Doug Quick Blog

Another Video....

2011-08-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted. My opinion would probably get me in trouble. So, I submit a video, this time....

Wisconsin Part 2

2011-03-10T10:50:00.000-08:00

More of Moore on Rachel Maddow's Show....

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Vote for YOUR BEST INTEREST! Vote Democratic!

Wisconsin

2011-03-10T10:35:00.000-08:00

I saw this on Rachel Madow's show Wednesday night. Michael Moore, said it best. A really moving speech and commentary on the situation there and across the USA. I've never been in a union, but my dad was. If you work a 40 hour week, with benefits and vacation....you should thank the unions, whether you're in one or not. Unions have paved the way for the establishment of a middle class in this country...now the rich controlling the Republicans, want to eliminate it.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I don't know anyone rich enough to be a Republican. I'm certainly not. Only the upper 2% are REAL republicans....the others are being manipulated by "hot button" issues....like abortion, religion, etc.. Don't be manipulated....don't vote against your best interest! Support labor....and the middle class.

Rachel Rocks

2011-03-03T22:23:00.000-08:00

I listened to this via XM radio on the way home on Wednesday evening.... This should be watched by all. Even those lemmings who watch and listen to right wing media. Rachel rocks on this one....!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

My faith in at least one local company has been restored

2011-03-03T08:27:00.000-08:00

The title pretty much sums it up. After complaining to Mobil about the recent restaurant.com promotion(see blogs below) and getting no response, the local Mobil outlets, Super Pantry comes though.

I informed representatives from Tri Star Marketing, owners and operators of local Super Pantry stores about the problems I was having with the Mobil promotion as well. The Tri-Star person I talked to(via e-mail) was very nice and apologetic. Frankly, Mobil should be the one apologizing, along with the scam known as “restaurant.com.”

Tri Star immediately sent me two gift cards and a written apology. Wow! Just when I thought that customer service was a thing of the past, Tri Star comes through!

So with that in mind, as you fill up your tank with that valuable commodity known as gasoline, stop into a local Super Pantry....and purchase a soft drink, or candy bar and know that Super Pantry values it's customers!

Marketing 101-part 3

2011-01-27T13:21:00.000-08:00

I came across a full page ad in the January 26th edition of the Danville Commercial-News for Crown Ford, a local Ford dealership in Hoopeston, Illinois. This is why proof reading is important...

My next question is: Is the dealership inviting customers in for a "really great deal" or is this what they're planning to do to the customers?

Marketing 101-part 2

2011-01-27T10:45:00.000-08:00

See Marketing 101 for the background on this follow up:

Today was the day I picked up another Loyalty Card for the BP program described in "Marketing 101" at another BP gas station.

I also check back with the restaurant.com website, and now the two Champaign restaurants are no longer listed. In fact in searching out local participating restaurants, I found that there were NONE listed within 100 miles of either Danville or Champaign.

So....my opinion on the BP promotion has been elevated. Not so with restaurant.com.

Stay tuned for the next adventure in Marketing 101 coming soon!

Marketing 101

2011-01-26T22:42:00.000-08:00

Recently, I received a couple of frequent customer offers from my oil company credit card people. One from Mobile-Exxon gave a $50 restaurant certificate for the purchase of 100 gallons of gasoline over a period of time. Because of my commute, I was able to fulfill the minimum requirement and received a certificate worth $50....which had to be converted to gift certificates to local restaurants.

The problem with this offer is that ONLY TWO restaurants are participating in the promotion within a 50 miles radius of my travels....and none of those are ones which I would in my wildest appetite ever visit! Now, there is another option....a number of other “offers” available which would honor the $50 restaurant certificate. The offers are for overpriced fruit baskets(shipping not included), overpriced cookies(shipping not included), overpriced spa products(shipping not included) and overpriced seafood(shipping not included). There are also a number of other restrictions which would require a legal interpretation.

The next frequent customer offer was that from BP. It was relatively simple...purchase gas, show your credit card receipt to the cashier, get a “loyalty card”, reveal the code and enter it into a website which records your purchases. Fill up 5 times and get $10 reward card from BP.

I now have done 4 fill ups....anticipating my final “loyalty card”....I filled up my tank. Went to get my last “loyalty card” and guess what? They're all out....could have some tomorrow. I stopped back to the same BP station to pick up my last “loyalty card”....and they're still out...not knowing when the next bundle is due. I'll keep trying, and I'll post in a future blog, when I get my last card, and when the $10 reward card is received....I'm still hoping for the best turn out on this one.

My phone company....Frontier. Formerly Verizon. I get my phone bill and inside there is an insert for bundling high-speed Internet, local and long distance phone for one promotional price.

My current Internet provider is a wireless low to medium speed service. Gee, it would be swell to get high-speed Internet, so I call Frontier and offer to sign-on. (I've done this several times with Verizon before). I've seen TV commercials, seen large outdoor billboards offering this same service from Frontier. I'm polite to the person on the line....they speak English, very nice, but they tell me this high-speed Internet service is not available to me.

I proceed, very politely to tell them that their marketing is supposed to make me and other customers feel good about their service. At finding out that the service they offer(and advertise), above my regular phone line service I receive now, the additional high-speed Internet service is not available to me, I proceed to tell them, I don't feel so good about their service....or company.

So, I know....I know.....let the buyer beware.

AM Radio Today

2011-01-26T22:01:00.000-08:00

Being an old "radio guy" I loved this one. Being a Progressive, I love it even more. Here's the story of most AM radio stations, you know, the ones with the conservative program lineups.... This is why when you scan the AM dial during the day you hear the same programs from one end ot the other....

Yea, this guys station is really "unique."

Your Tax Dollars at Work

2011-01-23T21:35:00.000-08:00

Aaron Schock (R-IL) now says that the signs which basically are updated versions of “Your Tax Dollars at Work” at road construction projects are “propaganda.” This right wing congressman from Illinois is working hard to find controversy in the even the smallest thing possible...just to keep his name in the news.

Congressmen Schock, give me a break! The signs which often read “Project Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” or “Putting American to Work” is a sign that the efforts of the Federal Government are working. Schock says they are a waste of money....I say they are an effort by the Federal Government to be transparent in letting the public know that the construction project is being funded by the Federal Government, not troubled state and local governments.

According to the Federal DOT, the price of the signs is less than 0.02% of the overall costs of all of the projects....is he going to criticize the renting of porta potties for the construction projects too?

These right wing Repubs, need to concentrate on the problem at hand....jobs and the creation of jobs....keep in mind many people had the job of creating and posting the signs.

Winter Time Drivers

2011-01-19T23:02:00.000-08:00

Here in east central Illinois our Winter weather has been quite tiring. Maybe thats it....but my rage against drivers who drive stupid is growing.

Daytime driving with a heavy cloud cover, light to moderate rain, snow, sleet, fog, you name the Winter time condition....and people refuse to drive with their headlights on! Visibilities reduced....so are most of these drivers brain function. What's so damned difficult about making the decision to turn on your lights?

Trying to pass someone on a two lane roadway, water is spraying around the vehicle/truck reducing the ability to see any oncoming vehicles coming at me....then from out of the fog comes some idiot without headlights.

The problem seems to exist among all models of cars, trucks, even semis, but I have found that the most popular vehicles being driven by these who are determined to go unnoticed on the roadways are Buicks....with a close second being all pick up trucks.

I would encourage local police departments to give tickets....who knows, the fines may pull a lot of municipalities out of any budget shortfalls they may be experiencing.

Now....about the turn signals.....

Healthcare Revisited

2011-01-19T22:59:00.000-08:00

Just when we thought the health care debate was over came the new republican majority in the House to vote against it. Refresh my memory but wasn't this the same group who criticized the Democrats for passing the Healthcare bill instead of concentrating on job creation? Now the new Repubs are.....voting against Healthcare instead of job creation!

The Repubs know that this bit of political posturing is nothing but a gesture that will go nowhere. The Senate is not going to consider the bill and the President will veto it if and only if it would even get that far. In so many words....this is a waste of time.

There are many Americans already benefiting with the new Affordable Care Bill and many more will in the upcoming years. By 2014 its repeal would be an outrage....similar to repealing Medicare or even Social Security. My prediction is that many Republicans who have voted against it will be haunted for years to come by their vote to repeal.

