Where's George Hits the Rails

Some of my fellow 'Georgers' do an annual Amtrak trip from NY to California. This year's trip featured a layover in Chicago, so I decided to meet with them.

Turns out, before they left Penn Station in NYC, a few of the folks I would meet were interviewed about the hobby by NPR:

When you hear the words "social network" you probably think of Facebook or Twitter. But years before either of those websites — when most of us weren't using the Internet at all — a smaller, stranger community was emerging around something called WheresGeorge.com, a 15-year-old subculture that's dedicated to the $1 bill.

At Kabooz's Bar and Grill at New York's Penn Station, Jennifer Fishinger is covering her table in stacks of ones. There are 500 $1 bills laid out.

At the next table over, David Henry has his stacks of cash in plastic bags. They're paper-clipped $1 bills in groups of 10.

Not just the $1 bill. I get some grief at home that there should be a Where's Abe? site for $5s, etc. Sorry, that's not my call.

We ended up at Giordano's Pizza, home of one of the True Chicago Style Pizzas, and David had a little ambivalence going in, as a New Yorker with pride in his local pizzas. Turned out he really enjoyed the stuffed pizza, and was a little sheepish in admitting he enjoyed it more than NY's thin crust offerings.

Good fun, good people. Be sure to check out the video attached to the NPR article. Most fascinating to consider the flow of money as relates to human movement. I can tell you from my own county hit map- the money moves along the Interstate Highways. Now, if considering epidemics in the future and how we can expect them to spread, yes, I would consider getting away from a county with an Interstate in it. Naturally, I live within two miles of an Interstate exit.

Dropped The Show

It was a decisions I was struggling to make over the past several weeks, but I did conclude that I should drop the Kole Hard Facts show.

Many thanks to Gary Snyder at Indiana Talks for giving me the opportunity. I was very flattered to be offered the chance, so on the strength of his belief in me, I took a shot at it. Please continue to listen to Indiana Talks, as the lineup will continue to improve as more and more hosts take their shows live, take calls, and generally make for very relevant radio.

It has been very hard for me to balance the concerns of a heavy workload (a good problem to have), household projects, family, fitness, and frankly feeling sane, in the past several months. Something had to give, and the show was the thing that could give. I just feel buried.

I appreciate that Gary kept the door open should things change in the future. Good man, that Gary Snyder! I appreciate him very much.

Columbus Hockey Recap

Many thanks to my friend Bob May for putting a great event together. Some 20-25 guys in a party bus from Greenfield to Columbus, and as my great luck would have it, I got to sit on the bus next to Indiana Supreme Court Justice Mark Massa.

Let me tell you- Justice Massa is a big-time hockey fan. We geeked out for about an hour on the old school hockey that drew us to the game- for him, the Chicago Blackhawks of the late 60s and 70s and their greats Hull, Mikita, and Esposito. My first NHL game in 1976 to witness the Cleveland Barons host the mighty Montreal Canadiens. The Blackhawks would take on the Blue Jackets later in the evening.

The reason I was on the trip really was to play one last time. For as fun and great as the event was overall, playing really sucked. It was perfect, though. It erased all doubts about whether or not to stop playing. I mean it had it all- teammates who wouldn't pass if there was a gun pointed to their heads, opponents who would trip you behind the play even though they knew you were hurt, uncompetitive lopsided balance of talent. Yep, I've had my fill of that. It would be so cool to find a league somehow, some way, that was just into the fun of the game. Alas.

The tunnel the NHL's Blue Jackets players use to get to the ice, behind me.

Oh, did we turn it over without a pass? Time to get into the backcheck.

With Phil Partlan after the game, posing at center ice at Nationwide Arena. Phil's one of the good guys- so much so that I give him a pass for a Red Wings jersey.

If you've ever played recreational hockey, you'll love this. What's great about an event with an NHL team? The locker rooms! It's the little things: showers equipped with actual soap, and with both kinds of water; no slime on the floor; heat; adequate space. If you can't score three goals in your last hurrah (I didn't score any), you may as well have the amenities.

My non-hockey luck continued as I got to have dinner with Phil Partlan and Justice Massa, and sit with them during the game. It was a good game, too, as the Blue Jackets gave effort aplenty but came up a goal short. Loads of Blackhawks fans in attendance.

