Food For Fines

About six weeks ago, "we" here in St. Louis went through one major, major summer storm. I say "we" because I had the good fortune to be in Florida for the week (as much as I'd like to say this was intelligent planning, it was really just dumb luck). So, storm hits and a good portion, heck almost all, of the major metro area lost power for at least 24 hours, some folks even up to a week. Personally, my home was out for over four days. I'm lucky enough to have good friends, family and neighbors who, in my absence, cleaned out my fridge and disposed of thawed and spoiled food. Thing is, that food has to be replaced. Enter, a problem for those who can't afford to purchase all new food at once.

So, a local county library started a "Food for Fines" program that is just excellent! Say you have an overdue library book. Bring in a can of food for it, the fine is forgiven. Not bad, eh? The food then goes to help food banks that were strained by the power outages.

Libraries are one of those local resources that are ignored treasures. Most folks haven't set foot in a public library for years. This is just shameful. By the Jefferson County libraries taking on this "food for fines" program, I hope it'll encourage library use AND replenish the food pantry stock.

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I Wouldn't Change It

In today's USA Today in the Life section, there is a great article by Colleen Clark. It deals with the class of '06 from Benjamin Franklin High School in New Orleans.

With all the crap the media fed us after Katrina, a group of documentarians in D.C. went to N'Orleans to find the stories the media was NOT telling us. The good, heartfelt stories of people helping out their neighbors in a time of crisis. They focused this on the seniors at Franklin High, the fall semester they could not be in their own school, their return to the school in January of this year and all the usual class "stuff" that binds a senior's memories of their final year to a place.
What struck me most was one senior (now college freshman's) remarks: "If I could change Katrina, I wouldn't."

Anyone else feel like this young man? That, even through some of the worst experiences imaginable, good still rose to the surface and overshadowed the bad? I do. And I'll continue to choose to see the good in the bad. In this tragedy and in others. And props to Jordan Bridges, the young man who said just that, for having the maturity and insight to see Katrina as something that adds character to his life.

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Kiddo Safety

Today, my home state of Missouri has a new law that goes into effect and concerns two things I care deeply about: kids and traffic safety. MO's new law doesn't just bump up the requirements for car seats and the kids that ride in them, but they've made a real statement with the new regulations. Now, children have to be practically in puberty before they're allowed to ride in a car like an adult(okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration).

If you're in the state and have kids, you probably already know this stuff. Either way, it's a great example for other states to follow to help keep our little friends out of harm's way.

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Blind Outreach

Just a quick thank you to the Blind Outreach program of St. Louis for asking me to present at your luncheon today. Special thanks to Kerry Smith for setting everything up! Your organization does great work and I was honored to be a part of your luncheon!

Thanks again!

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Last Night on ABC

Did anyone see the Primetime Special Report on ABC last night "Out of Control: AIDS in Black America"? Wow, what an enlightening look at something I knew very little about.

Yet, the part of the program that struck me more than the epidemic of AIDS among black Americans was the set of remarks made by one of the most recognized leaders of black America, Jesse Jackson. If you caught the show, I'd love to know your thoughts, especially on Jesse's comments. Leave your thoughts on the comments here! Thanks!

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Missouri School for the Blind

Thanks to the staff of the Missouri School for the Blind for the opprotunity to present yesterday. I wish you the best of luck with your students this year and please let me know if there's anything I can do to help! Special thanks to Marsha Bryant and Tina Bennett for being such great contact people through this process! Thanks again!

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Central Methodist University

I had such a great time with you guys!

Special thanks to:

Chris Buckman, Ken Oliver and Sarah Smith

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Smoke 'Em If Ya Got 'Em ... NOT!

Turner Broadcasting announced today that they will be reviewing and editing some 5800 cartoons in their collection. Apparently, after a good 30 years of knowing the dangers of cigarettes, someone finally got the clue that the cartoons that were made in the pre-cig knowledge days might have a negative impact on kids.

As a kiddo in the early 80s, I can vividly remember watching tons of old cartoons from the 40s and 50s where smoking was seen and basically glorified. Since both my parents are non-smokers, I was made aware that smoking wasn't a good thing to do – even if cartoon characters did it.

I commend Turner Broadcasting for this, but really, isn't it about three decades too late?

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THE BOOK(S) RELEASE EVENT!!

Friday, Oct. 27, 2006
7:30 p.m.

Edward D. Jones Auditorium

St. Louis, MO

We'll be releasing the 2nd edition of my autobiography,

After This...

An Inspirational Journey For All The Wrong Reasons

AND a completely new work,

The Other End of the Stethoscope:

33 Insights for Excellent Patient Care.

On Oct. 27, I will hold a 45 min. program,

half lecture and half guitar/vocal performance

of many of the songs that were influential in my recovery.

