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Category: DoubleQCountry

GLES NOTES: CONFESSIONS OF A BEGINNING BROADCASTER

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GLES NOTES
Mike Glesinger speaking of sports (and more…)

 

I WISH I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW..OR CONFESSIONS OF A BEGINNING BROADCASTER

 

We’ve all heard the saying..” I wish I knew then what I know now”.  I find myself saying that a lot. This year marks my 30th season of broadcasting High School sports and through the years I think I’ve experienced every sort of weather, location and technical problem there is.  This takes me back to my first year as a sportscaster working for my first commercial radio station.  I started working at KNLV Radio in Ord, Ne. in May of 1982,  fresh out of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and ready to become “Boy Wonder” of radio.  While I was in college, broadcasting students would call play by play of the Cornhusker games on the student radio station, KRNU-FM. We did football, Freshman football, Men’s and Women’s basketball and baseball.   We just did home games so we were spoiled by the first class facilities and all the perks, like lunch in a nice press box, a press room with stats, rosters, programs etc, all the pop you can drink and a great view of the games, out of the elements.  When you get into the real world…this all changes.

I thought it was a great thing to have on your resume and audition tape that you broadcast University of Nebraska sports and I always tried to work that in a conversation..”Yea..I used to broadcast the Huskers”.  I don’t know if that helped in landing my first job, but it was all I had.  So…football season 1982, I’m ready to go. My first assignment…8 man football..Arcadia at Sargent. “All right”..let’s get going!  “OK..who’s keeping stats..who’s spotting..who’s engineering?   My partner says..”well it’s just you and me, we’ve only got a 2 man crew and we do our own stats and spotting”.   “Oh..when I did the Huskers..we had a 6 man crew”…”note to self”….get the rosters and starters in advance and make a bunch of enlarged copies.

Well we get to the  game site and I walk up and say  ” I’m here to broadcast the game..where do I set up in the press box”?  The local Athletic Director says ” Well, we have a very small crows nest and there’s only room for the clock operator and public address announcer… If I’d have known you were comming I would have made arrangements to have a flat bed truck or somthing for you”.  “Oh, when I did the Huskers, we always had a spot in the press box.”  “Humm..note to self..”it might be a good idea to call ahead and let them know you are comming.”  “OK, where would you like us to set up?    “You can stand on top of the crows nest and run your cables down to the phone jack inside”    “OK..how about chairs?”

“Again, If I had known you were comming , I would have had chairs for you.”  By the way, do you have any coats or anything, it might rain”.  “Oh, when I was doing the Huskers, we had a heated press box..  “note to self…”it might be a good idea to bring coats and plastic sacks to protect the equipment.”

So we crawl up on top of the crows nest with small raindrops falling and a big gust of wind blows my roster off the roof…”Humm..note to self…it might be a good idea to tape the rosters to a board of some sort so they don’t blow away”.

So the game goes along and it’s a pretty good game..A Sargent player makes a long run and I say…”he’s to the 30..the 40..the 50…the…30…what!!  This field is only 80 yards long!…”Humm..note to self…it might be a good idea to study the 8-man football rules”.

So the game ends and needless to say, I’m a little bit humbled. It was certainly a lot different than I thought it would be.  No perks..No comfort..NO FREE FOOD AND POP!  But then it dawned on me, it’s the game and the kids and the hometowns that are the most important,  I was just the messenger, to bring the game to Grandparents and fans and anybody who couldn’t attend.  It’s not about me. It’s all those other folks and more.   So I can talk about broadcasting the Huskers, all I want, but it doesn’t matter and that is a lesson I learned very early.  So like I said at the beginning…”I wish I knew then, what I know now”.

 

THE ANTI-BLEACH

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By Ashley Hinker
Living with a dirty house is generally never pleasant. Then again, cleaning the house with powerful and putrid supplies is not much better.  I feel I need to use a respirator mask in order be able to complete the chore at hand. I understand many of these cleaning supplies provide a quick and easy solution to even the toughest of chores, but having to fumigate a room for an hour after using these cleaners seemed a bit excessive. When a person has children or is tired of the smell leaking out into the rest of the house, one cannot simply close the room door.  This would obviously defeat the purpose of “airing it out.” In order to try to solve this dilemma, I scoured the Internet to find a cleaning product that would not fill my whole home with a lingering odor but would still get the job done.

My findings were actually surprising. I had expected to find some brand name item I could buy at a local general store. In fact, I found a way to concoct my own cleaning solution with simple ingredients I already had at home.
I live in an older apartment building, which means I have numerous previous tenants’ stains and burns to live with around my house. The hard water stains, rust and lime build up, and whatever other type of cleaning nightmare one can think of in the kitchen and bathroom. Using potent, and pungent, cleaners have not really provided any progress in that battle. Pictured below are my own kitchen sink and bathtub even after using chlorine bleach.