By the way, I love the polls that group two very different groups of voters together against the Healthcare bill. Unfortunately the pollsters combine those who have negative feelings, one part who are opposed totally with those who are opposed because the bill didn't go far enough. This has been used by the right-wing press and many Republicans to say that a large number of Americans are against it....when in fact it's totally NOT true.

I only hope that the public realizes that these are the same Congressmen and women who enjoy great health care coverage paid in part by taxpayers but have decided to deny you the same courtesy.

Summer off-now back to business....

2010-09-30T10:07:00.000-07:00

Since I dont' know any REAL republicans(those with very high incomes)....everyone else should undersand this. Even though you call yourself a republican...do you really qualify?

Nothing Really New....Fox Lies

2010-04-15T22:20:00.001-07:00

OK, here's something not really new. We know this....but this time it's so clear than even an idiot can see it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/15/oreilly-vs-coburn-the-vid_n_539478.html

It's obvious Bill O' and Fox lied about this....what else have they lied about? Would you believe....? EVERYTHING!

Radio Used to be a Pleasure to Listen To

2010-03-24T23:06:00.000-07:00

As a long time broadcaster I have a responsibility to the public, to my listeners or viewers. I remember the impression many broadcasters made on me during my youth, and during the early years in the business. I know how much of a pleasurable impression I have made in the minds of many radio listeners who have heard me at some time during my 35-plus years in broadcasting. I still get e-mails or someone will approach me in public to tell me about things they remember me doing even as far back as my first year in radio. I still find it amazing, but like them, I remember the pleasurable things that I heard on the radio or saw on TV back when I was very young.

What I'm hearing and seeing NOW on the broadcast airwaves frightens me. Radio stations all over the United States, most of them floundering AM stations in the effort to stay alive financially, have taken on the the roll of broadcasting syndicated right-wing programming. Many of these hosts have used the airwaves to incite their ultra conservative audiences into a dangerous emotional frenzy.

Right-wing radio obviously isn't the only culprit. The right-wing have their own TV network with it's own lineup of pompous wind bags. This TV network operates with no oversight at all, other than the financial support of it's advertisers. You might remember many advertisers have dropped their support of at least one of the shows offered by this quasi-news network.

What I'm addressing now, though, are local radio broadcasters. The incidents of violence and threats that have come from the recent passing of the Health Care Bill is most assuredly the result of these TV and radio personalities. Under the protection of “free speech” they have done the equivalent of “shouting fire in a crowded theater.” The individual hosts will never have to assume the responsibility for the actions of their ignorant mob followers who take what they hear as some kind of spiritual instruction. This responsibility will fall mainly on the local radio station which broadcasts this right-wing programming.

Local radio, and in fact all broadcasters operate on the public airwaves. These syndicated national programs have no obligation to the public, only to their advertisers. Local broadcasters have a responsibility to their communities. Any dangerous rhetoric on the local airwaves which brings about any violence, hate crimes, mob action or threats within the local community which hears this right-wing radio vomit will ultimately be responsible and should immediately lose their license to broadcast.

Besides, listening to the radio used to be a pleasurable thing to do.

Can't We Just be Civil?

2010-03-23T22:11:00.000-07:00

What has happened to people's behavior? The behavior of people during the health care debate has been nothing short of appalling. There are groups I would expect to conduct protests, but the complete disregard to civility in Congress, on the streets, on the Internet, with the number of Facebook and Twitter threats has been over the top.

Republicans continue to add to their current list of “talking points” which do nothing but stir up the ignorant followers of people who still think the earth is flat. We've heard time and time again phrases such as “start over” “start with a clean sheet of paper” “government controlled health care” “death panels” “higher taxes for everyone” now we add the neo-cons flagrant use of the phrase that they speak for all “Americans” when in fact it's a total lie!

The use of violent threats and encouraging violent responses from these low information vigilantes will bring about more domestic terrorism. We've already seen offices of Democratic headquarters in a few locations being vandalized. We saw the reactions of select individuals at members of Congress on Sunday. We've all heard the dangerous insightful rants of members of Congress, such as Michelle Bachman and others like Sarah Palin. Even Palin's website is using language which could easily be interpreted as encouraging violence.

Now John McCain is admitting that he is going to occupy a seat in congress do nothing through the end of the year! Frankly, I don't think that the citizens of Arizona are paying him to do nothing. In fact, the Republicans have not done their job since President Obama was elected. They have offered nothing...other than repeating the mantra “start over” “start with a clean sheet of paper”, etc..

Keep in mind John McCain ran with the campaign slogan, “Country First.” Now, he just appears to be a bitter old man and an incredibly poor loser. The majority of voters voted for change. The Democrats won, the Republicans lost. We're finding out just how classless the Republican party has become. This is not the Republican party of Dwight D. Eisenhower or even Barry Goldwater.

It should be obvious by now to everyone, the goal of the neo-cons was to shut down government after the Republican loss to the Democrats last year. Mitch McConnell has admitted that. That's why the Senate is completely stalled. There's over 200 bills, which were voted on and approved by the House and still sit in the Senate which have not been voted on. There are still many jobs left unfilled in various government capacities which are going vacant, simply because of a few Republican Senators who have chosen to do nothing.

The Republicans say they want smaller less expensive government. If they're not going to legitimately legislate then they should all resign to reduce the size of government, or at least turn their paychecks back....and let's not forget, they should turn down their “government run health care” insurance as well.

This aside, the thing that scares me are the large numbers of potentially violent, low information people out there who fall for the misinformation, lies and fabrications that have been repeated over and over again by the right wing talkers....and certain members of Congress. This has gone beyond just health care. These are people who believe that our President is a Socialist, a Muslim and even “the anti-Christ.” It's the leaders of the Republican party in Congress who have the responsibility to denounce the people who are stirring up the emotions of these easily swayed people who feel threatened by their own government. So far, they haven't. They should all be held responsible for every threat or act of domestic terrorism done in their behalf. Just like Joseph McCarthy was exposed as the liar he was, these contemporary leaders will be exposed as well. Then maybe we'll get back to just being civil.

What Health Care Reform means to us....

2010-03-23T10:27:00.000-07:00

There's been so much mis-information about the Health Care Reform...here's what it means for us now...

This year, children with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied health insurance coverage. Once the new health insurance exchanges begin in the coming years, pre-existing condition discrimination will become a thing of the past for everyone.
This year, health care plans will allow young people to remain on their parents' insurance policy up until their 26th birthday.
This year, insurance companies will be banned from dropping people from coverage when they get sick, and they will be banned from implementing lifetime caps on coverage. This year, restrictive annual limits on coverage will be banned for certain plans. Under health insurance reform, Americans will be ensured access to the care they need.
This year, adults who are uninsured because of pre-existing conditions will have access to affordable insurance through a temporary subsidized high-risk pool.
In the next fiscal year, the bill increases funding for community health centers, so they can treat nearly double the number of patients over the next five years.
This year, we'll also establish an independent commission to advise on how best to build the health care workforce and increase the number of nurses, doctors and other professionals to meet our country's needs. Going forward, we will provide $1.5 billion in funding to support the next generation of doctors, nurses and other primary care practitioners -- on top of a $500 million investment from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Health insurance reform will also curb some of the worst insurance industry practices and strengthen consumer protections:

This year, this bill creates a new, independent appeals process that ensures consumers in new private plans have access to an effective process to appeal decisions made by their insurer.

This year, discrimination based on salary will be outlawed. New group health plans will be prohibited from establishing any eligibility rules for health care coverage that discriminate in favor of higher-wage employees.

Beginning this fiscal year, this bill provides funding to states to help establish offices of health insurance consumer assistance in order to help individuals in the process of filing complaints or appeals against insurance companies.

Starting January 1, 2011, insurers in the individual and small group market will be required to spend 80 percent of their premium dollars on medical services. Insurers in the large group market will be required to spend 85 percent of their premium dollars on medical services. Any insurers who don't meet those thresholds will be required to provide rebates to their policyholders.

Starting in 2011, this bill helps states require insurance companies to submit justification for requested premium increases. Any company with excessive or unjustified premium increases may not be able to participate in the new health insurance exchanges.

