Tuesday, December 22, 2009

The crew behind the scenes

The jingle plays after every newscast.."Pete Braley in the Morning." There's a lot more that goes into every broadcast and I thought this would be a good time to acknowledge those folks and to say thanks.

Every morning starts with the gathering process. When I arrive at the station around 5AM (or 5:15 or 5:30 if I'm really into hitting the snooze alarm) I go to a number of different web sites and services that we subscribe to to find information that we use on the show. Then it's a check with Dean Devore or Eric Wilhelm at Accuweather. Dr. Joe Sobel was our morning weather man for years, but this past November he switched to the midday shift after 30 plus years of getting up at 2am. I miss him, but can't say I blame him.

WBSM is affiliated with FUN 107 and our studios are two doors apart from each other. JR, Michael Rock and Larry share info with me and I share things with them. We have a great working relationship.

Jack Peterson is usually busy in the newsroom and many times we don't even have a chance to talk before we are on the air together at 6.

Neal White was a great addition to the show. Neal originally came on to sub for me while I was out with my shoiulder surgery, but has remained because he is such a great asset to the show. Whether it's his sports reports, his comments or just another set of eyes looking for material, every day is a fun day with Neal.

Gina Brown has recently joined us with Gem Traffic. I miss Amy Pontes but she was re-assigned with Gem Traffic.

"Intern Taylor" is Taylor Nesbit from Dartmouth High. She scans the wires for me looking for the offbeat news stories that I love so much and she handles our prize sheets for the winners.

Debbie Aguiar Soares is our promotions director who helps me come up with contests and keeps us stocked in "faaaaaabulous radio prizes."

Scott Reiniche helps with what we call the "imaging" of the show. That's putting together the drop-ins with "Mr Voice." Mr Voice happens to be Jim Birdsall who records for us from his home studio in Kansas City.

Other contributors include Kathy Castro who schedules guests for "Operation Education" every Tuesday. We've met some great kids, teachers and community leaders in the nine years Kathy has been with me.

Joanna Langfield gets to go to just about every movie and she tells us about them on Friday.

Joyce Miller at Baker Books has a great feature on books every Thursday and we try to help folks find work with Rita Guadatti and the Greater NB Career Center on Wednesdays.

Last but not least, and it's been a huge addition...our Facebook and Twitter family. I get ALOT of great ideas off these two social web sites. Many times it's tough to get call-ins in the morning because of our short segments or the fact that people are busy getting their day started. Just putting a post on facebook or twitter many times gets the phones going and people chime in with their thoughts.

That's a little glimpse into how we put things together every day. Hopefully I didn't forget anyone.

Thanks to all and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Friday, December 18, 2009

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, BUT NOT NOW!

I love snow. If you've been listening to the show for even a year or two (this is our 20th year) you know that I love snow. If it can't be sunny and 80, let it snow!

However.......we are just TOO busy this weekend! I don't know about you, but I still have plenty of shopping to do. Not just gifts, but FOOD. My wife was planning to make the Christmas cookies this weekend. The Hershey Kiss cookies are my favorite.

Sunday is Christmas Sunday isn't it? There's special music and a children's pageant at the church.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow....but could we wait a little longer??

Thursday, December 17, 2009

You listen to what?

We've been having fun the past few mornings playing some Christmas favorites as bumpers. That's what we call the music you hear when we come back from news.

Neal pulls up the classics on Youtube. So far we've featured:

-Jingle Bells by Frank Sinatra ("I love those J-I-N-G-LE Bells")
-Happy Holidays by Andy Williams
-It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy

Today I brought out some Nat King Cole and one of my favorites (drum roll) Robert Goulet!

I just get a kick out of some of the artists we all bring out at this time of the year---and how we wouldn't be caught dead listening to some of this stuff otherwise.

Where's my collection of Burl Ives mp3s??

