Up In Smoke

As a man who attended college in the 70's and early 80's, I can certainly attest to the fact that marijuana was certainly prevalent and openly smoked. All this was done at an East Coast Institute of higher learning without the benefit of Cannabis College.

It is indeed late in the year but our local paper has come through with perhaps the most ridiculous article of 2013. The Desert Sun has written about a "Cannabis" College potentially opening up here in the desert.

http://www.mydesert.com/article/20131021/NEWS01/310210024/Collective-eyes-opening-own-cannabis-college

Just when you thought the medical marijuana debate couldn't get any dumber here in the Golden State, it does. I would think that any agricultural course in the desert would suffice in teaching pople how to grow stuff. Also agriculture is a billion dollar business here in the desert and they may be a few people around who may know a few things a growing things.

It is time we stop the farce of medical marijuana and have a real debate about de-criminalizing small amounts of marijuana. Until then we get a laugh from Cannabis College type stories.

When does Cannabis play Rutgers in football?
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Scary

Got to watch a little of the "Million" Veterans march on DC yesterday. It was supposed to be about letting the memorials in DC stay open. But the appearance of some Tea Party politicians and than a march to to the White House turned ugly.

Larry Klayman who used to be a little less nuts said the, "President has to take his hand off the Koran." D.C.police were called the Gestapo, and "Kenyan thugs." Racism at its worst.The Million Vets organizers apologized saying the event was supposed to be a political.

The problem of secession in this country was solved by a bloody and brutal Civil War. Before the Civil War there was such polarization that people who had worked and served together both in the armed forces and Congress could no longer speak with each other. Some what similar to today.

I believe and hope that cooler heads will prevail but the far right in this country is really playing with fire and we could all get burned.

Supendous

Over at the Coachella Valley Water District meeting this morning a very rare occurrence is going on. The august body of Riverside County Board Of Supervisors is meeting. It is a very rare road meeting for this group.

In preparation for their meeting, 3 of the 5 poobahs took a bus trip around the Eastern Valley to look at some county projects. They didn't get off the bus mind you but they did get to glance at these projects while doing what they best. Congratulating themselves.

Today's conference may best be labelled as a somewhat get out the vote next June for 2 of the current members of the Board. Supervisor John Benoit is running for re-election and his colleague Jeff Stone is running for the State Senate out here. So you see the may have a vested interest out here.

Look for another meeting out here in the early winter. Enjoy them while they last because I bet after June 2014, it will be awhile before we see another one!!

Nice Guy

Sad to hear of the passing today of Jim Keye , longtime broadcast executive in the Coachella Valley. Jim was the sales boss and radio factotum at KWXY. I first met Jim back in 1996 at the then Bob Hope Golf Tournament. Jim would hold court for the first 2 hours he was there. Always with a twinkle in his eye. He explained to someone once that I was "a good kid." I was 40 at the time!!!!

I loved to have lunch with him the first day of the Hope and listen to his stories about his days on the radio in Minnesota. He would always offer constructive criticism about my show. Always a charmer, we would talk about the local radio scene.

Earlier I had mentioned the first 2 hours of the first day of the Hope because if the truth be told, he would leave after that! In those days the Hope was a 5 day event. We would never see him the rest of the 4 days as he would do his reports from home. A few years ago, after KWXY was purchased by our radio group, I did the Hope and later Humana reports on the station. More than one wag in the media center said it was the first time KWXY had a man on sight for the whole tournament in years.

Jim Keye was a nice guy who had a great laugh and made a huge impact on the local broadcasting scene. It was an honor to know him.

A Man Gets A Chance

On the beautiful Sunday, I am at work engineering a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies. For the most part it is a meaningless games as the Rockies are in last place and the Dodgers are headed to the playoffs. The Dodgers are losing 2 to1 as I write this in the 7th inning.

Why you may ask am I writing about what many would consider such a non-event? Because one of the reasons baseball is so wonderful because it teaches so many great lessons about life.

