Father was a Cubs fan. I am proud to say I'm a Cubs fan. A photo of me at one of my first Cubs games, when I was 4 years old, hangs on my office wall, with the program I was holding in the picture hung next to it. I proudly carry the cards of the early 1980's "Die Hard Cubs Fan Club" and the new "Cubs Club" in my Chicago Cubs wallet and I'm happy to flaunt them, even in the "enemy territory" of St. Louis.

The Cubs have had a miraculous season, winning 97 games and the National League Central championship for the second year in a row. They start the playoffs this afternoon against the Dodgers at my favorite place on the planet, Wrigley Field. I was at the one game the Cubs played in the postseason last year, a rout by the DBacks, and in the dozens, maybe hundreds of games I've seen in that ballpark, I've never seen it be such a sad place. I'm counting on the results and spirits to be better this year. Of course, I've yet to score tickets to any games, although I was offered the chance to go to this afternoon's first game, which I can't do due to work. That pesky work getting in the way of baseball again....

There's a tremendous song this year that has become the unofficial rally song for the Cubs. Its not "Hey Hey Holy Mackerel" from the 1969 season, its called "All The Way" by Chicago's very own Eddie Vedder. Some very enterprising fan made a nice video out of the song, which is available for purchase at www.pearljam.com. Its worth a peek even if you aren't a Cubs fan.

Add to the incredible Cubs run the fact that the Chicago White Sox made it into the postseason and there is the possibility, however rare, that there could (and I say COULD) be a "Red Line Series" with the two Chicago teams meeting in the Fall Classic. For those unfamiliar with the public transit system in Chicago, the Red Line serves both Wrigley and "The Cell".

Picture this. Wednesday, Cubtober 22nd, 7:20PM. World Series game one at US Cellular Field. Cubs ace Ryan Dempster is on the mound to throw the first pitch. He winds up and lets loose with a 98 mile an hour fastball. Between the time the pitch leaves his hand and lands in catcher Geovany Soto's glove, the ground opens up and the entire ballpark is swallowed into the earth. Yes, the first pitch in a Cubs/Sox World Series would be THE END OF THE WORLD.

What can I say? No matter how joyful a Cubs fan is, there is always a black cloud with that silver lining.