I found time in there to ask the Justice about my own Supreme Court case that was heard shortly before his appointment. With us being friends, would he have had to recuse himself? He said no, that simply playing hockey together is not nearly enough to give the impression of a connection that could prejudice his judgment. It would have been interesting, had he been behind the bench.

And now, to get my back looked at by my chiropractor.

Last Hurrah

I haven't played hockey in over a year now, thanks to a collision that left my back a mess of spasm, sprain, and general non-function. I really miss it, not the least of which because I gained 15 pounds since the injury.

My chiropractor and doctor both agree that if I play, the back will always be vulnerable. The hit was an accident in a no-check league, so I know full well it could happen again any time.

So, I'm going to play one last game and as much as it pains me, I'll hang 'em up.

The last hurrah is a pretty cool deal. The Columbus Blue Jackets offer a 'Rink Of Dreams' deal, where a group or team gets to use the NHL dressing rooms and have a game on the NHL ice prior to a regular season game, and then watch that game afterwards. Last game- Saturday, January 26, before the Blue Jackets host the Chicago Blackhawks.

I don't know if the deal is a double secret whisper campaign thing. They don't have a link on their website under group sales or anywhere else.

And- while I say this is the last time, truth is, I will hold out for one more future skate. My favorite team, the San Jose Sharks offer a fantasy camp. The cost is fairly prohibitive ($2,000 or thereabouts), so this year is RIGHT OUT. The way the economy kicked me in the balls repeatedly the past four years, it might be possible ten years down the road. But should I have that extra dough...?

Small News, Large Reflection

I found a somewhat dated (Nov 2012) article regarding some job losses at the CSX 'Collinwood Yard' in the Cleveland neighborhood of the same name as the yard. The inclusion of some history was of great note to me.

The Collinwood Railroad Yards &; Diesel Terminal at E. 152nd St. on Cleveland's East Side, was once one of the major repair facilities and freight transfer points for New York Central Railroad and later the Penn Central Transportation Co., according to the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.

In 1929, the yards were expanded to handle 2,000 freight cars a day, and by 1933, about 2,000 engineers, firemen, brakeman, conductors and others worked there.

 Interesting to me- nothing was said about the steam locomotive shops. Those are long gone, of course, but those shops were a prime reason I was born and raised in the Cleveland area. As the family folklore goes, my great-great grandfather was lured from Slovenia to work in the shops. Apparently, a foreman was a Slovene. When he needed experienced machinists, he turned to the Old Country. My best guess is that my great-great-grandfather came around 1900, but certainly prior to World War 1.

Collinwood Yard seems to have lost a little bit of relevance with each railroad merger since it was New York Central property. Those locomotive shops were an enormous presence, highly visible from I-90. I had a hockey teammate in Cleveland who worked on the then-Conrail 'RIP' (repair-in-place) track in the late 70s. It's long gone too.

Technologies come and go, and steam disappeared better than 50 years ago, so I'm not surprised the old shops came down. With mergers, I'm not surprised if within the new, larger systems a more efficient place to work on locomotives and cars. More than lament the shrinking of the yard, I wonder more about our country as a place that creates huge numbers of jobs and attracts immigrants. While the way we live changes and yesterday's top technologies are replaced, our attitude about immigrants, about policies regarding job creation matter. My Slovenian ancestor wasn't lured to England, nor to Germany or Russia. I refuse to go back to Cleveland due to tax policy, as I estimate I saved an entire average year's income since moving to Indiana, just on tax rate differences.

There is much to be learned in policy in these areas.

What To Get For Junior's Birthday?

So, I was doing my long-range planning for Ethan's birthday, and was thinking how much he loves anything automated: model cars, trains, all that. But what to get for him that would really be unique?

I love Amazon, because the product reviews are so useful. No kidding! I mean, check out this one, for a to-scale model drone.

New Kole Hard Facts Show

Listen to Indiana Talks for the newest installment of the Kole Hard Facts Show. It will air today at 2pm and again at 5pm.

Topics include New Years resolutions, the NHL deal to resolve the lockout, benefit shows for Clevelander Tony Urso (see yesterday's post) and for Norton Records (a large post coming soon!) and suspected union violence against Quakers.

Indiana Talks Widget Added

As a proud contributor to Indiana's first statewide online radio station, Indiana Talks, I've added a widget to the upper right corner of this blog so readers can check in at any moment to listen. Click the button, and you're getting the live stream!

