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A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Birds
Saturday 06-05-2010 8:24am CT
I have come to despise the very thought of PR. A firm that one hires in the event that they screw up so badly, they must protect their fortune by spinning the truth and outright lying to the public.
BP has hired some genius company to create a commercial backed by a 50 Million dollar ad buy to convince America that they are not the devil. I would submit to you that putting CEO Tony "I want my life back." Hayward as the spokesperson of the ad campaign shows that we are dealing with a company that spilled a lot more than oil. Their credibility and sensibility has washed out to sea.
How many times has Tony had to apologize for insensitive statements? Why is he still the CEO? In what boardroom of which company would a majority of high rollers agree to sell his face as the one of sincerity and confidence?
I'm no CEO. I will never have any letters attached to the front or back of my name. CEO's are seen as being the smartest, most savvy men in the company. We are counting on this man to do the right thing. All our hopes, dreams and futures are pinned on what Tony Hayward decides to do next.
Tony Hayward has made it abundantly clear that this is a huge inconvenience in his perfect world. To date, he has spent more time on camera apologizing for previous statements than telling us the awful truth. Top Hat and Top Kill failed miserably. The success of Cut and Cap is still pending. BP is asking for help from the public, but is turning it down as quickly as it is offered.
Reports are starting to surface which indicate that Top Hat is now being deployed on the reporters and AP photographers on the scene. Gotta squash those photos. Gotta kill those interviews with BP employees. We've heard that the Louisiana shore is "a graveyard for animals". Really? Where are the pictures? I'm seeing birds covered with oil and being rescued.
Fishermen who are helping with the cleanup have been sickened to the point of hospitalization. Volunteers say that the oil burns their skin if they touch it. If all that is happening above the surface, what could be going on below it?
PR will not let us see the dead birds, dolphins and fish. PR is trying to change the narrative while the disaster is still in full effect. PR thinks they have to get "ahead" of the bad publicity. PR will try to restore Tony Hayward's reputation through the only means they have. Lying.
BP is so clueless that they don't realize PR only works on really stupid people.
Leah
St. Jude "Ride and Shoot"
Monday 05-24-2010 5:12pm CT
So this Saturday, May 29th, I will be participating in the "Ride and Shoot" for St. Jude's. I have been looking forward to this for months, yet I am filled with anxiety.
This involves me getting on a horse named Scooter and guiding him along a course as I use a single-action six shooter to try and hit balloons. Halfway through the course, I must put one gun away, switch reins into the other hand while guiding Scooter around a barrel, and grab the other gun with my left hand, pass it to my right hand and finish the course. This takes a lot more ability than I can muster.
I have not practiced. I have only ridden this horse once and I am not a great rider. I hope my Memorial Day weekend doesn't end up in the hospital. Speaking of hospitals, this is all for the benefit of St. Jude. I know times are tough. I know you've been asked to contribute to charities more times than you can count this year. My fund-raising goal has been set very high and I hope that I can come close. Please go to my page and donate whatever you can. I will be so grateful. If you can not donate money, please send a prayer for my safety. Thank you so much.
https://waystohelp.stjude.org/sjVPortal/public/displayUserPage.do?programId=752&eventId=105630§ionStyle=subMenuTwo&userId=479556
Leah
You Can Hang With Nick Saban
Monday 05-10-2010 5:56pm CT
The Regions Charity Classic is happening this week at Ross Bridge. I have had the opportunity to broadcast twice from this event. The atmosphere is festive, the course is beautiful and the celebrities are numerous.
Without question, the most anticipated star to appear is always Nick Saban. The second he arrives in the parking lot, you know it. The TV cameras all kick into high gear running to greet him . If we're lucky, he will stop and take a couple of questions, but we're not always lucky.
Nick Saban is a tough guy to get close to ........until now. You have the chance to walk the course this year along with the Nickinator. And Mal Moore, and Cornelius Bennett, and Taylor Hicks and Fuzzy Zoeller. On the main Steve and Leah show page, you can bid your way onto the fairway. You will be the standard bearer for this team during their round of play. All proceeds are 100 percent tax deductible and will benefit Children's Hospital.
