Tony Stewart was once again upset after the recent race in Talladega. However, I think he’s missing a key point in his anger. He’s upset with one of two drivers, he’s not sure who, it might be Jamie McMurray, the driver of the #26 car. Or it could be one who — to quote Stewart — “lucked into his ride” — David Gilliland, driver of the #38 car.

Personally, I think Tony is missing what really happened at the end of the race…

It’s restrictor plate racing which means cars are always bunched. Of course it also means a certain recipe for wrecks too. That’s exactly what happened at the end of the race — wrecks. While listening on my Sirius radio, (channel 130 to keep up with Matt Kenseth chatter on his radio), he became somewhat concerned when the NASCAR gods suddenly decided to run one more lap under caution at the end of the race, before going green for the ever-popular green-white-checkered finish. However, Kenseth was already talking gas mileage before NASCAR decided to go one more lap before going green.

People were already low on gas, and suddenly knowing the race would go into extra laps, Kenseth instructed his spotter to keep an eye for any cars slowing as a result of running out of gas. He knew cars would start running out of gas, and that in turn could cause crashes. And, that’s exactly what happened. The green flag goes in the air, people start running out of gas because NASCAR in their infinite wisdom knew…

What do these two people have in common?

I recently watched the movie Happy Feet once again. It’s a great movie and it reminded me of a really cool video a musician friend of mine from Australia did! Fiona Joy Hawkins is her name and I’ve interviewed Fiona a couple times on my Live Line talk show.

From time to time I’m asked to take part in some, shall we say, interesting fundraisers for various area organizations. One such fundraiser took place Friday, April 20th when I found myself, along with approximately 35 other detainees, locked up at the old Wayne County Jail in Lyons, New York. The old jail is now home to the Museum of Wayne County History.

Upon my arrival at the jail I quickly told Wayne County’s Sheriff Piscoiotti - “I’m innocent I tell you! I’m innocent! I’ve been framed!” - Of course he didn’t accept my plea, and it was off to a rather small cell. (I’m still trying to figure out what the little bucket was for in the corner. The Sheriff told me I’d figure it out sooner or later.)

So, why was I locked up? It was all for a good cause - raising money for the museum. All too often we lose touch with our heritage and some incredible roots and community stories. The Museum of Wayne County History is a great place to take the family and learn about some of the fascinating stories centered around Wayne County in New York State.

Oh, I did manage to raise my bail. I actually needed $500 to get out, but thanks to the many donors who helped out, I actually ended up with $635 to help support the museum. Even Sandra, (that would be my wife), kicked in 5 bucks!

Thanks to all who helped me, and also helped support the museum in this fun fundraiser.

Dr. Rus

Max Headroom flashed on the scene in 1987 and only lasted until 1988. Actor Matt Frewer played the part of a computer generated talking head talk show host. While it seemed the show only had a two year run, the British TV network actually introduced the character of Max Headroom in a 1985 show called 20 Minutes into the Future. The show featured the talking head Max in a world dominated by television and big corporations.

Are we far from such a reality today?

The past couple weeks have been filled with talking heads merely spouting off the same talking points. It seems as though there’s no creativity, originality, or even sensitivity to what’s going on in the world around them. One talking head after another simply stutters through whatever the perceived big story of the day is. Last week it was Don Imus. This week it’s the Virginia Tech tragedy. While all the talking heads say they’re concerned about the families and the victims, their actions certainly don’t follow their words. Instead of sensitivity, we have the stuttering masses of the talking head scampering around for the same tired old finger pointing story. Why didn’t the University do this? Why didn’t they do that? How could this have gone on for so long? Who will be held responsible for this?

Today it all seemed to come to the boiling point when NBC announced the evening before they received a package in the mail from the shooter, who ultimately took his life. We now know what the gunman was doing for two hours. He was preparing a package to send off in the mail to NBC. Why? So he too could grab his 15 minutes of fame, even after death. He knew the media would eat such a mailer up. After all, in the talking head world of news media Lemmings, it often seems easy to lead the media Lemmings right off the edge of the cliff.

I must admit it’s a tragic situation at Virginia Tech, and my thoughts and prayers are with all involved. From the president of the University, to the families mourning the loss of loved ones. To friends wondering how this could all happen and even to the janitor faced with the task of cleaning up the buildings. We will do well to remember those involved in such a tragic event.

