Feb. 17 just another day now.

I just read an article that said the Senate passed a bill that would delay the switch from analog television to digital. The article went on to say it was a big win for Obama because there was growing concern about millions of Americans not having the proper TV or converter box.

In 2005 congress, passed the bill that would make networks start broadcasting in digital. That gave at least 3 years for Americans to go out and buy a 40 dollar converter box or save up for a new TV. However that has not happened. Everybody just waited until the last minute to upgrade and completely failed. It reminds me of a quote "A person is smart, people are dumb and panicky"

Now the new date four months down the road, June 12. Maybe we will start watching cleaner, more crisp programming, but with the three branches of government controlled by the democrats, who knows when networks will make the switch. I know KMOT in Minot has made the switch early to get everything worked out. They were a head of the curve.. now they are four months a head.

Longest week of my life!

This semester at Minot State University will undoubtedly be the biggest test I will face as a college student. Last semester, I was enrolled in my first, and probably last law course. Communication Law might have been a valuable piece to my overall Broadcasting education, but when the teacher walked in to class on the first day she said, "This is the hardest class in the Broadcast department." That statement was the highlight of that class. Any who I survived it and I now realize that Comm. Law was a piece of cake (chocolate) compared to what lies a head. Math 103.

There is no secret that I am a complete bone head at Math. God just wanted me to carry a calculator wherever I go. I had to take Math 102 spring semester of 2008 and worked my butt off to get a 'C'. I have put off this class as long as I could believing that MSU will change their math requirement to graduate, but alas that has not come to fruition. I am taking the class with my girlfriend and another RA. Also I have my best friend up here, who is a Computer Science major tutor me in exchange for a streak dinner at the end of the year. It seems like I have a whole team of people who are supporting me and helping me along the journey.

I didn't sleep very well Monday night.. or Tuesday night or that matter. I was not looking forward to getting up Tuesday morning trudging across campus for my 8:00 am class. I kept tossing and turning, talking to my self, wondering how I will pass this class. Than I thought two things to my self that calmed me down and finally let me get some much needed rest.

First, take it one day at a time. Don't think about everything I have to do this semester and try and keep a positive attitude when trying to better my self.
Second, I am in my nice warm bed in my 71 degree room, in Minot, North Dakota. I could be in an even worse situation. I could be fighting a war half-way around the world. Separated from my family, friends and everything that I have known for the past 20 years of my life.

So, do I really have it that bad? No. Will I succeed? Please.. I am DVD! Just kidding, yes, with lots of hard work and focus I will pass with flying colors. Also I believe with prayer comes added strength.

This week has been dragging on but I could be working out side in -40 degree weather.

They put this on TV?

Bromance, Big Brother 1-11, The Real World, Survivor are just a few of the prime time shows now being showed in prime time on network television. For some of my followers they may not know what some of these shows are about. I went to http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/bromance/series.jhtml to see what they about their "hit" show and it said "bromance is an intense brotherly bond that makes two buddies become virtually inseparable...the pool of potential bros gets smaller as Brody Jenner kicks sub par compadres to the curb one by one. It sure is hard to find the right guy! But when he does find that special someone to join his inner circle, it's destined to be true bromance." That sounds pretty sketchy to me. If you put a camera in front of a turd and give it false hope it may become relevant.. it is still a turd.

It blows my mind that people would willingly put their pride and self confidence on display for the whole world to critique. What happens if one of these guys who is already having troubles is the first to get kicked off of bromance? That would be a tough pill to swallow. He can't even be the best friend of a C-List celebrity.

Another ridiculous, short lived show was Hole in the Wall. This is when a wall with a cut out figure comes barreling towards the contestant and they need to get through it. If not they lose and fall in a pool of water. Really? The shows intro said it is a big hit in China. I think fox officials should leave Chinese television over seas and bring King of the Hill back.

There are some decent programs on now, 30 Rock, Lost and The Office and are few that come to my mind. My heart still urns for another Seinfeld, King of the Hill and Family Matters.

If it wasn't for sports and the occasional re-run of The King of Queens I would need to find another way to find another way to relax and have a few laughs after a long day.