Following the performance, both books will be available for signing and purchase.

To see more about the new version of my autobiography,

view the site completely dedicated to After This...

www.afterthisbook.com

DIRECTIONS TO THE BOOK RELEASE EVENT

Edward D Jones Auditorium : Manchester Building

12555 Manchester

St. Louis, MO 63131

From 270 North or Southbound

- exit I-270 at exit # 9 onto Manchester Eastbound

- at the first light turn into the parking lot of 12555 Manchester

THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

ALL ARE INVITED

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!

Wedding Bells!

Just returned from a wedding weekend for my good friend and Kappa Sigma brother, Andy Netterville. The weekend was a blast and things couldn't have been more than perfect. Congrats to Andy and the new Mrs. Netterville on a great wedding day and best wishes for a happy life together!

Also thanks to Bryce and Nicole Taylor for being such awesome people to hang out with this weekend! Can't wait to get to Austin to hang with you guys!

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Do What You Do Best

A few months ago, I was considering taking some computer classes, just to expand my knowledge. I'd like to be able to fix some problems if they arise, diagnose my own machine, that sorta thing. Then, news flash! I have never, EVER had any desire to work with computers. Sure, I work on a computer every day, but it's to run my business. I want nothing to do with a business that revolves around the computer. Dig? So, after little consideration (mainly because it was a no brainer), I decided I'd rather just call in the experts if I have problems. I need to do what I do best-speak, write, market my services and help people in that way. I'll leave the CPU stuff to people who have a passion for it.

So, just bought a new laptop and had my fav computer company, NCD Tech, set it all up. I lovingly refer to this company as "the cavalry." Why? Because they are the reinforcements I call in when I need help. My technological 911. They did an excellent job, not only working on my new machine, but helping to iron out any problems that arise due to the screen reading software I utilize. So, I share this info with you and, if you're local, try out the company:

www.ncdtech.com

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Insult To Injury

A certain airline that shall remain nameless recently filed for bankruptcy. Shocking, I know. I'd normally give this airline's name, but I'm booked on them this fall and I don't want bad karma to bite me in the butt. Anyway, after filing for bankruptcy and having the potential of laying off thousands of workers, the company printed up a booklet and distributed it to employees. The booklet? How to Save Money. In it were suggestions like:

bring a brown bag lunch
don't be afraid to dig things out of the trash
instead of taking a date to dinner, go for a walk on the beach or in the woods

Anyone else see this as a total slap in the face? The folks are about to lose their jobs and what idiot in the company thinks it's a good idea to now show workers how to save bread? Ridiculous.

What surprises me more than anything isn't the idea, but how many steps this has to go through. No where along the way did someone say, "Ya know, this doesn't seem real smart." Think of it: the board room to the wordsmiths, the graphic designers, the printers, the distribution, the passing out of the book to the employees. As if a potential pink slip isn't bad enough!

The sheer insensitivity of people is sometimes shocking. Okay, okay, often shocking.

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What's Your Major?

Today on NPR's Talk of the Nation, the discussion is about college majors versus the labor market and employability. One of the questions asked was about the current trend of college majors and the institutions from which they come. As stated by the guest, many are now treating college as an education towards a vocation. I.E., they study specific things to do a specific job when they get out. Things like health care, engineering and education. However, fewer students are studying the social sciences and liberal arts.

My degree from Missouri State University is sociology. I often call soc the most useless degree on earth. Yet, that's not true. I often compare soc to communications - no one will ever give you a job as a communicator nor a sociologist (unless you have a doctorate), but no matter what job you do, these social sciences will help you do that job better. Why? Because at the heart of every job, there is human interaction.

If you work with people in any capacity, those who go to the top are those who can communicate. Long live the useless social sciences! We may not make much moolah coming out of college, but we'll surpass your earnings later!

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Who You're Likely To Meet

I just got word that I have finally, finally fulfilled the requirements for a companion pass on Southwest Airlines. Basically, to get this deal, you have to take 100 flights in one year. And, SWA has this program where, if you fulfill that requirement, you are awarded a companion pass. This means I'll be able to take someone with me, free of charge, on any trip I take on SWA.
Cha ching!

So, clients in the future should expect to meet my friend, editor and administrator, Marvelyne. She'll likely accompany me to programs where I'll be selling books and products at the back of the room, and, hey, she's my best friend, so I'll likely bring her along just so she and I can have fun!

Thanks to Southwest Airlines for making my life a bit easier (and more fun) with this program!

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Candy Bomber

One of the greatest character traits one can possess is the ability to shine in the face of crisis. In today's STL Post-Dispatch, there is a real touching article about one such man and the follow up, some 50 years later. Take a read!

STLtoday - News - Illinois State News

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Take Care!