Reform immediately begins to lower health care costs for American families and small businesses:

This year, small businesses that choose to offer coverage will begin to receive tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums to help make employee coverage more affordable.

This year, new private plans will be required to provide free preventive care: no co-payments and no deductibles for preventive services. And beginning January 1, 2011, Medicare will do the same.

This year, this bill will provide help for early retirees by creating a temporary re-insurance program to help offset the costs of expensive premiums for employers and retirees age 55-64.

This year, this bill starts to close the Medicare Part D 'donut hole' by providing a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who hit the gap in prescription drug coverage. And beginning in 2011, the bill institutes a 50% discount on prescription drugs in the 'donut hole.'

Yeah! It passed!

2010-03-22T11:19:00.000-07:00

John Boehner, you know the minority leader with the fake tan in the House....he said that the Health Care Bill would pass “over his dead body.” Rush Limbaugh said he would move to Costa Rica if this Health Care Bill passes.

I hope Rush stops in Ohio and goes to the funeral before he catches his plane!

That's it for now....

2010-02-24T22:45:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since I've written anything, and for those who follow my ramblings, I apologize.

The past few weeks, have been particularly busy, but I won't go into detail. There was also a period of time in which to reduce my own stress level, I eliminated all exposure to current events. Frankly, it was almost like a vacation. But now, I've fallen back into the habit of keeping up with what's going on with national politics....so that's giving me a reason to write at least a little. And a little is what you're going to get.....so here it goes.

The obstructionists got their asses kicked a couple of weeks ago when President Obama hosted them in the televised banquet hall meeting. He called them out on all the silly standard Republican talking points. It was so effective, FOX news dumped out of the coverage because it showed just how unwarranted their stance has been against the Democrats. ...and Obama shut them down without a teleprompter.

It was great to see President Obama get tough over the last couple of weeks. I just wish he'd quit trying to go “bi-partisan.” No way in hell is any Republican going to vote for anything that Obama and the Democrats want. He the President would come out and state the world is round, the Republicans would insist it was flat. You think I'm kidding? I'm surprised the Repubs don't wear their pants backwards just because the President wears his frontwards.

I can't wait until the Health Care Summit. This should be good!

The “Pay as you Go” legislation which passed a couple of weeks ago in the House, passed without one vote from any Republican. This very Republican piece of legislation was a Democratic sponsored bill. Yet, not one Republican voted for it. It's amazing that not one Republican has the guts to go against the daily instruction from the RNC....and the lobbyists.

The east central Illinois budgetary moral compass known as Rep. Tim Johnson also voted against the bill. He's just another Republican shill who will vote against anything the Democrats or our dually elected President is in favor of. It's past time to replace him.

Answer this one....what have the Republicans done for America in the last 20 years? Not just the Republican Presidents, but the Republican Congress as well...? Oh, wait, they passed the Bush tax cuts for the rich...and it went right to the deficit! I forgot!

The business and banking loopholes have forced manufacturing jobs out of the country. The labor unions which helped build this country have been dissolved as well as a large number of middle class well paying jobs in the country. The number of “for sale” or “for lease” signs I see in front of previously occupied factories and businesses tell that story.

Now is the time to eliminate the filibuster....for all time. After all, majority rules. Let's be a democracy once again.

Doesn't it bother you to have the U.S. Government held hostage by the Republicans, the group which has the main goal of proving the government doesn't do anything right? Isn't it obvious the very obstructionists are the one's who will later criticize this administration for not getting anything done? So, we as voters should reward the Republicans with our votes to punish the Democrats? NO WAY!

Isn't it obvious that the reason why this administration is not accomplishing it's largest goals is because of the very people who will later criticize it for not getting anything done? Give me a break!

I hope the “tea baggers” have plans to sign their Social Security checks back to the government. They want smaller government, no Social Security, no government intervention in their lives. I also hope they have plans to cut off their homes from municipal water supplies, sewers, police protection, fire protection, pull their kids out of public schools and go and live on some mountain side in Montana. I guess they didn't notice their taxes went down over the last year. I hope none of them ever get sick, obviously they have no need for a public or private healthcare.

One more thing...the question is, where were these people during the previous administration? Government didn't just begin with the Obama administration. Neither did taxes, regulations along with Social Security, Medicare and other social programs that the “tea baggers” seem to be against.

Look, this President inherited a real mess. This mess didn't begin at the beginning of the Obama administration. It has been well underway over the last 8 years of the previous administration. Was everyone sleeping over that time?

This weeks CPAC convention has been a real hoot....a comedy show of right wing wackos, along with a scary bunch of torch carriers for the “party of NO.” This event should be an embarrassment for any well intentioned Republicans, if there are still any left.

Barry Goldwater, Dwight Eisenhower and even Richard Nixon would be appalled at what the Republican Party has become.

Dick Cheney and his daughter should shut up and fade away.

I wasn't happy that Bush and Cheney got elected twice, but I got over it....and I sure didn't want to see the country go to hell to prove that he was the wrong guy...even though it did happen pretty quickly.

If this President succeeds, we in the middle class will all succeed.

I still have my fingers crossed for at least a public option as part of the healthcare package. The recent obscene rate hikes for those small business owners should be an obvious argument in favor of the public option. The audacity of those already very very profitable health insurance carriers in raising the premiums for their customers at this time is either the most brazen act by any company ever, or just plain stupid. They had to see what a PR problem this would become. Maybe they just don't care.

Those healthcare insurance consumers who had their rates increased are the lucky ones. Many people had theirs canceled. I hope a few of those were “tea baggers.”

If the Repubs at the Health Care Summit don't play along and contribute(which they won't), then the Democrats should say, “You don't want to sign on? Fine, we'll go back to square one, include the public option and pass it by reconciliation.” That's leadership. Reconciliation has occured many times during the last 20 years, with about 16 times of the last twenty times by the Republicans.

FOX viewers are low information viewers driven by fear. I find it disturbing people buy into the whole FOX thing....and totally believe the crap they spew. That would also include those “ditto heads” who listen and buy into Rush Limbaugh.

FOX brags about it's news audience numbers. It's still WELL BELOW the audiences of the network news shows on ABC, CBS and NBC by far.

I'm not saying you should become a liberal, I'm just saying you should take the responsibility to investigate all sources of information.

All journalistic integrity went out the window with the coverage of the Tiger Woods apology. His personal problems are no one's business but his and his family. The fact that all the networks covered his press conference live, including sources who passed on recent Presidential press conferences is incredible. Would Walter Cronkite or Edward R. Murrow have presided over this event? I don't think so. When has the National Enquirer style of journalism replaced good news judgment? If it's sports related, then let the network's sports department cover it.

That's it.

A Blast from the Past....A TV Antenna!

2009-12-18T09:57:00.000-08:00

Well, here we go again. Another cable company is in negotiation with the owners of WICS/WICD for a retransmission agreement. This will allow Sinclair to collect a portion of the fees collected by Mediacom to resell the signal of Sinclair stations it's carries. There's nothing unfair in that at all. The TV station SHOULD receive a cut from cable profits. The biggest problem is it puts viewers of the local TV stations in the middle of the dispute.

As I travel about in my day to day activities, I'm often asked about such TV issues as they come up-along with the obvious weather questions. This time I'm sending people who ask to my website and ultimately to this blog site. I'm offering a list of FAQ's to help clarify the situation. So, here's the list:

Question 1: If I subscribe to cable, will this affect me?
Answer 1: Only if you subscribe to the cable system in question. Mediacom serves many smaller communities in the coverage area of WICD, including Mattoon, Charleston, Mahomet and many more. It will not affect those subscribing to Comcast in Champaign-Urbana or Danville, or other communities with Charter Communcations.....yet.

Question 2: If I receive WICD over the air, by using an antenna, will it affect me?
Answer 2: No, if you are receiving WICD by antenna, from anywhere, this cable dispute will not be a problem to you....you will always be able to receive NewsChannel 15 at no charge!

Question 3: Can I go to another provider to receive WICD, such as a DBS Satellite subscription(DISH or Direct)?
Answer 3: Unfortunately no. Arrangements were made several years ago, which mistakenly sidelined viewers of WICD from receiving the local signal of NewsChannel 15 in the eastern half of the Springfield-Decatur-Champaign market, preferring instead to make only the signal of WICS-Springfield as the only ABC station available. It's an unfortunate situation.....for viewers in east central Illinois, and for WICD. See Question 4 for a way to rectify the situation.

