Best of 2008!

Anberlin

Anberlin, originally uploaded by echobase_2000.

If you need a new music fix this Christmas, Anberlin's new album _New Surrender_ is available to download for $3.99 from Amazon for a limited time.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GO790S?tag=absolutepunk-20

If you want a sample, check out "Feel Good Drag"

Into the Groove

This is one of those silly put your iPod on shuffle games.

Rules…
*Put your music player on shuffle.
*For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
* YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!


1) IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY...
Alright, I was wrong

2) WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Christmas in Hollis

3) WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL?
The Ground Beneath Her Feet

4) HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Liberation

5) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Hanging by a moment

6) WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Rewind

7) WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Retrace

8) WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Livin' on a Prayer

9) WHAT IS 2+2?
Windowsill

10) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Five Iron Frenzy is either dead or dying

11) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Get to Heaven

12) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Extreme North of the Compass

13) WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Fabulous, like you

14) WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Wake Up

15) WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Always Yours

16) WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Don't Wait (but I'm already married...)

17) WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
1979 (that would be a few years off)

18) WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

19) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Summer Rain

20) WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
No One Like You

21) HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Only Time

22) WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Someplace Worth Being

23) WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Berlin Kitty

24) WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
X&Y

25) WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Nothing Like a Train

26) WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
More Everything

27) DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Mysterious Ways

28) IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE
40

29) WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
I'm Not Letting Go

30) WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Into the Groove

Go Jacks!

Finally! Five years after going to Division I, my alma mater is making news for its athletic program, most notably the women's basketball team. I did manage to get to quite a few games in Frost Arena, so this is pretty cool to see.

ESPN - South Dakota State Jackrabbits ready to make a run toward NCAA tournament

Waving the Flag

Waving the Flag, originally uploaded by echobase_2000.

Those logos on the microphones are called mic flags. Election night's always a good time to fly the flag high.

Shark Attack!

Shark Attack!, originally uploaded by echobase_2000.

For more on sharks, enjoy this video :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBdIEMdHNR8

What's Palin have in common with Steven Curtis Chapman?

What does Sarah Palin have in common with Steven Curtis Chapman?

Thanks to Peter Chattaway for pointing this out, originally from 92Y blog.

Q: My final question is: Sarah Palin. Discuss.

A: Sarah Palin is "Becky." That's the industry term for the typical
Christian radio listener --the churchgoing working mom who doesn't want to
think too hard about anything. She wants programming that affirms what she
already believes and that's safe for the kids in the backseat. Nothing
makes it on to the airwaves if it's going to upset or confuse Becky.

Becky likes to say things like, "God has a plan for your life" and "God
doesn't give you more than you can handle." Usually I have no problem with
anyone who wants to believe that, because if it helps them keep going when
they lose their job or get a serious illness, more power to them. My
concern about Sarah Palin is that she really thinks God thinks she's ready
to be vice president, otherwise why would he have put that on John
McCain's heart (to use the Christianese). A more contemplative Christian
might have prayed about this situation and been forced to admit that she
wasn't really ready to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. When Becky
prays, she almost always hears the response she wanted in the first place.

I have always argued Christian radio is aimed squarely at 45-year-old white woman in red state America. They're the ones who listen to James Dobson's "Focus on the Family" and enjoy "safe and encouraging" music by the likes of MercyMe and Steven Curtis Chapman. Never dawned on me that Sarah Palin is that listener. Interesting.

Study: Media coverage has favored Obama campaign

Study: Media coverage has favored Obama campaign

Always interesting to see these reports. But it does reach the same conclusion I have, that ABC's World News Tonight has been the most balanced of the major newscasts.

PRE$$ PA$$

I'm in the end zone. The crowd erupts. TOUCHDOWN!!!

It's no fantasy. It's really happened. No, I wasn't the one with the ball, but the guy with the camera shooting highlights for the evening news.

One of the perks of being a TV reporter in Nebraska is the access to big time college football. Texas, Oklahoma, USC, and Virginia Tech are just a few of the schools I've seen.

It takes a press pass to get that kind of access. Of course, I'm not always the guy on the sideline or in the end zone. Sometimes I have to go to the photo box on top of the stadium. You have to take stairs up to the roof to get there.

Make no mistake about it, covering a game is work. I've put in 16 hour days, schlepping a camera for hours. You take a play off, and so does the defense. As soon as you turn the camera off, someone scores.

While we don't pay to get in, we do pay to get there, and pay to park.

