Garrison Keillor and his Prairie Home Companion are in St. Louis this week. Keillor and his crew are entertaining an audience at the Fox Theatre as I write this.
Keillor is no stranger to St. Louis having played here several times in the past. And he certainly got the crowd involved in the performance shortly after the start of the second hour. Keillor, asked the large crowd if they knew of "The Missouri Waltz". It responded with a huge roar. Keillor is probably unaware the official state song of Missouri is played several times at each Mizzou home football and basketball game. But, he didn't sing the song as originally written. He modified the line following the lyrics "the banjos were strumming". And Keillor also got a huge cheer when he made reference to Albert Pujols breaking a light in a sign at Busch Stadium during the Cardinals last home stand.
About 3500 people are attending the show, which was sponsored by KWMU radio which airs it locally.
May 30, 2009
Lee Enterprises Wanting More...More...More
Lee Enterprises is asking it's employees at the "St. Louis Post-Dispatch" for more in the way of concessions. Lee, whose stock closed at a dollar a share on Friday, is asking each worker at the Post to take another week off without pay. The union...er, Newspaper Guild told Lee it would consider the offer only if Lee would agree to no layoffs during contract negotiations.
Earlier Lee apparently angered it's employees by asking for a 23 percent pay cut over the next three years and a huge slash to the benefits of it's working and retired employees.
The Post-Dispatch is the company's largest newspaper holding. Lee's previous newspaper experience has been in markets such as Hannibal and Park Hills, Mo. Maysville, Ky and Munster, In.
Earlier Lee apparently angered it's employees by asking for a 23 percent pay cut over the next three years and a huge slash to the benefits of it's working and retired employees.
The Post-Dispatch is the company's largest newspaper holding. Lee's previous newspaper experience has been in markets such as Hannibal and Park Hills, Mo. Maysville, Ky and Munster, In.
May 26, 2009
A Belated Memorial Day Thank You
I am late in posting this because I had no electricity for 5 1/2 hours last night due to the incompetent power company serving our area.
My post is to tell the men and women active in the US armed services THANK YOU!!! Thank you for all you have given to me, my family and my country. Without you I would not have the life I do. And to those who served in the past in the armed forces of the United States, thank you very very much too! And most importantly thank you to those who paid the ultimate price to maintain our freedom. I salute them and their families.
My post is to tell the men and women active in the US armed services THANK YOU!!! Thank you for all you have given to me, my family and my country. Without you I would not have the life I do. And to those who served in the past in the armed forces of the United States, thank you very very much too! And most importantly thank you to those who paid the ultimate price to maintain our freedom. I salute them and their families.
May 25, 2009
Nice Job by Mattingly Brewing
I had the chance to stop at a favorite South St. Louis brewpub this weekend. I visited Mattingly Brewing on South Jefferson and only had time for one so I ordered the Brightside Belgian White. As you know from reading past posts I am a fan of big beers. This Belgian Style Witbier is not a "big beer" but my is it tasty. When I received my pint, it almost reminded me of lemonade. But, this was no lemonade. This is one fine beer! I have been to Mattingly's several times now and each of their beers I've sampled have been a treat. I hope to visit again soon.
Congrats to the Mizzou Women's Softball Team
Congratulations to the Missouri University women's softball team which has advanced to the NCAA Women's College World Series for the first time in five years. The Tigers advanced by taking a best of three Super-Regional from second seeded UCLA winning the rubber game 9-1.
Up next for the lady Tigers is a game against Arizona State at two Thursday in Oklahoma City.
Up next for the lady Tigers is a game against Arizona State at two Thursday in Oklahoma City.
...and to the Missouri Men
Mizzou's baseball team is also continuing it's season after a tough loss in the Big 12 championship game yesterday afternoon to Texas in Oklahoma City. The Tigers are the number two seed in the Oxford, Mississippi regional and will take on Western Kentucky Friday. The winner of the regional will advance to the Super-Regional the following week. The winners of the Super-Regional will advance to the College World Series in Omaha the first weekend in June.
May 22, 2009
More Layoffs at the Post
"The St. Louis Post-Dispatch" has canned 39 more employees. The "paper of record" is outsourcing three of the jobs to one of it's small town papers in Indiana where it operates a call center handling classified advertising. The remaining jobs were cut as Lee Enterprises, which owns the Post, is contracting with a third party to handle it's distribution.
The bottom line for St. Louis is if you want to put a classified ad in the Post, you will have to call someone in Indiana who is employed by a company headquartered in Davenport, Iowa. And if you have a problem with your paper being delivered you will have to deal with some faceless person who doesn't work for the Post-Dispatch, but rather some Lee Enterprises subsidiary.
And Lee wonders why fewer and fewer St. Louisans are reading it's newspaper.
The bottom line for St. Louis is if you want to put a classified ad in the Post, you will have to call someone in Indiana who is employed by a company headquartered in Davenport, Iowa. And if you have a problem with your paper being delivered you will have to deal with some faceless person who doesn't work for the Post-Dispatch, but rather some Lee Enterprises subsidiary.
And Lee wonders why fewer and fewer St. Louisans are reading it's newspaper.
May 18, 2009
SNL Knocks It Out of the Park
If you missed Saturday Night Live this weekend, you missed one of it's finest efforts of the year. The show was outstanding with Will Ferrell hosting and Green Day providing the musical entertainment.
