Todd's Blog

Upward Highlight Video

2008-03-04T11:16:00.001-06:00

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Video highlighting the Upward Basketball and Cheerleading program at Hermitage Hills Baptist Church in Nashville, TN.

Keeping weapons out of the hands of bad guys!

2008-03-04T10:42:00.002-06:00

Here is a picture of soldiers from Company A, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, showing a huge cache of spent and unused munitions, Feb. 25, west of Owesat. The soldiers had to dig and uncover the mortor shells which were buried in the sand.

Police Unity Tour PSA

2008-01-30T16:19:00.001-06:00

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Tags: psa, charlie daniels, police unity tour

A.T. Gillihan Story

2007-12-12T23:33:00.001-06:00

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R615-The Feast

2007-12-05T22:37:00.001-06:00

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Christian Golczynski

2007-06-15T13:36:00.000-05:00

Many of our servicemen and woman are giving their lives for our country and many are leaving children fatherless and motherless. Those of us in Middle Tennessee have a chance to help one young man who will grow up without his father. The BoneFish Grill in Murfreesboro is holding a fundraiser dinner to help Christian Golcynski who lost his father to enemy fire while serving our country in Iraq.

Here is more information for anyone who wants to go and help out this young man.

Join Us . . .
in honoring our fallen soldier
Staff Sgt. Marc Golczynski
with a fundraiser & silent auction for his son, Christian
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Bonefish Grill
505 N. Thompson Lane, Murfreesboro, TN
615.217.1883
Tickets are $30.00 for some of the best food and drinks in the “Boro”
Seating will be limited, so you must call for reserved seating by June 23, 2007
Seating times are 11:00, 12:15 & 1:30 pm ~~ Please come on time
Christian is the 8 year old son of Staff Sgt. Marc Golczynski, who was killed in March by enemy fire in Iraq. 100% of the proceeds from the event will go to The Christian Golczynski Trust Fund. If you are unable to attend donations can be made at any Pinnacle National Bank. (Account #5028894). No credit cards please.
Donations can also be mailed to:
The Christian Golczynski Trust Fund
Pinnacle National Bank
Att: Rodney Barrett
114 W. College St.
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
. . .Support the Legacy
Tickets will be available at the following locations or call 615.217.1883 for more information

I copied and pasted the following from an email I recieved.

April 14, 2007

Marc Golczynski: what it costs

Caption: Christian Golczynski, 8, receives the flag from his father's casket from Lt. Col. Ric Thompson during the graveside service at Wheeler Cemetery in Bedford County. Golczynski's father, Marcus, was killed by enemy fire in Iraq last week. Photo courtesy of DNJ/Aaron Thompson.
U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Marcus Andrew "Marc" Golczynski was buried in Tennessee this week. He was assigned to the Marine Forces Reserve's Third Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, Fourth Marine Division, and was killed by enemy fire in Al Anbar Province during his second tour of duty in Iraq.
The Daily News Journal:
As 8-year-old Christian Golczynski accepted the flag from his father's casket, tears flowed freely from the mourners, and even Marine Lt. Col. Ric Thompson, who presented the flag to the boy, showed a trace of emotion.
"My Marc made the sacrifice for my freedom," said Heather Southward Golczynski, widow of the fallen Marine. "That is a debt I won't ever be able to repay."
A week before he was killed in action, the young Marine wrote this:
"I want all of you to be safe. And please don't feel bad for us. We are warriors. And as warriors have done before us, we joined this organization and are following orders because we believe that what we are doing is right. Many of us have volunteered to do this a second time due to our deep desire to finish the job we started. We fight and sometimes die so that our families don't have to. Stand beside us. Because we would do it for you. Because it is our unity that has enabled us to prosper as a nation."
This Sunday morning, take a moment to remember a fallen Marine and his family.
And all of the other men and women who have gone before.

Monell's For A Great Cause

2007-06-08T15:42:00.000-05:00

So you like eating a good breakfast on Saturday morning! I have just the place for you to chow down on some of the best breakfast southern cooking in Nashville. A place called Monell's Restaurant in Germantown. Monell's serves all their food family style which means you go in a sit down at a large table until all the places are filled. Once the food is brought out, you can take what you want and pass to the left. All you can eat and plenty of choices!

Besides filling your belly with some of the best vittles around, I have another reason for you to head to Monell's on Saturday. The restaurant is hosting a fund-raising breakfast for Underwater Warriors Foundation. The breakfast is Saturday, June 9th from 9 am-11 am at Monell's Restaurant in Germantown, 1235 6th Ave, N.

The Underwater Warriors Foundation is a group that allows soldiers who have been injured in war a chance to experience the freedom of scuba diving. Check out the UW web site to learn more about the great things they are doing. The fundraising breakfast is in coordination with the Country Music Festival going on this week in Nashville and is open to the public.The cost is $15 each with part of the proceeds donated back to UW. In addition, a donation box will be set up all week during Fan Fair for UW donations.

If you are able to make it let me know what you think of breakfast, give a donation to the Underwater Warriors Foundation and eat a biscuit for me.

Good Use For Frequent Flyer Miles

2007-05-24T15:41:00.000-05:00

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 22, 2007 - Ten airlines are stepping up to the plate for families of injured servicemembers and encouraging their passengers to do the same.

"The president of CNN challenged his staff to do something over Memorial Day weekend," Jim Weiskopf, vice president of communications for the Fisher House Foundation, said. "They looked around at a couple options and they decided that they would like to do a drive to get us more 'Hero Miles.'"

The Fisher House Foundation is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad. It also administers the Defense Department's Hero Miles program, which provides free airline tickets to servicemembers injured during their service in Iraq or Afghanistan and their families.

To get the ball rolling, CNN contacted all 10 of the Hero Miles program's airline partners and asked if they would agree to a challenge. The airlines agreed to match every frequent flyer mile their passengers donate to the program between 6 a.m. May 25 and 11:59 p.m. May 28, Weiskopf said.

"As you might imagine, most of the ticketing we do is all at the last minute because it's all connected to medical emergencies," Weiskopf said. "Normally, the tickets we're getting today are for flights leaving tomorrow and the day after."

If servicemembers' families had to pay out of pocket, those tickets average more than $1,300 each. Considering Hero Miles has provided about 9,800 tickets, that's more than $12 million the program has been able to save servicemembers and their families, Weiskopf said. That's the equivalent of about 450 million miles in the three and a half years since the program began.

While Hero Miles makes sure any family member who wants to be at their servicemember's side can be, it also covers what Weiskopf terms "close friends."

"I use the terminology 'close friends' because if you're young and single, it's nice to have your mother and father there, but you probably really want your boyfriend or girlfriend," he said. "If that will help you recover, we'll bring them in."

The same is true for any other person -- pastor or former coach, for example -- in a servicemember's life who might inspire a speedy recovery, he said. He emphasized, however, that the tickets Hero Miles provides are for medically necessary travel only. Tickets for regular leave requests cannot be accommodated.

Though Hero Miles accepts donations of frequent flyer miles year-round, those who would like to make donations during this weekend when they'll count twice as much can find links on each of the participating airlines' Web sites. AirTran, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta, Frontier, Midwest Airlines, Northwest Airlines, United, and U.S. Airways are participating.

Links to these airlines also can be found on the Fisher House Foundation's "Hero Miles" Web page, www.fisherhouse.org/programs/heroMiles.shtml.

"We are so deeply appreciative for the generosity of the American flying public," Weiskopf said. "Individually, (the airlines) have all told us that this is perhaps the most meaningful frequent flyer program that they have been associated with in the history of the airline because (the miles) are going right to the people who need them most.

[Web Version: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46126]

American Airlines Honors Fallen Warriors

2007-05-21T19:06:00.000-05:00

Employees of American Airlines in Nashville, Tn have designed a luggauge cart which will be used to transport the human remains of Fallen Warriors.

An American Airlines employee whose son is currently serving in the Navy got imput from his son and helped design the cart which will ensure all fallen military personell are treated with the respect deserved. I think they did an awesome job.

Shout Out to Mark and Brigette

2007-05-18T13:24:00.000-05:00

At least a few times every week, I stop by my local Tiger Market in Hermitage, to get a cup of joe for the ride into work. Because of my frequent stops I have become friends with two of the best Tiger Market employees in Nashville, Mark and Brigettte. Every time I'm in the store the two of them are in good moods with a smile on their face.

Mothers Day Tribute

2007-05-11T08:45:00.000-05:00

My sister forwarded the following Mother's Day tribute you to me. I thought it was hillarious and wanted to share it.

MOM writes;

So, we had this great 10 year old cat named Jack who just recently died.
Jack was a great cat and the kids would carry him around and sit on him and
nothing ever bothered him. He used to hang out and nap all day long on
this mat in our bathroom.

Well we have 3 kids and at the time of this story they were 4 years old,
3 years old and 1 year old. The middle one is Eli. Eli really loves
chapstick. LOVES it. He kept asking to use my chapstick and then losing
it. So finally one day I showed him where in the bathroom I keep my
chapstick and how he could use it whenever he wanted to but he needed to
put it right back in the drawer when he was done.

Last year on Mother's Day, we were having the typical rush around and try
to get ready for Church with everyone crying and carrying on. My two boys
are fighting over the toy in the cereal box. I am trying to nurse my
little one at the same time I am putting on my make-up. Everything is a mess and
everyone has long forgotten that this is a wonderful day to honor me and
the amazing job that is motherhood.