Benefit For Tony Urso

My friend Tony Urso has been a guitarist in several Cleveland punk rock bands, including Starvation Army and Sissy, but now it has come to pass that he is suffering some health issues. I love this about music and arts scenes. He's in a tough spot, and his friends are rallying around him with support- in the form of a benefit show, with raffles and other fundraising for Tony.

Date: Friday,. January 11, 2013
Location: Now That's Class, 11213 Detroit Ave, Cleveland OH
Door: $10
Raffle Tickets: $1

Link to Facebook event page

A benefit show for Tony Urso - bands playing will be a very rare appearance by THOMAS JEFFERSON SLAVE APARTMENTS, 45 SPIDER, DUTCH BABIES (members of Numbskull), a reunion show from THE AGGRAVATORS, and THE DREXELS. Plus Jim Lanza DJing and a raffle!

8:00 Drexels
9:00 Aggravators
10:00 Dutch Babies
11:00 Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments
12:00 45 Spider

Tony is fighting cancer, and is undergoing chemo treatments, without benefit of medical insurance. He has a one-year-old son. That's one hell of a spot to be in. I am going and will chip in to support. If you know Tony, have enjoyed his fun company or his music over the years, please find a way to go and to contribute. They money is needed, and the uplift of support is so beneficial.

HUGE thanks to Jim Lanza who has put this event together. A ton of work by Jim. He also put the Cleveland's Screaming reunions together over the past several years.

Here are a couple of clips of Tony in action with a reunited Starvation Army a couple of years ago at a Cleveland's Screaming showcase, also at Now That's Class. I picked tracks that when originally recorded featured Tony as the only guitarist. For this lineup there are three guitars, Tony in the white shirt at the right of the stage.

Resolutions Broken yet?

Some of mine are. But then, when you have so many, it's so easy to do. I used to poo-poo New Years Resolutions as devices needed for weak minds, or some such. Why wait for January 1 to re-evaluate your life, move the goal posts, etc.

I still like that latter notion, but I'm not so down on doing it also for the new year. In a nutshell:

1. Get back into the 32-inch waist pants
2. Spend less on frivolous crap
3. Go to at least one sporting event per month
4. Go camping at least six times in 2013
5. Complete repair & improvement projects around the property
6. Don't give politics too much time
7. Complete the digitizing of the music collection

Pretty standard resolution stuff, apart from the last two. And yes, I know, how do we reconcile #2 & #3? Well, I really enjoy live sporting events and road trips, so it works out real well. And, if I can get cheap tickets on Stub Hub or other resale sites, then I'm spending less.

I'll talk about New Years resolutions, Indiana sports highlights, a benefit for Norton Records, and more on the next Kole Hard Facts on Indiana Talks.

WXNT Re-Arranges The Deck Chairs

WXNT, 1420-am in Indianapolis had been a radio station of interest upon my arrival in Indianapolis back in 2002, because they carried the Neal Boortz show. That satisfied my desire for bias confirmation, and from there I began listening to Jim Burrows and Trapper John in the morning on the station, then Indianapolis Indians baseball and Butler Bulldogs basketball, and quickly began feeling like I knew a little more of the lay of the land.

Not long thereafter, Abdul Hakim Shabazz replaced Jim & Trapper, and I was really hooked. Sure it was a bonus that Abdul would have me as a guest as I ran for office. But even if he did not, I would have been tuned in for the politics- from him, his guests and his callers. He was the only guy on the radio who was chasing down the newsmakers.

As I just pointed out earlier today with my Newsweek post, originate some content and you'll have my attention. So, what does WXNT do? First, they chopped Abdul as a budget cut and replace him with the worthless Wall Street Journal Report. At least they had Michael Smerconish, who wasn't the predictable righteous right-wing blowhard that most of AM talk is.

Until now. Word is out that WXNT is going... wait for it...

Sports.

Local sports maybe? Can a guy hope? Might they originate some content? From Radio Insight:

Entercom Talk 1430 WXNT Indianapolis will shift to Sports on January 2 as the local CBS Sports Radio affiliate.

WXNT will shift from being one of three Talk stations in the market to one of three Sports stations joining Emmis’ “1070 The Fan” WFNI and Clear Channel’s 1260 WNDE. The latter of whom will be losing Jim Rome to WXNT as he joins CBS. WXNT is the local affiliate for Notre Dame football and basketball.

Among the syndicated hosts losing their affiliate in the Indianpolis market are Glenn Beck, Michael Smerconish, Dennis Miller, Alan Colmes, and Phil Hendrie.