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Getting Serious

The Providence Journal reported today (12/9) that four players were sent home from Gillette Stadium because they were late for the 8am meeting. The players were: Randy Moss, Derrick Burgess, Gary Guyton, and Adalius Thomas. Bill Belichick wouldn’t confirm the story, saying, "Anything that happens with discipline on the team stays between me, the players, and the team."

Wow! Do you think this was justified? It was snowy and slippery and traffic was a mess! Is he getting serious because of the way the team is playing? Think he would have done this even if they were winning? Think this will fire them up or backfire on Sunday?

We shall see. I wonder how many opther people were sent home from work because they were late on the first snowy morning of '09/'10??????

Friday, December 4, 2009

What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

It started out as a good idea, as most do I guess.

Every morning I call Amy Pontes, our traffic reporter, and we chat for a few seconds before she goes on to do her traffic report. This past Monday, I was in a good mood after the long Thanksgiving weekend, so I started singing a Christmas tune to her and then I said I was going to sing a different tune to her EVERYTIME I CALL HER FROM NOW UNTIL CHRISTMAS! Why didn't I think this through???? I call Amy 11 TIMES A DAY, 5 DAYS A WEEK! WE HAVE THREE WEEKS UNTIL CHRISTMAS! 11 x 5 = 55 x 3 = 165!!!

Wish me luck. I'll try to keep you posted.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Tom's Got a Secret!

Tom Brady says he knows the sex of his soon-to-be born baby and he's not telling. Not even his WIFE!

Tom and Giselle expecting a baby soon. Tom found out the sex, Giselle did not want to know and he's keeping it a secret from everyone. He hasn't told his father and he says he tries to be VERY careful. He switches it up, sometimes saying "he" sometimes "she."

I applaud Giselle for not finding out. My wife and I never did. We had four children and each time the doctor asked if we wanted to know and we said no. I'm amazed by the number of friends who find that hard to believe. I guess it's THE thing nowadays to know. We didn't mind. My wife says it helped her keep her sanity and work towards finding out the answer. It never bothered us as to what color to paint the nursery or what color clothing to buy. Generic colors worked just fine.

Good luck keeping the secret Tom and enjoy the mystery Giselle!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Interesting story today....Question of the Day -- Consumer Reports Takes on Pushy Holiday Retail Practices

With the traditional holiday shopping season officially kicking off on "Black Friday" at the end of this week, Consumer Reports has launched a public education campaign aimed at pushy holiday retail practices. They're boosting it with a full-page ad in today's USA Today highlighting three of the top holiday shopping annoyances -- extended warranty sales pitches; cashiers that ask for your phone number or other personal information; and pushing store credit cards at the register.

The full list of holiday shopping annoyances, as determined by a nationally-representative survey of Americans, is:

72 percent -- Stores that never open all the checkout lines
68 percent -- Fake sales. If something is always 20 percent off, it's not on sale.
67 percent -- Coupons that exclude almost everything in the store
62 percent -- Being hounded by extended warranty sales pitches
58 percent -- Cashiers that ask for your phone number or other personal info
56 percent -- In-store prices that don't match the same company's online prices
53 percent -- Employees required to up-sell you at the register
52 percent -- Pushing store credit cards at the register
50 percent -- Mail-in rebates
48 percent -- Stores that require loyalty cards to get discounts.
43 percent -- Stores that have a minimum purchase requirement for credit cards
26 percent -- Receipt checkers


Hopefully shopkeepers will read it, think about it, and change.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Please help

WBSM's annual food drive is tomorrow. CANS ACROSS THE PARK is what we call it. We make a line of canned goods through the middle of Buttonwood Park from Brownell Ave to Rockdale Ave. We used to go the other way until one of our volunteers, an engineer, figured out that when we get down near the pond, the sun is going down a bit and we were freezing! Now we go the other way so that in the afternoon we are standing in the sun. (Thanks Frank Gracie!)

This year the food items will be donated to the American Red Cross, the First Congregational Church in Fairhaven, St. Martin's Episcopal Church and Damien's Pantry.

I hope you can come by!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Random thoughts

MISSED IT AGAIN!
Johnny Depp has won his 2nd "Sexiest Man Alive" title from PEOPLE magazine. Oh well. My wife will be happy. With him...maybe not me.