Big time politics is the same way. From what I understand, it's not unusual for the TV folks to pay to park their satellite trucks. Those on the campaign press planes pay for their travel. Reporters at big campaign stops pay for internet access and phone lines.

But paying just to cover the event? I thought that was unheard of.

Until now.

This year the two presidential campaigns have what amount to a pay-for-play plans for election night.

No media get in free to John McCain's post-election party according to a columnist with the Chicago Sun-Times.

Barack Obama has a free option -- if you want to huddle into a tent watching a TV with other journalists. If you want a good seat, be ready to shill out $1000 or more. Main riser? Pay $1870. Don't believe me? Look at Obama's website.

Columnist Lynn Sweet said in this piece about Obama's plans, "This is an outrageous pay to play plan that caters to national elite outlets with deep pockets."

I agree.

Journalists are considered the fourth estate. They play an important role, that frankly shouldn't be restricted by who can afford to pay.

Yeah, it's not a problem for CNN, ABC, or the Washington Post. But is it limiting coverage by alternative voices or smaller market outlets?

Every journalist should be able to cover this historic election freely, unhindered by finances. I think this sets a dangerous precedent.

Even with the TV contracts in big time college football, members of the local media still get in free. But we're not talking sports, we're talking about the next president. Do you want to limit news coverage to those with the deepest pockets?

Snoop Does Cash: Johnny Cash Remixed

I don't know how to describe this. Snoop Dogg does a posthumous duet with Johnny Cash on "I Walk the Line."

Johnny Cash Remixed

Go to this site and listen to the remixes from various folks. Bizarre.

I like Johnny, and I like remixes. This, I'm not sure about.

Behind the War of the Worlds

I was in the newspaper today, because I'm one of several local broadcasters teaming up for a stage remake of the classic radio broadcast of War of the Worlds.

I'm officially Announcer #3, which means I have about 5 lines. But it'll still be fun!

A step back to ‘War’ - Grand Island, NE - Grand Island Independent

The show is next Thursday in Grand Island at the historic Grand Theatre. It's a fundraiser for the Grand.

President and the Media

Pres. George W. Bush, originally uploaded by echobase_2000.

It's been nearly two years since President Bush visited Grand Island, and eight years since Pres. Clinton came to central Nebraska.

Each time I was fortunate to cover the event on the news.

Without fail, when a president, vice-president, or even a big time candidate comes to town, everyone wants to know if I got to meet them, and interview them.

It might surprise you that presidents, and those seeking the office don't give many interviews.

And when they do, they're with the likes of Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric, not Steve White of NTV News. Somehow the White House doesn't seem to understand the value of small market TV. Go figure ;)

In this campaign, I know Sarah Palin's done high profile interviews with the news anchors I listed previously. But did you know she's been more available to the press than McCain, Obama, or Biden?

That's what a CBS reporter on the campaign trail says.


For all Palin's jabs at the mainstream media, she's been as accessible as any one as of late. That surprises me. I haven't seen that reflected in the coverage. Could just be that her ticket's down in the polls. But I can tell you reporters following her appreciate it.

Getting back to the point that candidates don't give interviews very often, think about the soundbites you see on the evening news.

Most often they're lines taken from stump speeches. Reporters consider themselves lucky if the candidate stops at a coffee house or ice cream shop. Because then the horde of assembled journalists might be able to ask a couple of questions in a more informal setting.

So when the next president visits Grand Island (and I hope he does!) I'll be there. But don't expect me to score an interview. Even the press corps that follows day in and day out doesn't get that. Sure there's the occasional press conference, but mostly they fly on planes from one speech to the next.

Jesus is a friend of mine

I think I wanna be on McCain's Plane

In his Reporter's Notebook, Dean Reynolds of CBS explains "how the other half lives."

It's a fascinating report behind the scenes of a presidential campaign. I've covered plenty of campaigns, mostly congressional and gubernatorial.

I've run into poorly planned campaigns that can't keep their candidate on schedule. But most of the time campaigns here are easy to cover. There's plenty of access to the candidate for one on one interviews. We don't generally travel with the candidate, although I have. And there are plenty of photo ops, with tours of industrial plants and farms.

Reynolds writes of the Obama campaign, "The national headquarters in Chicago airily dismisses complaints from journalists wondering why a schedule cannot be printed up or at least e-mailed in time to make coverage plans. Nor is there much sympathy for those of us who report for a newscast that airs in the early evening hours. Our shows place a premium on live reporting from the scene of campaign events. But this campaign can often be found in the air and flying around at the time..."

For as polished as Obama looks, this really surprises me. Even local U.S. Senate campaigns e-mail us daily agendas with media availabilities scheduled.

