Lots of Docs

Since my current situation hasn't resolved itself, I'm using the time for more important family matters.

My Dad has a couple procedures this week, and I decided to head East, to keep my Mother from going insane with worry.

Normally, people wouldn't worry about colonoscopies and hernia surgeries.

However, my dad's last colonoscopy nearly killed him.

The doctor, who refuses to admit his mistake to this day, apparently punctured something inside my dad while removing polyps.

Of course, this wasn't discovered at the time, nor was it found during a follow-up x-ray when my father complained of discomfort.

Only after a life-threatening condition erupted, did a surgeon decide my dad needed to be opened up in order for the problem to be corrected.

12 days later my dad got to go home, and of course, that's when the post-surgery hernia developed.

But here's the kicker ... the same doctor that punctured my dad (but won't admit it), recently sent him a letter announcing that his next colonoscopy was not only due ... it was scheduled!

My dad called the doc and nicely explained that he wouldn't be undergoing the procedure, since the physician nearly killed him last time around.

The surgeon recommended a new doctor ... and I'm happy to say we got that part of the visit out of the way this morning ... with dad getting a clear bill of health.

Tomorrow is the surgery ... so I'll be back at the hospital more often than I like for a parent.

But, hopefully, things will go as well as they did today ... and he'll be home in 3-5 days.

Swing And A Miss

Well, if you've followed my blog ... you saw my letter to the Cleveland Indians sales department, informing them why I would not be purchasing tickets prior to the 2009 season.

15 days went by before I got a response from the account executive.

It came yesterday via e-mail. The exact same pitch to buy tickets ... word for word ... basically, a form letter.

So, my new friend in the front office got another e-mail from me, asking for his supervisor's name and explaining how disappointed I was that I received a second, identical pitch when the concerns of my first letter were not addressed.

The account executive got back to me, after a delay, during which I'm guessing he frantically tried to find my previous e-mail.

He explained his supervisor was out of the office this week, and that my prior e-mail likely ended up caught in a spam filter. He said this despite the fact that my most recent e-mails went through just fine.

I thanked him, but still insisted upon his supervisor's e-mail, which I received in a one line message.

So, another e-mail went off to both the supervisor ... and, for the heck of it, Indians President Paul Dolan.

Surprisingly, I got a very nice letter back from the supervisor, apologizing for the customer service, and assuring me it would be taken care of. I responded with a thank you, especially considering how the account executive mentioned he was out of the office.

Plain and simple, the Indians aren't just inept on the field ... but in their sales department. I was flat out lied to by a salesman trying to peddle tickets to me.

As a fan who's always supported the team through off-season ticket purchases, that really made me angry, and strengthened my resolve to just buy tickets at the gate for any game I might want to see in 2009.

Sorry, Cleveland Indians, I tossed you a fastball over the plate, and you took a big swing and a miss.

One more strike, and you're out.

And the Emmy goes to ...

I haven't posted in a while ... and really debated whether I should write this or not .... I finally decided to go with it.

I had a couple discussions with former co-workers about the recent Emmy awards, and I shared my feelings with them.

Now, I'm sharing them here.

First off, let me say, this isn't a knock against anyone who's won or been nominated ... congratulations to you all. Many good people earn local news Emmys ... and deserve them.

I, however, don't believe in them.

I always felt that my work in the newsroom on a daily basis should be the standard by which I should be judged, not by how many awards sit on my mantle.

But, there's more to that than just my own strange sense of honor. You see, I believe the Emmys are deeply flawed.

First off, the group that runs the awards, NATAS, always charges an exorbitant fee for entries. And the more names on an entry, the more cash collected by NATAS.

Secondly, there is no standard of judging. The nominations are arrived at somehow ... then the tapes are sent to another market to be judged.

No one makes sure the ENTIRE entry is screened, and no one makes sure HOW they're being screened. For all we know, people just sit in a room, and draw names out of a hat, and bingo ... there's your Emmy winner.