WHO KNEW?
Just found out Kevin Spacey's brother is a professional Rod Stewart impersonator.

ANY END TO HER SUCCESS?
Just found out Taylor Swift, the teen singing sensation, Country Music Enteratiner of the Year, will now have her own greeting card line.

LIFE IS BETTER THAN FICTION
Just read a "tweet" from my friend Peter. His daughter was selected for jury duty. She's 9 years old. Gotta love it!

Monday, November 16, 2009

What if it worked?

The fall out from Bill Belichick's decision to go for it on 4th and 2 on the Pats 28 yard line is AMAZING! Yes, I know, it doesn't make much sense. Everything in our football background tells us when you are that deep in your own territory you punt. His thinking, according to the sound bytes, was that they could make it and then they could run out the clock and win.

In hindsight, it was the wrong decision. But I ask ya....what if it worked? Would we have still thought he was a football genius?

Friday, November 13, 2009

Flash Forward

I LOOOOVVVVEEEE this show! I watch it every Thursday at 8 on ABC along with my younger daughter and son. We're really getting into it.

I also found this recap. It's from MTV published every Thursday late-night.

--------------------------
'FlashForward' Episode 1.08: 'Playing Cards With Coyotes'

Synopsis: A break in the Mosaic case could offer Agent Mark Benford (Joseph Fiennes) the chance to catch a mysterious gunman and change the course of his own flash-forward. The enigmatic Simon (Dominic Monaghan), meanwhile, pays Lloyd Simcoe (Jack Davenport) a visit, leading the two to a high-stakes game of cards. Elsewhere, Aaron Stark's (Brian F. O'Byrne) reunion with his long-missing daughter Tracy (Genevieve Cortese) offers a new conspiratorial angle.

Change You Can't Believe In: The suicide of Al Gough (Lee Thompson Young) in last week's episode seems to have changed the landscape for the characters of "FlashForward." All of the sudden, everyone thinks that the future can be changed. While that's certainly true — Gough did have a flash-forward and his suicide effectively put the kibosh on that — it's dangerous to believe that everything about the future is suddenly cast in doubt. Which leads us to Exhibit B...

The Three Star Guy(s): Mark kills a masked gunman with three stars tattooed on his forearm, the very same tattoos seen on one of his would-be assassins in the future. With this guy dead, Mark is utterly convinced that he's changed the future — but as the episode's ending indicates, there are several men with the same exact tattoo. I don't need to point out that Mark's sudden belief that he changed the future is misplaced, but more than that, it's simply out of character. Mark has proven himself a sharp guy thus far — does he really believe that such a tattoo isn't the mark of a group of mercenaries, ala Coral Snake in season two of "24"? Maybe it's just me, but this felt like a sudden change in mentality for Mark.

The Purpose Of My Visit: Thankfully, this episode brought the conflict between Simon and Simcoe — two of the guys allegedly responsible for the blackout — back into the forefront. Unthankfully, we had to get their interaction by way of a ludicrous card game. How long were they playing for, anyway? Hours? Days? At least a day or two passed in this episode, but their game didn't stop until towards the end. That narrative inconsistency is bothersome to me, and I doubt I'm the only one who feels the same way.

We Shall Be As Gods: Still, credit where credit's due: the dynamic between Simon and Simcoe is glorious. These actors feed off each other quite well, but more importantly, the tension between Simon and Simcoe is so thick that you'd need an adamantium-laced knife to cut it. Simon may have lost the card game, but don't expect him to acquiesce to Simcoe's urges — my hunch is that the world won't find out about their culpability in the blackout for a good chunk of episodes, if ever.

The Walls Come Tumbling Down: The other major development in this episode is the introduction of Jericho, the outside contractors that ambushed Tracy Stark and left her for dead. Somehow, some way, these guys will tie into the blackout and the flash-forwards — my guess is that they're related to the three-star guys — but as I mentioned in this week's "V" recap, series regulars are rarely cast without a specific purpose. In the case of "FlashForward," Tracy's tie to Jericho is Aaron's reason for being on the show.

