Year End Review 2010

A New Years resolution seems to be a tradition for many. On “Coast to Coast AM” this morning it was all about predictions. Eric gives a state of the blog address for the “Tygrrrr Express.” I think with tonight's post I will have started a tradition of my own. The Year End Review


Year in Review 2010


If I had to sum up 2010 with one word, I would have to use "challenging." I was challenged as a Councilmember, Broadcaster, Promotions Czar, Small Business Owner, Recording Engineer and a guy who passed over the mid-twenty mark. Challenging is the most appropriate way to describe the past 12 months. A challenge can be uncomfortable, however I view a challenge as a good thing. It is something that will make us stretch, grow, and force us to look at a situation with a different point of view.


It was challenging to find the time and dedication to do all that I had put on my plate in 2010. I am a little bit relieved that 2011 appears to have less responsibilities than that of the beginning of this year.


I was challenged by the amazing opportunities that I was fortunate to participate in 2010. Crazy-cool things such as sitting in the press box of the Cardinal/Green Bay game, interviewing Ward Connerly, Mike Huckabee, and then the incredible pop culture experience that was Comic-Con 2010. Because of the radio station I had the honor of Introducing Huey Lewis and the News, flying in Time Peace with Gary and Larry, and hosting two different radio shows every week. The city has given me the opportunity to network with community leaders and learn more about municipal government, not to mention I got to sit on the edge of a CH-46. Eight Twenty Four did a little better this year, the best part was recording and working with international news makers and lets not forget all the political campaigns that made 2010 a fun year to work with candidates professionally.


I was also challenged as a public official as there was immense pressure for public support in all areas and only limited resources. The public transportation system took a lot of momentum from all of us individually. The conversation continued about feral cats, however we are still no closer to any solution or option to deal with the issue. Graffiti abatement has taken a step forward. I personally had the opportunity during a ride-along to witness our officers catch two in the act of vandalism. The ride-alongs this year have been eye-opening and I can't wait to close out 2010 and welcome 2011 with a unique prospective in the front seat of a City of Yuma patrol car.



Happy New Year!

Thoughts on Radio

I have absolutely fallen in love with this thing called radio. (to bad it is dying)
It is a great place to use a recording engineering degree and it's a pretty fun job too.

Oh and I am News-Talk, none of this "celebrity birthday / here is your next song" crap. We talk for hours over here.

I owe much of my foundation to a little corny show called Tradio.

Tradio has taught me to:
1. Be friendly
2. Multi-task like crazy
3. Control the air
4. Listen, talk, write, calculate and read (at the same time) on live air

The rest is advice I have collected from broadcasters.

Mike Huckabee - Talk as if you are speaking to a friend across the dinner table. Talk to just one person.
JD Hayworth - We all have two ears and one mouth for a reason. Listen.
Phil Hendrie - Record yourself every night. Don't Listen to it, just write down what you liked and didn't like.
Jeff Edwards - Don't reveal what is really happening. This is theatre of the mind.
Dave Nash - Always speak with a smile. It comes through.
Red Mountain - Speak from your diaphragm. Don't puke.
Russ Clark - Prep as if there were no phones, commercials, or guests. In fact you want to over prep.
Jay Fox - Practice speaking with a football mouth guard in your mouth.

I am thankful to be able to learn such things from such great people.

Let me clear up a comment I made at the top. I think radio will always be around, however in just my little time here I see how the industry has changed dramatically. I think the New-Talkers will be needed. They have to fill time. However I think music stations will become more like internet radio piped into transmitter towers. That is if we still use the traditional transmitters and receivers. Only time will tell. 

Fox Pilot Previews

In case you are not aware Fox is notorious for canceling programs immediately if the pilot episode isn't well received. This week I had the privilege to watch the pilot’s for the upcoming Fox season, everything should be premiering next week. (This should have went up a week ago, but it was my birthday week, so tough.)

So without further ado here's the break down.

"RUNNING WILDE" Premiering on TUE SEPT 21 9:30/8:30c
I think we are all looking forward to the next thing that is like Arrested development. Well this has David Cross, Gob and the same style of humor. The main character plays the same character he played in AD, but it works and it certainly has its funny moments.

I have seen the second show of Running Wilde. It is much better that the pilot. The characters develop and it has a nice flow. I still have some reservations about this show, one reason is the narration from the young mute girl, but it’s not like they could have David Cross do it. I am still watching and I like what I have seen.

"MIXED SIGNALS" Premiering midseason on TUE 9:30/8:30c
I had to say I started this the other day with McD and stopped about 1 min into it. I think McD would have appreciated it more than me. At first it looks like another relationship-comedy and we all know we have too many of those on TV as it is, however this has bite. I liked it for being cleaver and the characters have room to grow. I think the cast has a nice mix. Although it has the same formula as other relationship sit-coms. It seems to bring the edgy humor we have come to expect from FOX. I was wrong to judge this by its cover; I thought I was getting another "where I met your mom” or some rubbish like that, but not the case. This is better. I would watch this again.

"RIDE-ALONG" Premiering midseason on MON 9/8c
It takes a lot to do a good cop drama and this one falls short. I don't know if it will be around to develop into something good, but it will never be a NYPD Blue or Law & Order. It has too much "cheese" for that, really this show has some cheesy lines. The lead is played by Jason Clarke whom you may know from "Public Enemies". To tell you the truth, he looks a lot like Chandler from "Friends" So that is what I keep seeing when I watch this. It does touch on Chicago style politics, which is a night and day difference from what I am used to seeing. I can't believe an alderman would have that big of an office, so it just seems to stretch too far. Oh yeah, and it has nothing to do with doing a ride-along, I would know, I have been on at least 20+ ride-alongs and nothing from this show has ever happened on any other them. I must say McD and others liked it and they would watch it again, but not I.