In the midst of what the talking heads called the biggest news story of the week, I decided to take a very different route. While I did have a local story with a connection to the events on the Virginia Tech campus, I also decided to not spend all my time talking about it. Instead I encouraged people to turn off the 24 hour news coverage, and stop listening to the stuttering and stammering Max Headroom talking heads. After all, have we not learned anything from the tragic events of 9-11? There are people today who are still traumatized from the non-stop 24 hour coverage of that fateful September day. The endless loop of the planes crashing into the Twin Towers is an image burned not only my mind, but the minds of millions who found themselves glued to the TV and the stammering talking heads with no new talking points.

I laughed today, cried today, and become somewhat upset today, when one midday talking head host declared she would not be like the other elite news outlets spending time talking about the tape of the killer. Instead she would declare her show as one that would not stoop to the talking head low. But then, just like all the other talking heads in the world of media, she proceeded to spend the next four hours talking about Virginia Tech, pointing fingers of blame, and ignoring the fact that the coverage alone, hinders the healing process.

I think it’s time to break out of the Max Headroom Talking Head Syndrome we find ourselves in, and discover true compassion once again.

Keep encouraged!

Dr. Rus

I’ve been surfing around the Internet lately reading various blogs. Of course many of the blogs have links to other blogs and it got me thinking - “I wonder how many other blog geeks out there actually click on some of those blog links listed on other pages?”

It’s kind of like wandering through a bookstore not exactly sure what you’re looking for, but you know you’re looking for a book. You scan the shelves, look for something that catches your eye, and then maybe you buy it. Then you get home, jump into reading the book, and hopefully you’ve made the right choice. Or, you do what my wife does. A few weeks ago she bought three books in a series thinking it would save her a trip to the bookstore. Well, it didnt’ save her a trip. She got half way through the first book and decided she didn’t like the series, or the author’s style. So, it was back to the bookstore to return two of the three books she’d just bought!

For those of you who read my blog on a regular basis, thanks! For those of you who read my blog and then click on the “Other Blogs of Interest” blogs, thanks for that too! I just wanted to let you know I recently added a few blogs of interest. If you’re looking for some great reading be sure to check out the Jeff Atwood, Gary Baumgarten and Paul MacKay blogs.

Enjoy!
Dr. Rus

When Spock died in the 1982 Star Trek movie The Wrath of Khan I cried. I know it sounds silly, but I’m not ashamed to admit I cried at the end of the movie. I couldn’t believe it! How could Spock, Captain Kirk’s right hand man for so long, die! What was the Star Trek world coming to!? Of course in 1984 you can well imagine my sense of relief when Spock was re-born so to speak in the Star Trek III movie, Search for Spock. Life in the final frontier world of Star Trek found itself back to normal.

I find myself crying once again these days, but this time around it’s not because Spock has died. No, instead I find myself wondering when civility in this world might once again be found. The Don Imus fiasco has really turned into just that, a fiasco. I think a caller said it well last week during an interview program I was a guest on when she asked, “Who is this Don Imus anyway, and why should something he said have any effect on me.” All I could say was, “I rest my case!” Since the story broke I found myself wondering quietly, and aloud, Why is this story making front page news? Imus has always been rude, and what he said about the Rutgers ladies basketball team was very inappropriate and wrong, but in the overall scheme of things, what he said about the team was very mild. But, now he finds himself in the unemployment line and those who served his head up on a silver platter are no doubt gloating over what they consider a victory.

However, in the end, all this does is elevate once again the need for civility in this world. Somewhere along the line the word civil in civilization has been lost. The root word of civilization is civilize which means to cause to develop out of a primitive state, especially to bring an advanced rationally ordered stage of cultural development. The word civilization is defined as a refinement of thought, manners or taste. With this in mind, stop and think for a moment about the environment we find ourselves living in today. Would you characterize it as a place of refined thought and manners? I believe most are hard-pressed to answer that question with a yes.

Many today refer to the Imus fiasco, or any other such like event, as people ignoring the so-called politically correct world we live in. I’d like to offer up another assessment of what we see in society today. It has nothing to do with the phrase politically correct because all that phrase really does is say no one is allowed to have an opinion, much less a value judgment, of what’s wrong or right. The whole playing field is totally leveled under the guise of political correctness which does nothing more than elevate the level of offensiveness in society.