(Top row: Kitchen sink/drain/bathtub before photos.  Bottom row: After photos)

I tried scrubbing. I tried soaking.   Nothing helped by way of these odoriferous substances. When I found this homemade mixture, I knew it was time to try something new. The simplicity of the combination and the results are astounding. Mix ¼ cup of baking soda then add just enough hydrogen peroxide to create a paste. The list of uses for baking soda is long and well known, but when the oxidizing power of the peroxide is added, you have a new odor-free household super-cleaner!

A little elbow grease is required to obtain similar results.  This does not provide the “spray, wipe, rinse, then done” effect most are used to.  However, the uses for this mixture are endless (it will even polish silverware!) and having a clean home without the stench are worth the extra effort.

WENTY’S TWO CENTS: WHO’S MOVING MY CHEESE?

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WENTY’S TWO CENTS
The caffeine-addled ramblings of KCOW “Wakeup Show” host Jason Wentworth

October 17, 2012

I have a friend named Mark who is crazy about motivational books…one that he recommended quite highly was “Who Moved My Cheese?”

From Amazon.com:

Who Moved My Cheese? takes the fear and anxiety out of managing the future and shows people a simple way to successfully deal with the changing times, providing them with a method for moving ahead with their work and lives safely and effectively.

Don’t worry…I’m not gonna get all deep and thoughtful on you.  That’s for Terri (as in “Thoughts From”).  I just think it’s a good time to talk about the Big Change going on here at KCOW.  For the most part, this isn’t an on-air change–we’re not going all-polka or anything.  Unless nobody’s told me.

The change is in this building–we’re basically doing a switcheroo.  All of the sales offices are going to the front of the building, and all of the on-air studios and production facilities are going to the back.

Now, just as an abstract thought, that doesn’t seem like too big a deal.  But the pounding, whirring, and other harrowing sounds coming from the next room beg to differ.  It’s not so much “Who Moved My Cheese?” as it is “Who ripped my cheese into crumbly bits, melted it in the microwave, cooled it on the counter, shredded it and put it on a pizza?”

This is all good, of course.  Our sales team, John and Helen, get nice new offices and meeting rooms that are conveniently located up front.  And my radio pals Kevin Horn and Mike Glesinger are as happy as I am at the thought of new equipment; a brand new layout that keeps the studios isolated and soundproofed; and a whole new on air control room from which I can sit and play Beatles records and make semi-humorous remarks.

But what of the room that I sit in and do those things now?  Now that’s moving the cheese!  I did some very sketchy math and I think it’s safe to say that since 1998, I have spent more than 25,000 hours in our current AM control room.  That’s a lot of Paul Harvey introductions, Harris Sales commercials and discussions with Kevin Horn about seemingly every topic imaginable.

I do feel some nostalgia as I host my final months of Wakeup Shows in the existing control room.   But, like The Jeffersons, we’re a’movin’ on up!

“Memories…pressed between the pages of my mind…” We’re not fooling anyone–the whole K-Cow crew is psyched for the extreme makeover!

ELI RATES THE GAMES: PETA SPOOFS MARIO, POKEMON

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ELI RATES THE GAMES
By KCOW Weekend Warrior and Resident Madman Eli Smith

The organization known as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) hasn’t been known for its love of video games. Not too long ago they released their own video game taking a strike at Nintendo and a popular item known as the Tanooki suit. In this “game”, you play as the Tanooki (a rare, small, and furry creature) who is fighting for his life against the lovable mascot of Nintendo, Mario.

Screenshot from PETA video game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tanooki runs and Mario attempts to skin it, something that any gamer could easily be disgusted by. If this wasn’t bad enough, PETA has now taken another strike at one of Nintendo’s most successful franchises, Pokemon.

 

Following the release of a new Pokemon game (Black/White version 2) PETA is  attempting to be clever by using it to create their own sick and twisted ideal.  In PETA’s version (“Pokemon Black and Blue”) you play the part of a beaten and abused Pokemon, fighting off various humans in order to free yourself and free other Pokemon who are also trapped. The PETA game’s tagline is “gotta free ‘em all!” (as opposed to the normal Pokemon tagline “gotta catch ’em all”).

Title page of PETA “Pokemon Black and Blue” game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The images used to advertise this thing are in poor taste, with disturbing portrayals of wild people attempting to trap their Pokemon again and battered creatures from the popular video game. Needless to say, this video game won’t be getting a good review from me because it is not worth it.