Question 4: If WICD, NewsChannel 15 is eliminated from my cable system, what alternative do I have?
Answer 4: Install an antenna. What type of antenna you need depends on your location and other factors such as distance away from the transmitter point of WICD(between Homer and Fithian), your elevation in regards to average terrain in your area and natural and man-made obstructions between your home and the transmitter point

In some applications, an inside antenna may be all you need, but only if you live within 10 miles of the transmitter point(line of sight). Don't count on it, though. The best bet is an outside antenna, on a mast which can be mounted on your roof, or on a tower next to your house. If you're more than 50 miles away from the transmitter site, you may have to install a signal amplifier, but in most situations, that may not even be necessary. Use a low loss RG-6 cable run directly to a splitter which can divide the signal to each TV in your home, through a crawl space or your basement. Most of the hardware can be purchased at Wal-Mart, Radio-Shack, Lowe's or Menards, among others. The shorter the cable run, the better so be conservative with the cable. An exceedingly long cable run, will definitely necessitate a signal amplifier.

The beauty of this plan, is you will be able to receive many more local programming choices that you now have with cable TV or satellite! See my Digital TV page on www.dougquick.com. The link to my site is below.

Depending on your location you might need an antenna rotor, which will allow you to aim your antenna to the local station you're trying to receive. A rotor can be obtained for around $80. I bought mine at Menards. It's fully programmable and operates better than the old rotors of the past. Keep in mind the commercial channels in this area are UHF, that is above channel 14, so the antenna size will be much smaller than the large antennas of the past. The antenna I have is for both UHF(channels 14+) and VHF(channels 6-13). I purchased it from Solid Signal, an on line TV accessory business that I have dealt with previously to much success. Don't be persuaded to purchase an antenna that's labeled “for digital TV reception.” All TV antenna's will receive digital TV signals. There's no difference. See picture to see my set up.

Frankly, you should have an antenna anyway. In the case of severe weather and power outages, your cable is the first thing to go out....and will probably stay out for extended lengths of time. If you're on a DBS satellite service, you'll probably lose signal during a storm as well. By having an antenna and a digital portable TV(which are now available for as little as $90) you'll be able to stay informed when severe weather is in your area....and the power is off. It's good insurance!

Another thing to keep in mind, is that if you use a signal amplifier to boost signal, during a power outage even your antenna won't do you much good. That's another reason I suggest going without one if you can. That will save you money too. One nice thing about digital broadcasts, is that even with a weak signal, you still get a perfect picture!

The final link, is a digital tuner on your TV. If it's a new flat panel TV, chances are good it has a ATSC tuner which means it will receive the new digital stations in your area. If it's an older set with just a NTSC tuner(where you received analog channels 3,12, 15, 18, 20, 23, 27,55) then you'll need a converter box. You've probably missed the chance for the $30 credit coupon and you'll have to shell out the entire cost for the box. The price of the newer television sets are coming down more every day, it might be a good time to just “bite the bullet” and get a new set...and while you're at it, buy two, including a battery powered portable set with a digital tuner.

One of the advantages of having your own antenna, is the opportunity to receive the local channels, not only in a pristine fashion without having been processed and passed through the local cable company's equipment and converted to the standard definition, but in full 720p or 1080p high definition....absolutely free! Of course if you like the other cable/satellite channels you'll want to keep your subscription.

If you should choose to install your own tower and antenna, PLEASE observe all safety rules stated on the packaging of your antenna, rotor and supporting apparatus(tower or tripod).

For a complete list of the digital TV signals available across most of central Illinois go to my website www.dougquick.com and go to Digital TV.

All right people.....LIGHTS ON!

2009-11-25T22:05:00.000-08:00

I drive a minimum of 100 miles each workday...to work and home again. My commute includes county, state, US and Interstate travel among a number of routes I take each week. Weather conditions vary, of course, from bright summer sunshine to night time rain and or snow.

It's not the night time which concerns me, though. It's the daytime commute in less than desirable conditions and the insistence of some drivers to drive au natural....or without their headlights. I'm not talking about those silly factory installed “running lights” which are for people not smart enough to turn their headlights on in inclimate weather. Unfortunately, on many makes and models the running lights are actual the “parking lights.” You know, those amber lights on the front of your vehicle which basically tells on coming traffic that your are parked? But wait....you're not parked, you're driving....thus the potential confusion.

There's also the driver who feels more “cool” to drive with his/her headlights on until the north star is visible through the moon roof....or are compelled to just “turn on the fog lights.” May I say....if you are one of these drivers, YOU'RE A MORON!

It's also a law in the state of Illinois that if you're using your windshield wipers, your headlights should be on. By the way, did I mention that by having your headlights on your tail lights are also on? Now, I know the typical dumb ass remark would be, “Why do I need my headlights on? I can see where I'm going.” The answer...if you were to be the only one on the road, this dumb ass would have a point. The fact is, you have your headlights on SO OTHER PEOPLE CAN SEE YOU!!!....dumb ass!

I know, we're living in the era of waste not...want not, conservation and living “green”, but driving with your headlights is not going to add significantly to global warming or air pollution, so you can rest easy. It's just that if your headlights are not on during the daytime when it's excessively cloudy or raining/snowing....you're a dumb ass!

When? What's going on?

2009-11-04T22:53:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've posted.... The flu, work, busy days....and frankly frustration on the whole healthcare situation.

Here Ed says it all....

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It's time....let's get it done!!

We need to protect the insurance companies.....?!

2009-09-22T10:17:00.001-07:00

The way this thing is going....the insurance companies are going to win.

I can't believe the American public is allowing this to happen!! Check out this video....it would be funny if it wasn't so sad....

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

Support the PUBLIC OPTION!!

What is it you don't understand....???

2009-09-09T23:07:00.000-07:00

This explains it all. The one's who are taking a "what ever it is, I'm against it" approach are not acting in your favor. Wise up....check this video out, it's short, it's to the point and when it's over you'll understand.

Tea Baggers on Labor Day

2009-09-07T22:56:00.000-07:00

I participated in a couple of Labor Day Parades in my community on Labor Day. I watched as seven people representing the East Central Illinois TEA Party also participated in the events.

This rather scruffy looking bunch held signs, banners and wore shirts which had what appeared to have a representation of the first couple of paragraphs of the U.S. Constitution on them. They were handing out cards along the route with their mission statement along with their website addresses.

I asked one of them during the pre-parade staging as they passed by me, where they were during the previous 8 years of the Bush Adminstiration and got a blank look as a response.

I was heartned by the fact that their passing along the route was pretty much ignored by the spectators, and most of their cards ended up on the ground as trash.

An Open Letter to my Hometown School District

2009-09-07T22:53:00.001-07:00

I grew up in the Taylorville School System. I remember watching the launches of the early Project Mercury with the original Mercury Seven astronauts in a classroom at Hewitt School. Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, Wally Schirra and Deke Slayton.

I also remember watching some of the daytime press conferences of President Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Even for a grade school student, I didn't understand the complexity of the issue, but knew it was important. We saw the films on “Duck and Cover.” I remember when JFK was assassinated and listening to LIVE coverage on Mrs. Newlin's radio in 4th grade. If that wasn't enough to scare a grade school student, I'm not sure what was!

What it did do, was generate an interest in current events. I began to read the Breeze-Courier and other newspapers whenever I got the opportunity. I listened to radio news, watched TV news. That early exposure to TV in the classroom of current events was the beginning of my broadcast career and an on-going interest in government and politics.

I don't remember much about the other things I learned on those days I watched the early Mercury astronauts, or listened to details about the assassination but that time in front of the TV or radio in the classroom remain with me to this day.

This was also a school district which allowed the viewing of the baseball World Series, which were broadcast during the daytime during that era. I also remember watching those games in the new Junior High cafeteria which included commercials for cigarettes and beer!

That's why I find it incredibly disappointing that the Taylorville School District as well as others across the country are disallowing students the opportunity to see President Obama live as he talks to the students of the U.S. about the importance of working hard and staying in school.