We finally have the older one and and the baby loaded in the car and I
am looking for Eli. I have searched everywhere and I finally round the corner
to go into the bathroom. And there was Eli. He was applying my chapstick
very carefully to Jack's . . . rear end. Eli looked right into my eyes and
said "chapped." Now if you have a cat, you know that he is right--their
little butts do look pretty chapped. And, frankly, Jack didn't seem to
mind. And the only question to really ask at that point was whether it was the
FIRST time Eli had done that to the cat's behind or the hundredth.

And THAT is my favorite Mother's Day moment ever because it reminds us
that no matter how hard we try to civilize these glorious little creatures,
there will always be that day when you realize they've been using your
chapstick on the cat's butt.

Jim McGregor Story

2007-05-10T11:37:00.001-05:00

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The story of a WWII B-24 bomber pilot. Jim McGregor was stationed with the 8th Air Force in England.

Caleb Defend

2007-04-30T21:11:00.001-05:00

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News story about teens and drinking on prom night

I have been using blip.tv to post video on this blog. Blip even has a feature which automaticly sends your video to your blog when uploading.

I go to church with Caleb Defend from the story above. Caleb is a fine young man and a great kid.

Chris Self

2007-04-28T22:23:00.000-05:00

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A Special Forces soldier trains to run the Music City Marathon. Not a big deal for an elite Special Forces soldier, but Chris Self has overcome some obstacles.

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Unedited video of interview with Chris Self, a Special Forces soldier who is an amputee and ran his first marathon in Nashville since losing his leg.

Chris mentions several organizations which have been a big help to him. I did not have the time to include information like this in the story so I thought some people might enjoy seeing the whole interview with Chris. This is a first time I have ever put up a complete interview unedited before. If you watch tell me what you think. Do it more? Pretty boring! What?

Promo Spot

2007-04-15T23:33:00.000-05:00

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A thirty second promo spot edited from a story I put together.

I haven't been able to do much VJing these days because I've been working as a photographer on the evening shift. (1:30-10:30pm) There was a need on the shift for some photographers so I was moved back to the evening shift. I miss being the Military VJ, but the powers that be did not think the beat was worth a full time VJ. I hope to be able to start working as a VJ on a regular basis again soon and I hope to be able to get back to the day shift. I have very little quality time with my wife.

New Terrorist Tactics

2007-03-31T12:54:00.000-05:00

Al-Qaeda lunatics are now using children to smuggle and detonate bombs. In the past US Soldiers typically have waved cars through check points if they noticed children. Al-Qaeda noticed this and have now started blowing up kids in there latest attempts to kill American Soldiers and innocent Iraqis. Click here to read more about it.

I don't understand how pulling our troops out of Iraq will be good for anyone.

Rayon City Cleanup

2007-03-30T11:44:00.000-05:00

Below is a slide show project showing people at my church fixing up our church. I wanted to try something different so I took still photos of the action and used sound recorded from the same time.
The church building in Rayon City is a satellite campus of Hermitage Hills Baptist Church. What does that mean you ask? Well HHBC took over a church about 10 miles from our current building. Rayon City Baptist church was struggling to keep it's doors open and were ready to close meanwhile, HHBC had been looking for a place to expand with a satellite campus. God had it planned out and put the two together. Members of HHBC help staff and attend Sunday morning services which are held at both locations with Sunday night and Wed. night services taking place on the main campus in Hermitage.

The video shows the Rayon City Campus getting fresh paint and the pews getting a makeover.

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A still picture slide show with audio underneath.

Run to the Border

2007-03-01T23:34:00.000-06:00

I guess you know I haven't made a post for a long time. Thanks for staying with me and periodically checking in on me. I haven't been doing the VJ thing for some time now (almost as long ago as my last post) but I will have a new story on the news soon. I'm writing this entry from Tuscon, AZ during a trip the Tennessee National Guard and Governor Bredesen. I traveled all day with the Governor and General Harget as they visited Tennessee National Guard soldiers who are down here helping to secure a very porous Mexican border. Just last night our Tennessee soldiers helped stop 320 pounds of marijuana from entering our country. Something like 62,ooo pounds of drugs were intercepted last year by US Customs and Border Patrol Agents. Enough drugs to fill 400 Ford Expeditions.

I've had a long day and it is late already with a very early wake up call (5am) ahead of me so I will tell you more later. Check out some of the photos I made today.

101st Year in Iraq

2007-01-10T16:43:00.000-06:00

Follow the link to see a slide show of the 101st Airborne Division's year in Iraq.

http://www.fortcampbellcourier.com/101Iraq/

CNN's Warrior One

2007-01-08T12:17:00.000-06:00

CNN'S WARRIOR ONE IS A LEAN MEAN HOT ROD. THE SUPPED UP HUMMER WAS NOT ALWAYS TRICKED OUT.
CNN BOUGHT THE '93 HUMMER H1 IN KUWAIT AND USED IT TO COVER THE IRAQ WAR.
LAST OCTOBER, CHIP FOOSE, FROM TLC'S SHOW OVERHAULIN' ,TRANSFORMED WARRIOR ONE INTO A MOBILE TRIBUTE TO THE MILITARY AND THE JOURNALIST WHO COVER THEM.
"I had tears in my eyes just like he(Foose) did when he got done with it. To see the expression of all the people and the veterans that see this at the end of the show. Outstanding" SAYS
GERALD SCHNEIDER, A RETIRED FT CAMPBELL SOLDIER. HE WATCHES OVERHAULIN' ON TELEVISION BUT GOT A CHANCE TO SEE WARRIOR ONE IN PERSON WHILE IT WAS ONE DISPLAY IN FRONT OF THE FISHER HOUSE AT FT. CAMPBELL.
"I'm really grateful to Chip Foose and his crew and to CNN, this is awesome" said Schneider.
THE TRICKED OUT WARRIOR ONE WILL BE AUCTIONED OFF ON JANUARY 20TH BY BARRETT JACKSON AUCTION HOUSE. SCHNEIDER THINKS THE HUMMER WILL SELL FOR AT LEAST A MILLION DOLLARS.
"If I had it I would by it for a million" SAYS SCHNEIDER WITH A CHUCKLE.
ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE MONEY RAISED BY THE SALE OF WARRIOR ONE WILL BE GIVEN TO THE FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION, A GROUP THAT BUILDS COMFORT HOUSES FOR HOSPITALIZED MILITARY PERSONNEL. IT IS ANOTHER WAY THAT CNN AND OVERHAULIN' CAN HELP SUPPORT THE MILITARY.

Warbird SkyVentures

2006-12-29T16:10:00.000-06:00

I did a cool story on Warbird SkyVentures. They offer rides in a vintage AT-6 WWII training airplane. If you get a chance check it out on the News 2 web site.

PFC Cory Clagett

2006-12-21T16:35:00.000-06:00

I did a story about how an Army mother, Melanie Dianiska, is fighting to help save her son's life. Her son, Cory Clagett, is a soldier with the 101st Airborne Division in Ft. Campbell, Ky. Cory is not sick, nor was he wounded in battle. Pfc Clagett is one of four 101st soldiers who have been accused of premeditated murder of Al-Qaida terrorist suspects in U.S. custody.

Melanie has been keeping a web site to update new information on Cory's case. Here are some a few more links to information from Melanie.

www.pfcclagett.com our web site

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Raymond Live shows I've done

http://www.petitiononline.com/md012466/petition.html petition we started

http://www.theleafchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061208/NEWS01/612080347/1002

http://blog.myspace.com/savingcorey

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0803-07.htm

http://www.760kfmb.com/board/viewtopic.php?p=2389&sid=6393bb7f28af2102057ffa47dff5fbdd

http://www.expose-the-war-profiteers.org/archive/media/2006-1/20060926.htm

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=51361

http://www.rinf.com/columnists/news/accused-troops-we-were-under-orders-to-kill

http://www.abcnews4.com/news/stories/1206/377646.html

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-moms19nov19,1,5424914.story?coll=la-headlines-nation&track=crosspromo

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/090306Y.shtml

http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2006/10/four-us-soldiers-facing-court-martial.php

Responsible Pet Owner?

2006-12-18T21:20:00.000-06:00

Until this past weekend I thought I was a responsible pet owner. I have spayed and neutered all of my animals and kept them up to date on all of their shots. My two dogs had id tags on their collars and I taught them how to behave well and follow the basic commands. Since they behave so well I think I took for granted the fact they are still dogs and given the chance will behave like dogs.
Saturday night I was working outside on the car while Riley and Grace were out there with me. Most of the time they stay right in the yard and they did so for a while until the call of the wild beckoned them to wander, and wander they did. The pair of them left the yard around 930pm Saturday night and were gone. I figured they would be back soon and waited up for them until midnight and with no response to my calls, I go to bed thinking I would wake up to find dogs who were sad because they had to spend the night outside. Five am, wake up, go to front door and whistle. No dogs. 6am same drill and still no dogs. Drive through neighborhood calling for them before church and see no sign of them. I hope they are still running together so at least they have each other.
At one time both dogs had ID tags on their collars but now that they are out on their own neither one of them is wearing id. Gracie while playing with Riley pulled his tag off some time ago and Gracie recently lost her id tag some where in the back yard. A responsible pet owner would have replaced the tags as soon as they were discovered missing. If I had spent a few dollars at any pet store I probably would have had a call from several people who responded to flyers I past out in the neighborhood saying they saw them running together.
Monday morning, I was passing out a few of the remaining flyers to local veterinarian hospitals when I found Gracie. She had been hit by a car and a good Samaritan found her laying by the road and brought her in. Gracie does not have any broken bones but has a bad concussion and bloody nose. The doctor gave her medicine to keep the swelling in her brain down and to treat the pain and she spent the night there under observation.
I went to the place where Gracie was found and Riley was still there. The woman who found Gracie said it was Riley who alerted her to the spot where Gracie was laying. She said Riley kept looking toward Gracie and she saw Riley go over and lick her as to say Hang in there, help is on the way.
The morale of the story? You never expect your pets to run off but if they do, make sure you have an id tag on them. If I had id on my dogs, I would have been able to save hours of agony and a trip to the veterinarian hospital.