Reynolds continues, "The McCain folks are more helpful and generally friendly. The schedules are printed on actual books you can hold in your hand, read, and then plan accordingly. The press aides are more knowledgeable and useful to us in the news media. The events are designed with a better eye, and for the simple needs of the press corps. When he is available, John McCain is friendly and loquacious. Obama holds news conferences, but seldom banters with the reporters who've been following him for thousands of miles around the country. Go figure"

I guess there's nothing saying candidates have to be nice to the media, but to traverse the country with what seems like no regard for the press corps that's getting your word out -- that's poor.

There's a saying, "Do to others as you would have them do to you."*

Good advice for reporters and candidates alike.

* Luke 6:31

How Much Oil is Actually Left On This Planet? Should We Care? : Gas 2.0

Hey, looky here... we've actually got enough oil to last us at least a few decades:

How Much Oil is Actually Left On This Planet? Should We Care? : Gas 2.0

Debt: Reader Pays Off $14,330 In 20 Months

Instead of CNN's approach of telling us how people are resorting to violence (harming themselves others) to handle their financial woes, Consumerist actually gives helpful advice for getting out of debt:

Debt: Reader Pays Off $14,330 In 20 Months With Our Tips

CNN what are you thinking?

I know the economy is rough. But this is your lead story on CNN.com?

Police: Jobless father kills family, self

That's low. Capitalizing on someone's pain?

And what's that say to others contemplating ending their lives, to see that it'll get you attention?

If you're out of work, on a downward spiral, this is not the answer. There's hope. Christ invites those who are weary and heavy-burdened. Remember that.

But...

CNN, what are you thinking?

In my newsroom, we generally follow a no-suicide rule. Rarely does it do any good to report on

Here, CNN is clearly trying to put a face on the economic story. I get it, people are depressed. But to sensationalize that as the lead story on CNN.com? That's too far.

Commentary: Bankruptcy, not bailout, is the right answer - CNN.com

I think I'm beginning to feel like the economist, who wrote the following:

Commentary: Bankruptcy, not bailout, is the right answer - CNN.com

Government-chartered institutions like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are part of the problem. Why now should government bail others out?

And what happened to market economics? If a small businessman gets in over his head, no one bails him out. Maybe some of these big finance companies should go bankrupt.

Let me be clear, I don't want people to lose their homes or jobs. That stinks.

But for companies that took risks, what's the risk if the government bails them out? Maybe they should have to look at bankruptcy.

From the article:
Bankruptcy punishes those who took excessive risks while preserving those aspects of a businesses that remain profitable.

Instead, it looks like taxpayers will be punished.

Finally from the article:
The right view of the financial mess is that an enormous fraction of subprime lending should never have occurred in the first place. Someone has to pay for that. That someone should not be, and does not need to be, the U.S. taxpayer.

Packing Plant Protest

Packing Plant Protest, originally uploaded by echobase_2000.

There are weeks when a proposed $70 million dollar plant coming to town, creating 300 jobs will lead the news.

Other weeks, a story about 600 goats mowing down weeds alongside the interstate might be as good as it gets.

And then there was last week.

An estimated 500 Muslim employees of JBS Swift & Co., a beef packing plant, walked off the line, asking to pray during the Muslim observance of Ramadan.

After two days of protests, the union and plant agreed to move the evening meal break closer to sundown.

That brought on two days of counter protests from White, Hispanic, and Sudanese employees, mostly Christian.

There was plenty of shouting, strange for a situation about prayer. But it's not all about prayer; to the employees at the plant it's about what they see as special treatment.

By Friday the police stepped up their presence, with dozens of cops posted around the plant.

Now Somali leaders threaten to sue.

Instead of arguing about prayer, I think people need to go to prayer. Certainly sounds better than shouting.

Case IH Combine

Case IH Combine, originally uploaded by echobase_2000.

I got to ride in a combine this week, during Husker Harvest Days, billed as the world's largest working irrigated farm show.

It's a big farm show, although I'm not sure how many working irrigated farm shows there are in the world. At any rate, they show off all the combines and tractors in the field. It's kind of fun to jump in the cab of a $350,000 machine.

New Surrender

Anberlin, originally uploaded by echobase_2000.

I'm getting excited to hear the new Anberlin.

I see they've re-recorded "Feel Good Drag" and are releasing it to radio.

I hope it hear it there.

And don't forget to check out New Surrender, coming Sept. 20th from Anberlin!

(photo taken at Cornerstone this year)

Don't mess with guys with badges

As I've said before, I always feel like I'm doing something noble when I have to defend my First Amendment rights.

