This past Tuesday, January 20, 2009, something inside the American people clicked, something that will have repercussions for years to come.  The hat!  Aretha’s hat was awesome! 

Luke Song, an obscure hat maker from Detroit, has been flooded with hundreds of calls inquiring about the hat. Apparently he’s sold a bunch since Tuesday.  Everyone wants that look!

“As to matters of dress, I would recommend one never to be first in the fashion nor the last out of it.” ~John Wesley

Browsing for some information about Dr. Martin Luther King last night, I found this fascinating soundbite from the BBC archives.  In 1964 MLK predicts an African-American president “in less than 40 years.” 

“The time is always right to do what is right.” ~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today is Martin Luther King Day, honoring his life and his legacy.  It’s partcularly significant today, the day before Barack Obama is sworn in as President Of The United States.  Long live the Dream.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”  ~Thomas Jefferson

I’m very proud to live here in the USA.  Sure, we’ve got our problems and our differences that sometimes make us crazy, but where else in the world would you rather be? In thinking about the inaguration in a couple of days, you can’t help but feel pride, regardless of your politics.  It’s another incredible milestone in our history.  Another historic chapter begins.  I thought I’d share this great piece with you from cowboy poet Baxter Black.

I see America, not in the setting sun of a black night of despair ahead of us, I see America in the crimson light of a rising sun fresh from the burning, creative hand of God. I see great days ahead, great days possible to men and women of will and vision.”    ~Carl Sandburg

We all woke up to a frosty surprise today, didn’t we?  Quite a bit more snow than they predicted.   And you know what’s funny?  I was just saying yesterday how odd I thought it was that it wasn’t colder.  Usually when the Stock Show comes to town it gets C-O-L-D!  Almost without fail the temps drop this week of year.  I shouldn’t have said anything, right?  Had to open my mouth about the weather!  ’Course you don’t want it too warm when the Stock Show is here. You don’t want the stock to get, um, too ripe. 

The good news?  Nicer weather coming up tomorrow. 

“Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” ~Mark Twain

I hope you had a great time over the holidays with your friends & family and I hope 2009 will be a great year for you. Seems like 2008 was more of a roller coaster ride than we’ve had in quite awhile.  But here we are!  Time to start fresh. 

Have you made some resolutions?  Lose 20 pounds?  Quit smoking?  Improve your mind in 2009?  We all make resolutions and, often, they don’t last too long.  Here’s how to tackle your resolutions this time, according to the experts:  Stick with it for at least 21 days. That’s the length of time you need to do something new before the behavior sinks in. And, they say, if you fall off the horse, get back up and try again.  You’ve got the whole year to try to make good on your resolutions.  You’ve got to give yourself a chance to succeed. 

My resolution?  Make good on all those other ones I’ve made the last couple of years!

“Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits.”  ~Author Unknown

I’m not a guy who thrives on controversy.  In fact, I’ve grown weary lately of news stories reporting on the latest scandal with breathless excitement.  And, I have to say, I’m a little weary of all the controversy surrounding saying “Merry Christmas” to someone. 

Or “Happy Holidays.” 

Or “Season’s Greetings.“

Or “Happy Hanukkah.“

Or any other wish of good cheer.  Seriously, I don’t think anyone is REALLY offended by those phrases, are they?  It’s not like someone is saying to you “Eat dirt!” This is a time of year to spread good cheer and tidings of joy.  Let’s not mess it up struggling to be offended by it.  Merry Christmas!  Happy Holidays!  Season’s Greetings!  Happy Hanukkah!  Happy New Year too!

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.”–Calvin Coolidge

Some of my favorite things about the Holidays are all the TV specials and movies.  Love the animated Peanuts specials, the claymation specials about Rudolph & Santa, and, of course, who doesn’t love the story of the Grinch?!

There’s nothing like all the marathons on New Year’s Day either.  It’s great to flip back & forth between the Twilight Zone Marathon and the Monk Marathon, kicking back, re-couping from the night before.

And movies?  I can’t go the season without seeing A Christmas Story, It’s A Wonderful Life or Christmas Vacation.  Here’s a website you might like if you’re a Holiday movie fan. Besides great Christmas music, there’s nothing like a good Holiday movie to put you in the right mood for the season.

The 10 best movies to watch this holiday season, according to www.christmasmovies.net.

1. “It’s A Wonderful Life”
2. “A Christmas Story”
3. “Miracle On 34th Street”
4. “A Christmas Carol”
5. “Holiday Inn”
6. “Bad Santa”
7. “The Ref”
8. “Home Alone”
9. “Christmas In Connecticut”
10. “Christmas Vacation”

What is your favorite Holiday movie or show?  Comment below.

“Every great film should seem new every time you see it.”–Roger Ebert

Thanks to you, we raised over $42,000 for the Ronald McDonald House during our Radiothon. I was moved deeply by the outpouring of generosity.  Times being what they are, KOSI 101.1 listeners still were able to find extra money somewhere to help families find comfort at Ronald McDonald House.  Hundreds of kids who are facing serious illnesses can stay in a cozy home with their moms and dads during what could otherwise be a terrifying experience.  As we bring to mind all we are thankful for this time of year, I’m especially grateful to know I’m able to spend some time everyday on the radio with kind people like you!  My sincere thank you.

“There never was any heart truly great and generous, that was not also tender and compassionate.”–Robert Frost

As I was doing some work on the computer today I was recalling going to Epcot Center in the 80’s, right when it opened. Amazing!  I especially liked the tour of the home of tomorrow where the voiceover man told us, “Some day every home in the United States will have its own personal computer.” Totally sci-fi. “What for?” I wondered.

Well, now can you imagine your life  without a computer? Email, online meetings, information, dating, socializing, continuous light rock to help you through the workday at kosi101.com, you can’t live without ‘em!  They’re useful at home, at work, for school. They give us something to blame when something goes wrong.  “My computer crashed” is a better excuse for a missing assignment than “my dog ate it.” And isn’t it better to say something went wrong with the computer rather than “he doesn’t work here anymore?”

Oh, sure, it can be a real time-waster.  But that’s awesome too sometimes.  All hail the geeks with too much time on their hands!

“Computers make it easier to do a lot of things, but most of the things they make it easier to do don’t need to be done.”–Andy Rooney