"So Brave"

2006-12-11T16:08:00.000-06:00

I did a story today about an Army mother, Angela Lashley, who wrote a song about her son Jonathan called "So Brave." The song is about influences in Jonathan's life that have made him brave enough to stand on the front lines for Our Country today. Here is a link to the songs webstite where you can hear some of the song. Angela is also a spokesperson for The Blue Star Mothers of America who have offically endorsed the song.

Good Guys Win Battle

2006-12-08T11:34:00.000-06:00

It seems like we only hear news about our guys getting killed in Iraq. Well, this morning the good guys scored a victory. The following is an article from the Department of Defense.

20 Terrorists Killed, Weapons Caches DestroyedAmerican Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2006 – Coalition forces killed 20 terrorists this morning while targeting al Qaeda terrorists in the Thar Thar area, military officials reported.
Coalition forces targeted the location based on intelligence reports that indicated associates with links to multiple al Qaeda in Iraq networks were operating in the area. Ground forces were searching buildings at the targeted location when they began receiving heavy machine-gun fire from one of the buildings. The ground forces returned fire, killing two armed terrorists. Despite efforts to subdue the remaining armed terrorists, officials said, coalition forces continued to be threatened by enemy fire, causing forces to call in close-air support. A coalition aircraft performed the air strike, resulting in 18 more armed terrorists killed. During a search of the objective, coalition forces found multiple weapons caches consisting of AK-47s, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades, anti-personnel mines, explosives, blasting caps and suicide vests. All these items were destroyed on site. Coalition forces also found that two of the terrorists killed were women. Al Qaeda in Iraq has both men and women supporting and facilitating their operations, officials said.

Cold War History Played Out at Guantanamo Bay Gate

2006-11-30T16:30:00.000-06:00

By Sgt. Jim Greenhill, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
U.S. NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba, Nov. 30, 2006 - Even as deployed National Guard members make history serving with Joint Task Force Guantanamo, they find history at the base's Northeast Gate.
Minutemen and women helping fulfill JTF-GTMO's mission of providing safe care and custody for enemy combatants detained during the global war on terrorism can join Marine guides for an off-duty visit to a place where the world once seemed to hold its breath as superpowers stood eyeball-to-eyeball during the Cuban Missile Crisis. About 13 percent of JTF-GTMO is currently made up of National Guard troops, mostly from the Maryland National Guard.
The nation's oldest overseas naval base is also the only one in a country with which the United States does not have diplomatic relations. But the tensions that once surrounded the Northeast Gate, the only crossing point between the naval station and the rest of Cuba, have long since evaporated.
"We have a very good rapport with the Cuban army," a Marine staff sergeant said at the gate in mid-November. He is not being identified for security reasons. "We talk to them quite often," he said. "There's no tension like there used to be."
A few feet away, a half-dozen uniformed Cuban soldiers trimmed grass and picked up trash on the Cuban side, preparing for the monthly meeting between naval station commander Navy Capt. Mark Leary and his Cuban military counterpart. The fence-line meetings alternate between the American and Cuban sides. One month, the two commanders meet in a former Marine reaction force room on the base; the next, they meet in a building on the Cuban side of the line. They discuss issues such as security, the fence and communications, the Marine staff sergeant said.
"We don't deal with politics," Leary said. "Even during the time of President (Fidel) Castro's recent illness, there was no discussion. It really is much more of a local and pragmatic relationship dealing with the base and the local area of eastern Cuba."
Once a year, troops from both sides perform a mass casualty drill, demonstrating both sides' willingness to set aside differences and help each other during a crisis.
Decades ago, the atmosphere was similar to that embodied by Jack Nicholson in a line from the movie "A Few Good Men." "I eat breakfast 300 yards from 4,000 Cubans who are trained to kill me," his character, a Marine colonel, said.
Tensions were so high that shots were fired, though there were no gun battles. Over several years, troops on both sides of the fence competed for national pride.
Cubans lobbed rocks onto the tin roof of the reaction room were Marines were trying to sleep, so the Marines built a 40-foot-high fence along a stretch of the base's perimeter.
Then Cubans hung coat hangers and other metal objects on the new fence to clatter in the night wind and disturb the Marines' sleep, so the Marines added barbed wire.
When Cubans raised their flag higher than the Stars and Stripes, Marines installed ever-higher flagpoles on the U.S. side. The Cubans ultimately won that face-off by moving their flag to the top of a distant ridge line on the Cuban side, an elevation the Marines could not achieve.
As tensions persisted, the Cubans beamed a powerful spotlight into the reaction room's windows. "Marines can't sleep, they're not happy Marines," the staff sergeant said. "So we've got to do something about it."
Vice Adm. John Bulkeley, the base commander in the 1960s, devised a way to deal with that problem.
For 30 days, laborers worked in a tent erected on a hillside below the Marine building. "On the 30th night, the Cuban light came on, the tent came down and if y'all walk this way you'll see what the Cubans saw that night," the Marine staff sergeant told a group of visitors to the gate area.
A giant Marine Corps symbol painted on a massive concrete slab remains on the hillside. When the Cubans turned on their light on that 30th night, it spotlighted a super-sized eagle, globe and anchor. "The Cubans said, 'We're not going to spotlight that,'" the staff sergeant said. "They shut their spotlight off."
But the Marines favored highlighting the symbol. Anticipating the Cuban reaction, they had installed a light of their own that shines on the crest but not into their windows. At night, the single light can be seen from high ground throughout the 45-square-mile naval station.
Tensions grew more serious in 1964, when the U.S. arrested 17 Cuban fishermen for violating territorial waters off the Florida coast and Castro cut the fresh water supply the U.S. had for years pumped from a river several miles north of the naval station. "We stayed here," the staff sergeant said. "We didn't leave. He expected us to leave."
So Castro accused the U.S. of stealing water. To counter this, Bulkeley invited media to watch as the cast iron water pipe into the base was cut near the North East Gate. He sent a piece to Castro, with a photograph of the ceremony. Visitors still can see the exposed pipe.
The U.S. had shipped water into the base until a desalination plant that uses the same technology used on submarines was completed. The naval station uses wind turbines and diesel generators to supply power. Supplies are shipped or flown in. "We're totally self-sufficient," Leary said.
Marines and Cuban soldiers still face off from watch towers on hillsides on both sides of the 17-mile fence. No one goes to the Northeast Gate without permission from the Marines. The drive there crosses salt flats once dotted with 50,000 mines, which President Bill Clinton ordered removed in 1996. They were replaced with motion and sound sensors.
The Marines' respect for their Cuban counterparts is reflected in the order to visitors to not photograph them, point at them or make any gestures.
Only two people cross the fence line each day. An 85-year-old and a 79-year-old Cuban, the last two who still work on the naval station, arrive on the Cuban side at 6 a.m., walk across, work on the naval station and leave again at 6 p.m.
Once, about 4,000 Cubans came through the gate to work on the base. But Castro cut off the labor supply, later relenting to allow people who were working there before the ban to continue. Twice a month, Marines escort cash to the fence line so retired Cubans can collect their U.S. pensions.
Today, most naval station labor is supplied by nationals from Jamaica and the Philippines who live at GTMO.
Once or twice a month, Cubans who have attempted to cross into the naval station are returned to Cuba.
"Throughout history, the base has kind of cycled in importance," Leary said. "In the end, it's always been a good investment for the United States. It will continue to be a good investment. I don't know what the future missions would be. There are certainly other ones, (and) an extended-stay detainee mission is certainly possible."

A Different Christmas Poem

2006-11-28T09:25:00.000-06:00

A friend of mine emailed this poem to me. Feel free to share it with as many people as you want.

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the Sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!
"For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fires light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,
"Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers.
"My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... An American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son.
"Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

Tennessee History Festival

2006-10-13T17:09:00.000-05:00

If you are looking for something to do on Saturday, check out the 3rd annual Tennessee History Festival going on at the Bicenntenial Capital Mall State Park. The festival features actors in period costumes sharing there knowlegde of history with anyone willing to listen.

I did a story Friday about the festival but I focused on the WWII re enactors. Check it out here but if you can go see it in person. It's worth the trip downtown.

If you don't already read Andy Cordan's blog, That's Messed Up, check it out. I laugh out loud every time I read it. My personal favoriate is the story about his neighbors dog. Scroll down on his blog until you see the sqatting dog. He posted the story Oct. 2

News 2 Making News Again

2006-10-05T18:28:00.000-05:00

News 2 was featured on National Public Radio on Thursday during the show, All Things Considered. Reporter Audie Cornish was in the station a couple of weeks ago and did a story about video journalist. Here is a link to n p r where you can hear the story which aired on the radio.

I got to take a ride on the Aluminum Overcast, a restored B-17 Bomber and boy was it cool. I interviewed Leonard Mika, a ball turret gunner, who flew on a B-17 during WWII. His last flight on a B-17 was April, 1945 when he flew a bomb run from England to Berlin.