The starting pitcher for the Rockies was Jeff Francis. The lanky Canadian started out his MLB career with so much promise. Francis had a great couple of years including starting Game 1 of the 2007 World Series for the Rockies. Then he has been beset by injuries and the promise has faded away. This year he has a lousy year and his contract is up. Today could easily be his last day in baseball.

Francis pitched well today and had a 2-0 lead in the 5th, In baseball, you must pitch 5 innings to get a win. In the 5th, Francis struggled and gave up a run. There were runners on first and third for the Dodgers with 2 outs. Out of the dugout came Rockie manager Walt Weiss. Weiss is an old school guy who you can tell respects the traditions of the game.

Dodger announcers speculated that Weiss would take out Francis. All of the infield gathered on the mound for the meeting. And Weiss being aware of the situation, that this could be Francis's last game  and that he couldn't be the winning pitcher if didn't complete the inning,  did the classy thing. He simply smiled and patted Francis on the arm and went back to the dugout. If this is to be the last game for Jeff Francis, his fate was in his own hands.

And how did Francis respond to this reprieve? He struck out the Dodger batter. He may not win today's game but he walked off the field a winner. And Walt Weiss? Well his team may have finished last this year but he managed like a champion today.

A remarkable little story in a "meaningless" game.

PS Update Rockies win 2 to 1

God BlessTinyTim

In the last few days, I have had to decide about the fate of Tiny Tim. That is a nickname someone has given my 2000 Saturn. Yes a car they no longer make or manufacture. The old kid needed a serious repair. Was it time to say goodbye and purchase a new/used car?

Tiny Tim though is more than just a car. My dad and mom were concerned about me riding the bus to work every day and even though I was over 40, went out and purchased it. It was a great present. (I did pay for more than half of it.) It has served me well in the last 13 years.

Tiny Tim and I have weathered 3 relationships, innumerable trips to LA, the X Games, 3 Rose Bowls, an Angels World Series and trips to Arizona. Not bad. It has been the scene of both heartbreak and triumph.

It took me about a day to realize this. I authorized the repair and next week Tiny Tim and I will begin our 14th year together. You may wonder why I am doing this?

Well maybe it is because I just can't let go!! Maybe I like the car!! Or perhaps every time I get in it, I think of my folks, both gone now in the last 5 years.

Believe I'm going to go with number 3.

Back In The Saddle

You know, it's a funny thing, I really enjoy writing. I have ever since 2007 when I was first asked by Rick Green then of the Desert Sun. There is something about organizing your thoughts. Plus some of the best people I have met in my life are print media reporters. Most are pretty outgoing and fun. I am lucky to follow a lot on social media.

I have not written a lot in the last 3 weeks. It seems that every time I try, there is some roadblock set up towards achieving that goal. Well today I decided that is it. I am going to do it.

I just wanted to get back in the a swing of things. I will write again tomorrow but right now off to the radio show. I do lead a charmed life.

I Come Into Work And Talk To A Rock Legend

This has become a great Sunday. No I didn't win the lottery or invent a cure for cancer. I had to work but it was actually a good day. There were a bunch of challenges involving engineering. But I was able with the help of some gracious co-workers to fix them and all was well.

What made this day great was during the golf show I was working in a call came. "Hi,Can you tell Matt it;s Robbie Krieger?" Yes sir I stammered realizing that I was talking to one of 2 surviving members of the Doors.

I would like to say that I wowed him with my witty conversation. Instead all I said was, " Right away." Not much really. But hey the golf host did a great interview and for what is worth, I talked to a rock legend. Not bad for a Sunday.

No Place Like Home On The BBC America

BBC America has one of the more intriguing TV series on in Copper. It is about an Irish police detective and Civil War veteran in New York's 5 points area in 1865. Right away the series got my attention because my great-great-grandfather and mother lived there in 1865! I soon became a regular.

The plots sometime seem a little far fetched and also just a tad off historically but the acting is a tour de force with great US character actors teeming up with British, French and Canadian actors. (The series is filmed in Toronto.)