Instead of wondering if our words are politically correct, maybe it’s time to start wondering if we’re really acting in a civilized manner. Civilized people don’t call one another names. Civilized people know how to get along with one another. Civilized people living in a civilized world understand rank, order and authority. Put plainly, civilized people know how to get along and act in a civilized society.

When growing up I was always taught to respect my elders, as well as my parents and those in authority over me. After all, this is how civilized people with manners and respect respond and act toward one another. But, in today’s so called politically correct society it appears as though no one really cares about manners. Since the word civil means a development of manners, one could almost say living in a politically correct world simply means the one who can scream the loudest, insult the other person more, and end up winning no matter the cost, is the winner. If that’s what it means to live in a politically correct world than I want nothing to do with it.

Keep encouraged!
Dr. Rus

However, I must admit my dismay over what many news outlets were calling news today. As a matter of fact, the reason for this blog entry is a direct result of what I heard on the 12noon news. The story choices for a major network news station went like this;

• Terrorist charged
• Imus put off the air
• Soldiers killed in Iraq
• President Bush battling Congress over War on Terror

What was that you said Paul?
LOL! Okay, so I just couldn’t resist. I listened to the game on my other radio last night. Wow! What an amazing game. Montreal had it, but the Leafs came out ready to score goals in the third period. Of course you really can’t say either goalie played good games. Especially in light of the fact that a total of 11 goals were scored!

I knew you’d have something to say on your blog, and sure enough, you did!

For anyone who wants to see what Paul said on his blog, give his Still Rambling blog a visit. It’s quite funny actually. Very few words, but you know what they say…”A picture is worth a thousand words!” (Just click the words Still Rambling and you can visit his site.)

(By the way Paul…just what were those words you were saying?

Don’t feel too bad though Paul. Even though I’m picking on you here, remember that Sandra isn’t too happy either since this means her cousin, Doug Jarvis who’s a coach for the Habs, isn’t very happy either.Keep encouraged!

Dr. Rus

Okay, so it’s actually colder right now than it was during Christmas week and we’re even getting snow. What’s up with that!? I thought we were supposed to be experiencing “global warming”! So much for that “silly” theory. (Which, by the way, is pretty much what I think of that whole thing.)

Well, it was a full day today. It started by taking our middle son Ryan to help put Easter eggs around Silver Hill Park here in Newark, New York in preparation for the 24th Annual 1420 WACK-Canandaigua Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep Easter Egg Hunt. It’s always lots of fun, and a large crowd of kids gather each year too. I dropped Ryan off at 8am, the egg hunt started at 10am, and was finished by about 10:07am. It doesn’t take the kids long to gather up all the eggs!

Sandra and I had fun as well too. We took copies of our Frame by Frame book to sign and sell, and also took the newest piece of movie memorabilia from my collection. Since we started reviewing movies I’ve been getting posters which I put up around the Newsroom at the radio station. However, a couple weeks ago I found a great Eragon life-size cut out I bought from an FYE store.

While the cut out doesn’t quite look like that, he is holding his sword in the one that I have. The kids loved it and he might even show up in a newspaper as someone from the paper took a picture of him.

After the egg hunt, it was off to Frontier Field in Rochester, New York for the Home/Season Opener of the Rochester Red Wings.

The game was supposed to be yesterday, but, it was postponed due to snow and ice. Yes, snow and ice in April. But, the game did go off without a hitch today. It was cold, as a matter of fact the thermometer at the stadium said it was only 33 degrees! In the end, the Red Wings won, beating Ottawa 12-11. (We made it through 2 innings. I was ready to stay for more, but Sandra said she was cold, so we left.

I think we arrived home around 3:30 or so. All in all, it was a great day. There’s nothing like shivering with the family celebrating Easter and having some great family fun together watching a baseball game.

This Easter weekend, I encourage you to find some time to spend with your family, however that may be. In the end, it will be well worth it, and the memories created last forever. (Memories like sitting in a baseball stadium huddled together under a blanket trying to keep warm!)

Home Opener giveaways are always great too! I have a real nifty little cowbell now that drives Samson nuts!

Keep encouraged!
Dr. Rus