Hurry! The bidding ends tomorrow! Good Luck and Roll Tide!
Leah
In Honor of Arizona
Wednesday 04-28-2010 5:35pm CT
JOE LEGAL vs. JOSE ILLEGAL
You have two families: "Joe Legal" and "Jose Illegal".
Both families have two parents, two children, and live in California .
Joe Legal works in construction, has a Social Security Number and makes
$25.00 per hour with taxes deducted.
Jose Illegal also works in construction, has NO Social Security Number,
and gets paid $15.00 cash "under the table".
Ready? Now pay attention...
Joe Legal: $25.00 per hour x 40 hours = $1000.00 per week, or $52,000.00
per year. Now take 30% away for state and federal tax; Joe Legal now
has $31,231.00.
Jose Illegal: $15.00 per hour x 40 hours = $600.00 per week, or
$31,200..00 per year. Jose Illegal pays no taxes. Jose Illegal now has
$31,200.00.
Joe Legal pays medical and dental insurance with limited coverage for
his family at $600.00 per month, or $7,200.00 per year. Joe Legal now
has $24,031.00.
Jose Illegal has full medical and dental coverage through the state and
local clinics at a cost of $0.00 per year. Jose Illegal still has
$31,200.00.
Joe Legal makes too much money and is not eligible for food stamps or
welfare. Joe Legal pays $500.00 per month for food, or $6,000.00 per
year. Joe Legal now has $18,031.00.
Jose Illegal has no documented income and is eligible for food stamps
and welfare. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00.
Joe Legal pays rent of $1,200.00 per month, or $14,400.00 per year. Joe
Legal now has $9,631.00.
Jose Illegal receives a $500.00 per month federal rent subsidy. Jose
Illegal then pays $500.00 per month, or $6,000.00 per year. Jose
Illegal still has $ 31,200.00.
Joe Legal pays $200.00 per month, or $2,400.00 for insurance. Joe Legal
now has $7,231.00.
Jose Illegal says, "We don't need no stinkin' insurance!" and still has
$31,200.00.
Joe Legal has to make his $7,231.00 stretch to pay utilities, gasoline,
etc.
Jose Illegal, with no documented income is eligible for utility subsidies. Jose Illegal has to make his $31,200.00 stretch to pay gasoline, and what he sends out of the country every month.
Joe Legal now works overtime on Saturdays or gets a part time job after
work.
Jose Illegal has nights and weekends off to enjoy with his family.
Joe Legal's and Jose Illegal's children both attend the same school. Joe
Legal pays for his children's lunches while Jose Illegal's children get government sponsored breakfast and lunch.. Jose Illegal's children have an after
school ESL program. Joe Legal's children go home.
Joe Legal and Jose Illegal both enjoy the same police and fire services,
but Joe paid for them and Jose did not pay.
Bottom line...........
If you vote for or support any politician that supports illegal
aliens...
You are part of the problem.
Bluegrass and Burgers is SATURDAY
Monday 04-05-2010 7:29pm CT
  Please join me as I emcee a very important fundraiser that will be fun for the entire family.
The Spirit of Hope Youth Ranch invites you to the
3rd Annual "Bluegrass and Burgers".
Please join us at the ranch Saturday April 10th from Noon 'til 3PM. Admission is FREE.....Donations will gladly be accepted.
Music will be provided by the Tack Room Boys. Horsemanship demonstrations by Ryan Gardner with Harmony 'n Horses.
Bubba Whodini the Magician will be there.
At 2:45P, we'll have the dedication of the Barn funded by Daniel Foundation and Memorials from family and friends of Betty Bashinsky.
The Spirit of Hope Youth Ranch is located on the grounds of the Kings Ranch. For directions, please go to sohyr.org.
This is a wonderful organization and we will have a great time. Please bring the family and enjoy!
Your Awwwwwwwwwwww Moment of the Day
Wednesday 03-31-2010 7:31pm CT
I am known around the radio station for being a huge animal lover. Dogs, cows and in particular, horses are a large part of my life.