Best Quote: "Twenty million deaths on our shoulders — isn't that what you said? If that doesn't qualify us for godhood, then what does?" – Simon

Verdict: Tonight's "FlashForward" was an unbalanced affair with certain interesting components — the introduction of Jericho that may or may not involve the three-star guys, the pure evil that is Simon — but also some unbelievable leaps in logic, like Benford's sudden willingness to accept the future's malleability.

The Future: Dr. Bryce Varley (Zachary Knighton) pursues the woman of his dreams, while Agent Demetri Noh (John Cho) chases down the killer of his nightmares.

MTV

Friday, November 6, 2009

Go Dolphins! But, my money's on Pats

Yes---the biggest Dolphin fan in New England checking in here. "How COULD you?" you ask????

I've been a Dolphin fan since the early 70s. Just ask my brother Jeff. I was a fan of Bob Griese, Don Shula, but my biggest fave was #39 Larry Csonka! I had a helmet like his (with the horseshoe over the nose.)I never changed. I stayed with them through the David Woodley years (though often wondered why.) I was with them during the Dan Marino years, even the year they almost lost em all!

But----I'm not stupid. (I know,some would say that's debatable.) The Pats should win this week. They are playing well, they're unbelievable in November, and if it wasn't for the special teams last week----the Jets would have beat Miami. I just hope it's a good game.

Monday, November 2, 2009

OK. I'm Ready.

Bring it on! I can handle it now. I'm talking about Christmas.

I know it seems they start earlier and earlier with the Christmas displays in the stores and the Christmas ads. I cut my first Christmas commercial about three weeks ago, that was weird. But I'm ready now.

Halloween is my starting point. Now that the costumes are put away, the weather's cooler, the pumpkins are rotting, I can handle it.

I was grocery shopping Sunday in Walmart and I heard Christmas music on the PA. Some people would be upset....but I'm ready. I'm waiting to see which music station goes all-Christmas first. I'm ready for "Merry Christmas Charlie Brown!" Sponge Bob Christmas should be on soon.

Here we go!!!!!!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

I think we all need to chill

Remember how it used to be? A co-worker would sneeze or cough and you'd ask if he/she was alright. Their answer would be, "I think I'm coming down with something." You would say, "Oh, that's too bad I hope you feel better soon." Nowadays your response is AWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!! SWINE FLUE!!!!!!!! GET AWAY!!!!!!!!!!

We've had a couple of co-workers go down with a cold/flu and I'm trying not to get too crazy. Actually, my belief is...if it's going to happen, it's going to happen.

I will take some precautions. I'm trying to wash my hands more often and longer; I limit my hand shaking; and if my children want to hang with a friend who is sick....the answer is "NO!"

Other than that, we gotta live life right?

OK, OK, I was wrong!

I know, I know. I thought the Balloon Boy story was real. I'll admit it. I fell for it. I'm a sucker. Actually I just want to believe my fellow man. Thank goodness I'm not looking to buy some swampland in Florida.

The main reason I believed the story was the sheriff. I saw him on a number of reports saying the family was very convincing. He later said he was playing it cool to solidify their case.

I admit it. I was wrong. Maybe there's a future for me in weather forecasting.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Up, Up and Awayyyyyyyy

I may regret this....but I'm going to say I believe the Henne's. That's the family that had the Great Balloon Adventure Thursday. I know there's speculation the whole thing is a hoax, but after watching the interviews Friday morning, I think the boy was confused on the Larry King Show. I think the balloon was not properly tied down, it took off, and in the confusion no one could find the little boy who took off to his hiding place because he thought he was going to get in trouble.

The thing I have an issue with is the family bringing the kids out in front of the cameras. A six year old questioned live on network television, and then analyzed ad-nauseum overnight and on the internet is bound to be nervous. And then to bring the child out on the network morning shows at 5am, when he's sick, only to have him vomit. ENOUGH!