Today was the first time in over 60 years that he was back on a B-17 and he had a great time. I will have the story about the Leonard and the Aluminum Overcast on the news on Friday. When it hits the internet I will post a link so you can check it out.

Oh yeah, if you live in Middle Tennessee you can see the Aluminum Overcast on display and even pay for a ride at the Lebanon Municipal Airport.

Amanda Across America

2006-10-04T21:54:00.000-05:00

Amanda Congdon is a video blogger who is currently writing a blog about her journey and adventures as she drives across America. The blog is called AmandaAcrossAmerica. Amanda became pretty famous while doing a video blog called RocketBoom and even had a cameo appearance on CSI.

If you are wondering why I am telling you this, it's because Amanda and her crew recently stopped by News 2 to see how we incorporate blogs and the internet with the news. The majority of the interview was done with News 2 General Manager Mike Sechrist but Amanda also talked with yours truly. Check out the interview at AmandaAcrossAmerica

Cool ABC Site

2006-10-01T15:44:00.000-05:00

If you miss your favorite ABC show on News 2, don't worry because you can watch the whole episode almost commercial free at abc.go.com. Once you get to the web page all you have to do is click on a show and you can watch it right here on your computer. Each show is divided into four segments with a thirty second commercial in between from the episodes sponsor. Another good thing is with only four commercials the show only last 43 minutes and you get to watch it any time you want. I think it is pretty cool site. Check it out and tell me what you think.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

2006-09-29T17:55:00.000-05:00

http://www.wkrn.com/Nashville/news/students-visit-traveling-Vietnam-memorial
http://www.wkrn.com/Nashville/news/traveling-Vietnam-memorial-comes-to-music-city

Here are links to two stories I did about a traveling display of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The wall is located at 660 Thompson Lane in Nashville at Woodlawn Cemetery and will be on display through Sunday.

Rock, Paper Sissors

2006-09-27T09:55:00.000-05:00

Check out this ROCKETBOOM report about the game rock, paper, sissors. It's pretty good and made me laugh which is always a good way to start a day.

Homecoming

2006-09-27T09:41:00.000-05:00

The soldiers at Ft. Campbell are still returning home. I haven't been up there for a while so I thought I would link you to the Ft. Campbell Courier welcome home photo gallery. The picture here was taken by CW2 Frank Capri, 101st CAB. Frank is an Apache Helicopter pilot who I did a story about a few weeks back. He is also a good photographer. I hope you enjoy looking at the pictures of soldiers reuniting with their families.

Up Coming Stories

2006-09-26T21:35:00.000-05:00

I currently working on a couple of stories that should be on the news soon. MSGT Johnny Wolfe is a 118th Air Lift Wing Air National Airmen. One of Johnny's job is to make sure the parachutes that support the crew of C-130's stay in top shape. I talked with Johnny as he was inspecting a chute and will have a story about it.

A traveling display of the Vietnam Memorial Wall arrived in Nashville on Tuesday afternoon. Several hundred motorcycles riders rode to the state line and escorted the wall into Nashville. I rode along on the back of a Harley Davidson bike for part of the ride. It was impressive seeing all the veterans and current soldiers showing there respect for the those who lost their lives during the Vietnam war.

The wall will be set up on Thursday at Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery on Thompson Lane. If you have never had a chance to see the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington DC, then go by and see the wall while it is here in Nashville. Even if you have seen the one in Washington then still go by and see it while it is town.

UXO Music

2006-09-21T17:28:00.000-05:00

SSG Clifton Vail is an instructor at Ft. Campbell's Non Commissioned Officer Academy. He has been in the Army for twelve years and his job is to help train new sergeants on how to be good leaders. Clifton says he loves the Army life and has gained valuable experience as a result of his choice to serve our country. The reasons people chose to join the military vary from the GI bill to a chance to travel the world but for Clifton the reason to join the Army was simple. He wanted to be able to fund his passion of making music. Clifton loves rap music and hopes to be the next big rap artist.

Like most of us, Clifton puts in long hours at work. When he get off he has to balance being a father and husband with his desire to make music. He's started his own label called UXO Music. UXO is an Army acronyms for unexploeded ordinance which is symbolic for Clifton's music career as he feels like it will explode any minute now when his music is heard by the right person.

Clifton, aka V-Smooth says the discipline and work ethic he's learned from the Army has shaped and helped him balance work, family life and producing his music. Clifton has spent a lot of his own money to put out an album called War Stories- The Mix Tape Vol. 1. The album should be out next month in music stores around Ft. Campbell and in Nashville. It will also be available for purchase from his web site where you can preview some of his songs.

I'm not a huge rap fan but I did like some of his music and was glad to be able to get to know the man behind the music.

Watch the story.

Fun in the Sand- long version

2006-09-19T21:51:00.000-05:00

http://shock.military.com/Shock/videos.do?displayContent=102441

I found the long version of Fun in the Sand. I wonder if it was worth the trouble they got themselves into.

Glory Album Project

2006-09-19T16:18:00.000-05:00

Judy Fish started the Glory Album Project as a way to remember five soldiers who were killed from her husbands unit. The Glory Album is a scrap book dedicated to the honor and memory of Ft. Campbell soldiers who have been killed in the line of duty. Watch the story.

The pictures above are two of our Fallen Heroes, SFC Jason L. Bishop and CPL Michael J. Idanan. The pictures below were taken at a memorial service held in Iraq. The helmet and dog tags signify the fallen soldier. The inverted rifle with bayonet signals a time for prayer, a break in the action to pay tribute to our comrade. The combat boots repersent the final march of the last battle.

If would like to get more info from Judy about the Glory Album Project you can email her at Croppies@bellshouth.net or check out her scrap book site.

A New Name

2006-09-15T08:03:00.000-05:00

I will be changing the name of this blog and also the home of the blog. I'm switching over to a blog site hosted by News 2. I'm excited about the change becaue it will allow me to post video of my stories easier.

I will need a new name with the change and I would like it to reflect my news beat. I cover the military for News 2 so 90 percent of my stories are about the military. I'm not that creative so I would like to enlist the help of the three of you who read this. That means you, Mom, Ember and Jeff.

Give me any ideas for a name even if it doesn't include the military.

JROTC

2006-09-15T07:53:00.000-05:00

Business leaders say they can train employees how to do the business but what they can't as easily teach are a strong work ethic and how to work as a team. To help young people learn these skills educators turned to the JROTC program. The Army's Junior Officer Training Corps helps instill team work and ethics in their cadets, two qualities that the business world is looking for.

The Virtual Enterprise classes offered by Rutherford County High schools teamed up with the JROTC program and had VE students take a team building course taught by fellow JROTC cadets. I did a story Thursday about the program. You can watch it at WKRN.com

118th Airlift Wing

2006-09-13T22:38:00.000-05:00

Here is a link to the story I did on the 118th Airlift Wing from Nashville. 37 airmen returned from a rotation in Afghanistan. The Air Guard crews rotate in and out with the C-130 they fly. They keep the aircraft on a 35 or 40 day rotation so the airmen usually don't have to stay as long as the Marines or Army.

Another Good Video

2006-09-12T16:02:00.000-05:00

This is a pretty good video showing off some superior air power of the US Airforce.

Fun in the Sand

2006-09-12T10:07:00.000-05:00

I found this on the web. Check it out.

When Daddy Comes Home

2006-09-05T17:50:00.000-05:00

When Daddy Comes Home is the name of a children's book written by Kristie Algeo. She is the mother of three kids and the wife of a soldier who is currently stationed at Fort Campbell. I had the pleasure of meeting her and her youngest son, Michael, on Tuesday morning. I did a story about Kristie and the books she has written.

Kristie wrote two books, When Daddy Goes Away and When Daddy Comes Home. I never really thought about how having a parent come back into your life after being away for a year could be difficult. The books she wrote were inspired when she saw how stressed her kids were when their Daddy was deployed. Kristie said she had a strong support network with family and church but it still was hard to deal with. She knew if her family had trouble than other families would be struggling to. Kristie told me about how her son Samuel would wrestle and play with Dad inside the house but would not go outside to play with him. Finally after some digging Samuel told his parents that he was afraid the "bad guys" would see his dad out side and hurt him. The adjustments also have to be made by mom and dad. Kristie said they were at a parade when several floats went by. On this one float, the kids were crouched down behind hay bales and they popped up to throw candy into the crowd. When they did this in front of Major Don Algeo, he hit the deck and covered his head. His survival instinct kicked in as he was recently home from Afghanistan were they don't throw candy into the crowds.

Kristie could not find a publishing company who would publish the books so Kristie went back to work last year as a teacher to help cover the expense of self publishing. She says if one family is helped by the books it is all worth it.

If you know of a military family with young children and want to get them the books Kristie tells me they are the cheapest from Pleasant Word, the company that printed them. They're also available at Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com

Kristie gave me a copy of the books and since I don't have any kids I think I will give them to the first military family or friends of a military family who leaves a comment and asks for them.

The Changing Face(s) of Local News

2006-08-24T10:51:00.000-05:00

News 2 has been transforming the way we cover news for the last year. In case you have not been following the changes or just want a really good explanation of what has been going on around here, check out an article Terry Heaton wrote called The Changing Face(s) of Local News. It's pretty interesting and worth reading.

Me Working

2006-08-18T23:51:00.000-05:00

A friend sent me the picture taken while I was working on a story about soldiers returning from Iraq. To tell the story, I decided to do a "nat" package, which is short for natural sound. Instead of using my voice to tell the story I used natural sound, in this case it was sound from six year old Hunter Brown and his Mom. I tried to let viewers see what Hunter experienced while waiting for his dad to get home. Check it out for yourself.