In this case, it was hardly worth having to defend.

Our small town airport now has direct flights to Vegas. And with 150 seat planes, it's a real flight on a real plane, not some puddle jumper.

So when the first flight was leaving, I made sure to shoot generous amounts of what we in the business call b-roll. A-roll is your interviews, and primary stuff. B-roll is what fills in a TV news story. And who knows when I'll be able to see this many people getting on a plane here again.

So I needed it for file video.

I walked right up to the counter, as I've done before, and got shots of people checking their bags. I should point out, when you walk in the door to the airport, you're basically at the counter. It'[s not big.

I made some small talk with the TSA agents about the fact that it was a busy day for them, considering we haven't even had an airline here in months. I grabbed about a 10 second shot of them picking up a suitcase, and went on with the people in line.

At this point, some TSA guy came me the business about that was private property and I couldn't be there. When I had to remind him it's a taxpayer funded airport, and I sure could. He wanted me to "erase" my tape, whatever that meant. So I told him I'd back off and went back to the passengers in line.

At which point some guy whips a badge out of his pocket and asks me to come with him. He told me it could be a threat to national security to show the TSA screeners on TV.

It was so blown out of proportion. The screeners stand at the counter in plain sight. There's no screen, no visual deterant. And I got one 10 second shot just to cover my bases, that would probably never even been shown.

Maybe I was just charged up because of the reporters arrested in Denver and St. Paul, but I don't appreciate being lectured by government types. If they're really worried about terorrists finding out how they screen luggage, why wouldn't they do it behind a wall?

Is there really a need to flash a badge? Just ask me not to do it. Local cops do that all the time. They'll explain why they don't want something shown, and I won't show it. Often that's something like an undercover cop attending an awards ceremony. They don't want his face getting on TV because it could compromise his safety. I get that.

So that's my rant for today. I'm not a pushy reporter. Not by a long shot. But I will defend my rights.

AT-AT used in Empire Strikes Back

AT-AT used in Empire Strikes Back, originally uploaded by echobase_2000.

Monday we saw an actual AT-AT used in Empire Strikes Back! And Darth Vader! And dozens more models, costumes, and props from the films at the Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination exhibit at the Science Museum of Minnesota.

You can see the whole set of pictures here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevewhite/sets/72157606844099737/

Pink and Black

Pink and Black, originally uploaded by echobase_2000.

I liked how this came out. But it wasn't the shot I first went for. First, I posed her for a portrait.

But I wasn't crazy about it. Then I got a shot of her walking, where her face was turned profile. That's the shot you see here. I like the contrast with the pink, considering like everything else is black, even the goth girl with the umbrella. The timing was great. But I wouldn't call it luck. You take thousands of shots, you're bound to get a few where you get the timing right.

Deas Vail

Deas Vail, originally uploaded by echobase_2000.

I was happy to see less of the hardcore, and more melodic rock at Cornerstone this year.

Deas Vail is one of those bands. Thank goodness for bands like this.

Flippin' Out

Flippin' Out, originally uploaded by echobase_2000.

I'm flippin' out, because I'm still uploading photos from Cornerstone.

Well, not really fillpin'; out, but I'm backlogged on the photo uploading.

Cornerstone's Candlelight Service

Here's a slideshow of the 25th birthday celebration at Cornerstone, complete with Candlelight Service led by Charlie Peacock, including his song "In the Light."

Cornerstone 25th Birthday

Cornerstone 25th Birthday, originally uploaded by echobase_2000.

I continue to post the hordes of photos I took at Cornerstone. Here's a shot of the frenzy that is a Flatfoot 56 show. Their fans really get into it.

Registration Volunteers

Registration Volunteers, originally uploaded by echobase_2000.

I really need to get a fisheye lens. Look at the fun you can have?

This is with a 10.5mm Nikon I borrowed for Cornerstone.

Flyleaf performs "All around me"

Flyleaf performs "All around me", originally uploaded by echobase_2000.

I'm still uploading photos from Cornerstone. Here's Flyleaf performing their hit "All Around Me"

Cornerstone: Breaking the Silence

Cornerstone: Breaking the Silence, originally uploaded by echobase_2000.

Here's a shot of the band Breaking the Silence, playing at Cornerstone.

I noticed a few trends -- more female fronted bands, in the vein of Evanescence and Flyleaf (the latter of which played at Cornerstone too).

Night Parade

Night Parade, originally uploaded by echobase_2000.