It was an amazing story. I was glued to the coverage. But please! Mr and Mrs Henne....keep the kids off the air!

Monday, October 12, 2009

Stressed about WHAT?

Do you have a dog? Have you ever looked at them as they make their way through the day? I have.

We have a 1-year old Golden Retreiver. His name is Baxter. Baxter has been great since he joined our family just before Christmas last year. He's actually laying right next to me as I type this.Problem is, he has started to dig holes in the backyard and we don't know why. It just started last week, but boy is he having a great time.

I did some research on the internet and found a few different reasons as to why. One site says...it's what dogs do. Another suggested the dog is feeling anxious. That's the one that caught my attention. Anxious about what? Stressed about what?

I think Baxter has a pretty good life. He eats, he sleeps, we walk every day. He has kids that love him and play ball with him. My wife even lets him have MY slippers. I'm not happy with that one. Nothing like slipping your foot into a wet slipper.

I'll be watching him closely over the next few days. If he starts losing his hair, gaining weight, pigging out on fast food or downing a gallon of Hagen Daz after a long day....anyone know a good doggie therapist?

Monday, October 5, 2009

Oops!

In case you missed it today....I told the story about losing my wedding ring. Yup! My wife and I went out to dinner Saturday night with some friends we hadn't seen in a while. We had a nice dinner at Mike's in Fairhaven then went back to the house for some dessert and coffee. When we got home, I washed my hands before making some coffee and noticed my wedding ring was GONE! I told me wife and friends. We started looking all over. Priscilla called the restaurant and asked them to check the booth we sat in. I went back with my friend and we looked all over the parking lot. When I got back to the house, my sons were outside using their metal detector, but they couldn't find it. Needless to say, a nice night ended with me being a bit upset with my loss. Well, the next morning, wasn't I surprised to look down while I was making the bed.....and there it was! Just sitting there on the mattress! It must have gotten mixed up in the sheets. Of course, as my partner Neal wondered on the show this morning, how did I go all morning not noticing it was missing?

Monday, September 14, 2009

Could we please be a little nicer?

Still buzzing about Serena Williams this weekend and Kanye West Sunday night. I'm sure you've heard about it by now. You'd have to totally stay away from news and media to not have seen the clips from the U.S. Open and Kanye taking the microphone away from young Taylor Swift. They're all apologizing AGAIN! I have always felt that a person's first actions....what they did without thinking...gives you a good look at what the person is all about. Their words and actions before they wonder what it looks like or how it'll affect thier image.

I don't like the path we seem to be on. A caller today thought it's always been like this we just have more media and more access to the stories. I wish we could just find a way to be nicer to each other. Who would it really hurt?

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

What? Me worry?

Just noticed tomorrow is 09/09/09. Actually, it's been all over the news because of the Beatles and that computer game. I'm not really into it. Rock Hero, Guitar Hero? Something my kids probably know better than me. Are these numbers supposed to mean something?

I saw a special on the History Channel the other night. Something about 12/20/2012. That's the day the world is supposed to end I guess. It looked like an interesting specal. Maybe I'll try to find it On Demand. I guess it has something to do with Nostradamus and the Mayan Calendar. Evidently, that's the day the Mayan calendar ends. Personally, I'm hoping the Mayans just ran out of paper or stone and that's where they ended.

Anyone worried?

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Give me names!

This week we got two more names. There are still 100 left. 100 names that were supposed to be kept secret.

Of course I'm talking about the list of baseball names. The players that tested positive for Performance Enhancing Drugs. They even have a cool name now, "PED's".

At first I thought the names should be kept secret and that it was shocking that A-Rod and Sammy Sosa had been named. But now that Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz have been named, let's hear em all!

How do these names keep coming out? What "lawyer familiar with the case" keeps letting them out? How does he get them and, while we're at it, what's HIS name? This person, or these people, will just continue to release a name here and a name there for their oiwn little jollies. Let's get the whole list out, have a week or two of shock and discussion and then get past this.