There are about 1500 of 20,000 101st soldiers home now so I will be doing several more of these homecoming stories. Do you get tired of them? What kind of stories would you like to see? Give me some feed back and your thought. I've got a few ideas in mind already but I bet you guys have some pretty good ideas of your own.

Center Hill Lake

2006-08-16T20:09:00.000-05:00

I have been looking forward to getting back out on the lake this whole week. It has been two weeks since I been able to get out and take advantage of the smooth waters of Center Hill Lake. This summer, I been able to get out on the water fairly regularly. I had to work last Saturday, which was down right painful since the weather was perfect for the lake. Hot and sunny. My friend is threatening to revoke my boat privileges because I agreed to work. We have standing plans to hit the lake every weekend if the weather is good and he told me I should know better.

When the water is as smooth as glass it is the best time to ski. My wife learned to ski last summer and you should see her now. She is quite good and jumps the wake like a pro. I like to ride a wake board. Being able to cut into the wake and jump the entire wake is pretty cool. I working on pulling off a trick while I'm in the air. I will try to get some pics of the action to post next time.

101st Troops Come Home

2006-08-09T22:18:00.000-05:00

Wednesday morning I went to Fort Campbell to do a story about soldiers returning from a year in Iraq. Family and friends gather in a holding area on the tarmac waiting for the first glimpse of their soldier. They have to wait behind a fence while the planes carrying their loved ones are unloaded. As the soldiers get off the plane they walk right past their cheering families but are still 15 minutes away from the hugs and kisses. The soldiers get into formation for a short welcome home ceremony inside a hanger. (I think the Army has a policy that nothing is official unless there is a ceremony first.) After a few quick speeches the moment everyone was waiting for finally arrives and they are released to visit with their loved ones.

As I was standing there watching everyone hugging and kissing the scene started to pull at my heart strings and my eyes started to get a little misty. I do believe I'm becoming more emotional in my old age. My wife used to tell me she thought I had a hard heart because I never should any emotion. I broke that trend about a year ago while covering the aftermath of Katrina. All of the emotions from the trip finally exploded out of me and I haven't been the same since:) I wrote about my experience last September on this blog.

Any way, it was great seeing families back together again. I will be covering more of the homecomings becasue this is just the begining of 20,000 troops returning to Ft. Cambell.

Election Day

2006-08-03T13:28:00.000-05:00

Today is the primary election day in Tennessee. Today will also be the first day we cover the elections as a VJ station. We will have to see how it goes. Management has asked us VJ's to do a lot of quick coverage that can be used during our web cast as well as during the news cast. The idea will be to give viewers a look in as if they are there with us.
News 2 will also be doing a web cast and streaming election results for the first time ever. It should be a good day around here today.
I'm helping cover the Harold Ford Jr. Senate race and President Clinton is scheduled to show up at LP Field to show his support for Ford. I'm looking forward to seeing President Clinton and hope to get a chance to shake his hand.

On a side note. The VJ debate is once again making the rounds on message boards like B-roll.net. McGraw-Hill station group recently announced they are switching to VJ's. I have heard that some of there people will be coming to see how we do it at the deuce.

update...I wrote this entry last Thursday and for some reason I did not post it. Here it is on 8-9-06.. Sorry it is late and untimely but it's better late than never.---- I got very close to President Clinton and if I would have been paying attention to him instead of getting video, I would have shaken his hand. Oh well, there is always next time.

A operations manager, a news photographer and two reports from San Diego spent the day at the station on Monday to get a feel for how we operate at News 2.

Customer Service-A Thing of the Past

2006-08-01T09:40:00.000-05:00

I'm ranting about the lack of customer service. It seems like the days of "the customer is always right" are long gone. It is hard to find a company that really wants to take care of there customers.
Early this year my wife and I decided to hire a yard company to help get our grass into shape. We have mostly weeds growing and thought it would be nice to have a good looking lawn with no weeds so we decided to use Tru Green. After talking with the salesman we set up a schedule for them to come and treat our yard. The first appointment came and went with no problems and Tru Green would even send reminder notices in the mail to let us know when the next appointment would be. This was great for us because we have two dogs and on the day of Tru Green's visit we would have to leave them in the house.
The problem with Tru Green started when they did not show up for an appointment. No big deal, stuff happens. The appointment was rescheduled and again Tru Green was a no show. This time I called and talked to a person and rescheduled the next appointment. The day came, we left the dogs inside and you guessed it, no Tru Green.
After three no shows I decided to discontinue the service. While canceling my account the girl said she figured I would cancel and did not even offer an apology or try to keep my business. I told my wife that they must have plenty of business and don't have to worry about keeping customers.
I didn't think any more about it until last week. Tru Green sent a letter inquiring why we left so my wife decided to call and tell them why we left. The next day at work, she emailed me and said she had called Tru Green and they were not nice on the phone. The conversation went like this.

TG- Hello.
Wife-Could I speak with So and So?
TG- Why?
Wife-We are prior customers of Tru Green.
TG- Yeah? So!?
Wife-I got a letter and he wanted to know why we left.
TG- (short) We will pass it on to him.

A week later we still have not heard anything back. We will never be customers of Tru Green again and I would not recommend them to anyone else.

New Blog title?

2006-07-23T20:30:00.000-05:00

I have heard several comments over the last year that I'm the only VJ who post on this blog. It's true. I started New2vj last year as my personal blog when News 2 announced we were switching to VJ's. I thought people would be interested in a behind the scenes look into what was going through my head as I transformed from a news photographer into a video journalist.

The last year went by really fast. I can hardly believe I've been doing this for a year already. The blog has transformed a little over the year. I still try to give you a behind the scenes look at things when I can. I also talk about stories I've recently done or up coming stories I'll be doing soon.

I've been thinking of changing the name of this blog. Any suggestions from the four of you who still read my ramblings? Let me know what you think.

Mothership BBQ

2006-07-19T16:18:00.000-05:00

I found my new favorite BBQ joint today. Mothership BBQ. Located in Berry Hill in Nashville, Tn it is off the beaten path but local bloggers have known about it for awhile. Jim Reams started his place with absolutely no traditional advertising and relied only on word of mouth and the blogging community. Jim says one thing bloggers do is tell the truth and he knew if he made good BBQ the bloggers would spread the word. So far the word is spreading quickly and Jim's joint is taking off.

I interviewed him today and will have a story on News 2 on Thursday. Stay tuned.

update- Here is a link to the story which ran last week.

TGIF

2006-07-14T20:35:00.000-05:00

I've been working a night shift this week to help out since we recently lost some employees. It has been a while since I've worked nights but this week has been good for one reason. I appreciate my day shift even more. The shift is not really that bad but I'm prefer days.

Since it's Friday, I'm looking forward to a great day of wakeboarding and relaxing on the lake with friends.

July 4th

2006-07-04T16:20:00.000-05:00

I did a story about Pyro Shows, the company which puts on the firework display in Nashville. They have been working for five days from the LP Field parking lot to get ready for the 23 minute show. Along with the Nashville show, which is rated as the third best in the country, they have used the LP Field as a headquarters for the 30 other shows around Middle Tennessee. They brought in a tractor trailer full of fireworks from there company in LaFollette, TN. (35 miles north of Knoxville) The show in Nashville will use a net weight of 2 tons of black powder along. After seeing how the show is set up and put together I'm looking forward to watching it in person.

Baghdad ER

2006-06-03T11:22:00.000-05:00

http://www.wkrn.com/nashville/news/combat-hospital-gets-national-attention

HBO is currently running a documentary film called Baghdad ER. The documentary is all about the 86th Combat Support Hospital based at Ft. Campbell. I watched about 40 minutes of the hour long show and I cried three different times. It’s very powerful and sad at times. Don’t watch it if you are squeamish because it shows the horrors of war.

The good news, because of the quick medical attention our soldiers get, 95 percent of them wounded in combat survive. That’s the highest survival rate ever in US history. If you have HBO watch the show if not get a friend to tape it for you.

If you want to read more from the film makers check out HBO's website.

Stories for my Mom

2006-05-28T17:52:00.000-05:00

I sent the following links of recent stories I've done to my Mom. I thought some others might want to look at them as well. If you get a chance to look at them, take a minute and tell me what you like and what you don't like.
My favorite two are Weakly Airport and MP training. I had a lot of fun shooting both of the stories.
URL=http://www.wkrn.com/node/24689 bike commuter
URL=http://www.wkrn.com/node/24063 Band of Brothers
URL=http://www.wkrn.com/node/23896 MP Training
URL=http://www.wkrn.com/node/23544 Female Battalion Chief
URL=http://www.wkrn.com/node/22677 Wounded Warrior Project
URL=http://www.wkrn.com/node/22638 Rocket Club
URL=http://www.wkrn.com/node/21828 Fisk Graduation
URL=http://www.wkrn.com/node/21243 Slave Cemetery
URL=http://www.wkrn.com/node/20555 Weakly Airport
URL=http://www.wkrn.com/node/20374 P.U.T.

Heroes

2006-05-26T22:31:00.001-05:00

<http://www.iwo.com/heroes.htm> http://www.iwo.com/heroes.htm

Here is a pretty neat tribute to our American heroes. Click on the link above if you have a minute to watch.