One of my last shots of the day may be one of my favorites. As happens at Cornerstone, it's not unusual to see a makeshift, ragtag parades through the grounds. But this time it was at 10:00 pm. My only hope was to silhouette them against the merch tent, and then I saw the mohawk kid. It worked.

Cornerstone registration

Cornerstone registration, originally uploaded by echobase_2000.

The festival gate is open, and cars are streaming in.

Shane Claiborne is Stalking Me (or Jesus for President)

Shane Claiborne, originally uploaded by echobase_2000.

So last weekend I'm wondering through Barnes and Noble looking at cookbooks, when my wife brings me a book.

"I think you'd like this," Sara said.

"What is it," I asked?

"It looks really interesting," came the answer.

It was a book by Shane Claiborne,a guy who I'd been interested in for a year. More than that, I'm interesting in what he has to say.

Turns out CNN is interested too.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/29/evangelical.campaign/index.html

Of course, had the story not lent itself to a title like "Young evangelicals not a lock for Republicans", I'm not sure CNN would care.

But read the story, and read Shane's book. And if you're at Cornerstone, check out what he has to say.

Shane calls himself "an ordinary radical" and not in the scary left-wing radical kind of way, the sell-everything-you-own rooted-in-the-Bible kind of radical.

Cornerstone: We're here!

There's my ginormous new tent. It already got rained on, for all of two minutes. And it held up!

Favorite Movies

Tag, I'm it! Courtesy Ben Reis, it's my turn to play one of these blog games.

The rules of the “game” are simple:
1. list your top ten favorite films (in no particular order).
2. if you’re tagged, you’ve got to post and tag 3-5 other people.
3. give a tag back (some link love) to the one who tagged you in your post
4. give a hat tip (HT) to Dan

So here we go… My Top Ten Favorite Films (in no particular order):

1. Star Wars trilogy

2. Indiana Jones triology

3. Lord of the Rings triology

4. Wallace & Grommit films

5. Spider-Man (I liked #2 best)

6. Chronicles of Narnia (mostly because I like the books)

7. The Final Sacrifice -- Rowsdower! (youtube link) OK, this isn't a *good* movie, but maybe my favorite MST3K movie. I've got to have at least one movie that's so bad it's good on this list, and this is it.

8. The Goonies. I had to pick an '80s movie. Sorry Ferris Bueller and Better Off Dead.

9. Planet of the Apes (the original, you manaics. you blew it up! damn you, damn you to hell!)

10. I'm going to cheat and put everything else I can think of: The Matrix, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Princess Bride, Army of Darkness, Blues Brothers, UHF (Weird Al!), Dances with Wolves, Equilibrium, 2001, Forbidden Planet, Andromeda Strain, Christopher Guest movies (Spinal Tap, A Mighty Wind, Best in Show, etc).

Now I'm tagging: Lisa, Jeff, and Colleen!

Rain, rain go away!

Three years ago it was flooding. Other years it's been hail.

This year it's been multiple tornadoes, multiple hail storms in one day, flooding, high winds, heat, humidity, and about every kind of spring and summer weather you could imagine.

Last Thursday an hour to the west in Kearney, NE they got hit by a tornado. It was the lead story on Good Morning America the next day. It ripped open an apartment and destroyed the expo building at the fairgrounds. That storm skipped over us (at least the bad stuff) and reformed tornadoes in Aurora, the next town to the east.

The damage in Aurora wasn't as widespread as in Kearney, but those who got it got it even worse. Here's my story on that. It's amazing. You have to watch it.

Then this week, when Grand Island has gone smoke free (w00t!) it's been overshadowed by day after day of rain. The worst came Wednesday night, and resulted in flooding several miles north of our home. Again, the video tells the story.



Anyway, we're ready for a dry spell. After years and years of drought, this isn't any better. A nice, normal spring would be nice. Not that I know what a normal spring is anymore.

Still Lost after the Tornadoes

Not only did I not see Lost last night, I had to be the one to tell the TV viewers of central Nebraska that they wouldn't see it either.

But I hope people are understanding that tornadoes take precedent over TV. Even a season finale.

We did get some email from upset viewers. But we got ten times as many people emailing storm stories, video, and pictures.

Grand Island seemed to have been spared. But our neighbors to the west in Kearney and east in Aurora got nailed by tornadoes. Thankfully, it sounds like no one's hurt.

But it's a mess. It was a long day, and looks like another long day's ahead of us.

Go over to www.nebraska.tv to see video.

Lost: Predictions

Thursday is TV night in the White household (established April, 2008).

We really have only two shows we watch. The Office, which has replaced Arrested Development as our favorite comedy.