Before I moved to Alabama, I got to know John Van Zante and the great people at the Helen Woodward Animal Center in San Diego. These people do God's work.
I got the most incredible email from JVZ today and wanted to share it with you. Click on the link below for your wonderful moment.
Twin
foals (that's "baby horses")....just
4 days old....are receiving care in the Equine Hospital at Helen Woodward Animal Center.
Most
people never see a set of twin foals
because they are so rare.
The facts that they survived long enough to
be foaled (that's
horse-speak for "born") and that "Sunny" and "Angel"
and the mare (their mom) "Lena"
are all
still alive makes this an even more unusual story.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/sunnyandangeltwinfoals
Click here for streaming video. The babies are in and out of the shot.
Like
most babies they eat and romp...then they move to the side of the stall
and
take naps.
They appear to be looking good, but we know
that their chances
of surviving the first two weeks of life is still only about one in
15,000.
Your good thoughts and prayers are
appreciated.
JVZ
John Van Zante
Public Relations Manager
Helen Woodward Animal Center
858-756-4117 x 335
Tuesday 03-16-2010 6:05am CT
Leah Rides Scout a DAY EARLY!
Sunday 03-07-2010 10:49am CT
I was able to attend the Allied Women's Summit yesterday at the Marriott on 280. I really didn't know what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised.
The turnout was fantastic as were the speakers. Hannah Giles, the "prostitute" from the Acorn videos was first up to the podium. She is very young....only 20, with a completely fat-free body! She told the story of how she came up with the idea for the videos and the fear that she experienced along the way. People told her she would ruin her career. People who were supposed to help her dropped like flies as the date got closer. Her message was that we must overcome fear in the face of evil. She did a great job.
Carol Swain, Law Professor at Vanderbilt, was an exceptional speaker. She's BLACK and made sure they we knew she was black. Not "African-American", she was black. She had three points that resonated with me.
1. White people are always made to shut up and we shouldn't
be afraid of being called racists. We need to speak.
2. We will be held accountable for what our politicians do.
3. Her life was a whole lot easier before people knew she
was saved.
Amie-Beth Shaver and Jeannie Faherty, along with Allied Women, put together a great gathering of politicians and involved citizens. I feel like this is the start of something great. Thank you so much for inviting me to be a part of it.
Secondly, I had to leave the soiree' early so I could make it my favorite tack shop on 119. Rita at Carousel is the owner and very informed in all things horses.
I told her I was planning to ride my Thoroughbred and needed a helmet. She fixed me up. I also bought a bridle and a hackamore. Scout hates having anything in his mouth so this way, I have control over his nose and no pressure on his mouth. I was hoping that this would deter him from getting really mad at me for wanting to ride him.
I came back to the barn and Larry Skipper decided we needed to fit his bridle and hackamore on him so that when I rode him, it would be all set. As I stood there looking at him with his new get-up on, I told Larry I needed to get on him right then and there. So he led us to the little round pen, kneeled down so I could stand on his knee and I jumped on the back of Scout without a saddle! I thought I was scared....guess who was SHAKING???? Scout was. Poor boy. I don't know why he was scared...but it took away every single bit of my fear . Skipper took the reins and led us around the arena. After twice around, the reins came over Scouts head and into my hands. Gulp!
He was so good....he was so gentle...his spine was killing me.
Sitting on that horse without a saddle was like getting elective surgery in a place you would never want it. At the time, I realized I was in pain, but was so thrilled that I didn't care. Then I got brave....................and squeezed him with my legs just a little, itty, bitty, bit. He took off in a trot.
Skipper snapped to attention when Scout picked it up. He looked at me and said "DID YOU DO THAT??" I said yes...I asked him and he responded. After twice around the arena, trying to figure out how much Scout knew about what I was asking him, I had had enough. I pulled him up, slid down off of him and gave him a big hug. Not to mention, an entire bag of carrots.