By definition, half of the population of this country have less than average intelligence. Anyone who would object to this or any other President making a similar speech to students out of “fear” and “prejudice” are in this group. Assistant Superintendent Hixenbaugh is caving in to a few of the less enlightened of the community. These people are denying students the chance of seeing a LIVE address produced especially for them from the President who was democratically elected to lead this country.

Next, parents from this group of less enlightened citizens could demand the cessation of the teaching of certain topics in other classroom activities such as world history, geology, American history, or even health. Don't think that's not a possibility later.

Right now, I'm ashamed of the Taylorville School District. Mr Hixenbaugh has just lost control of the Taylorville School District. It's up to the enlightened parents to get it back!

Moyer's Got it Right

2009-09-05T16:34:00.000-07:00

It's the last call for Health Care Reform.

Why are people so intent on letting the insurance companies define their healthcare?

Remember by definition, half of the American public has below average intelligence. These are the people who object to Health Care Reform.

OK, now it's time....

2009-08-18T22:02:00.000-07:00

The message coming out of the White House over the weekend, was not a good one for those looking for a public option for health care. I find this a great disappointment. I have expected more from the President I supported during the election. “Yes we can” has become a big “maybe.”

In spite of my disappointment with the administration, my disgust with the Republicans is even greater. The various proposals which have been discussed have been met with lies, fabrications and exaggerations by the conservative right, and bought hook, line and sinker by the uneducated, uninformed masses who have been fearful of this President, even before he was elected. These people have been a nuisance to themselves as well as the public at large. They have taken a side of a debate which is against their own best interests, simply because of who and what our President is. The for-profit health care insurance industry is manipulating these people through fear, meanwhile an extreme lobbying effort is manipulating our legislators through money. The idea of a repeal of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans to pay for at least part of the costs is also an influence to the objections of Republicans. Other responsible Republicans with a real sense of their constituents wishes, who would be in favor of health care reform, are afraid to do anything else but follow the party line.

No matter what kind of a plan the Democrats develop and present to the American public, no Republican is ever going to vote for it. Now is the time to start over, quit trying to compromise with the minority party members who will never vote in favor of any plan. All that these compromises do is water down and weaken any health care bill.

Now is the time for this President to say, “I've tried to hammer out a non-partisan plan, which in time, you'll be able to take credit for, which will end up as Social Security and Medicare as great social programs which citizens now enjoy. With each proposal you have taken the stance of 'what ever it is, I'm against it.' Your time is up.” It's also time to address those “blue dog Democrats” and tell them, they WILL support a strong public option, or they WILL suffer the consequences and those consequences will be serious!

The American people want a change in health care. The American people need a change in health care. As I've written before, EVERYONE whether or not they have insurance or not, is only one serious illness or an accident away from bankruptcy. Protect your self, protect your family and urge your representatives to vote for true health care reform!

Sometimes you just have to be rude....

2009-08-14T22:23:00.000-07:00

This is one of the most remarkable pieces of video I've seen in a long time. Lawrence O'Donnell was filing in for Chris Mathews on MSNBC's “Hard Ball” when he conducted an interview with Republican Rep. John Culberson of Texas.

Here O'Donnell exposes the hypocrisy of the GOP stance on health care. Congressman Culberson said he would have supported Social Security if it was 1935, and probably Medicare if it was 1965 but not a public option for health care in 2009 because it was “socialistic.” He called himself a “Jeffersonian Republican” and denied that Social Security and Medicare were socialistic.

After being asked what the difference was between Medicare for persons 65+ NOT being “socialistic” and yet it would be “socialistic” if offered for everyone else he couldn't answer. Instead he stalled by giving his analysis of MSNBC's ratings, probably hoping he would be cut off, sparing himself the verbal beating he was getting on live national TV.

This is how these Republican hypocrites should be talked to! Quit trying to be polite, it's now time to show the simple masses the hypocrisy of the big business of health care insurance companies and the real truth! These masses are being played like violins by the health care insurance companies, the Republican and Democratic obstructionists and the neo-con media outlets.

Check out the video below...it's great!

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On Healthcare....

2009-08-13T22:40:00.000-07:00

Local Radio Format Diversity...

2009-08-12T22:15:00.000-07:00

These are hard times for radio stations everywhere. As the advertiser base dries up, competition between stations and station groups for advertisers AND audience grows to unprecedented levels.

It's been determined that the younger audience no longer flocks to radio for musical entertainment, instead relying on their own I-pods and the internet for music. With that in mind, why are so many radio stations trying to program to that audience? And why are so many stations competing head to head with identical or overlaping formats in the same market?

I'm a big fan of satellite radio. It was the week of 9-11 that XM began to broadcast the new technology of satellite radio. I was among the first to subscribe and am still a big fan of the service. As I'm in my car at least 2 hours a day, it's become my companion in my daily commute. It offers many formats, from talk to comedy, from nostalgic radio formats to contemporary, from country to classical. I enjoy many of these radio formats each day.

Why is it, that local radio doesn't offer a similar selection? How can success of any radio station be expected when it's taking a format which is already well represented in a market? Why not take an alternative approach on a format franchise that has no local competition?

Champaign-Urbana, Illinois for example, is a university town. It's makeup would, in my mind support a reasonable audience for the following formats: contemporary jazz(smooth jazz), classic country(50's-60's-70's), liberal talk, 50's-60's oldies, 80's pop oldies, beautiful music, full time sports talk, etc..

Instead Champaign-Urbana is served by two hip hop stations(WUIL and WCZQ), two contemporary hit stations(WQQB and WLRW), two adult contemporary stations(WCFF and WHMS), two country stations(WIXY and WLFH), two alternative(WEBX and WPGU) one 60's-70's oldies station-actually a translator(W250BL), and one 80's rock(WXTT). Why not declare a winner in each of these format duplication wars and the loser take on a different format franchise?

Face it, no one is going to achieve overall ratings supremacy these days...settle for an audience of “quality” instead of “quantity” and turn that new format into a success!

35 Years and Counting....

2009-08-12T22:08:00.000-07:00

I was watching a news channel last week, and the historical moment of the resignation of President Richard Nixon was noted as occurring 35 years ago. I didn't really give it much thought before but it's also the 35th anniversary of my broadcast career.

My first job was with WTIM-FM in my original home town of Taylorville. I hosted a night time presentation of contemporary music called “Ovation 7-11” on the beautiful music formatted FM radio station. The technology at the time included two ancient transcription tables which were converted to turntables playing an array of 45 rpm singles and 33 1/3 rpm albums-mostly from my own collection. Jingles and what commercials there were(Pepsi and First Trust and Savings Bank), were played on endless loop cartridges. The studio included an old Gates, eight pot control board and an EV studio microphone. Since the control board was as ancient as it was, even then, the on air presentation was in mono. The only source for stereo were the stereo tape heads used in the automation system which presented the beautiful music format during the daytime.

My memory of the resignation of Nixon was tied to one shift, one night in August of 1974 when I brought my portable 12” Zenith TV to work with me. This was pre-cable TV, pre-CNN, pre-internet and WTIM had no radio network affiliation. The only way to catch the resignation was to watch it on network TV....on my Zenith using a bow-tie UHF antenna.

At the beginning of the TV broadcast, I put side one of “Yesterday Once More” by the Carpenters...that's the album that included the hit single, along with an 18 minute medley of 50's and 60's top 40 hits. This allowed me to watch and savor the resignation uninterrupted.

It was 35 years ago...the year I became a broadcaster.

The Evolution of Rush....

2009-08-12T21:57:00.000-07:00

Back when I was with a combo AM/FM radio station, it was decided to include the syndicated talk show hosted by an unknown Rush Limbaugh. The show was entertaining...a mixture of political satire, drawing from material from both Democrats.... and Republicans. His show included prerecorded bits, commercial parodies and commentary which was conservatively based, but just about everything and everyone was fair game.

His seemingly common sense approach to issues appeared to be obvious when he would feature sound bites of news makers. His many phone calls from listeners who would agree with his comments would respond with “ditto Rush”...hence the followers of “EIB” would be later called “ditto heads.”

