Wednesday October 1, 2008

                   Dog Bites Excited
                Lottery Winner on Butt

               "Bite me so I know I'm not dreaming"                                      "Okay!"

A teenage lottery winner in the UK screamed so loudly upon learning she won the lottery that her shocked dog sank his teeth into her bottom.  18 year old Lanthe Fullagar had played the EuroMillions only once before.  "I didn't know what to do with my ticket, so after hiding it in my bra and jewelery box I settled for my gym bag until it was confirmed I was a winner."  Lanthe's Dog "Brock" didn't know what to do either when his owner started SCREAMING after the 7 million pound win (about 10 million US$) so he gave her a chomp.

               If You Lived Here
            You'd Be Home Now!

                   Another McMiddle-Class home

Looking for a new crib in Arizona? How about this starter-mansion just put on the market by John and Cindy McCain.  THE DETAILS:  5,000+ square foot estate with nine bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a seven-car garage, an extra gourmet chef’s kitchen out by the swimming pools, and a 1,750-square-foot guest house on 2.7 gated acres. Remember if you make up to $5 million a year you're middle class, so following the old rule about buying a house where the purchase price should be no more than three times your gross annual income — you can easily afford $12 million. But go ahead and offer $7.5 million, because the real-estate market in Phoenix is in pretty bad shape.

Tuesday September 30, 2008
Wall Street Woes
I used to assume our "free market" economy was supposed to correct itself.  It turns out we may have monkeyed with the "free" part of the market so much that now if our government does nothing in terms of keeping credit alive, more banks and financial institutions will fail - and as a result many smaller businesses that depend on credit to stay afloat or expand will fail as well.

How did it happen? That's the 700 billion dollar question.   The Ken Carson explanation:  Between futures trading and credit default swaps investing on Wall Street is like walking into an Atlantic City Casino.  You can bet (sorry I mean "invest") on pretty much anything - including that mortgage loans will fail and if they do (oh happy day) you get paid!

It seems to me there are two sets of rules - one for huge corporations (don't worry about failure - you'll get bailed out) and another for small business (sorry it didn't work out)  My Ken Carson analysis may be completely wrong, but I see yesterday's huge Wall Street drop as a disappointed reaction from greedy investors hoping to make a quick profit on a 700 billion dollar cash infusion that didn't happen.

Five of Virginia's 8 Republican congressmen voted against the $700 billion bailout for the nation's financial system.  Congressman Bobby Scott was the only Democrat voting against the bill.  He joined Republicans Robert Wittman, Thelma Drake, Randy Forbes, Virgil Goode and Robert Goodlatte.


                  Wait!  We don't want THAT kind of change!






Monday September 29, 2008

Heavy Rainfall Triggers Major
   Climate Change at 2WD

Yesterday’s storms meant wind, rain, and traffic headaches.
Norfolk saw 2.44 inches of rainfall - enough to flood roads in
the usual spots like West Olney, Pembroke Ave in Hampton,
and Main Street in Suffolk.

The real problem yesterday for me, Ken Carson, was not the weather OUTSIDE but the resulting climate change INSIDE the radio station. 2WD’s studio is adjacent to another radio station, and for whatever reason the building designers chose to place the THERMOSTAT which controls the 2WD studio temperature inside the studio of that OTHER radio station.

This wouldn’t be a big deal if it wasn’t for the fact that the DJ who works at that "other" station at the same time I do seems to have been cursed with some kind of undiagnosed nerve condition that makes it impossible for him to be comfortable unless the temperature is at least 80 degrees. So every afternoon I have to sneak into his studio when he’s not paying attention to turn the thermostat DOWN to a reasonable temperature; then of course he changes the temperature back.

Long story longer - my nerve deprived co-worker got caught in a downpour walking into the building yesterday, got SOAKED with no change of clothing, and decided to take care of HIS problem by turning on the HEAT and cranking up the temperature for BOTH our studios - essentially turning my work space into a GIANT CLOTHES DRYER.

Therefore, I would like to share with you the following open-letter to my broadcasting colleague:


Is there a rude coworker who does something that drives you batty in YOUR office?  Let Ken Carson's "101.3 On Your Side" problem solvers know about it by emailing me HERE.


Wednesday September 24, 2008

REBELIOUS BEACH TEENS
           GREAT NEWS!

Yesterday the Virginia Beach City Council unanimously approved a tattoo parlor in the Hilltop area.  'Virginia Beach Ink' will be owned by two police officers.  Some business owners quietly expressed concern that a tattoo parlor might reduce the value of their property - so quietly in fact that none showed up to speak out against the parlor.   An attorney representing "un-named opponents" suggested some might be hesitant to speak because the applicants are officers.


No more driving all the way to the oceanfront
to get inked.  Think of the huge gas savings!


See a NEW Penny...

Yesterday the first of four new redesigned pennies was unveiled in Washington by a man who looks a lot like Lincoln.  The 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial One-Cent coin designs highlight four phases of the 16th president's life: birth in Kentucky, formative years in Indiana, professional life in Illinois and finally as president.