This does not necessarily mean that I am a heartless individual who does not care about animal cruelty. In reality, I just don’t like cruelty in general. But taking a stab at a video game is an obvious publicity stunt. When PETA has the feeling that the world has stopped caring about them, they attempt to make a new game to disturb and excite their audience. It is one thing to decide to not eat meat, test on animals, or avoid cruelty; but taking a stab at Pokemon is just plain stupid. Through the entire series of Pokemon games you are taught to value and respect the importance of these creatures. This ideal just oozes off of the television show as well, with Ash Ketchum running around telling everyone how much his love and respect for these Pokemon has given him a great deal of strength. In the games and the TV episodes, any Pokemon Trainer that does not follow this idea is eventually stopped in one way or another, creating an environment that discourages animal cruelty and encourages a partnership.

ELI RATES THE GAMES: DRAGON’S DOGMA

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ELI RATES THE GAMES
By KCOW Weekend Warrior and Resident Madman Eli Smith

Dragon’s Dogma
Developer/Publisher: Capcom
Rated M for Mature for…
Blood and Gore
Violence
Suggestive Themes
Nudity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You play as The Arisen, a hero stuck in conflict with a dragon who slaps  you to the side like a rag doll with an almost tired ease. Gameplay is fast paced, somewhat difficult to get used to, and exciting.  You have a choice between three classes and can choose to expand them to even more classes if you wish. Every class has its own skill set, and each different class provides a new experience. However, the jewel of the combat comes through as you fight and find yourself able to grapple onto larger enemies. Flailing helplessly as you attempt to climb up to a weak point (such as a Cyclops eye) adds a very entertaining dimension to the game.

At a certain point in the game, another dimension is added as you find yourself with a follower known as a “pawn”, or someone who is under your control that aids you in combat. You have the option of having a max group of four, including two other pawns. Your personal pawn is automatically uploaded to a server if you are online, allowing people from all over the world to use it at will. Sometimes, you are given a currency called rift crystals for your pawn, allowing you to purchase vanity items and customization options for your character and your pawn.  These elements aside, the game is still far from perfect. The combat sometimes has detection issues– you miss shots you are sure you hit. Also, the combat can be a little repetitive after a while.

Outside of combat, there are quests regarding the main story and various side stories. Another annoyance I had with this game: the walking distance. While you eventually get to the point where you can travel everywhere, at first you are forced to travel the walking distance of the world.   Sometimes, the distances associated with some of the quests are so massive that you feel like you are walking forever, having to halt every once in a while to fight. However, a big world isn’t really a bad thing, as it offers many different interesting areas that you can explore. Exploration is a big deal in this game, as it keeps you interested to see what is around the next corner.

Moving onto the story, I find it to be a little weak. “Man fights dragon in a fantasy environment” has been done before, but Capcom attempts to add its own spin to it that I feel is a little lame. Eventually you reach a “fate of the world” moment that completely throws you off. While it is an interesting twist, it’s one that’s overused by many companies.

The graphics are beautiful when you first observe without an eye for detail. There are varying landscapes and caves that are well designed and well lighted to set the ambiance of the situation. However, as you start to play the game more often, you start to notice a few glitches. Trees and creatures passing through things that they shouldn’t be passing through becomes a common sight, dampening the experience to some degree.

Finally, the sound is a little mixed. The creatures, the wind, and the ambience are well executed. Hearing the cry of a chimera for the first time is amazing and something that will stick with you in this game. But the music behind it is a little tired. The orchestra isn’t anything amazing. When you add the strange choice of a piano riff combined with some cheesy music you would hear as an intro for an anime,  the result is an odd audio experience.

So, while the gameplay is entertaining and exciting, and the quests and exploration give you something to do, this game is far from perfect. Add a strange soundtrack with some graphical glitches and some people might just pass the game entirely. But I gave it a shot, and so should you. The gameplay makes this an intense experience that is well worth a play through.

Final Verdict:
8.5/10

DIY FALL DECOR

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By Ashley Hinker

Need a new fall wreath but don’t want to shell out too much money for changing seasons decor? The answer is simple: create your own! It is less expensive than buying a pre-made wreath and can be adjusted to your own taste. I made this wreath for under $10 dollars and the finished product made a great addition to my fall decorations.

What you’ll need to begin your project is:

  • 1 Grapevine wreath
  • 3-4 squares of felt in various fall colors (red, brown, yellow, orange)
  • Hot glue gun and glue sticks
  • Bag of glitter leaves, style of your choice
  • Double-sided tape
  • Scissors
  • Various fall berries  (I used fake leaves and berries purchased from a hobby store to prolong the life of the wreath.)