His use of these sound bites were the first sign of cracks in the facade. As I would listen and watch other sources of news coverage and hear these sound bites on other media, I would realize he was pulling them out of context. Rush was taking these long sound bites and by editing them, was giving them entirely different meanings. This was happening more and more frequently as time went on, and the more outrageous he would make these statements, the more these simpleton “ditto heads” would agree.

Since he was getting more “dittos” from the right wing segment of his audience, he developed his radio personality to fit his audience's expectation. Every “ditto Rush” seemed to inflate his enthusiasm toward whatever topic was being discussed and commented on. This was also inflating his ego as well.

His fans were buying into his radio persona, hook, line and sinker....and the more outrageous he was, presumably the more money he made. His ego made his radio personality invincible, but he has been unable to lead a successful personal life-proof: his marriage record; making him feel as if he was above the law-proof: his drug use.

Rush has become an egomaniac run amok....and his ego is feeding into the fears of his followers. These uninformed listeners are the same people who are among those who think the earth is flat, the earth revolves around the sun, dinosaurs existed with man less than 9,000 years ago and drive without headlights in the pouring rain.

Fortunately, during my tenure there, we dropped his program in favor of music during his time slot. The reason: advertisers with a vested interest in their local market were afraid of advertising on his show and being associated with his extreme views.

His cancellation by my station was a proud moment in my broadcast career.

Keith says it all....

2009-08-04T13:24:00.000-07:00

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Just a thought......about vegetables?

2009-07-31T22:10:00.000-07:00

I am one who never ate my vegetables as a kid, and I'm still not a fan of the food type generally. I'm sure that there are polls out there somewhere which show that the majority of people probably feel the same as I do. So, explain to me why, if vegetables are so nutritious for the human species, why is there not a more prevalent demand for vegetables. Why are the things that are so “bad” for you and the general population so in demand.

I'm a believer in evolution. I know the earth is older than 9-thousand years. The idea of survival of the fittest seems to answer a lot of questions....except why people are so attracted to food which is so “bad” for them. You would think that people would have a natural appetite for food which would be good for them...and bring about a long healthy existence.

Just a thought....

Congressional Uniforms

2009-07-22T22:01:00.000-07:00

I'm not taking credit for this idea, I think it came from a comedian, but I think it's a fair proposal, especially when it comes to the healthcare issue.

Members of congress should dress like NASCAR drivers. They should have patches from all of their sponsors on the outside of their clothing, so we know who we're dealing with.

Healthcare Reality v. Rep. Tim Johnson

2009-07-22T21:54:00.000-07:00

Last week I read a newspaper account of Republican House Representative Tim Johnson's town-hall meeting which took place in Villa Grove City Hall. He stated that he wasn't in favor of national health care and would not vote for any of the proposals which he had seen. At that point he recited the standard lines which were hand written by health care insurers and presented to members of congress by the insurance lobbyists who are perpetuating FEAR to the uninformed constituents of his district. Not only that, but he said the current system just needed “tweaked.”

He used terms like “rationing” healthcare, a “poor quality product,“ “longer waits for less services,” and probably included lines like “you don't want the government between you and your doctor” and other total falsehoods against a public choice for healthcare. Never any admission that it's the NORMAL PRACTICE FOR INSURANCE PROVIDERS to ration health care, provide a poor quality product and force longer waits for less services and to decide your treatment, in effect, getting between you and your doctor all to INCREASE PROFITS!

Let's face it, these PROFIT DRIVEN HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS A R E between you and your doctor. When your doctor has to call your insurance company for pre-approval for treatment and argues for one kind of treatment when coverage only approves another, that to me is “rationing.” When a diabetic can't get insurance company approval for an insulin pump that sounds like “rationing” and “poor quality service” to me. If you should call your doctor for a checkup now, how long are YOU going to have to wait for an appointment?

The underlying truth is, WEALTHY MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY FEEL THE LESS ADVANTAGED DON'T DESERVE HEALTH CARE. The irony of this is, the people who are screaming the loudest against “socialized medicine” and calling our President a “socialist” are more than likely just an accident or major illness away from bankruptcy themselves. These are the same uninformed FOX News viewers who seem to absorb the propaganda and are being manipulated by the lies and misinformation being dispensed by the insurance companies which have paid their CEO's millions and enjoying incredible profits for years while overcharging their customers and denying coverage. Keep in mind, any denial of coverage or approving lesser service, goes DIRECTLY TO THEIR BOTTOM LINE.

I'm in favor of a single payer healthcare system. Unfortunately, the reality of the situation is that a Canadian style healthcare system won't be allowed to occur. So, we have to offer a public alternative which will help drive down costs of insured healthcare which has been allowed to explode over the years.

It's been said that we could have had a public healthcare system and paid for it three times for what it cost to fund the Iraq war. I'm not an accountant, I don't know if that's correct, but right now there are families all over America filing bankruptcy because of medical expenses, many of whom probably had some form of health insurance. This situation has to change.

We need to have a system which will provide uninsured Americans health care. We have to work at getting Americans preventative heath care. We have to eliminate tobacco use. We have to make products safer, the workplace safer along with our transportation systems and infrastructures. We have to eliminate obesity by making our food more healthy. We have to promote exercise as a healthy lifestyle. If people are healthier overall, wouldn't it stand to reason that the demand for medical care would decrease?

We're closer to the overhaul of the healthcare system than ever before. President Obama was elected by voters who wanted the change. Members of congress were elected by voters who wanted the change. Let's get it changed....NOW! NO AUGUST VACATION FOR CONGRESS UNTIL A TRULEY BENEFICAL BILL IS COMPLETED!!

As for Republican Representative Tim Johnson, I'm disgusted. I would ask him “How is a 'tweaking' going to deal with outrageous increases in healthcare costs? ….the millions of American's who are not insured?? ...the problem of people losing coverage over time?? ...the fact that people are denied coverage, even if they can afford it, because of a pre-existing condition?? ...the fact that insurance companies only want to provide insurance to people less likely to file a claim??

It's obvious Congressman Johnson is a tool of the lobbyists and the insurance companies along with many others in Congress, mostly Republicans, but yes, even a few turn-coat Democrats. We all need to be done with these bought and paid for politicians who all recite the same lines from the same memo written by the wealthy insurance companies and distributed by the RNC. These are the insurance companies who have profited all of these years at your families expense each time your healthcare expenses climb.

Republicans Play Politics with Your Healthcare

2009-07-21T21:52:00.000-07:00

Senate Democrats are working with President Obama to pass meaningful health care reform. What are Republican obstructionists doing? According to the Washington Post, “GOP Focuses Effort to Kill Health Bills.” Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina even said, “If we're able to stop Obama on this it will be his Waterloo. It will break him.”

Join me in telling Republicans to stop playing political games with America's health by signing the DSCC's petition. We must reform health care now.

Click here. http://www.dscc.org/healthcare

Meaningful Health Care Reform

2009-07-17T22:01:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, Sen. Ted Kennedy's Health, Education, Labor & Pensions committee crossed a major hurdle when it passed a health care plan that would reduce spiraling health care costs, ensure quality, protect patients' rights to choose their own doctors and greatly reduce the number of uninsured in our country.

Please join me and support Democrats' efforts to achieve meaningful health care reform by signing the DSCC's petition today.

Click here. http://www.dscc.org/healthcare

It's time....

If I Programmed a TV Network...

2009-07-14T21:46:00.000-07:00

One of the great things about having ones own blog is the opportunity to throw some ideas out there, whether or not they actually make sense. Looking at the network TV fare over the summer months and being disappointed or just plain disgusted, I've thought about the prospect of being in charge of network programming.

Being a bit of a TV historian, I realize the summer has always been a black hole when it comes to programming. People don't watch TV as often, or as long when they do watch during the summer. People's schedules and activities usually take them away from home for a variety of reasons during the summer.

For programmers, the challenge to air attractive TV shows to maintain what audience you do have, while not burning through the inventory of regular programming. In previous eras, a TV season could include up to 36 episodes of a typical half hour series, and up to 30 one-hour episodes of a series. Now, the typical numbers are somewhere near 18-22 episodes per season.
In previous years, networks would air “specials” or “spectaculars” usually one hour variety shows hosted by the music superstars of the time. That would give a series “a break” lengthening it's season even more to reduce the number of reruns a series would have during the year.