While watching last night, one of the characters said he had lost his faith in God because of what he witnessed at the Battle Of The Wilderness in 1864 in Virginia. My father's great grand uncle Bernard Finan was wounded in that battle. Wow, I thought that was cool. But the best was yet to come.

Later on in the show, at a wake, a young orphan girl tells the lead, she is fine,"Living on a farm with a nice family on the banks of  the Hackensack River in a place called New Milford." I replayed the scene 3 times in order to make sure I got it right. I did!! New Milford had hit the BBC!! At least BBC America!! My hometown had arrived!! It's last claim to fame was when a local liquor store/florist (Yes you read it right.) "won" a free business makeover on some cable channel. Oh and a town resident got in trouble on Undercover Boss!!

Well in reality while New Milford calls itself the "Birthplace of Bergen County", it didn't come into existence as New Milford till 1922. I was hoping that the waif's father would be called Steve Kelly and would be dashingly handsome. Alas it was not to be.

I'm sure the producers got the name out of a google search but who cares? New Milford has made it to the big time. Where it belongs.

I Need A Vacation

I need a vacation and yet no one is cooperating!! At least the people I want to visit.

The folks at work understand that is time for me to take a little break. Yet as of this Friday, not much going on. I am supposed to go away for 5 days starting in a week.

First stop Rutgers Football in Fresno State. My problem I have not yet been cleared for a media pass. Even if I don't get one, I plan on going. I just hate waiting. I was was then going to Lake Tahoe to see my nephew but he is going back East that weekend. Change of plans.

Off to see a friend of mine in Sacramento instead but not in town either. Okay A's game Friday night. Then a colleague on Saturday. Off to see an Uncle in San Jose Sunday but he is checking to see if he will be in. He is 82!!

So so far I have had 2 people say no, one say maybe and Fresno State University put me on hold. Now I realize it will work out in the end but I may need a vacation after the vacation.

A Shank

An article in today's New York Times paints a less than stellar portrait on the goings on at the Clinton Foundation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/14/us/politics/unease-at-clinton-foundation-over-finances-and-ambitions.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Why should we here in the Coachella Valley care about this? For the obvious reason that the Clinton Foundation has teamed up with Humana to takeover our PGA Golf tournament. It is pretty clear from the article's intonations that the Foundation has had problems in the past with both finances and administration. Flying Natalie Portman's dog first class is not exactly a heart warming moment.

The 64 thousand dollar question is what the Humana CEO Bruce Broussard is going to think once he reads the article. Humana is after all, the one paying the freight for the event. I'm sure that someone from Humana may be on the phone to the Clinton Foundations headquarters in New York and soon.

The good news in the article and it rings true is that Hillary Clinton can not allow what some view as her inevitable march to the White House to be derailed by this. Also it seems Chelsea Clinton is stepping in as well. It behooves them to bring order to the chaos either real or perceived.

The Clinton Foundation along with Humana helped save our PGA event when it was nearly dead. Let's hope that today's news is just a minor setback. The Humana Challenge brings millions of dollars into our Valley and helps many charities as well. Here is hoping this gets straightened out soon.

Sleep

Why is it the older we bet the harder it is to sleep late. And I am not talking about 2PM like some teenager, I mean 8 O'Clock like normal people. I am aware that my occupation in the media leads to some bizarre times going to bed and waking up. But right now, my body clock is set on 4:30AM.

Last night, I stayed late at work. Home by 10:30P and no need to get up before 7A. Yet 4:30A came around, (I do get up at that time most days.) and up I was. I did fall asleep till 6:30A. But still the annoyance.

On the weekends, it is a little better. I am lucky to get up by 7A. Yes 7A. That is just ridiculous. But I am sure I am not alone. Knew a retired milkman as a kid and he used to get up at 4 no matter what.

I know I should be grateful to have a job to go to at 4:30A. But it couldn't just be a little later?

Same Old Mets With A Smile

Again the radio Gods have inflicted on me the joy of working at night again. This time it is a Monday night and the New York Mets , the team of my youth, have come to town. They of course are cannon fodder right now, a lousy club managed by a good man, Terry Collins.