We may not be sure what we're supposed to do
with them, but the new penny sure does look nice!


Tuesday September 23, 2008

WACKY WALL STREET


I was actually heartened to learn that BOTH Presidential Candidates are opposed to moving forward with a 700+ billion dollar bailout to "fix" our problems on Wall Street.  The President is urging "swift action" in moving this bailout forward.  Oh sure - we don't actually HAVE 700 billion dollars, and it might cost closer to a TRILLION dollars, but hey we can just put it on the credit card right?!  Last night I caught MSNBC's Rachael Maddow offer an explanation of the situation that actually made sense:

Rachael Maddow said "Let's try a metaphor:  Money is like halloween candy - and those Wall Street bankers are like our 6 year old child who got more candy than we've ever seen.  Trick or Treat!   So with all that candy lying around we parents (the taxpayers) hired a babysitter to supervise our child, but instead of hiring a grown-up who wisely fears what happens when 6 year olds do what they do best - eat all the candy - we hired a 7 year old baby sitter (the Federal Govt.) so the 6 year old ate all the candy and got sick all over the carpet.  Ewwww.  And then we come home and the 7 year old babysitter turns to us and says "the problem here is that now you're out of candy.  You're gonna need more candy!!!"

Is this a SCAM???

On a related note, this morning I received the email below.  Normally I would chalk this up as a SCAM - but this looks fairly legit!  Where's the checkbook honey??

-----------------------------------------------------------

September 23, 2008

Dear American:

I need to ask you to support an urgent secret business relationship with a transfer of funds of great magnitude.

I am Ministry of Treasury for Republic of America. My country has had crisis that has caused the need for large transfer of funds of 800 billion dollars US. If you would assist me in this transfer, it would be most profitable to you.

I am working with Mr. Phil Gram, lobbyist for UBS, who will be my replacement as Ministry of the Treasury in January. As a Senator, you may know him as the leader of the American banking deregulation movement in the 1990s. This transactin is 100% safe.

This is a matter of great urgency. We need a blank check. We need the funds as quickly as possible. We cannot directly transfer these funds in the names of our close friends because we are constantly under surveillance. My family lawyer advised me that I should look for a reliable and trustworthy person who will act as a next of kin so the funds can be transferred.

Please reply with all of your bank account, IRA and college fund account numbers and those of your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren if any, to wallstreetbailout@treasury.gov so that we may transfer your commission for this transaction. After I receive that information, I will respond with detailed information about safeguards that will be used to protect the funds.

Yours Faithfully,

Minister of Treasury Paulson
-----------------------------------------------------------

Thursday September 18, 2008

      Art that STICKS with you...

Not only does it look great, it's minty fresh!

Check out the sculpture above - it was made by 17 year old British teen Ally Rosenberg.   What makes this piece so delicious is the fact that he had 50 classmates chew up a thousand pieces of gum, then mixed it all together to create his masterpiece.


2008 NAS Oceana Air Show

It was great seeing so many 2WD listeners at the 50th NAS Oceana Air Show this weekend. 

Great LIVE shows
   at the Sandler!

The Commodores recently brought their
classic sound to the Sandler Center


Thursday September 18, 2008
Ken Carson's
Way to Age S l o w e r 

Getting older is inevitable, but no one wants to look or feel older than they are.  So here are five tips from experts on how to hold onto your youthful glow . . .

#1)  AVOID THE SUN  Beach bums and tanning booth fanatics beware!  All those UV rays are seriously damaging your skin . . . getting too much sun will make your skin age A LOT faster.

#2.)  RELAX  Study after study show STRESS can kick the aging process into overdrive.  Scientists examined the skin cells of people with low and high levels of stress and found the cells of low-stress patients looked 10 YEARS younger.

#3)  STOP SMOKING  Smoking is one of the worst things you can do to your body.  You know it's bad for your heart and lungs, but it also impairs blood flow to your skin, which gives you more WRINKLES and makes you age faster.

#4)  LAUGH  Every time you laugh, your blood fills with tumor-killing cells and disease-fighting proteins . . . it’s true! Researchers have also found that people who laugh more often are LESS likely to suffer a heart attack later on in life.   

#5)  LISTEN TO KEN CARSON ON 2WD  Okay I made this one up…but I do promise this will help with #2 and #4.  It can’t hurt!


Check out Ken Carson's youthful glow in
this photo taken just earlier this week!


Wednesday September 17, 2008
Get ready for PLAY DAY!

2WD's Ken Carson enjoying some play time

I don’t know who started it – but Saturday, September 27^th is being designated "The Worldwide Day of Play" in many cities across the nation…a day when EVERYBODY is encouraged to get off the couch and get some exercise!   The TV network Nickelodeon will once again go dark for three hours that day from noon until 3 pm when all their networks and websites will be shut down.

On a related note - three Virginia cities have been recognized for emphasizing the importance of play.   On Tuesday Norfolk, Newport News and Danville were cited by KaBoom!, a Washington-based nonprofit organization as "Playful City USA" communities. The organization credits these cities as among the 67 best communities nationwide dedicated to bringing play back into children's lives.