WOW, That's disappointing.

It seems to be a Christmas break tradition that my good buddy Nate Kroh and I go skiing at the local ski resort, Huff Hills, south of Mandan. Hills, really?? That should be my first red flag, but nevertheless Nate and I seem to enjoy one solid day of hitting the slopes.

We made plans to go when most of the kids were in school so it wouldn't be that busy. Also with all of the snow the Man/Bis area has received in December it would be a perfect thing to do before we both head back to school at the end of the week.

Today we met up at 9:30 am and we got all of our snow gear on and we piled in my car, plus I brought along a jug of water so I didn't need to spend more money than I absolutely needed.

9:40 am: I filled up my dodge neon up with gas and Nate bought breakfast (corn dog and .25 Peach tea.

9:50 am: Nate Kroh and I stop buy Butcher Block and purchase sandwiches for lunch for 2.75 a piece.

10:00 am: We head out on the road for a quick 20 minute safari toward huff hills.

10:23 am: Our car pulls in to the parking lot and we are the only car there. So we get out of the car and make our way to the ski house. All of the doors are open, but there is no one there. We decide to wait around for about 10 minutes before I found their phone number. I call it and the phone that was ringing was 3 feet away and no body was around to answer. There were Huff Hills shirts, sweatshirts everywhere and if I wasn't a church going man I would have snagged one. We went down stairs to where they rent ski's, snowboards, and boots, again NOBODY there. We could have taken anything and everything.

10:45 am: Nate and I reluctantly got back in our car and drove the long 2o miles back to Mandan.

There was nobody out there, they were making snow( I guess having record snow in December is not enough for them) and there was no reason they should have been closed on this beautiful Wednesday. Needless to say we were mad,sad and disappointed about our ski trip.

Nate and I plan on going sledding instead this afternoon. We were all pumped for snow activities and snow activities we shall participate in.

Take that HUFF HILLS!!!!!

1st Down and three strikes and you're out

As a sports fan January should be a great time of the year. Football playoffs are just heating up, Basketball season is in full swing and College football is about to play for their national championship. However, my Chicago Bears didn't make the playoffs this year also the Vikings lost already so I can't spent my days rooting against them. I keep a loose eye on the Chicago Bulls, but ever since MJ retired, came back won three more championships and than retired again I have not been a big basketball fan, and the last time I checked the Minot State University Beaver's were not playing for the National Championship.

After the Super Bowl there is a void in my life that I commonly refer to as the black hole. It seems I just float for two months between end football season and the beginning of baseball season. I have been dating my girlfriend for a little over four months now and ever since we have been dating I would come over to her dorm and turn on the TV to ESPN to catch up on what I have missed.

She too knows about "the black hole" and can't wait until I actually pay attention to her. I have tried to include her in my sports addiction, but she says she can't stand football. Than she turns off the TV and than we proceed to watch High School Musical 3.

Each year, my kryptonite comes and I actually have time to do things like: go to a movie, play cards, see old friends, buy my mom/girlfriend flowers, take Nibby for a walk, and if all of those things are done... study.

To all of my fellow sport fan enjoy this time of year in a couple of months if you say hi to my on the street I will probably not say hi, as I will be floating along until pitchers and catchers report to spring training.

14 free days

Today I received a phone call from a lady up in Minot that informed me that I had won a 14 day free trial at Anytime Fitness. With new years resolutions still fresh on my mind, I figured that these 14 days could really be a sign that I should really make a statement. I haven't nailed down a specific resolution for 2009 and everybody could use 2 weeks in a gym.

I have never been a really big fan of working out and always found it to by a chore. I can't always find the time or motivation to get fit. When I am in Minot the college has a fitness center and the only time I have been in there is to take pictures for the school newspaper.

I am at about 165 pounds and unfortunately I'm starting getting a little dink tire around my middle. Normally I wait until summer to play tennis and go golfing. That is how I like to get my exercise, outside and playing a great fun physical activity usually with friends and family.

These next next 2 weeks should be interesting. I will try and keep everyone updated on my progress.