Close to home

2006-05-26T22:31:00.000-05:00

http://www.wkrn.com/node/25337
I had to cover a house fire the other day. The fire was started by lightning when a storm rolled through the area. I've cover dozens of fires over the years so this was no big deal except for the fact the house on fire was my neighbors. Every one was fine and the firemen put the flames out quickly. Unfortunately, the water caused the ceiling to fall in and the roof will need to be completely torn off and rebuilt. They will be homeless for about 6 months.

I was in the middle of another story about 3o minutes from home when I got the call. Wayne and Kitty house might be on fire. The only number I had for them is a home number which had no answer. I quickly wrapped up my story and headed to see for myself what was going on.

When I turned onto my street there were two fire trucks, two ambulances and a police car on the scene. I had already told the station what was going on and that I was going to check on my neighbors so I jumped out to see what had happened. After talking with neighbors for a few minutes the station called me back and asked me to shoot a walk-n-talk about what was going on. A walk-n-talk is usually 1:45, one take description of the scene. The idea is to make it feel as if the viewer is right there in the moment seeing what I'm seeing. Check it out at the link above.

Talking with my hands

2006-05-23T20:53:00.000-05:00

http://www.wkrn.com/node/23896 -MP story link-
Here's a picture from taken from a standup I recently had in a story. My wife cracks on me for talking with my hands (me and Tony Stewart) during the few standups I've done. I included the story in the above link so you can check it out for yourself. On a serious note, what do you think about reporters who use their hands? Distraction or not noticed? Give me some feed back when you get a chance.

The story above is about the 551st MP Company stationed at Ft. Campbell. The 551st recently won the honor of being the Best MP Company in the entire Army. A big accomplishment. I was able to do a story on some training they were doing to help them get ready for another year in Iraq. Probably the biggest threat these men and women will face are from roadside IEDs or improvised explosive devices. The soldiers tell me the IEDs are hard to spot because the streets are lined with trash which make great hiding places for the bombs. Even with all the dangers they face the soldiers and their families do believe they are making a difference with the missions in Iraq.

On an unrelated note, we had some VIP guests at our station Tuesday. GM's from another station group were on hand to check out how we are doing things at News 2. They observed a morning meeting and had a lot of questions about the VJ system. Very interesting.

Fisk Graduation

2006-05-09T11:10:00.000-05:00

On Monday, Fisk university graduated their 132 class of seniors of whom 10 percent maintained a 3.87 gpa or higher. The class of 2006 had the highest percentage of Phi Beta Kappa Society members since the early 50's.
I did a story on Diana Groza who is originally from Romania but is now a proud American citizen. Diana received a bachelor of Arts in foreign Languages and teaches middle school Spanish. Diana decided to study at Fisk University because of the influence of her father Michael, who works for the university as a physics researcher. Michael was a definitely a proud father and delighted to see his daughter graduate and he had a great view to see graduation. Michael also graduated. He earned a Masters in Physics.
Diana told me her family was poor and didn't have much in Romania and now they feel extremely blessed. Go to www.WKRN.com or click here.

Adam Street

2006-05-05T08:56:00.000-05:00

I didn't get to know Adam Street before he died. He was only 18 years old and would have been graduating from high school in a few days. His family tells me Adam was a great kid who loved life and easily made people smile. Adam was a jokester who would quickly make the joke himself if he thought it would get a laugh. Bill Street, Adams father, told me that Adam was killed in a late night car crash. He did not go into details but said that Adam loved fast cars. Part of Bills reason for sharing his story with me was to stress to Adams friends the importance of making good decisions. Bill said kids should think before they act because decisions they make have a ripple affect and not only impact themselves but can have a huge impact on others. A good reminder for all of us.
The loss of Adam Street was not in vain though, as seven people received his organs to help change their lives forever. The heart recipient was in critical condition and would not have made it any longer without Kevin's heart.
The family thanked me for telling Adams story and helping to get the message to other kids to think before they act.

Weakly's Field

2006-05-04T22:25:00.000-05:00

The other day I met a really neat guy. His name is Dale Weakly. As a kid he had a dream of being a pilot an he stuck with his dream as he grew up. In 1975 he bought 17 acres of tree covered land in the country. Dale had the dream to build an airstrip so he could fly his yet to be bought airplane in his back yard. For the last 3o years Dale has been carving, digging and shaping the land into a 36oo foot long grass runway. Here is a man that knows how to stick with a dream and make it happen. I did a story about Dale and went for a fun airplane ride as well. Check out the story here.

P.U.T.

2006-05-01T21:25:00.000-05:00

I met some neat police officers today - twelve of them to be exact. Seven from Los Angeles, one from New Jersey, two live close to Buffalo New York, one from Tennessee, and the last is from Texas. I met them near Leipers Fork as they were riding bicycles across the state of Tennessee. For the last 15 days they have been riding their bikes across the United States from Venice, California headed to New York City. The riders are all police officers riding to raise awareness of the upcoming Police Unity Tour. The tour helps raise money for the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington D.C. where officers who are killed in the line of duty are honored and their name is added to the memorial.
May 14th is National Police Officer Week and police and their families will converge on the Nations Capital as the names of officers killed in the line of duty during 2005 will be added.

Once the crew I met today arrives in New York City they will have a memorial service at Ground Zero then they will continue to ride with about 600 more officers as they ride the Unity Tour into Washington DC. Middle Tennessee has about a dozen officers heading to DC.

Here are a couple of sites you can check out. The x country blog is very well done and the Police Unity Tour has a web site. Enjoy! Here is a link to the story which aired Monday night at 10pm.

BayouBike Ride

2006-04-25T08:52:00.000-05:00

How far do you think you could ride your bike? I met a 57 year old woman who is riding her bike 50 miles sixteen days in a row. Becky Jones is riding from Evansville, Indiana all the way to Eunice, LA. SHe is raising money and awarness for the small city of Eunice which has taken in a lot of their neighbors from the cost after Katrina and Rita.

I enjoyed meeting Becky and wish the best for her. If you would like to see the story I did with her you can check it on the News 2 web site. YOu can also check out a blog which is giving updates during her trip.

Army's premier gunship

2006-04-14T13:16:00.000-05:00

The Army Aviation association conference wrapped up Wednesday night in Nashville. The conference is a chance for industry folks to gather with top military leaders and network together. Different military groups share ideas and thoughts about what works and what doesn't.
I met some guys from the South Carolina National Guard who gave me an up close look at an AH-64 Apache. It is a cool helicopter and I enjoyed being that close to an Apache.

The Phillips

2006-04-06T11:12:00.001-05:00

I met a really neat family Wednesday evening. Tom and Beth Phillips and their four kids. The Phillips already had two children before they felt God leading them to adoption. After prayerful consideration they decided to adopt two girls from India.
Raising four children would be hard enough for two parents but because Tom is a helicopter pilot in the Army he is often deployed leaving Beth to hold her own at home. I will have a story about the family on the news tonight.
Here is a link to the story.

Dyersburg

2006-04-03T22:18:00.000-05:00

I'm spending the night in Dyersburg, TN after covering the devastating tornados that ripped through the area. Twenty two people were killed in Tennessee, 19 of them in Dyer county. I saw one house were two people were killed and if I had not been told a house used to be there, I would not have know by driving by. Most tornado damaged homes have a pile of ruble laying next to where the home used to stand but today the only sign of a home was a patch of dirt and a few bricks. There was not even debris scattered in the field. The whole house was blown completely out of the area. It was amazing!
Another observation about tornados that always amaze me is the randomness of destruction. One house completely destroyed where the house next door is untouched. Driving into the neighborhood on Cobb St today and I passed two boys playing outside with tennis rackets and driving over the next hill to see officials who are searching for bodies of several people missing.

I'm Still Here

2006-03-31T13:22:00.000-06:00

I'm still around although you haven't been able to tell by checking this blog. I obviously have not been very faithful about writing entries. Thank you if you are still checking for new entries.
For the first time in my career I'm a salaried employee complete with a contract. I even received a nice raise during the process.
I'm just trying to do the best job I can. I'm curious about your opinion. I haven't had any critiques for a while so if you get a chance, give me some feedback. Click the links to see the last three stories I did.
URL=http://www.wkrn.com/node/13702 Historical land preservation purchase
http://www.wkrn.com/node/12978 My first Spot news story.
http://www.wkrn.com/node/12830 Max Anderson 86 year old volunteer.

My favorite of the three is the story about Max. What a great guy he is. I hope I will have the energy of Max when I'm almost 87 years old.

LD Poston

2006-03-03T16:47:00.000-06:00

This week I was able to tell the brief story of LD Poston. A World War II hero. He became a hero during the war saving his buddies. After the war, he continued to helping others. LD Poston spent his life looking for ways to help people. What a great way to be remembered. If you would like to see the story go to WKRN.com and search for "Community Honors WWII Vet For Generous Spirit"

Red Tape

2006-02-08T18:55:00.000-06:00

I had a small taste of "red tape frustration" today. FEMA operates a camp which host volunteers who are here to help with disaster relief. I have been trying to do a story about the camp, as there are about 42 Tennesseans who are currently living there this week. After several days of trying, I finally reached the right person with FEMA and set up the story . I even lined up a local volunteer to meet me at 7:50 this morning.

When I get to the gate, ready to meet my volunteer, the security guard had no clue what I was talking about. Long story short, after multiple phone calls an hour and a half of standing around and an act of congress, FEMA finally gave me the all clear.

Once I finally got to take a tour of the camp I saw how great it is. Because of the volume of construction workers, people with no homes, and the up coming Marti Graus celebrations there are no hotel rooms available. Volunteers can stay at the camp at no cost and get three meals a day. Every thing else you could possibly need is provided from linens and towels to laundry detergent and washing machines.