I grew up a Mets fan. When I was only 5 I met Ron Hunt and later Al Jackson, players who figured prominently in Mets lore. This blog is really about my Dad and what he did for his kids.

My father's older brothers were all New York Giant fans. He grew up a Yankee fan and his favorite player was Lou Gehrig. He even convinced his mother to be a Yankee fan. Up until her 90's, my grandmother listened to Yankee games on the radio.

My older brothers Tom and Dan were 10 and 8 when the Mets were formed. For some reason they became enamored with those horrible 1962 New York Mets. The worst team ever in baseball. And my father did something remarkable; he dropped the Yankees to become a Mets fan!!  Dad always claimed he did so because the Yankees were boring they won so much!!  He said he got a kick out of the Mets.

Due to my brothers and my Dad, I became a Mets fan. There was the heaven of 1969 and 1986 but there have been mostly horrible years.

Every year till he died my Dad would say in the spring that he was done with yet another awful Mets team. Yet every year he would be watching till at least hockey season. When the Mets were on the West Coast, he would scan the crowd on TV and look for my late brother Tom and me. In 2004, I impressed him with my stint as the pre-game guest on the Angels Radio network.(They were desperate.) But then again, he was more impressed when I called into the Mets post game show on WJRZ radio to ask whether Claude Osteen and Darryl Osteen were related. I was 7 and they weren't.

At the end of his life, Dad's favorite Met was Danny Murphy. I think he just liked the name. Well tonight Murphy got up with the bases loaded and 2 outs. I thought smack one out for Dad. Murphy popped out to end the inning. Somehow dad would understand. I hope he is telling Lou Gehrig the sacrifice he made. Even the Iron Horse probably approves. While shaking his head.

Sunday Night Baseball And Bud Furillo

Some of the pleasures and pitfalls of working in a small media market can be some bizarre hours. This is one of those times. Due to some vacations and other conditions, I find myself board operating tonight's Dodger game vs Tampa Bay. And you know what, it isn't that bad.

I am so impressed by the announce team of Charlie Steiner and Rick Monday. Of course Vince Scully is no slouch. Plus right now the Dodgers are playing such phenomenal baseball that it is actually fun right know.Right now they are unbeatable. They are knocking down foes left and right.

Baseball is a game made for radio. You can sit back and listen to the stories and be amazed that it always seems to take 3 hours. Right now I would love to be talking with my old sports mentor Bud Furillo, Bud I think would love Yasil Puig and Clayton Kershaw.

But for all the Dodgers are doing right now, Bud would beckon to me and say quietly, "Kid we need this in September too." Of course the Steamer would be right. He always was.

Bad Day

Ever have one of those days. This day has been nothing but bad news. The dog next door decided to bark all night. My 15 year old friend who is like a stepson to me had to go the hospital for migraines. Meanwhile work has been a little on the off side. I received some "constructive" criticism and what an oxymoron that it.
Also we are shorthanded for a while and our engineers are working very hard to fix my radio station. They are doing yeoman's work but it is a struggle.

One thing I have learned though is that you can always start your day over. And also to stop thinking about myself. Those firefighters who are showing tremendous courage are heroes! They are not having a good day as they battle the Silver Fire. Dean who is suffering from those migraines is not having a good day. Depending on who you believe, for about 156,000 people worldwide, this is a very bad day because today they die.

I am safe, I am alive and I have a myriad of great friends and supporters. Time for me to take a little break, go home and restart my day. And have a good one for those who can't!!

Media Grownups

The recent decision of the Riverside County DA not to prosecute officers involved in the shooting death of Robert Shirar back in May of last year is not surprising. The CHP had put the officers involved back on duty last June. Also the Indio PD which played a role in the investigation came to no dissenting conclusion.

The family of Shirar is of course looking to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the CHP. Shirar was unarmed at the time of the incident. And what happened next after the incident is what annoys me.