The regular cast was joined by former cast members Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Norm MacDonald and Ferrell. In addition actor Tom Hanks joined in several sketches. (The fact that his new picture "Angels & Demons" just came out probably motivated him to join the cast this week, as it did Ferrell who also has a new film opening soon).
From the opening sketch featuring Ferrell as George Bush and Darryl Hammond as Dick Cheney (apparently this was Hammond's final appearance as a regular on the show) to the last skit it was full of laughs. The final sketch featured all of this year's cast members, those former cast members, Hanks and cameos from Artie Lange, Paul Rudd & Ann Hathaway as well as Green Day "playing" musical instruments in a take off of the song "Goodnight Saigon".
The funniest segment all night was the spoof of "Jeopardy", with Ferrell playing a beleaguered Alex Trebek. If you missed the segment Saturday night you may see it by clicking here. It's also the funniest skit the cast did all year.
SNL is again funny and full of talented performers. I am looking forward to the start of the show's 2009-2010 season.
The regular cast was joined by former cast members Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Norm MacDonald and Ferrell. In addition actor Tom Hanks joined in several sketches. (The fact that his new picture "Angels & Demons" just came out probably motivated him to join the cast this week, as it did Ferrell who also has a new film opening soon).
From the opening sketch featuring Ferrell as George Bush and Darryl Hammond as Dick Cheney (apparently this was Hammond's final appearance as a regular on the show) to the last skit it was full of laughs. The final sketch featured all of this year's cast members, those former cast members, Hanks and cameos from Artie Lange, Paul Rudd & Ann Hathaway as well as Green Day "playing" musical instruments in a take off of the song "Goodnight Saigon".
The funniest segment all night was the spoof of "Jeopardy", with Ferrell playing a beleaguered Alex Trebek. If you missed the segment Saturday night you may see it by clicking here. It's also the funniest skit the cast did all year.
SNL is again funny and full of talented performers. I am looking forward to the start of the show's 2009-2010 season.
May 12, 2009
Kudos to the MLB Channel
I was watching the Cardinals get blown out tonight by the Pirates and started flipping channels. I stopped on the MLB Network long enough to start watching a program called "MLB Tonight: 1st to 3rd". The show is terrific. It shows live look-ins of various games in key situations. The production also utilizes video highlights of just completed plays from all of the ballparks to keep it's viewers up to date. Add inciteful analysis and you have a can't miss program for any serious baseball fan.
I am constantly criticizing Major League Baseball but this time it got the job done right. Hats off to the anchor of the crew Matt Vasgersian and to analysts Harold Reynolds and Mitch Williams. "MLB Tonight: 1st to 3rd" airs from 7-9 each night there are games. It is followed by "MLB Tonight: Roundtripper" from nine to eleven. It too is an excellent tool for baseball fans. It's anchored by Greg Amsinger with analysis from Harold Reynolds and Joe Magrane.
I am constantly criticizing Major League Baseball but this time it got the job done right. Hats off to the anchor of the crew Matt Vasgersian and to analysts Harold Reynolds and Mitch Williams. "MLB Tonight: 1st to 3rd" airs from 7-9 each night there are games. It is followed by "MLB Tonight: Roundtripper" from nine to eleven. It too is an excellent tool for baseball fans. It's anchored by Greg Amsinger with analysis from Harold Reynolds and Joe Magrane.
May 08, 2009
I Would Like to Have Gotten this Job
Most of the time when I write about the media it's to criticize something I've read or seen.
But, today's post is to compliment NPR on a story it aired on today's "Morning Edition". It's about a job I should have applied for and the lucky individual who got the "position".
Turn on your speakers and click here to listen to it:
But, today's post is to compliment NPR on a story it aired on today's "Morning Edition". It's about a job I should have applied for and the lucky individual who got the "position".
Turn on your speakers and click here to listen to it:
May 07, 2009
Manny's Words Ring Hollow
Manny Ramirez must like to apologize. "Steroid Dude" has apologized for his latest screw up saying he made a mistake. Yeah, no kidding. But, he did the same thing last summer. He apologized to his teammates and his fans after he knocked down the travelling secretary. Too bad I don't believe him this time either.
Regardless of his apology Ramirez won't be on the field until the first week in July.
Regardless of his apology Ramirez won't be on the field until the first week in July.
Manny the Cheater
Manny Ramirez has been suspended by Major League Baseball for 50 games. Why you ask? Because he tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance. Manny must be guilty as sin because he waived on an appeal and the suspension begins with tonight's game against the Washington Nationals in Los Angeles.
Oh and it will cost him over $7.7 million dollars, or roughly 31% of his annual $25 million salary.
I guess what goes around comes around. Last summer Ramirez physically abused his team's travelling secretary while with the Red Sox. All that happened was he was traded to the Dodger and then rewarded with that huge contract. Maybe there is karma.
Oh and it will cost him over $7.7 million dollars, or roughly 31% of his annual $25 million salary.
I guess what goes around comes around. Last summer Ramirez physically abused his team's travelling secretary while with the Red Sox. All that happened was he was traded to the Dodger and then rewarded with that huge contract. Maybe there is karma.
May 02, 2009
This Is Post 400
This is a bit of a milestone for me in my posting these things to Blogspot. Number 400. That works out to about 100 per year. By no means is it prolific like many bloggers but I am glad that you all have been reading. So here's to you and to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for being such an easy target.
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