If you ever thought you would want to come down to help out the time has never been better. There is still a big need for help and you can stay for free with no reason to spend any money at all.

New Orleans

2006-02-07T08:31:00.000-06:00

I got into New Orleans Sunday evening after a nine hour drive. Looking into neighborhoods during the drive here, you notice roofs everywhere still covered with blue tarps. We got up Monday at 3am to be ready for the morning news cast. I don't think I would enjoy working that early on a regular basis. The only good thing about being up that early is seeing the sunrise. Both mornings have had really pretty sunrises.
Monday I did a story about a pastor from Tennessee who is working with the New Orleans Salvation Army. In fact there are about 42 Tennesseans down here working with the Salvation Army preparing hot meals and taking them out to the people of New Orleans. It is great to see people helping people. There is such a big need for volunteers. This area will need help for quite some time. The level of destruction is overwhelming. We drove through a whole community that was flooded out. You can still see the water line on all the houses and buildings.

New Orleans Trip

2006-02-03T17:06:00.000-06:00

I'm getting ready to head back down to Louisiana.

I'll be down in New Orleans with Neil Orne and Boyd Sadler for a week. Neil will be doing some anchoring for the morning show from there and we'll both be doing stories through Friday. Including two previous work trips I been to Louisianan four times already. I've been fortunate to have been able to go to Slidell twice with a group from my church. Check out the pictures taken in December. I'm on the left on the end of the group photo. The houses are a common site.
I'll keep you posted about this trip. I'm looking forward to revisiting some areas where Neil and I were during the aftermath of Katrina.

Fan of the System

2006-01-25T10:06:00.000-06:00

Since I began blogging about the transition of becoming a Video Journalist I have given several reasons why I like our system at News 2. I have another reason to add to the list.

Yesterday, I had two events going on that I wanted to cover so I spent the first part of my day shooting the stories. Since the station already had plenty of stories to chose from I was not under pressure to get a story on the air. Instead of hustling back to the office I took my time and visited some contacts of mine. I dropped in just to say hello but I left with a list of three potential stories which I would not have found had I been in a big hurry to get back to the office.

For me, that is just another reason why I think News 2 will be successful with Video Journalists.

Good News

2006-01-13T10:15:00.000-06:00

News 2 is one person away from having a full staff again. I heard people speculate the VJ move was implemented by management to reduce staff but I haven't seen that happen. We did lose a few talented employees but their heart was no longer in the job and that is okay because we have filled our openings with quality people who are excited about being a VJ.

An interesting fact someone recently pointed out to me is that the other stations in Nashville currently have more positions posted for employment than we do. Especially at the present time because the only available position right now is for an executive producer. So if you are interested about coming on board at News 2 as an EP you better hurry, the line is already forming.

If you want a job as VJ, you'll have to wait until the network calls me up!?! :) LOL, I wouldn't hold your breath for that to happen!

Stand up

2006-01-09T17:21:00.000-06:00

In the last two weeks I have shot two different standups (the standup is the part of the story where you see the reporter talking. It is typically in the middle of the story) for stories I've done. I have probably shot well over a thousand standups during my career but this is the first time I have ever shot them for myself. I even did a two part standup for one of the stories where I said half of the standup and then moved the camera to another position for the second part. They both came out pretty good for doing them by myself.
Our on-line producer took a job in Raleigh-Durham so the web site is not getting up dated like it should for the time being which means my stories were never posted on the web. If you know a simple way to put video on the web, tell me about it and I will try to post the stories for you to see.

Happy New Year

2005-12-30T17:51:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year! I'm ready for another year to fly by. This time I going to try to accomplish my New Years resolutions.

Thanks for reading my boring rantings for the last six months.

A New Year

2005-12-27T17:52:00.000-06:00

The older I get, the faster years zip by. It seems like it was only yesterday when I was getting ready for 2005 to arrive. Man, has it flown by fast! It seems like they just made the announcement about the VJ thing and now it has been almost six months. Wow.

The end of 2005 comes with no new resignations that I'm aware of and if fact, we have hired at least three former News 2 employees back. I think morale is pretty good around here now since most everyone who did not want to become a video journalist has moved on.

I'm excited to see what kind of challenges 2006 will bring with it.

Happy New Year!

Interview with a VJ

2005-12-14T10:09:00.000-06:00

Okay, once again I will tell everyone that I like this vj thing. I recently sat down for an interview with myself and I have included it in this post.
VJ- Did you ever think you would be a reporter?
TD- I never had a desire to report or be on camera at all so I never would have guessed I would be a reporter. I was really content being a news photographer because I enjoyed my job and the creativity that came with it.
VJ- How do you like reporting?
TD- I really enjoy it so far. I think it is cool to start with an idea and then see it become a finished story that goes out on the news.
VJ- What is the hardest thing about being a VJ?
TD- For me the hardest thing about being a vj is writing. I never enjoyed writing because I'm not a very good writer. Writing the story is definitely the longest part of the process for me. The next hardest thing is coming up with story ideas.
VJ- What is your favorite part of being a VJ?
TD- My favorite part of being a vj is the size of my camera and support gear. I went from a 28 pound camera to a five pound camera and I love it.
VJ- Some people would say the quality is not as good. Want do you think?
TD- I can notice a difference in the quality sometimes but other times I can’t tell a difference and I have no desire to go back to the heavier gear.
VJ- What about editing?
TD- I edit my stories on a Dell laptop computer and really enjoy it. I’m getting better on the editing software we use. It is called Pinnacle Liquid 6. If I had my choice, I would have preferred to edit with Final Cut Pro but Liquid 6 is a close second.
VJ- I understand some of the employees are leaving. Is that true?
TD- Yes. We have had quite a few people leave. I think it is a good thing in a way. I have always said if I’m working at a place were I’m not happy then it's time for me to move on. Working somewhere I’m not happy is not good for anyone. I wish people would have stayed but I certainly cannot fault anyone for moving on. I would like to see people replaced quicker than they have but I don’t know anything about that process.
VJ- How is the vj process working?
TD- I think it has been working well. I have a beat that I cover and I am slowly starting to get story ideas from the contacts I have made. I think the key to doing the stories I want to do is to bring my ideas to the daily meetings.
VJ- Is there anything you were told to expect that hasn’t happened yet?
TD- I was told the producers would take an active role in my stories and actually help me produce them but that has not happened.
VJ- You seem to enjoy your job but what is the mood around the station?
TD- It seems to be pretty good. I don’t think there is any more complaining now with the vj system in place than there was before the vj system. There is always some complaining no matter what because it is just human nature.
VJ- I have one last question for you. It seems like you are doing more work now than before, so have you gotten a pay raise?
TD- Not yet! I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I would like a pay raise just like anyone else but for now I'm just concentrating on improving my new skills.

11-29-05

2005-11-29T17:48:00.000-06:00

Last week one of my friends decided to quit his job as a VJ. It is an unfortunate loss because he is very talented and did a great job. He has a great voice and a very natural delivery plus he could put together a story very fast. I was sad to see him go but his heart was no longer in it. I have always said if I get to a point were I’m not happy doing a job, then it is time to look for different work.
I’m not at that point yet and I still enjoy my job even with all the recent changes around here.

Stories

2005-11-18T17:25:00.000-06:00

I feel like I’ve been fortunate during the first phase of becoming a video journalist. I’ve had ideas to present in the meetings which for the most part have turned out to be good stories. Lately though, I’ve noticed I am more nervous and anxious about the possibilities of not having any ideas for stories.

The management is moving from the “Oh, they are still learning” phase into a “performance” phase where we are expected to “get'r done” so to speak. Heading into the weekend I find myself worried about Monday and whether or not I’ll come up with stories to do. I been working the same beat for several weeks now so hopefully I will start getting good tips from the contacts I’ve been making.

There is a new discussion board for vj issues at blueprintpost.com. The board was created by Tim French, who trained the VJ's at WKRN and is currently training at KRON. The discussion board is a place were VJ's can go and post questions or comments. Check it out here.

Computers!

2005-11-17T18:16:00.000-06:00

There are days when I love computers and can’t even remember how I ever managed without them. Then there are days like today when I could take a 10lb hammer and smash the living day lights out of my computer. Boy would that feel good until the boss wants to know why I can’t edit any stories.

I’m sure most of my problems are from my lack of computer knowledge and not knowing what I’m doing. I have come a long way in a short amount of time. Compared to just a few months ago I’m a whiz now but that’s not saying much.

It is hard to spend any extra time on the computer other than what I need to do for work. I think that is one of the reasons writing a blog has become a chore. The computer and the fact I’m not a very good writer! Writing is a laborious process for me. I keep hoping it will get easier and I guess it has a little but not as easy as I would like.

Still Learning

2005-11-11T17:10:00.000-06:00

I’m almost four months into this vj thing and I still enjoy it. I have even become a little faster in the writing process and feel more confident about hitting deadlines on time. I’m making progress with my voice and how I sound but I still have a long way to go.

I had an opportunity to do my second career live shot this week from Clarksville, TN. My first live shot was also from Clarksville but I was not as good the second time around. I haven’t looked at the tape yet but the feed back I heard said I looked and sounded like I felt. I felt nervous and lacked confidence in what I wanted to say which unfortunately showed on TV. I'm will working on the areas which need improving and continue to learn.

On the plus side, I have my new car assigned to me and on Friday night, I’m getting ready to go jump it and head for home.