I might have understood if there wasn't a sports station in Indy, or if there was only one. But there are already two. No word there on local talent being hired. A look at WXNT's website gives no clue- not a word about the format change.

I can't remember the last time I checked out sports talk. I think it was at night, trying to find a Reds game as I was driving. Alas.

It must be the cheapest way to run a radio station and make a few bucks without particular effort, just to run syndicated content via satellite. It's the only explanation that makes sense, because exciting radio doesn't enter into the picture.

Adios, Newsweek!

Another of the journalistic dinosaurs is fading into oblivion this week, and really it should have happened some time ago. See ya, Newsweek! You had nothing unique to offer anymore, and failed to evolve. From former Newsweek Editor Mark Whitaker, via CNN:

For decades, the cover was also how the fierce competition between Newsweek and Time was defined. In the 1960s, Newsweek became a "hot book" after three decades as a distant also-ran, thanks largely to its forward-looking covers on civil rights, Vietnam and the women's movement (not to mention Twiggy and LSD). In the 1970s, it was the cleverness of its cover designs as well as the depth of its reporting that wowed everyone who followed Newsweek's coverage of Watergate.

When both magazines put a young Bruce Springsteen on the cover in the same week in 1975, it became conventional wisdom that we tried to copy each other. But the opposite was true: We were always looking to win the cover war, and we exulted when we did.

Images are so easy to come by online now, so original content matters more than ever. There was a fat clue in the quote above, about having a particular take on the news so as to make your publication stand out. Mother Jones and Reason carry on. Nobody buys those mags for the covers. Newsweek? Into the ash bin.

More and more old media is dying off, failing to evolve, refusing to understand what makes people want to pay for their content- or if people want to pay to view their content. Those that get it will survive and thrive, because there is no shortage of demand for news and opinion that is unique.

KHF #2 In The Can

Just finished recording the second edition of the Kole Hard Facts show for Indiana Talks. It will probably air on Wednesday, as the first is still in a rotation.

Topics? Gun control, Piers Morgan deportation petition, importing Coca-Cola from Mexico, the fiscal cliff, the Colts make the playoffs, holiday sports TV viewing, sports gambling, NHL's cancelled Winter Classic, and holiday traditions.

A lot for one hour? You bet. It's chock full!

Debut Time - 7pm Tonight!

The Kole Hard Facts Of Life Show debuts tonight at 7pm (EST) on the Indiana Talks internet radio network. The shows stream directly from the website.

Check it out!

First Kole Hard Facts Radio Debuts Thursday

First introductory edition of The Kole Hard Facts Of Life hits the Indiana Talks internet radio network tomorrow, time TBA.

It is a first show, talking about what we're going to talk about in 2013, but also discussed the hot topic of the day- gun control.

Look for more info shortly! The show is in the can and in the man's hands. The show will be live later, but I suspect this and other shows will get multiple spins as a means to introducing listeners to the hosts.

Go to Indiana Talks and check out some of my fellow hosts in the meantime!

Kole On Indiana Talks

Here's a link to my brief show page on Indiana Talks. I was pleased that Gary was willing to use on old candidate head shot for the page. It was taken by Bob Kirkpatrick while goofing around before the serious shots. I love it. If I could use a face palm and still show my face, that would be perfect, too.

Good lineup shaping up there, including Gary Snyder (WBAT, Marion), Abdul Hakim Shabazz (ex-WXNT), Gerry Dick (Inside Indiana Business). I like the statewide focus Gary is honing in on. A media outlet has to offer something unique, otherwise you can get it somewhere else. It has to have a theme, some kind of common thread that ties everything together, so that one program makes some kind of sense next to another, and the listener has a reason to tune in to more than one program. Gary is putting together such a lineup.

Be sure to 'like' Indiana Talks on Facebook! I'll have my own page in the near future also.

I've Found My Special Purpose!

As this blog nears its' 10-year anniversary, it was kind of looking like it would simply fade into oblivion, what with me giving up politics and all, it having been a political blog and all. But hey! These things can be re-purposed as sure as any unwanted Christmas gift or abandoned building!

Gary Snyder has invited me to be a host on an Indiana-oriented internet radio station he is launching in 2013. I could not resist- so much so, that there might even be a little politics in it.