Just heard a PSA put out by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In it, a man praises you, the hurricane relief worker, for your acts of bravery in the aftermath of the storm. However, the point of the radio spot is to give hurricane relief workers an outlet to release pent up emotions. An 800 numer is given and listeners are encouraged to call because, as the spot states, "sometimes the biggest act of bravery is taking care of yourself." Wow.

This is something I really haven't thought of. Maybe it's because I am not a hurricane relief worker. Okay, that IS probably it. What kind of emotional distress does a hurricane relief worker go through when finding rotting corpses in a home? How does he/she manage those feelings? Well, obviously the Dept. of Health and Human Services sees a need for these services. In the immediate aftermath of Katrina, the world was rallying to help. Now that that explosion of support has gone by the wayside, how do workers continue to do the work that still needs to be done? I don't know. But, now, at least there's a resource for them.

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Shut It Already!

With all the craziness that's gone on in England over the last 48 or so hours, it's made some big changes in U.S. air travel. These aren't changes that will inconvenience anyone for more than a few minutes. I mean, what is the worst case scenario here? I have to check my entire duffle bag instead of carrying it on because I have a bottle of hair gel. Or I can't carry my Starbucks on the flight. That's really about it. Maybe more scrutiny at the checkpoint, but that's a given. We are at red alert for the first time since the U.S. implemented the terror threat coloring system. People who I heard on radio call in shows this morning have no concept of this-it's all about how they can't carry a fountain soda on a flight. For the love of all things holy, folks, it is not your right as an American to drink a latte on a plane. Heck, it isn't even your right to fly. I'll be on at least two flights in the next seven days and, I'm sure, it'll be different. But lest we forget - this IS for our own safety.

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Back In Again

Today's USA Today reports that Robin Williams is back in rehab. After drying out from coke and booze in the post - Mork and Mindy era, he went on to make some of (what I consider) the best movies of my lifetime: Dead Poets Society, Good Morning Vietnam, Patch Adams, just to name a few.

Apparently, he started hitting the bottle again recently and, as a proactive measure, checked himself back into rehab. Props to him! I still think that checking oneself into rehab is one of the gutsiest things that can be asked of anyone. It takes a ton of humility and strength and bravery to admit... "yep, I'm outta control. I either admit it or I die."

Many addicts I've known say that for so long, they wouldn't admit they had a problem. Then, by the time they DO admit it, they're in so far over their heads they wonder if they can get out. Again, props to Robin Williams for not allowing himself to get in over his head a second time.

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Come On, Baby, Light a Fire in My Ear

This morning, I saw Dr. Jim Hartman, my otolarincologist. First, I'm not sure I spelled that right, second, try saying it three times fast! Anyway, the shortened version is ear, nose and throat doctor. Due to some major trauma to my left ear canal, Dr. Hartman gets the joy of cleaning my ear canal every month or two.

A few days ago, I was having a convo with a friend and the subject of ear wax candles came up. Do they work? Are they dangerous? Could I cut my visits to Dr. Hartman if I used these? If you're not familiar, ear wax candles are approx. the size of the taper candles you set on the table during a romantic evening. So help me God, you lay your head on a table, stick one of these minature torches thru a paper plate and into your ear. Then you light it on fire and let it burn down to a mere couple of inches. This process supposedly causes a vacuum that sucks wax and debris from your ear canal.

While Dr. Hartman had me in the chair, I asked his opinion on this freakshow medical technique. He admitted that he's never seen an ear canal before and after a candle treatment. Being a brave soul, I ask, "You want a guinea pig?"

Now, think of this: if I do this and it works, I may take a bite out of his business. Still, Dr. Hartman tells me the truth - that he's willing to experiment and maybe find a way to eliminate his services.
Friends, I think this takes a lot of integrity. He could have just suggested himself right out of a job. And yet, the patient's needs come first. Props to Dr. Hartman for being up front and honest AND for keeping his patient's needs at the forefront of all interactions.


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Hospital Humor: A Necessity

In the most drastic and frightening times, finding a bit of humor is often therapeutic. This article was in the AP today and I thought I'd share how the father realizes that retaining his sense of humor will benefit all involved. Enjoy!

SALT LAKE CITY (Aug. 8) - Reconstructive surgery is now done on both of the twins who had been joined at the midsection.

It took a total of 26 hours to separate and then do the other necessary surgery on the four-year-old girls. Both are now in side-by-side beds at the pediatric intensive care unit of a Salt Lake City hospital. They'll likely be hospitalized a month.

The twins were born with a shared kidney, liver and pelvis. They also had just one set of legs. Surgeons distributed the legs and organs among them.

Meyers said the surgery, while complicated, had not presented any major surprises for the team of six surgeons, two anesthesiologists, two urologists, one radiologist and more than 25 nurses and medical technicians.

But the days ahead will still be tough, she said.

