Kudos to the Back-ups and Bit Players

All too often recognition for a production, series or event goes solely to the prime person serving as host.  Yes, he or she does the heavy lifting, and is usually well-rewarded, but I thought some praise might be worth throwing out there for those background people I've noticed (mostly news type people in my world) who brighten up the show or have demonstrated talent that deserves appreciation.

First up, NBC News Weekend Anchor Lester Holt

When Brian Williams goes on break, Lester is the man.  Every weekend we look forward to his delivery of the news - composed and capable, his straight-forward description, without telling us how we should feel about each issue, is a pleasant change from other anchors in the business.  He also looks snappy in his blue suit.

APR's Marketplace Michelle Philippe, Senior Administrative Assistant(?)

On American Public Radio, in between host Kai Ryssdal's remarkably listenable sections on the dry business events of the day, Michelle delivers 30-second "Datebook" sorbets with aplomb, alacrity and humorously clever wit.  I have no idea what she looks like, but I envision her single, smart and available wearing Cake's Short Skirt and a Long Jacket, ...and I want to keep it that way.

Miles O'Brien, Independent Reporter on Science, Technology and Aerospace News

Miles travels far and wide to get the facts on science news and events, and explains these quite understandably (presumably because he didn't start with a science background) in a voice and manner that's as friendly as a labrador puppy.  Smart and unassuming, he's quite the hero himself having lost his left arm while covering the typhoon in the Philippines and going on to Japan to report on the nuclear powerplant cleanup efforts not long thereafter. 

Marcia Coyle, Chief Washington Correspondent for The National Law Journal and Supreme Court Reporter for the PBS NewsHour

Until Marcia weighs in on the week's events at the Supreme Court, it's all just hearsay.  A regular on the PBS NewsHour, Marcia expertly and impartially analyzes the cases heard before the nation's highest court and reports on the results with wonderful insight.  A true professional.

John Nagl, former Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army 

LtCol Nagl is bright stuff when it comes to the army, but I guess that's not necessarily saying much.  He's a sharp cookie overall and a pleasure to listen to.  He served in the original Gulf War as well as the second go-around as a tank commander and operations officer.  Under General David Petraeus he co-authored the new United States Army and Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual, and appears occasionally on Sunday morning news talk shows based on his expert background and the two books on Iraq/Afghanistan that he wrote since his service.  His insights are right on and I hope our political leaders are listening.  He now serves as Headmaster of The Haverford School.

Miguel Almaguer, NBC News Reporter

Fires, floods, earthquakes, fires again... Miguel is always there for NBC giving in-depth coverage and apprising the public with the latest progress report.  He handles the big ones and his summaries of the situation are well-delivered, conveying the seriousness and the sacrifice of the people involved without turning to sensationalism.

David Brooks, New York Times columnist and regular on news shows

A truly nice guy (as far as I can tell) with great political perception and reasoning, apparently untarnished by the greasiness of Washington, DC.  David is a moderate Republican-leaning reporter who consistently recognizes and praises contributions on the Democratic side, while taking a hard look at the more conservative affiliates when they deserve it.  A regular Friday guest debater on the PBS NewsHour and Sunday morning news shows, he is THE source I would want to hear from if it came down to such a choice.  Most excellent.
 

October Short Shots

Ever Wonder What Happened to Stork?

So when Animal House ended, we were informed of the future cause of our dysfunctional Congress:

But I am not sure we got the full story on Stork...

Dwaye "Stork" Storkman, ad hoc Drum Major

Apparently he made good on his Faber education and became the ISIS expert for VICE News.  Here he is as seen on This Week with Martha Raddatz:

 

Somehow he was able to infiltrate the disaffected members of ISIS to include footage of their Deathmobile doing donuts

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 So What are You Wearing this Halloween?

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Reading the News,

It Seems Like this Place is Going to Hell in a Hand Basket

Some examples just from today (well, ok, 3 days ago now...): 

• “WHO: Ebola cases could hit 10,000 a week” – ruh roh

• “Boy, 10, charged as adult in death of woman, 90” – really?

•  “Prosthetic leg stolen from veteran at Eagles-Giants game” – wwwhhhyyy???

• “2 dead babies found in Mass. home had been alive” – no kidding

• “Man climbs out of grate, throws smoke bomb at NYC restaurant” – too much Gotham?

This isn't the way things ought to be.

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(Catch comment last 15 seconds of Sandoval video)

OK, be honest, how many of you thought Chris Rock had become the commentator/analyst for the World Series when you first tuned in?

Short-Changed & Hungry – They Think You're Not Looking

America May Be Getting Fat Again, 

But the Groceries are Coming in Underweight

I want to thank Wilford Brimley and Quaker Oats for looking out for my welfare.  Unbeknownst to me, they have generously decided to cut the count by 25% in each box of my Quaker Dipp Bars, no doubt recognizing my lack of willpower when it came to dropping that last five pounds.  Additionally, each bar weighs just 0.01 oz. less, but seems like an inch shorter (and, short as they are, we men can all agree, an inch means a lot) to the point that it almost gets lost in the wrapper.  Of course, in order to save me from mental anguish, they have cleverly kept the box and plastic packaging the same size (apologies to the dolphins for all that extra garbage from Wilford), and maintained the same high quality price.

That’s not to say that Quaker is the only granola bar maker or even food industry group to unburden their packaging and exercise their labeling prerogatives.  Remember how Grammy would tell us about the good old days when she and friends would “down” a gluttonous half gallon of ice cream?  Gone with the dinosaurs I’m afraid.  You can almost picture the young, enterprising product manager wandering through the Piggly Wiggly one day and realizing that people are not actually reading the volumes and weights clearly displayed in micro-font on the packages as they piled their carts full of boxes, TP and kids – the latter not actually being for sale (and not clearly labelled either, or we all might have given second thought to acquiring them).  At the pitch meeting, our product manager presents his thorough research, the company’s desire to raise prices without alarming the masses, and points out America’s lack of portion control.  His answer:  Add Space. 

The ice cream change goes without a hitch – the carton conveniently frosts right over upon removal from the cabinet (“1/2 gallon” now “1.75 qt” but it’s too cold to check), same width and length, just a wee bit shorter.  Other ice cream companies note the product improvement and quickly follow suit.  Even one-downsmanship occurs yielding the svelte 1.5qt ice cream we have today.  

Soon the potato chip industry catches on, and, despite the lack of a frozen exterior, find cover in the fact that consumers always thought they were buying a big bag of air anyways.  Who could complain?  Customers who were over-indulging in guilty pleasures weren’t about to advertise their slightly reduced gluttony, and the government just sees Americans possibly eating less.  They might even award the manufacturers.  It’s obviously a Win-Win.

Gotta go – need another Dipp Bar and chips.