A few series, in the very early days, would take the summer off, having their show replaced by another short term show, usually produced by the same people who put on the regular season show. A good example of that was the Jack Benny/Ann Southern Show alternating series of the 1950's. Later in the 60's and early 1970's the Dean Martin Show was replaced during the summer months by “Dean Martin Presents...” which included a variety of hosts, usually young up-and-coming talent including the “Golddiggers.”

ABC had a novel idea of airing a number of unsold pilot shows during the summer season which would often include a number of young talents before they achieved success in other programs or motion pictures. Some of these pilots were much better than the regular season shows, although some were not. It was alternative programming without being real expensive for ABC, as they were able to recoup some of their investment in the development of these proposed series.

CBS in the mid to late 1970's during one summer ran classic reruns of “The Jack Benny Show” once a week. These were all terrific shows, really funny and would include major guest stars. Unfortunately, this trip of nostalgia only lasted one summer.

Now with all that in mind, what would I do, if I programmed a network....?

I would propose a weekly recycled TV night, probably Friday and/or Saturday. These are no longer the big audience nights of years past, so why not take some risks? The younger demos have pretty much flown the coop on those nights, so let's aim high(older). Get the rights to a number of the network shows of the past, really good classic episodes and show them. But, let's not stop there.

By producing some really “hip” promos, package the airing of these shows as something really special. I use as an example, some of the early TV Land promos, or those aired by Nick at Nite, or even Turner Classic Movies which makes watching old black and white movies seem pretty modern. Have a celebrity “VJ” intro each series, maybe conducting it live in front of a studio audience with studio and TV audience interaction, give it a comedic element, WITHOUT MAKING FUN of the shows. Perhaps lengthen an hour show to, say an hour and 15 minutes, followed by another one hour and 15 minute show. Dramas could fill a 2 1/2 hour block of time. Sit coms could be lengthened to 40 minutes each, airing three in a row to fill out a 2 hour block.

The two and a half hour drama sets could be followed by an unsold pilot show to fill out prime time. The two hour sit com sets could be followed by a regular season hour long show to fill out prime time.

Black and white shows, color shows make no difference. I would much rather have episodes presented in their original pristine presentation, but 2009 reality says that “ain't gonna happen.” So let's do it big, major guest star VJ's, a great promo package, some really great shows and let's bring some real “comfort TV” to those 35-54 adults who have been turned off by stupid reality shows!

Since I work for an ABC affiliate, and growing up, my favorite shows were on ABC I will use that network as an example. Some prime examples of theme nights: Love Boat/Fantasy Island Saturday Nights, Six Million Dollar Man/Woman Nights, a 70's sit com night with “The Odd Couple,” “Barney Miller” and “Welcome Back Kotter,” or even “Happy Days”/”Laverne & Shirley”/”Three's Company.”

Perhaps a music night with “Shindig”/”Hollywood Palace,” a cop night with “Charlies Angels”/”Vega$,” or “Streets of San Francisco”/”S.W.A.T.,” or even “Starsky and Hutch”/”Baretta” would work. Love could be used as a theme with the presentation of “Love American Style”/”Love on a Rooftop.” Law night could include “Owen Marshall”/”Judd for the Defense.” Family with children nights could include “The Brady Bunch”/”Partridge Family”/”That's My Mama.”

There's a tremendous pool of possibilities in looking at the number of “classic” TV shows from the 1970's and 80's.....but I haven't even touched on the number from the 60's...maybe even the 50's.

Consider the possibilities of a western night with classic episodes of “Maverick”/”Cheyenne”(if you've seen these on the Western Channel you know how really good shows these are), 50's Cool Cops nights with “77 Sunset Strip”/”Surfside Six,” or “Hawaiian Eye”/”Bourbon Street Beat.” Perhaps a 50's sit com night with classic episodes of “Ozzie and Harriett”/”Donna Reed”/”Leave it to Beaver” or even for the kids 60's animation night with “Flintstones”/”Top Cat”/”Jetsons.” A Saturday morning TV version might even work for one weekday a week during the summer season for the kids.

A military comedy night would be one idea with “McHale's Navy”/”Broadside”/”No Time for Sergeants.” Military drama night could include “Combat”/”Garrison's Gorillas.” A superhero night might include a two part “Batman”/”Green Hornet” combo.

Once again, I stress it's all about how it's packaged! “Hip promos” and “hip” modern day host with comedy, perhaps even a studio audience watching with the VJ host and guest stars(perhaps from the original shows), host it live, conduct phone in/or web in contesting, audience members along with the viewers winning some money. It sound like great summer programming to me!

TV's Lost History

2009-07-14T09:57:00.000-07:00

Back when my research into the history of central Illinois broadcasters began, the first place I went was to the archives of the local newspapers in Champaign, Urbana and Danville. Along with my collection of TV Guides from the 1950's through the 1990's, I could follow the past and reconstruct what occurred during the years of 1953 through the late 1970's. Unfortunately, that's where the picture started to get a little fuzzy.

One of my great resources was from the pages of the Urbana Courier and the incredible indexing of local stories/dates which has been done over the last few years. The Courier was a local twin cities newspaper which ceased publication in the late 1970's. With the disappearance of the Courier much of east central Illinois' broadcast history from that time to the present fails to be recorded. The News-Gazette or Commercial-News have no similar historical index available.

It's interesting to note the lack of objectivity of the local newspapers, primarily the News-Gazette in Champaign and the Urbana Courier in that the papers covered the local broadcast media much differently. Since the News-Gazette owned the major radio station in C-U, it would list the program information of WDWS(1400 AM), but not that of Urbana's WKID(1580 AM). Meanwhile the Courier would list the programming of WKID, but not that of WDWS. For those of you not familiar with the make up of Champaign-Urbana, both cities are adjacent to each other and form one entire metro area.

When it came to the television, originally, one of the investors in the new VHF TV station, WCIA, were the owners of the News-Gazette and WDWS Radio. The seats on the Board of Directors of WCIA which should have been occupied by Helen M. Stevick and Marajen Chinigo of the newspaper/radio company, was instead occupied by Reverend A. Ray Cartlidge of the local Presbyterian Church.

This meant that whatever coverage was included in the News-Gazette seemed to be favorable to WCIA, and no mention was made to any competitors in the market. That seemed to be the case as a comparison was made on local news coverage from WTVP, WCIA, WDAN-TV or WBLN during the early days. The Courier was more likely to include the press releases from all of the local TV stations, while the same information couldn't be found in any edition of the News-Gazette. It's assumed that the press releases were sent to both newspapers. This cozy arrangement was changed later, as Stevick and Chinigo sold their interest in the station.
TV Guide in the those early days would also include news of the local stations carried in their weekly listings. Personnel changes, programming changes, facility changes were all included in those early editions. Unfortunately, even that changed in the early 1970's.

Trying to research local radio and TV history it becomes obvious that the places where absolutely NO information is available is with THOSE radio and TV stations! The fact that virtually no station in central Illinois has more than just a few black and white glossy photos from their early days. No film, no video tape....nothing. You Tube has proven to hold most of the broadcast archives of any TV station, and much of that comes from the VHS/Beta years beginning in the early 1980's. Outside of a few collectors, including myself, who hold and have posted network TV promos, kinescopes and films of early TV to You Tube and other on line video sites, the history of most broadcasting is “gone with the wind.”

I've gotten requests from my website viewers to post video from WCIA programs like “The Hop” as well as from the various kids shows of the 1950's and 60's. I have no video from that era in my personal collection. WCIA has probably the best chance of having anything from that era, since Midwest Television, the original owner seemed to have an appreciation of it's own heritage. Unfortunately, the ownership has changed to Nexstar a company which seemingly has no appreciation of any heritage. Add to that, a General Manager who has not responded to any requests about any filmed artifacts from those popular local shows. WCIA's own 50th Anniversary website didn't even include any pictures or references to Jerry Slabe, who anchored at the station for many years through the 80's and 90's. The omission was a result of the illegal firing of Slabe and his wife from WCIA and the then pending legal proceedings which were still underway at the time(see History of WCIA on www.dougquick.com ). That omission tarnished the credibility of their own station's historical record.