But the show we have to watch weekly is Lost. I don't know why we were slow to catch on. Maybe it seemed like a Castaway rip-off. Beautiful people crash on a desert island and try to survive. Guh. Doesn't sound like much.

It's more Twin Peaks or X-Files than Castaway. There are elements of sci-fi (time travel, smoke monsters, the dead coming back), action, adventure, drama, plus it's told in serial fashion. You really can't miss a week. It's not like the X-Files when Cigarette Smoking Man would show up a few times a season. With Lost, there have only been a few throwaway episodes. On the flip side, that means storylines stretch out forever. But I can live with that.

Really, I think it's setting a new standard for postmodern storytelling. The story is by no means linear. Not only do the writers use flashbacks, but flashforwards, showing us snippets of what will happen. Heck, we even know who gets off the island. The fact that millions still tune in to find out how and why tels you something. They can give that away and still leave you wanting more.

Plus they have characters named Locke and Rousseau. This season they even introduced a character named after C.S. Lewis. How could I not like that?

Did I mention the biblical allusions, including a scene that came straight out of the old testament history of the temple? Not to mention a drug lord turned priest who carries a "Jesus stick".

Anyway, if you're still reading, here are my predictions for the season finale. And if you don't watch, this stuff won't make any sense.

But here goes. Here are the questions this episode has to answer.

1. How will they move the island?

I've heard speculation that it's a move in time or a physical move. A physical move seems unlikely. I also think there could be another purple sky episode, where the Island goes haywire and somehow the electromagnetism hides the island from the outside world. But I'm going with a move in time.

2. Is Claire dead?

Well, she's walking around talking to her dead father, so I'm going with yes. She's dead. Don't know when for sure she died, but I'm saying she is.

3. Will Jin, Michael, and Desmond die?

We know by way of a flashforward that there's a grave for Jin in South Korea. Even if he dies now, I think Michael and Desmond won't. The island won't let Michael and Desmond has unfinished business. He's not done.

4. Will we meet Jacob?

I think they might string us on a little more on this, but they have to give us more than they've given. I think Jacob appears and talks, but I don't think we really will learn his identity and story here. That comes next year. That's my prediction.

5. Who's in the coffin?

I say it's gotta be someone who we previously thought wouldn't be dying -- i.e. someone the island wouldn't let die. That could narrow it down to Ben and Michael, maybe Locke, or I'll got out on a limb and say Richard Alpert. Ben and Michael are too obvious. Just for the sake of making a guess, I'm going to say Locke.

6. Crackpot theory

Locke sacrifices himself in the Orchid station to move the island and save everyone, but since it moves the island in time, he's brought back. So his body ends up in the coffin, but he's basically cloned in time and stays on the island.

So I'm probably dead wrong on all this, but we'll see tomorrow night!

No Time for Wal-Mart?

Perusing Wal-Mart's magazine aisle tonight, I noticed Hot Rod, Hot Rodder, Street Rodder, and about two dozen other car magazines not having anything to do with rods, hot or otherwise.

But did I see Newsweek or another news periodical?

In the checkout you'll find People, Teen People, TV Guide, some mags about soap operas and country music. Plus those who need no last names, Martha, Oprah.

Still no Time?

I'm sure Wal-Mart has plenty of marketing data that shows which magazines sell, and specifically which celebrity-driven rags sell in the checkout aisle. I can't fault them for making money. That's their business.

I didn't expect National Review or the New Yorker, but no Newsweek?

I know news is my business, but even if I weren't on TV I'd still be reading some sort of newsmagazine. And I know the internet has changed the landscape. But the people who aren't reading newsmagazines aren't reading blogs and aren't watching TV news.

Those who watch me on the local news generally read their local paper and check a site like cnn.com. I don't mind when someone doesn't know who I am if they watch another news program. But when they tell me they don't follow the news... then I understand why voter turnout is 25%.

Not quite a close shave

No close shave in either of the U.S. Senate primaries I covered this week. (Video of me & the governor here) Nor a shave for me either. The beard continues to grow.

Bleed Into One

Here's a trailer for Bleed Into One, the story of Christian rock.

It's got a lot of the usual suspects, and some shows I was at. Looks pretty interesting.

Election Day

Finally, months after not-so-super-Tuesday, Nebraskans get to cast their vote.

Sara and I just voted. We were #s 93 and 94 on the day at our precinct. Pretty quiet there.

Tonight I'm covering too US Senate campaigns, Democrat Scott Kleeb and Republican Mike Johanns.

Johanns is a popular former governor and former US Secretary of Agriculture. He'll have no trouble.