It took 3 weeks for authorities to say Shirar was unarmed. They knew that in less than an hour. You can bet if he had a gun, a news conference would have been held the next day with the local had of the CHP displaying said weapon like a trophy.

Sometimes just like there are rookie reporters and media in a small market such as Palm Springs, there are rookie media or small market types in Law Enforcement public information as well. It is not the first time I have seen something like this done in our desert.

Holding back information like this is not a public service rather it is a sign of immaturity. It leads naturally to suspicious thoughts on the part of many in the public.

I for one believe the CHP really needs to look at their media policies. They blew this one.

Hairy Proposition

You know I, like many other men have never liked shaving. When I worked in jobs where I didn't have to worry about it, I enjoyed the freedom of not shaving.

I haven't shaved for 2 weeks and now a beard is starting to appear< But unlike a cool beard like Hugh Laurie had in House, mine is streaked with white.. It also hasn't grown easily. Plus it is itchy. On the other hand I was told I looked like a college professor. I like that.

Remarks have either been supportive or downright derisive. I myself remain non-plussed about it.

Today though I dib buy extra razors. it could be that time for the beard has come and gone. We shall see.

Down The Block

When I was 4 years old, my parents were looking to move from central New Jersey to be closer to New York where my Dad worked. When they were looking to buy a house at 227 Grand Street in New Milford, they asked whether there were any Catholic schools in the neighborhood. Mr. Strauss, the home owner said, "Yes, St. Joes is down the block."                                                                                                                        

And it was down the block I would go to school starting in September 1965 till June 1973. It was there I met so many boys and girls who unknowingly would help shape the person that I am today. In those years, I learned how to tie my shoe as well as my multiplication tables. I would learn how to play tag and kickball plus street hockey. I would witness cruelty, child abuse and courage shown by little boys and girls in stressful situations. I would instigate and lose fights on the playground. I, a boy with 5 brothers, would learn about those strange creatures who smelled nice and wore pleated skirts. I would make friends and share a bond with people for life just like me.

Much has been said and written about the foibles of modern social media. But with all the bad comes some redeeming features. One of them is the ability to find and get in touch with old friends. A few years ago, I was invited to join the St. Joes Class of 73 Facebook page. I joined it immediately. I was soon "Down the block" again. Nicknames such as Bubs, Stymie and Crazy Pete plus mine Esteban or Este or Boner (Don't ask) came back to life and were soon being transmitted from Sweden to California. The years and miles fell away as I heard from classmates who were now grandparents!! When did that occur?

As usual in matters like these the women took the lead in organizing a 40 year St. Joes reunion. My mother would always say, " All the men act like big shots but the women do all the work." As usual, Mom was right.

This weekend in Oradell, New Jersey, men and women will gather at the above mentioned reunion. There down the block from my old home the sound of laughter will ring out with the discussions of "Rumbles on the playground" or "Ali Frazier" or the "Palmer Method". Names that used to inspire terror like Brother Terence or Sister Joseph will be met with shudders and gratitude that they have ascended or descended to their just rewards.

I am sure a few tears will be shed for our departed classmates. There will even be a tour of the old place.

Unfortunately, I will be at my desert home this weekend. I have a variety of things to attend to. But on Saturday morning I will take a few minutes to go back to New Jersey if only in my mind. I will drink a Yoo Hoo and have a buttered roll for breakfast. I will ignore the strange looks I will get in doing so. Because I am tough. I am a St. Joes kid and we don't scare easily.

I salute all you other St Joes kids and if ever needed, remember I will always be down the block.

Socially Awkward

The communication revolution in the last few years has been remarkable. With just a phone in my hand, I can now chat text and twitter around the world.

I have especially enjoyed Twitter. I have been able to expand both my knowledge and social base. I have made a few friends and gotten in touch with overseas relatives. Feel free to follow me at #skellykptr.

One of the people I followed was a guy who was going through some tough times with the death of his dad. Very good writer and sports journalist. Why he even quoted my tweet on the death of his Dad.