Comprehensive Cat Reform

Monday, the gentlemen I was at lunch with, encouraged me to bring this idea back up. They liked the idea and wanted to use it in their cities, so here it is.

Together as a community, we could participate at various levels to start chipping away the feral cat problem. This is a multi-layered plan that requires a lot of people to give a little, a few people to be proactive in their neighborhoods and a government to provide the structure and oversight.

First things first.
We know that citizens will help by renting a trap and they will also take the captured feral cat to the Humane Society. However, in the past few years, the local Humane Society has started charging collection fees. This action has discouraged those who are willing to do the heavy lifting in our neighborhoods. We have good people that are willing to do the work, they just can't afford to pay for every feral cat that is captured.

What can local government do?
We can set up a voluntary fund to cover the cost associated with the program. The City has over 20,000 users that receive a bi-monthly water bill. If any of those users wish to contribute toward the program, let them! It would be a voluntary, optional charge included on the water bill. Of course, you MUST op-in to join. This is not for everyone, it's probably only for those who are animal lovers and want to see a humane solution to this ever increasing problem of overpopulation of feral cats.

The money that would be collected in this special account, would go to pay for vouchers that city residents could request. The voucher could pay for the processing fee that the Humane Society charges. The idea behind the voucher program would be to collect money and buy vouchers in bulk thus, saving on administrative costs at the Humane Society.

There will be some kittens and litters that have a chance to be socialized. Those cats could be neutered, vaccinated, and could be adopted to good homes. There will be some ill, diseased, and injured cats, and those animals could have a humane euthanasia. This seems like a positive alternative, to deteriorating in pain in the wilderness or a back alley somewhere.


That's it.
1. You op-in and voluntary pay a few cents more a month.
2. City residents could request vouchers.
3. Residents that receive vouchers, could do as they have in the past and rent the trap, collect, and deposit the feral cat at no extra expense to them.
4. The feral cats collected, could have an opportunity to live a disease-free, long life in a loving home.

Weekend Movie Review

Lets start with Dinner for Schmucks, I saw this movie on Friday. I was excited to see the new Steve Carrell flick, I enjoy his humor and I like most of his stuff. Well not really this one. Man, did it take a long time to get to the dinner, which is really what every one wants to see. It just had a lot of build up and a quick happy ending. Save your money unless you really want to see it. If that is the cast just go see Salt, because most of the good parts of this movie are in the previews before Salt.

Saturday evening I put my mind on pause and watched Inception, this was a nice change of pace from the previous movie, however it was a much faster pace. Lots of stuff to take in and you really don't stop wondering about it until after you are out of the theater. Leonardo DiCaprio can go inside your dreams and mess with your mind, kind of a cool story but also dry, definitely one that hasn't been repeated to death. Ellen Page was in the movie and I saw her at Comic-Con, so that is already worth more points than the Schmucks movie.

What could be a better way to conclude the weekend than with a Sunday night movie? Tonight was Salt. Angelina Jolie is a bad ass and still smoking hot, so this was the best movie of the weekend. She plays the best character she knows how to play. A bad ass. What more can I say? It was better than the disappointing Steve Carrell movie and the weird Leonardo DiCaprio one.


There you go that's it.

My thoughts on YCAT

July 26, 2010 - We need to keep public transportation in Yuma AZ. It helps those who need help, takes people to work and provides opportunities for education. We need public transportation in Yuma. Let's fund it for a full year instead of a quarter. Let's reform the system and make it work, not dismantle it.


Last week I attended the regular city council meeting via teleconference. I wanted to explain my position, so before the meeting I sent the following letter.

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Good evening fellow Councilmembers,

I am writing to express my thoughts on the funding for YCAT and DAR.

Let me start by stating, this system needs reform. We all know that
fact. However, requiring that reform in 90 to 120 days, seems to me,
like a near impossible challenge to any agency with this many active
components and complexity.

Rest assured, a Transit Needs Assessment is in the works. There is an
ADOT grant that will in detail examine this system and point out the
areas that need improvement, replacement or complete abolishment. This
process will take longer than 120 days to complete.

The funds requested are the same amount rather than broken down
quarterly or as one figure.

What are the impacts to the contractor, if we only fund the program for
a quarter? Will the operating practices change? If so, how?

The City of Yuma is the last member to fund the program at the new
levels. All other members have agreed to contribute the required funds.

The only reason to withhold funds, is to keep the option to back out
after a few months. This will make the City of Yuma solely responsible
for collapsing the system, that is in the process of being re-designed.

I would like to see a regional or intergovernmental transit system, but
that is further out than 120 days.

Sincerely,
Councilmember Cody Beeson

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Sent from a BlackBerry. ;)

just do it

June 30 2010 - About time. If this blog is going to be something I keep up to date, I need to just do it, and do it everyday....
I have wanted to post so much stuff but I keep holding back because I haven't updated this thing since week 2 of the weight loss challenge that we did last year.......

Well I really just want to post my thoughts on the issues that come up in politics or maybe things I come across in broadcasting.

That's it for today.