As for Kleeb, he's facing Republican-turned-Democrat Tony Raimondo, who owns a manufacturing plant. I have no idea who's going to win that.

If you're in Nebraska, go vote today!

And now, the rest of the story. Angel Dies at 92

ABC News: Paul Harvey's Wife Dies at Age 92

The rest of the story is this. Behind Paul Harvey is a wife whose contributions live on beyond Paul's legacy. The "kicker" is used on nearly every local TV newscast.

And she gets credit for developing "The Rest of the Story", one of the finest programs in radio history.

Paul never called his wife Lynne. One of these days we will lose Paul. But this weekend we lost an "Angel".

The Falls of Sioux Falls

The Falls of Sioux Falls, originally uploaded by echobase_2000.

On my iPod, I have a playlist called "Good stuff I haven't listened to lately."

This is in the geographical equivalent. Places I like that I haven't been to lately.

I present to you the falls on the Big Sioux River in Sioux Falls, SD.

New Google Feature Turns Back Time

Gmail now lets you turn back time with Custom Time.

Forget to respond to an email? Send it now, but roll back the time. That way the reader thinks you sent it earlier.

So if it's 5pm on the second, make it 9am on the first. It's that simple!

I'm going to have to start using this!

Principal for a Day

What would you do if you were principal for a day? Watch and find out what I did!

Quick hits

Between planning for marriage (and a wedding), sweeps month, sickness, tons of activity at church (new facility, search committee to find pastor), I haven't exactly had tons of time for an update.

Some quick hits:
- Plenty of updates at www.SteveAndSaraW.com so check that out for wedding-related stuff.
- Chelsea Clinton paid Grand Island a visit.
- Nebraska passed a smoking ban. And Grand Island could have one even earlier than the state's.
- The faith is back in Nebraska football. And I mean it when I say faith. Longtime assistant coach Ron Brown is back, and his prayer at a recent fundraiser received applause. That says something. That wouldn't have happened with Bill Callahan's staff. I'm liking new coach Bo Pelini thus far. If nothing else, he's got Tom Osborne on his side, and seems to be listening to him.
- We've been going through marriage counseling, which has been helpful, if for no other reason than to help us articulate what we already know. Although I'll say teen abstinence campaigns (and the True Love Waits card I signed in high school) seem woefully inadequate in an era when many wait longer to get married, but I'll save that for another post.

I've been meme-ing to tell you...

Tag! I'm it!

Lisa tagged me for a meme, sent to her by someone named Karen, whom I don't know, but what the heck. This is the internet. We have to keep this thing alive!

Here are the rules to Karen's meme:
(1) Link to the person that tagged you.
(2) Post the rules on your blog.
(3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
(4) Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
(5) Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

(1) Done.
(2) Done.

(3) Six quirks? Come on, don't you know that's primarily what blogs are for? Every post is about my quirks. But I'll do my best to narrow it down.

1. I like a neatly folded newspaper. I don't like my paper to be wrinkled and creased before I get to it. Somehow that makes it seem like old news. I'm a news guy; I'm allowed!

2. I have to eat breakfast before I shower. Showering's (and getting dressed) about the last thing I do in the morning.

3. I'm a grammar snob (just ask my bank). You wouldn't write "alittle" as one word, so don't write "alot". It's two words. If you work in a professional field, I expect you to know basic grammar and spelling. Is that too much to ask?

4. I often leave part of my grooming until I get to work, whether that's tying my tie or shaving. Even when I shave, I often shave again before I go on the news.

5. Like Lisa, I'm also a music snob. But you knew that.

6. As part of our pre-marital counseling, I had to make a list like this one. I put down that I need time to create. I need creative outlets. So don't be surprised when I fire off my camera shutter a time or two (or 300). Or I need to make something, or even scrapbook with Sara. Something. Fortunately, my work allows me a lot of opportunities, but I still need more.


For my six people to tag for this meme, I choose my sister (whose blog is private, so no sense linking it), the aforementioned graphic design genius Brian, as well as Jeff, Chuck, and Steve (all semi-sane mostly online friends who happen to have blogs). It'll be interesting to see if any of those five come up with quirks I don't know about (I know we're all music snobs). Hee hee. And for my sixth, I choose Tammy from my small group. She needs a good excuse for a post.

(4) Tag six random people
1. My aunt Colleen (who's closer to my age than my mom)
2. Middle school youth pastor extraordinaire Buffalo
3. Prairie Roots (aka Erin)
4. Youth pastor intern extraordinaire Ben
5. Bill Grip
6. Fellow Nebraska-based lover of good music and ministry Kyle

(5) Done.