Erin Herrin, 25, broke into tears and fell into the arms of her 26-year-old husband, Jake Herrin when the couple was told the surgery had been successful. Relatives applauded.

"I don't know that it's set in yet," Jake Herrin said. "We're not going to feel totally comfortable until they're out of the OR and everything's stable."

"And we can hold them," his wife added.

The couple, who also have a 6-year-old daughter and twin 14-month-old boys, said they were eager to tell the girls how brave they had been and how proud they have made the family.
Jake Herrin even cracked a few surgery jokes.

"Most people say, 'You made it through in one piece," he said. "We can say, "You guys made it through in two."'

TREND

Saturday August 5

TREND National Conference

sponsored by the

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse

Special thanks to Ginny, Ed, Karen and the multitudes
of young people who made this event such a great time!
Thanks for welcoming Carson and I into your conference!

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Another Reason It's Good to Be A Man

Woman Gets Stuck on Toilet, Suffers Burns
AP

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (Aug. 3) - A woman who became stuck to a toilet seat in a shopping mall restroom was treated at a local hospital after paramedics used fingernail polish remover to free her, officials said.

The 53-year-old Council Bluffs woman suffered burns to her skin in the incident, which happened Wednesday, officials with the Fire Department said.
Investigators said they believe someone placed a cement compound on the toilet seat in the restroom at the Mall of the Bluffs.

Investigators say they are treating the case as an assault and vandalism.
The woman, who wasn't identified, told KETV in Omaha, Neb., that the burns are painful and that the incident was one of the most embarrassing moments in her life.

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Save the Date!! Save the Date!!

You, yes you, are invited!

Friday, October 27th, 7:30 p.m.

Edward D. Jones Auditorium here in St. Louis

at 270 and Manchester

The long-awaited book release event for the second edition of my autobiography,

"After This...An Inspirational Journey for All the Wrong Reasons."

But, since your old buddy Marcus is an overachiever, this will not only be the book release event for "After This..." but the book release event for my second work,

"The Other End of the Stethoscope: 33 Insights for Excellent Patient Care!"

On this night, yours truly will do a 45 minute lecture and guitar/vocals performance where I'll play many of the songs and musical influences that helped form these books.

I would love it if you (yes, you!) can be there!

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Idiot

I am sick, SICK of hearing about Mel Gibson's anti-seimetic remarks. I do not care what Mr. Gibson thinks of Jews. I do not care what he thinks of women. I don't care what he thinks about God, religion, history, or World War II. This is America and we're granted (right there in the first amendment) freedom of speech. In Mel's case, this is freedom to spout off and sound like a total jackass. So, can we stop caring about if he hates Jews already? Here's something no one wants to admit: hate, by itself, has never killed a single person. Hate has to be mixed with lynch mobs and ropes, guns and whips, furnaces and gas showers to kill anyone. Again, hate, by itself, just makes an individual look like an idiot.

While hate has never killed a person, DWI kills over 15,000 people in America every year. Look at that number again: 15,000. That is five times the number of people as were killed on 9-11. And where's our war on impaired driving? Where's our outrage and literally tens of thousands of hours of talkshow time devoted to something that actually kills people? It's no where, at least not when talking about ol' Mel.

Look, Mel Gibson was drunk as a skunk and driving over twice the speed limit when he was pulled over. Do we look at that? No! Not as much as the fact he lipped off to an officer about religious bigotry which hurt NO ONE except Gibson himself (i.e., hurt his name by making him look like a hater).

Let's get off this kick of looking at his views and start persecuting him for the real crime.

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Camp TAMBO fun!

Thanks to all who made the week so special!

Legal Disclaimer

Those of us who like to play music have one major fear: lawyers. When I go sit in a pub and play Springsteen songs, I'm always a little afraid there'll be a lawyer who'll show up with a cop, arrest me, impound my guitar and amp and... why? Because I'm breaking some copyright law. Realistic? Not really. Still, I don't want someone stealing my copyrighted material, so I try to always at least say the name of the artist that wrote the tune.

So, today I was looking around on the web site of one of my faorite singers, Michelle Shocked. In the liner notes of one of her albums, there reads a very formal and legal-sounding disclaimer about copying, re-distribution, selling, etc. etc. etc. and how it's all illegal. Then, after all that jazz, she has written, "But anyone who sings these songs is a friend of mine."

Sister Shocked, this is why I love you! How can an artist create but not share? Michelle Shocked knows what's up and I now have one less thing to fear when I play "Come Along Way" while out and about.

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Testosterone-Riddled Weekend

I just returned from a weekend bachelor party for my good bud and old fraternity brother, Andy. What a great time! I'm so looking forward to the wedding weekend and seeing all the new friends I made over this weekend. Vive la Lilly...and congrats, Artsy Boy!