Now, I'm not picking on WCIA entirely. WAND ran an obituary on the death of it's original weather caster Loren Boatman and it included only a few still photos and the oldest piece of video was from the mid 80's. In fact most of the archival film was of falling ice from the ice storm in 1978, and no mention was made to the fact the station lost it's primary broadcast tower in that ice storm(see History of WAND on www.dougquick.com ). When I watched the package, I got the feeling that no one had ever met Mr. Boatman. Mr. Boatman didn't receive the recognition that he was owed. Even worse than that, it was obvious that WAND had no archives of it's history.

I've had the privilege of going through the files at WICS to research it's history as well. As an employee I was allowed to see many pictures, some previously written historical pieces about the station, but once again it seems that it's a dry well when it comes to film, video or any other records of it's own broadcasts. That would include it's production of many local children shows....or even the broadcast of any local news pieces with politicians from the State of Illinois in it's capitol coverage. There wasn't more than just a few glossy still pictures from the era, many of which are on my web site.

WICD has virtually nothing in it's archives. A few black and white pictures, a few newspaper clippings from it's days as WCHU, and a video tape from a 25th anniversary special which was produced in 1985 is the extent of any material there. That 1985 video was anchored by Keith Page, WICD's long time weathercaster.

Once again, I've drawn information from the ads, program information about the local stations from the pages of my many TV Guides over the years. Now TV Guide doesn't even include the listings of local broadcasters. I haven't bought a TV Guide since that change. There is no reason to.

I would encourage local TV stations to keep at least data files of program schedules, newscast scripts(perhaps after 5 years), press releases, perhaps DVD recordings of an air check(Aircheck=a recording of all broadcast elements, except actual program material, to include commercials, promos, local newscasts, local productions, etc) of one day a month, and post it with the station website and make them available to future researchers on line.
Radio stations have the easiest and least expensive methods for recording their history. Radio stations could maintain monthly 24-hour air checks, and make them available on line, as well as documenting pictures, program logs and press releases.

The heritage of any local newspaper can be found easily at the public library archives section. Microfilms of decades, even centuries could be on file. Radio stations, TV stations have virtually nothing about their own broadcast history. This has to change!

Michael Jackson Press Coverage

2009-07-08T22:03:00.000-07:00

Many seemed to be perplexed with the extended coverage of the Michael Jackson death and later the Memorial event in Los Angeles. I'll try to put that attention into perspective, by recalling a couple of similar celebrity deaths. Keep in mind, the 1977 death of Elvis and the murder of John Lennon occurred before CNN and the other cable news outlets, before the internet, before Twitter, before text-ing cellphones, I-Phones and Facebook.

The fan base of those celebrities were no way comparable. The “popular” career of Elvis lasted from 1956 through 1973, about 17 years. I'm also giving him somewhat of a benefit, since his 1969 movie “Change of Habit” was his last and only movie NOT to make money. That was his “jumping the shark” career move which caused him to drop in popularity, to the point that he had a plan a “comeback” special in 1973. Now, this is not to say, that Elvis was not a tremendous entertainer. He made 31 movies during his career, sold over a billion records(back when they were records) and even his last TV special attracted at least one billion and a half world wide viewers. He was 42 when he died. Graceland is still a huge draw for his fans.

John Lennon's popular career was also relatively short, from the early days of Beatlemania to the mid 1970's. He was in the process of a comeback in 1980 with the release of his album(back when they were called albums) “Double Fantasy” after taking a “retirement” from the mid 70's to 1980. His career span was from 1963 to 1976 with a more “adult” fan base who perhaps were quite young in 1963. Like Elvis, he didn't add younger fans to his base over the span of his popular career. His “popular” career span was just 13 years. He was 40 when he was murdered.

Michael Jackson continued to add young fans to his base over the years, making him a performer who transcends more than one, two or even three generations. If you were a 10 year old fan in 1970 during his early “bubble gum” years, you could have children who were fans, perhaps even grandchildren who are fans of his talents today. That's an incredible “career span” of over 30 years! He was also older than Elvis and John Lennon when he died. That “career span” is what places Jackson at the top of the list of longevity.

Michael Jackson was primarily a song writer, producer, recording star and live performer. His try as a movie star consisted of looking like a 12 year old boy, dressed like a scarecrow in the failed movie “The Wiz.” He wasn't a regular in a TV show, outside of his famous Motown moon-walking performance, he had no series of TV specials and made no regular appearances on “The Tonight Show” or any other show, not even “Oprah.” When he was interviewed for TV, it usually generated controversy. In fact, most of his TV appearances were on news programs which featured stories and exposes on his lifestyle and subsequent legal problems.

Elvis' career in contrast included the a-fore mentioned 31 movies, many many appearances on TV variety shows, hosting his own large event TV specials and many years as a stage performer in Las Vegas. This would make him a true overall performer.

Lennon, as a member of the Beatles was in three theatrical movies, as well as solo movie appearances in at least of couple of independent films and countless other performances in variety shows in Britain as well as the U.S.. As a part of the Lennon-McCartney duo he wrote hundreds of songs, many of which were million sellers, as well as a successful solo writing and performing career. You can even see Lennon as a guest on “The Tonight Show,” “David Frost Show,” and “The Tomorrow Show-with Tom Snyder.” He was also a co-host of the Mike Douglas Show in the late 1960's! For talent, John Lennon was a leader.

As you can see, to compare the abilities and commercial activities of each of these talents are difficult. The only thing which places Michael Jackson ahead of the pack is the “career span” which he has enjoyed over the years. His appeal is and will continue to be multi-generational, and his talent will be enjoyed for years to come, perhaps long after the legacies of Elvis Presley and John Lennon join that of the legacies of Al Jolson and Eddie Cantor.

DIGITAL TV 105

2009-07-04T11:35:00.000-07:00

It was 1996 and at an NBC affiliates promotional meeting I saw high definition television in person. Sure I'd seen magazine pictures, but the true quality of the video seen in person was no comparison!

Well, now it's mid 2009 and the digital conversion of local TV stations is now pretty much complete. This digital conversion allowed local television stations to broadcast in high definition, but how much true high def broadcasting is taking place?

If we look at broadcast television history and the most similar conversion which took place as we moved from a black and white monochrome system to color broadcasting from the mid 1950's into the early 1970's we find it occurred in stages. That's what we're seeing here and now. The first stage was the broadcast of select network series/specials in color...now in hi-def.

There's still a lot of network programing, especially reality based series being produced(or at least broadcast) in standard def. It wasn't until 1966 that NBC became the first “full color network.” So far no network has proclaimed the status of being the first “all hi-def network.” That would put us equivalent to about 1965 in the monochrome to full color time line.

It's also notable that local TV productions, such as local news or children's shows, didn't begin to broadcast in color until the late 1960's, with even some holding out until the early 1970's. Of course I'm talking about medium to small market TV. Most large market facilities made the move to color much earlier. Similarly now. most are already broadcasting local productions in high-definition.

With the setback of the economy, many medium to small TV stations and their parent companies have delayed or canceled any investment to total hi-def conversion of their operations. Most of the full service local TV stations will make the upgrade eventually...but for now that major expenditure is probably on hold.

As one full service station in the market makes the leap to high-definition for it's news operations and local productions as well as the broadcast of syndicated programming it will necessitate the conversions of other competing facilities in the market. Stations will also try to meet the demands of regional and national advertisers who want viewers to see their commercials in hi-def. If a station is able to broadcast a clients commercials more spectacularly, it only stands to reason that that station would perhaps get preferential buys from agencies.

Don't expect your local small market FOX, CW or MyTV affiliate to ever broadcast anything other than the network feed in high-definition. If that happens, it will because it's operated by another full service TV station in the market....and it has it's own channel designation.

If we overlay the time line of the monochrome to color broadcasting conversion with our current day standard to high-definition time line, you'll notice it took another 5-6 years before local TV stations aired virtually everything in color. You can expect a similar time frame for a total 16:9 high def video signal from local broadcasters as well.

This is the first....

2009-07-02T22:15:00.000-07:00

Hello, welcome to my new blog site....a part of Doug Quick On Line. My plan is to post new blogs at least 2-3 times a week. Be checking back....I'm still getting the hang of this.

Doug