To start, get your hot glue gun warming while you start cutting out your spirals for the rosettes.  On a piece of felt, using a pencil or marker, start drawing a spiral that you will roll up to be a rosette like the one pictured.

To save time and frustration, draw a spiral on a piece of cardboard or poster board. Cut out the spiral and use as a template for the rest of your rosettes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you have your spirals drawn, begin cutting them out. The final cut out should look like:

 

 

 

 

 

Starting on the outside of the spiral, begin tightly rolling the felt to the inside of the spiral. When you get to the inside end of your cutout, tuck the curled end under the rosette and secure it with either the double-sided tape or hot glue. The end result will look like:

 

 

 

 

 

For the berries, I bought stemmed berries from a craft store and completely removed the leaves and berries from the stems. They should slide right off the stem as a whole. I don’t suggest trying to cut the stems themselves because they are supported with a strong wire that will destroy your scissors. I know this from experience! After taking all of the leaves and berries off of the stems, I used the open leaves to place my rosettes in. I glued the rosettes in the leaf bundle and set them aside until it is wreath assembly time.

If you do not wish to use, or do not have, the leaves from stemmed flowers or berries, glitter leaves or anything you wish to add on to fill the wreath will still look great!

 

 

 

 

Because fall is all about changing colors, I wanted to make multi-colored rosettes. This takes a little bit more time compared to one rosette cut-out, but the end result is worth it! I started drawing the inside spiral design on one color of felt. I only did one or two circles of the spiral then cut it out. I then took the first cut out and placed it on another color of felt to act as my starting point for the second color. After drawing more spirals on the second color, I cut it out, aligned the two cutouts and then secured them together with the double-sided tape.

If you really want to get fancy, use three or even four different colors!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After you have as many rosettes as you would like on the wreath, begin the assembly! Start grouping the flowers the way you would like them on the wreath and secure them with the hot glue. I glued the glitter leaves onto the bottom of the rosettes to fill some empty space between flowers. Once my rosettes were all arranged and glued down, I took the stemmed berries and placed the stems in grapevines of the wreath. They should hold without glue since the stems will be tightly held by the vines.

Now you have a new, gorgeous wreath to hang on your door! Nobody will believe you didn’t pay top dollar for it at a home decor store! 

 

Have fun with different looks. Use pine cones or drizzle Elmer’s glue all over the wreath and add your own glitter! The best part about DIY fall crafts is to make it your own!


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WENTY’S TWO CENTS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY CD!

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 WENTY’S TWO CENTS
The caffeine-addled ramblings of KCOW “Wakeup Show” host Jason Wentworth

October 1, 2012

Happy anniversary to the good old compact disc. 30 years ago today, Billy Joel’s “52nd Street” was the first commercially released CD–in Japan. Meanwhile, here in America, we were all slaves to the cassette tape–which, to be truthful, was a step down from the LP.

(Well, okay, you couldn’t play a record in your car unless you were an extremely steady driver. And 33 1/3 LPs don’t fit in the glove box. And they’d melt in a hot car anyway.)

But cassette tapes sounded muddy, and the tape came loose (keep that pencil handy). And here’s the elimination round: LPs and CDs allow you instant access to a specific track on the album. Cassettes did not. If I could get back all the time I spent rewinding and fast forwarding over the course of my lifetime cassette usage, I could hear Gloria Estefan’s “Words Get In The Way” album 57 more times. (Don’t judge! Let those without some questionable taste in music cast the first 8-track.)

Back to CDs. Springsteen’s “Born In The USA” was, appropriately enough, the first title released on compact disc here in America. And for a good couple of decades CD was the dominant music format.

Nowadays, though, mp3 downloads are king. These days I only buy 3 or 4 CDs a year–but that’s not because I’m downloading a ton from iTunes or Amazon. It’s because I have all the music I like on CD already. The last CD I bought was the new Beach Boys album–which is certainly available in download form.

When it comes to music, I think I’m just old enough (and just stubborn enough) to feel like I should have something to hold and look at for my hard-earned money. (Would you believe “semi-earned money”?)  The same goes for movies and books. This may be why I am starting to feel claustrophobic as the one person in a two-bedroom apartment. (For the record: I am not a hoarder. I take out my trash, and I have no cats.)

I can still remember the first CD I ever purchased, by the way. I bought a Stan Freberg comedy album at a Record Theater store in Buffalo, NY. I did not yet have a CD player–Santa Momandad would deliver that a few months later. But I knew I could listen to the disc in one of the studios at the community college radio station–thus beginning a twenty-year pattern of time wasting that extends to my writing this blog when I could be doing actual radio station-type work.

Happy anniversary CD! Long may you spin.

　

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