The show will be called 'The Kole Hard Facts Of Life' show. In the same spirit as the blog, I'll fix all the world's problems in an hour or less, talk sports, outdoor life (hiking, camping, gardening), and odd things that make Indiana anything but flyover country. I'll take calls, have guests, sponsors- the usual.

We haven't set times yet, so look for a more formal announcement shortly.

Thoughts On Media

One of the things that has increasingly annoyed me in politics is confirmation bias, wherein people choose the news that suits their views. I understand why they do it. Hell, I have done it to a point. I get the Cato Daily Podcast and listen to that regularly. I never go to Drudge or Fox News, nor NPR or MSNBC. If online there, the comments will make you angry. Well, they make me angry.

Politico has a great article about the result of this. They call it a 'media cocoon'. They ascribe it to Republicans only. That's easy to do, given how they just lost the Presidential election and failed to re-take the Senate. I find all walks do this now. It isn't as though internet is only available to the right, and selective filtering never occurred to those on the left. Politico is left-of-center enough for me to find them to be part of the problem. Ascribing cocoons only to Republicans is proof enough. Nonetheless, the concept is valid and the article makes its points.

Being libertarian and having several circles of friends, I can see the various cocoons come into play. I have old music scene friends and New Yorkers in one cocoon. They can't believe the social conservative views held by some, and often are in despair over 'the course of the country', sliding into the grip of social conservatism- all while championing science and numbers... while the numbers show that the country is moving sharply away from social conservatism! There is one friend in particular that I reassure at least twice a year by pointing out how trends are moving in his direction. Stop listening to your own narrative!

Each side makes the case that policy is moving away from them. If you believe the narrative, it must be that it works in the way propaganda works- substituting facts for something plausible but not of fact, with the intent of motivating.

I get caught up in it, too. My recent despair is of the same nature, but in fact marijuana policy and same sex relationship policy just moved in a libertarian direction west of the Mississippi. What do I see? All of foreign policy and economic policy going the other way. Am I justified in noticing the ratio? Sure, but to what end?

I'm not making the case against choosing one's news sources. I'm making the case for broader horizons.

I sat in a house full of Democrats on election night. I was the only non-Democrat in the house, and not a Republican. Our host was amazed as I predicted the outcomes, but also the demeanor of those presenting the news on the various channels as we surfed. I thought they would enjoy the schadenfreude of watching Fox personnel grimace and moan, and they did. They had no idea to expect that, which floored me until I realized they never ever watch Fox. I thought it would be obvious. To not guess that Sean Hannity and Karl Rove would be unhappy? That's living in a cocoon!

So, broaden those horizons. Take in some news from the other side, and you'll find yourself rounded out a bit more. Apply this to travel (go abroad, it's eye-opening), music, films, books, food, etc. We aren't insects. We are capable of more than singular foci. Not only capable, but better for it.

The Double-Edged Sword That Is Facebook

I must confess, I am like a dieter. Generally with the program, but so easily tempted! Just one little Coca-Cola won't kill me. Nietzsche said it would make me stronger. Yeah!

It is hard to break away from politics. I have made many friends in politics and don't want to lose the friendships. Facebook is a great way to keep in touch, but just because I'm walking from it (or, trying to) doesn't mean they have. It's hard not to jump into the comments. I am weak. Must refute the 'wasted vote syndrome'! Must make the case that Libertarian voters didn't cost anyone the election!

No- must have a satisfying life. This is going to take some designing with intent.

I'm starting with a trip to Bloomington on Thursday, to see the #1 ranked Hoosiers take on some cupcake. Got the tickets surprisingly cheap on Stub Hub. I enjoy live sporting events, and have built in the notion of seeing at least one per month. This may be made more challenging by the NHL lockout, but I figure I can finally see games at Hinkle Fieldhouse (never been there), and return to Fort Wayne for a Komets game (been almost 20 years). Should be fun!

Be On Time

I posted a similar 'hopping off the train' message on Facebook and got a considerable number of 'thank yous' and 'oh no, please no!' type responses. They really warmed the heart and helped console me on a tough day, but I couldn't help but think how much they would have helped when I needed a pick-up on the political path, which was often. Alas, they did not come.

Maybe we need to announce quitting more frequently. Maybe, and more likely so, we need to make it a point to thank those we are grateful for not at the moment they leave us, but while they are with us. I've long made it a point to do so, and will continue, because there just aren't enough 'thank yous'. I thanked Gary Johnson when he came, and will do so again. Etc.

More comments on Facebook than here on the blog is a post for another day.