New Band Discovery: Silver Trail

Instead of a thoughtful blog entry, I give you this silly internet meme, taken from Jeff who in turn was just copying Chuck.

1. Go to Wikipedia’s random page generator.
The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2. Go to Random Quotations.
The last four words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3. Go to Flickr’s Interesting Photos from the last seven days.
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

So without further ado, I present to you:

Silver Trail, with their album Truth and Pardon Error as seen below

Anberlin

Anberlin, originally uploaded by echobase_2000.

According to iTunes, here are the albums I've rated highest for 2007. I meant to do this a long time ago, but hey, I've been moving. Using iTunes helped me do this a little more analytically. I looked at which albums from 2007 I had rated highest in iTunes and also looked at which albums I had listened to the most. That seems to create a pretty good way of determining what I really liked, not what I should like or what I thought I liked, but didn't really listen to much.

So let's jump right into it.

Anberlin Cities
Anberlin Lost Songs

Cities is not only a great album, but the rock album I've been craving. Straight forward rock, crunchy guitars, soaring melodies, and a great front man. Lost Songs is rarities and b-sides, but a nice companion piece. "Hello Alone" and "Godspeed" in particular seem to be in heavy rotation on my iPod.

The Brothers Martin The Brothers Martin

Indie rocker Jason Martin of Starflyer 59 collaborates with synth pop maestro (and brother) Ronnie Martin. The album works best when both sounds come together, for a new wave-esque feel. "Fears to Remember" is definitely one of my favorite songs of the year.

The Echoing Green Suffer EP

I'll always take a new song from Joey B. and some remixes, but this is more. First, Suffer is a cool dark synth track, and the remixes are strong. But it's also got a couple of other new songs which are equally as good, if not better.

Mae Singularity

Some albums take time to grow on you. Mae's previous effort, The Everglow, was not one of them. I just put it in and couldn't stop listening to it. Singularity on the other hand took some time to get into. But having seem these songs live (when Mae was in concert with Anberlin and Motion City Soundtrack), they sound great. "Brink of Disaster", "Sometimes I Can't Make it Alone", and "Crazy 8s" are among my favorites. Nothing tops "Someone Else's Arms" from the last album, but it's still a strong collection.

Honorable Mention for 2007:

Arcade Fire Neon Bible

This was one of those I'll-take-a-chance-and-get-this-on-iTunes albums. But I tend to like it.

Deas Vail All The Houses Look the Same

Got this at Cornerstone. Glad to hear more new bands that play melodic rock.

Eisley Combinations

I don't like this as much as their last CD, but it's OK.

Fauxliage Fauxliage

Leigh Nash of Sixpence worked with the guys from Delerium for this electronica / chill-out album. It's not bad. Not as good as I'd like either, but for what it is, it's OK.

Kanye West Graduation

Yeah, I listen to Kanye. Actually saw him open for U2. I was like not even ten feet from the guy. This has a couple of songs I really dig, and a whole lot of filler. Not as consistent as his last CD, but he's one of the few mainstream hip hop artists doing anything remotely interesting.

Neon Horse Neon Horse

Another Jason Martin collaboration, but I can't get into it as much as The Brothers Martin. I should like this more, but the songs kinda all sound the same.

Relient K Five Score and Seven Years Ago

There are a couple of killer tracks, and several I just don't listen to. It's a shame these guys still haven't hit the airwaves in a big way on pop radio. This is fun, accessible pop punk, and definitely radio friendly. But probably a little safe and boring too.

Bank puts grammar on trial

Deli-Cat, originally uploaded by echobase_2000.

Delilah sure is enjoying the new house, and so are Sara and I, even if she doesn't get to move in for another two months.

But I'll admit, all the paperwork involved in a mortgage can be a bit intimidating.

Still, I didn't expect the bank to send me a letter using the words arraigned and Feb. 1 in a sentence together.

Maybe it's just because I'm a reporter who hangs around courthouses, but that word has a specific meaning. If you're being arraigned, someone is filing charges against you in court.

Assuming they meant arranged instead of arraigned, the letter still told me payment would be made out of the account I established Feb. 1. Um, that's next week. I can't establish something in the future.

And they screwed up on a there/their/they're too.

I just hope they're better with numbers than they are with words!

(ps - most of the people at the bank have been extremely helpful, but whoever sent this letter needs to learn to run spell check and grammar check).

Delilah in the Sun

Delilah in the Sun, originally uploaded by echobase_2000.

I uploaded a ton of photos to my Flirckr account. Check them out!