Idol Thoughts & 10 Stories

Well, Idol as alright tonight.  Songs that are popular on iTunes.  So, that means ANYTHING could virtually be played.  

BOTTOM 3:

Anoop

Meagan

Lil Rounds

GOING HOME:  

Meagan.

Now, time for tonight's 10 stories.  Enjoy!

1)  It has been a few weeks since President Obama's word usage flop with the Special Olympics and his bowling game.  Well, the Special Olympics organization is making great use of this, PR wise.  They are starting a nationwide effort to get rid of the word, 'retard'.  Interesting story from KSWO-TV - Lawton, OK.

2)  General Motors is joining the growing number of car companies that are offering to pay for your car payment if you lose your job.  Details from KPTV-TV - Portland, OR.

3)  As you may know, Villanova, a college in suburban Philly, is going to the Final Four.  Well, WCAU-TV in Philadelphia reports that everyone is buying ANYTHING with the Nova symbol on it.  Go Nova!

4)  Looks like a Taliban leader has made a direct threat against the United States, saying that he will 'amaze the world' with an attack on Washington, DC.  Details here from WTTG-TV - Washington, DC.

5)  Now an interesting story from WKBN-TV in Youngstown, OH.  More and more businesses (mainly restaurants) are starting a "Pay What You Think It's Worth" type mentality to running their eateries.  It caught on in Europe, and now here in the USA.

6)  Digg.com has an amazing picture from NASA.  They took a pic from space of the Red River of North Dakota, as it flooded.  Wow.

7)  Changes are coming to another Susquehanna Valley newspaper.  And this time it is Lebanon Daily News.  Details of the changes from WHTM-TV - Harrisburg, PA.

8)  First the Patriot-News last week discovered the Governor's Ez-Pass records and seen that his driver goes on the turnpike at 99 mph.  Now, it looks like YOU, the taxpayer pays for this gas to get down there.  Story from WTXF-TV - Philadelphia, PA.

9)  Another newspaper story now.  Looks like the Sun-Times newspaper group, which publishes Chicago Sun-Times has filed for bankruptcy.  And it gets worse ... one report says that they owe as much as $600M in back taxes.  Details from WFLD-TV - Chicago, IL.

And finally ...

10)  They say that blondes have more fun right?  Well, also in life, as a stereotype, they are considered the dumbest.  Perhaps that latter pays true to this final story tonight, from Atlanta's WAGA-TV.  Looks like Miss Universe paid a trip to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, and I quote here, 'A relaxing place," and also, "I didn't want to leave' ... Seriously?  Ugh.

Have a great evening.

-- Matt

10 Stories: 3/30/2009

Well, good morning.

We had wicked storms move through York and Lanacaster Counties yesterday.  And NWS will be out in various locations looking at damage and determining wether or not a tornado hit.  The most impressive damage was in Ephrata, Lancaster County, where 6 mobile homes in a trailer park were turn on it's side.  Residents there said they saw 'swirling winds'.  6ABC even made it from Philly to coverage the damage.  Kudos for them coming out.

And I hope you got to see the first picture of my nephew, Simon last night.  Just spoke to his dad over the phone just a few minutes ago, and he slept through the night well.  

Now, time for today's 10:

1)  There is a saying that 'everything comes up roses', but how about your water source.  That happened over the weekend in Ohio.  Details from WBTV-TV Charlotte, NC.

2)  KYW-TV in Philadelphia  reports on a unique Spring Break destination.  It's not Florida, nor is it Texas or the Bahamas.  It's Camden, NJ.

3)  Now time for a 'sign of the times' story.  If you go to a game and you experience roudy or unruly fans, you can now text message a special phone number to get their ejected.  Interesting story from CNET.com.

4)  Looks like ABC/Disney is looking to join abroad the Hulu.com bandwagon.  Details from Slashdot.  I have a question, with NBC and FOX already in board, how many of you tried Hulu?  And do you think it's the new YouTube??

5)  An update now on a story I brought to you a few days ago, about the lake levels of the Great Lakes.  Looks like one lake is up, and another is down.  Follow-up here from WWMT-TV Kalamazoo, MI.

6)  You get calls about mysterious lights in the sky from time to time, and most times than now it is not a UFO.  But what if these calls come a multi-state area?  Well this happened last night, in Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina.  Story here from Times-News - Hendersonville, NC.

More stories later.  Gotta get ready for work.  Have a great day.

-- matt

Special Commentary: 3/29/2009

Once you see this photo you will promptly understand why I did not post any stories today ...

I would like to properly introduce the newest member to my family:

Simon Carl Koons

Simon was born Sunday morning, March 29th, 2009 at 9:58AM. He was born in York, PA. He weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces. And was 21 inches long.

Baby, mom and father are doing great.

It is such a feeling to be the uncle to this baby boy. The smile is still on my face this evening. And probably will be for a long while.

Finally, may I say that I looked up the word uncle. In Latin it means, "Little Grandfather". There you go.

-- Matt

Random Thoughts: 3/28/2009

Good Saturday evening.

I have been out of the computer for most of the day, so I think that I will have a fresh 10 stories for you on Sunday.

Just a few thoughts:

1 - Unless it changes, or my information is not correct, I think I know the American Idol theme for next week.  It is 'iTunes Top 100 Songs' week.  Should be a very good week, with mostly fresh and youthful songs.  This week everyone should excel and it should be 2 great hours of TV.  Also, it is back to normal Tuesday and Wednesday schedule.

2 - Today marks the 30th Anniversary of TMI.  That was the date of the worst nuclear accident in American history, and it happened right here in the Susquehanna Valley.

and finally ...

3 - I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my first nephew.  My brother Mike and his wife are expecting their first son any day now.  I am so excited for both of them and my entire family.  I can't wait until the baby arrives.  Most of our family thinks Simon will arrive this weekend.  The date the doctors gave was the 31st of March.  Once Simon arrives, I will post the first pictures right here on this blog. :)

Have a great evening.  More tomorrow.

-- matt

10 Stories: 3/27/2009

Time for tonight's 10 stories:

1):  Looks like TV networks always look for new things to air.  And this idea is no exception.  Coming soon:  'The World's Strictest Parents'.  Story from KTNV-TV Las Vegas, NV.

2):  More newspaper layoffs to report this evening.  This time it is the Boston Herald, Boston MA.  They let go 25 people, or about 6 percent of their total staff.  Details from KWQC-TV - Davenport, IA.

3:)  It's always a good time to think about football.  And same thing with Penn State Football.  Here is a story about JoePA and spring drills he was at today with his team.  Story from Yahoo! News.

4:)  The historic battlefields of Gettysburg, PA isn't the only thing to do in that town.  It is a popular town for ghost sightings.  Details from WHTM-TV - Harrisburg, PA.

5:)  There has been a lot of talk this week about 'Earth Hour'.  Here is a primer if you don't know much about it.  Story from WISH/WNDY-TV - Indianapolis, IN.

6:)  It is Friday, so about a crazy story.  Digg.com dug up this story about some horrific and crazy soft drinks from around the world.

7:)  WDIV-TV in Detroit reports that President Obama will announce a new auto industry plan on Monday.  

8:)  Stupidity don't even begin to tell this story from my home town of Harrisburg.  Details from The Daily Item - Sunbury, PA.

9:)  Popular hip-hop raper T.I. was sentenced to jail today.  1 year, 1 day in prison.  Story from KATC-TV - Lafayette, LA.

And finally ...

10):  Another light-hearted Friday story for you from KESQ-TV, Palm Springs, CA.  Looks like a New York businessman have successfully made kosher friendly tequilas.  

-- Matt