Hadn't seen or heard anything from him in a few weeks on his Twitter feed. So I decided today to check up on him. And then I found out the reason why I hadn't, I was blocked!!

Now in all fairness, this has happened once before. And it was a friend of this guy.

What I was more surprised at was my reaction!! I was mad!! How dare he!! It was like not being picked for a kickball team in second grade.

Now being upset at being blocked on a twitter feed by a guy who lives 6000 miles away and who you will never meet may seem ridiculous. It is. So I did the only mature thing I could. I blocked him. That will show him!! Yeah right.

Happy Birthday America

Today is our country's 237th birthday. Lots of people will be at backyard parties or swimming or having fun. I plan on being one of them.

The history of America is long and complex. There are many problems such as racism and other issues we face that are a residue of our past.

But these pale in comparison to the great things our forefathers left us. That one being all the freedoms we enjoy. The right to speak and all the other freedoms.

Patriotism is not a political party or movement, it is something all Americans should practice. And things will get better. That just happens in America. Happy 4th.

Up In Smoke

More debate continues in our Valley over medical pot and whether it can sold or taxed.

Tonight the Palm Springs City Council will debate whether or not to put a proposed tax on sales of over 100 dollars. The tax would be 15%.

In Cathedral City last night, the city council heard from attorneys about whether or not they can join Palm Springs in being the only city in the county which dispenses legal pot. The discussion was put on hold till August.

The medical pot debate in California has become more and more ridiculous as time goes on. The real issue is whether or not small quantities of pot should be legalized and if so how. The collectives and dispensaries have failed on a number of levels. The prescription of medical pot for almost any and all ailments has marginalized any serious arguments from a purely medical standpoint.

It is time to have a proper discussion on legalization.

Having A Blast To See The Pope

Every year we here in the Valley have a debate about some towns selling fireworks to raise money for non-profits. Due to extreme heat and fire conditions, it may not be an example of clear thinking. Never the less in my town of Cathedral City, this year a whole new twist may be in play.

At the corner of Ramon Road and Cathedral Canyon Way, representatives of St Louis Catholic Church are selling fireworks. Last year they raised about 22 grand according to published reports. Money raised goes to the church's youth program. Part of the money will be to send kids to World Youth Day to be held this year in Brazil.

Headlining World Youth Day will be His Holiness Pope Francis I. So the church is selling fireworks to raise money to possibly see the Pope!!!

All I can say is that at my old Catholic school, St. Joseph's School for Boys in Oradell, N.J., something like this would have been frowned upon. Our 4th grade field trip was a 2 mile walk to the local Water Company. Boy I could used some fireworks then.

Sea Change

The 2 rulings this morning by the US Supreme Court mark a pivotal sea change in the way forward for our country. The change in attitudes towards gay Americans in just the last decade is remarkable. And I think there is one main reason for this change. We all know someone who is gay.

When gay Americans started coming out of the closet 15 to 20 years ago, it put on face on what was till then hushed up conversations. "Confirmed bachelor" or "Old maid" were euphemisms used to describe many people who would be called gay today.

It is really hard to be a bigot when you are friends with a gay person. Or if a relative is gay. Actually most people I suspect today don't care whether someone is gay or straight. Just that they are a good person.

And that is how it should be.

Interesting Day

I have not written a blog for nearly 3 years. Due to work changes and other issues, I just haven't done it. I have been active on twitter and maybe it is time for me to write.

I am going to give it my best shot and then in a few weeks, maybe I can get back on the local paper and the blogger page. In the meantime here it is Sunday morning and I am in a Star Bucks waiting to be discovered.

Fireworks

Good to see we here in Cathedral City are back to our old ways of selling fireworks in our city. Yes we are selling the safe and sane kind.

A desert town with heat galore and here we are selling fireworks. What could possibly go wrong? I mean no 18 year old kid will be hassled by his young brother to buy fireworks? Plus those warning signs on the Palm Springs side of the the town border will surely force all of those away.

Lunacy prevails. As it should.