Halloween Past

2005-11-06T21:59:00.000-06:00

Here is our little Gracie, dressed up as a ladybug for Halloween. She was a big hit with everyone who saw her!

Guess who's back?!

2005-11-06T20:17:00.000-06:00

Thanks for those who have been checking in to see if I am still around... it's nice to be missed! It's amazing how quickly time passes and with each passing day, I tell myself, I will get on here and post an entry. Things have been busy but who can't understand that, especially this time of year with the holidays right around the corner?

The week of October 23-29 I was down in Slidell, Louisiana with my church helping with disaster relief. What an awesome opportunity! As many of you know, this is an area where Neil, Davis and me spent some time right after Hurricane Katrina first hit. You would be amazed at the amount of work that still needs to be done for the next several months - it really surprised me. This trip was easier on my heart since I felt like I was able to make a tangible difference, even if it was one yard at a time.

The vj thing is going well. I'm getting a new car any day now- it's getting the windows tinted and radios transferred. I feel like I'm becoming a faster writer but it is still my weakness. It certainly doesn't flow out of me like I would hope.

This is enough writing for now because I don't want to overwhelm anyone on my first day back.

365 and a Wakeup

2005-10-18T16:21:00.000-05:00

I have been reading the blog of a soldier in Iraq who has been providing security for an election site. He has some great stories posted which make you feel like you are there with him. Check it out at 365 and a Wakeup

TGIF

2005-10-14T17:23:00.000-05:00

I'm glad it's Friday even though this week went by really fast. I stayed pretty busy which always makes my days fly by.

I have a new respect for those of you who write interesting daily blogs. Recently I have felt like writing this blog is more of a chore than anything. One reason could be because writing doesn't come easy and I'm not a very good at it either.

Have a good weekend! I be back on Monday.

Ft. Campbell

2005-10-12T17:07:00.000-05:00

I'm starting to get a feel for my beat area. I've been covering the 101st Airborne in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. Since I'm new to the beat I've been trying to make contacts and meet people in the area. Tomorrow is a big day on post! The 4th BCT (brigade combat team) is becoming the 506th which was made popular from the book Band of Brothers. The book was about Easy Company of the 506th infantry. The soldiers feel it is a big honor and responsibility to take on. The 506th has produced a lot of heroes in the past. I'm looking forward to being there for the ceremony.

Very Fast

2005-10-10T16:41:00.000-05:00

I'm back at work after a week of vacation which like most seemed to go by in fast forward! It hardly seems like I was gone at all. We went to Disneyland with the family which included a niece and nephew's first trip to see Mickey Mouse. The pictures show Raven all smiles riding the Grizzly Rapids in California Adventure and Odin hamming it up with his favorite Aunt during dinner.

Back at work today, I spent my morning setting up stories for this week and catching up with contacts and such. This afternoon I put on my live truck operator hat and ran a truck for the 4:30 and 6pm newscast.

I would've like to had more time off but I'm glad to be back to work.

MR

2005-10-03T23:29:00.000-05:00

Here is a picture of me and Michael Rosenblum in the news room. The picture was made before he headed to KRON.
I'm officially on vacation and heading to Disneyland. I will try to do a post or two from the road.

Love of my Life

2005-09-30T16:47:00.000-05:00

Behind every great man is a greater woman. I’m far from great but I definitely have a great wife. Ember is always there when I need her and is very understanding of my job. She is supportive when I start talking about going on some not so safe assignments like covering hurricanes. Even though she is worried about my safety while I’m gone, doesn’t sleep well and has to get up earlier than normal to take care of the pets she always tells me to go. She even gave me her blessing to be an embedded photographer with an artillery unit of the 101st during the beginning of the Iraq war. I think she was worried sick the whole time I was gone.
I love her so much and I don’t know what I would do without her. I learn something new from Ember all the time but she made me laugh last night after reading my blog entry. I made mention of wireless internet connections or a wifi hotspot. When I got home Ember asked me, what is a wiffee? I smiled and explained it is pronounced whyfi. Just another reason why I am crazy in love with her.

I'm Back

2005-09-29T12:56:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry for not getting back to my blog sooner. I left last Thursday on a trip to Louisiana for hurricane Rita coverage and did not have internet access. I became spoiled on the Katrina trip because we had a wifi hot spot at the satellite truck we were using. During Rita, News 2 sent our own satellite truck for us which was awesome.
I know some of you might be wondering how the vj concept was implemented on this trip. News 2 sent three vjs, Neil Orne, Alex Lucas and me. Our main goal was to help our sister station KLFY in Lafayette, Louisiana. We also did group live shots for many of the Young Broadcasting stations (a live shot where more than one station across the country tunes in at the same time to have Neil do a live shot for them). We arrived in Lake Charles, LA as one of the first tv crews in the area and were even there before the fire department was back in the area. The first thing we did was find a live location that offered shelter from the tropical force winds. We found a wind break at the Lake Charles Civic Center which later became the hq for the flooded fire department and also media central as more than a dozen sat trucks later showed up.
Once on the scene, Alex ran the camera for Neil's live shots while I gathered video from the area. We ended up doing live shots for the rest of the day. On Sunday, Neil and I worked together and Alex did a few vj stories that were really good. Alex is a good writer and I hope to be as fast as he is when I'm writing my stories. Since our primary goal was to assist our sister station, we did a lot of live shots on the trip and we didn't have the chance to split up and each turn a story.

With a few more hurricane trips under our belts, Neil and I will have the drill down. We come back with better ways to get things done after each trip. If you get a chance go to Neil's blog and read his perspective.

Big Joe

2005-09-20T17:50:00.000-05:00

I have found a new respect for my friend Joe Dubin. Joe has always done well at anything he sets his mind to. I'm always laughing around him. Joe has made some down right hilarious Tennessee Titans promos in the past.

Since I started blogging I have been reading Joes blog. He is a great writer. His entries are relevant and funny. If you have not been reading Big Joe on the Go's blog, check it out and set your bookmark to it because you will want to visit daily like I do.

wifi

2005-09-16T13:55:00.000-05:00

Don't you love technology? I'm sitting at a pizza shop eating lunch and writing this blog while connected to the internet. I love it. I have been assigned a beat area to cover so today I'm meeting people around town and getting story ideas. I don't have many contacts yet so this time has been valuable. In the old days, I would not be able to check my email until the end of the day. Now, the internet is a useable tool while away from your desk.

I know a few places already where I can use wireless internet connections. If you know of a business that offers wifi, please let me know.

A Proverb

2005-09-14T11:35:00.000-05:00

I read this the other day and thought I would pass it on.
Proverbs 21:13 says, Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be heard.

Life

2005-09-13T12:14:00.000-05:00

Life is not fair! I’m sure we have all heard that statement before. I trust God to lead me where I need to go, play the cards dealt to me and keeping moving forward. Whining or complaining isn’t good for anyone so I try not to do it.

I would like the attitude around News 2 to be like a sports team. An underdog team that everyone expects to beat easily, until they face us and realize they have seriously underestimated our team. I think we are on the way to that attitude around here. As a staff, we were blind sided by the switch to video journalist. I have been a video journalist for nine weeks and I still like it. Those who didn’t want to do the vj thing have moved on and that is okay too. I would much rather work beside someone who is happy with their job!

If you have a good attitude and see the glass is half full, then send me your resume and I will be happy to put in a good word for you.

The feedback from friends and people on the street has been really good. I think our audience likes the changes they are seeing on the news.

2005-09-12T17:53:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday

2005-09-08T08:59:00.000-05:00

Here are a few images from last week at Camp Causeway. It hardly seems like a week ago.

More Pics

2005-09-07T20:34:00.001-05:00

The dog is one part of a family that Davis Nolan rescued. He drove two dogs and a couple all the way to Nashville where they found an open hotel room. The other shot is a picture of the satellite truck we used and the rv that saved our rear ends.

On the Lighter Side

2005-09-07T20:34:00.000-05:00

I told you the sad part of the New Orleans trip so I thought I would share a funny moment. Last Thursday, after a long, hard, sweaty day, Davis took a shower and put on clean clothes. Next thing I know, he is out of the rv doing what Davis does best, constantly looking for ways to help people. As usual, it didn't take Davis long to find someone in need of help. One of the ABC affiliate crews got their car stuck in the mud so Davis tried to keep innocent bystanders clean by blocking the mud splatter with his body .
He came back to the rv and told us what had happened and we all had a much needed laugh.

Home Again

2005-09-06T10:26:00.000-05:00

The trip to New Orleans proved to be the hardest assignment I have ever been on. During the last ten years I have witnessed the aftermath of countless storms and even seen the loss of life. I’ve felt sadness and been touched by those stories in the past but the trip to Louisiana hit me like a ton of bricks. I wasn’t prepared for it!
I believe the combination of several ingredients came together and reached a boiling point early Friday afternoon. Friends calling with names and numbers of people missing from the area who I wasn’t able to track down, wanting to help the evacuees but not being able to do anything for them, feeling guilty because I was sleeping in an air-conditioned RV with a home to go to and seeing pets abandoned because they weren’t allowed in shelters.
My wife Ember, gives me a hard time because I don’t show any emotion. The lack of emotional displays was involuntarily changed for me last Friday. While talking with Neil Orne and Karen Carlson, a reporter from Los Angeles, I was overcome with sadness. I started crying and couldn’t stop. I called my wife and cried even harder. I told Ember I loved and missed her and after hearing her voice I felt a better.
Since being home I’ve been able to tell my story a few times which has been good medicine. I can finally talk about the experience without tearing up. Please keep the evacuees and rescue workers in your prayers.