A Colbert Christmas!

 STEPHEN COLBERT will be hosting a Christmas special for Comedy Central called "A Colbert Christmas:  The Greatest Gift of All!"  Scheduled to air November 23rd, Colbert will be snowed-in at his cabin passing the time by singing original Christmas songs with artists, including Elvis Costello, Toby Keith, John Legend and Willie Nelson.
 

Monday September 15, 2008

2WD Podcast Exclusive!
Thats right, and there are more to come!  Anyone with kids is familiar with The Disney channel's animated hit Phineas and Ferb.  This week I had a chance to chat with  Phineas and Ferb creators and Executive Producers Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, about how they hooked up, their work on the Simpson, Ren & Stimpy, Spongebob Squarepants and more!!

Phineas and Ferb airs Saturday nights 8:30PM on the Disney Channel.

Red Cross in debt

The Wave of storms battering the U.S. including IKE has plunged the American Red Cross into debt - forcing them to request federal funding.  It has also launched a new fundraising appeal.  Over 1,000 out-of-state volunteers have been deployed to Texas to help deal with the damage  caused by Hurricane Ike.

To help the American Red Cross you can GIVE BLOOD or donate to the National Disaster Relief Fund.  Click here to DONATE

Lets do "The Twist"

 

We've all done it - maybe thats why "Billboard" has declared Chubby Checker's "Twist" THE most popular song over the past 50 years! "Billboard" set out to find the most Popular #1 song throughout the entire history of their Hot 100 singles chart, which dates back to 1959. In the end, they named Chubby Checker's hit, "The Twist", their top single.

 

Wednesday September 10, 2008
Daughtry Deluxe Delivered...

               Available at a
             retailer near you

Grammy-nominated DAUGHTRY just released a deluxe version of the band’s debut self-titled album which has already gone platinum in the U.S. and Canada plus gold certification in Singapore, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

The expanded CD/DVD version of the group’s self-titled debut features the album’s original 12 songs along with four bonus tracks on CD—including acoustic performances of “Home,” recorded in the studio, and “What About Now,” recorded earlier this year on Idol Gives Back. Making its debut on this collection is DAUGHTRY’s cover of the Foreigner classic, “Feels Like The First Time.”

The bonus DVD contains videos for all 5 singles from DAUGHTRY, live performances and exclusive interviews with the band as they tell stories about the DAUGHTRY’S meteoric rise. Just like the album, the accompanying booklet has been expanded as well with photos from the road.   Listen to Ken Carson this afternoon to WIN a free Deluxe Daughtry on 2WD!


Here come the candidates!

           Da Dems                             GHS!                                  Da Reps

Democratic Presidential Nominee Barack Obama will make a campaign stop today at Granby High School.  Next week vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin will visit Virginia Beach.  As if we needed more proof that Virginia is a battleground state!  Your vote could make all the difference for your candidate this year so be sure to vote - if you need to register use this link:  www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/



Atom Smasher Thingee

         Don't ask me what it does,
             but it sure looks cool!

The biggest physics experiment ever had its first test today. A button was pressed, firing a beam of protons on a journey around a 17-mile tunnel beneath the Swiss-French border. The gizmo cost $3.8 billion and is known as the “Large Hadron Collider.”  Scientists believe this is the next great step in understand the makeup of the universe by smashing atoms together to see how they tick. More than 9,000 physicists around the world who will conduct experiments at the Geneva facility.

Tuesday September 9, 2008
 

...and this one time at band camp…

Every 4 years for the past 16 years Chesapeake’s Great Bridge High School Band has traveled to Florida for Orlando’s Citrus Parade and for a Parade down Disney World’s Main Street. This year Chesapeake schools Superintendent W. Randolph “Scrooge” Nichols has denied the band parents request to allow the Disney World trip. The excursion was initially denied because of concerns over safety and supervision.

MAD TV's 14th season starts up this week – and I had a chance to speak with 3^rd season Mad-TV veteran Keegan-Michael Key about the show, his new role as host of Planet’s Funniest Animals and the challenge of becoming Barack Obama each week. The season premiere of Mad TV happens Saturday at 11 PM on Fox 43.

Summer NOT officially over
              ...or is it?

Some time around Memorial day of this year my 10 year old gas grill was forced into retirement (sniff) its pathetic rusty remains drug to the curb for bulk pickup.  Rather than buying another gas grill (sorry Hank Hill) I decided to return to my barbequing roots and get a charcoal grill from my in-laws (thanks!)

This grill has been working out great until recently when I picked up charcoal and lighter fluid at the supermarket after work, but not before stopping at THREE other stores including K-Mart, Walgreens, and some pharmacy place only to learn that CHARCOAL & FLUID ARE SEASONAL ITEMS.  Want a Halloween costume or candy?  Got 'em!  However "steak season" has now ended so you better wrap that T-Bone good cuz it's gonna be a long winter in the deep freeze!  Christmas trees are in too - charcoal and lighter fluid - not so much.