True story ... several years ago my station hosted a "judging" night ... 2 people showed up, me and my News Director. Together, we apparently picked the best newscast in Atlanta.

And trust me, I'm sure that station trumpeted its victory up and down Peachtree Street. If only the viewers there knew, that two tired and hungry news folk in Cleveland made the decision.

Full disclosure, I also have a personal beef with NATAS.

You see, one year, I finally did allow for my name to be entered. It was for "team coverage" of an event I helped lead the charge on. I was very proud of this particular product, and the team that worked on it.

Lo and behold, it was nominated. Then, on Emmy night, the category disappeared. No award was handed out. I called the NATAS folks and asked why, and they couldn't give me a explanation. I then asked for a refund, and they said they couldn't do that. It was at that moment that I decided I had enough of the Emmy fun.

This year, I could have submitted my name for another "team coverage" category, and was urged to do so. I passed, and sure enough, the team was nominated. This time the award WAS handed out, and the station did not win.

So, I guess my resume is short one nomination.

But, considering I've heard arguments over Emmys, seen lingering bitterness over the statues, and, honestly, seen them handed to people who haven't earned them ... I'm not real worried about it.

GOP Low Blow

I try to avoid politics here as much as I can. My theory is that I'll vote for who I like, and you can vote for who you like, and we can both defend our decisions.

But, watching the GOP convention tonight ... I was appalled.

While most folks will be talking about the protesters that interrupted John McCain's speech tomorrow ... I want to write about something that happened before some of the network coverage.

MSNBC showed a video in full, produced by the Republicans, regarding the 9/11 attacks on America. The network, and Tom Brokaw, pitched to it as a "tribute" video to the victims of the terror attacks on America.

It wasn't. It was a pure and simple scare tactic.

I sat at home and watched slack-jawed. The GOP used video of a plane striking the WTC, and the Twin Towers collapsing. Video that we decided in my former newsroom to NEVER show again.

Plus, later in the video, the voice-over says something along the lines of "we all remember where we were that day. The images of buildings burning, and bodies falling."

They even ADDED a "scary" music cue to the moment the plane strikes. As if the horror of the day wasn't terrible enough.

I find this utterly reprehensible. I don't know anyone who died that day, but I can only imagine what the victims' family members feel.

Afterward, Keith Olbermann (who I realize has liberal leanings) echoed my sentiments with tears in his eyes ... going so far as to apologize for showing the video.

It's already up on YouTube, someone has taken the RNC video off C-Span and edited Olbermann's reaction in (at about the 3:23 mark). I'm presenting it here, because I'm interested to see what your thoughts are on the video.

And, for the record, if the Democrats had done this, I'd be strongly considering voting Republican in November.

If you're not watching ...

Seriously, I love The Daily Show.

I actually think it does things that "real" journalists SHOULD be doing ... but don't.

Take a look at this clip from last night ... granted it has a pro-Democrat slant ... but it really shows off how great the Daily Show's research team is.

Thanks, but no thanks

The Cleveland Indians want me to buy season tickets for 2009 ... I just got the e-mail.

For the past 3-4 years, the same Tribe sales guy has contacted me about season tickets. I've usually purchased a 6-game plan ...

This year, this was my response to him.

"Brian,

No offense to you ... or the organization ... but I will not be buying Indians tickets prior to the 2009 season.

Frankly, I'm tired of paying for full-price tickets that are offered later in the season at half-price.

I understand the need to get more butts in the seats during a disappointing season, but it's a slap in the face to those of us who buy tickets and support the team from March forward.

So, my new theory of ticket purchasing will be to buy them at the box office for games I want to go to ... and take advantage of your half-price offers later in the year.

Plus, I have always supported the team in the off-season with my cash, but as a hardcore baseball fan, it's hard to see my money not being put to any uses whatsoever.

To stand pat after nearly making the World Series in 2007 was a fatal mistake.

2009 will be a critical year in my fandom ... I hope to celebrate another playoff appearance next season. But, if it doesn't happen, I can't see myself continuing to support the team's ownership and front office."

I'm eager to see if I get a response.