I will ride him again today and film it for show purposes. I know this might seem anti-climactic. I think about how cool the video would be of me diving head first into a big wall of dirt. And maybe my foot would get caught in the stirrup and he would pull me around for a while. YOUTUBE here we come! (although today is another day and you never know.)
Truth is, I have been afraid of this horse for 3 years. People have told me to get rid of him over and over. I never would.
Just before I moved here from California, an opportunity came up with a wonderful woman who needed a horse to keep her other one company in a huge pasture. She wanted Scout. The night before I was to make a decision, I was in tears. I had promised him that I would always be there and now I was basically giving up on him. I don't think I could ever NOT worry about that horse for the rest of my life. The decision was NO although I have always wondered whether it was the right decision.
This was the first ride in a very controlled environment. Scout runs like a freight train across the pasture with his head held high and his hooves as loud as thunder. It's very intimidating to me. Yet, yesterday, with me on his back, I do believe he returned the favor of all the care that I have given him. I can hardly wait to do it again.
If you want to see what he looked like when I got him and after I started taking care of him, he is the last two horse pictures on the left of this page. Who wouldn't be scared of that?
Leah
Farewell Mr. Langford (Part DEUX)
Friday 03-05-2010 4:06pm CT
"Hats Off To Larry.......he broke your heart"..........that is the first line of the theme song we always used to play before we had Larry Langford on the air. The song was just a song, until it wasn't. Now, I realize how true those words are.
Today, Larry Langford was sentenced to 15 years in prison, with an additional 3 years of supervised release.
While on the air live today, Steve and I followed the courtroom proceedings on Twitter. There was the usual posturing from the defense and the prosecution. There was an unwilling participant in the testimony who disappeared and refused to speak on Larry's behalf. Then came the moment I have been waiting for. Larry's turn to finally speak. He only said one sentence.
"I'm sorry that this occurred".
WHAT???!!!! You're sorry that THIS OCCURRED??? What kind of non-apologetic, non-committal statement is that? That's like when someone says...."I'm sorry that you think I did something wrong".
Maybe it's strategic. Maybe he couldn't outright claim any responsibility because it might interfere with an appeals process. Maybe his lawyers told him to say that. I don't know.
I've been following along during this entire process. I've been looking for him to drop the facade and be a humble human being. Even looking at what amounts to a death sentence, the words would never be spoken. That one sentence today broke my heart.
Hats Off To Larry
Leah
Farewell Mr. Langford
Friday 03-05-2010 3:51pm CT
I just left a voice-mail on former Mayor Langford's machine. We are having his lawyer, Glennon Threatt on the show tomorrow. Tomorrow is the DAY BEFORE THE DAY. On Friday, Larry Langford will be sentenced to anywhere between 15 and 805 years after being convicted of 60 Federal charges.
I spoke with Larry earlier this week and asked him to come on the show just one last time. He seemed optimistic and upbeat as usual. Then, the story came out in the paper about him winning 555 jackpots at various gambling locations over the past 3 years. Now, all I get is the machine.
I have taken a lot of ribbing over how I feel about Langford. "He's a crook"! "He's a convicted felon"! "How can you still have a soft spot for Langford after everything that he and his wife said right after the conviction?" "He threw the RACE CARD!" I know.........I know............"Leah, the County is suffering because of what he did while he was on the commission"! Yes........I hear you. I can not dispute these facts because they are facts.
Perhaps it's because I remember when Steve and I first came to town. No one on the radio could get Langford to so much as blow smoke in their direction, never mind be on their show. Steve and I put up a billboard which he would see when exiting into downtown which said "Why won't the Mayor talk to Steve and Leah?" That did it and he awarded us with a bunch of coconuts and a proclaimation at the City Council Meeting. We still have the Proclaimation in the studio.
From that day forward, Mayor Langford would always take our calls. He would always answer our questions, and my word...would he make us laugh. We laughed and laughed and laughed because he is just that kind of guy. Despite what he may have done on the County Commission, he was one heck of a fun Mayor. He "moved quick without thinking". He brought in A.C. Roper as Police Chief. He offered to hire the Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputies that were laid off because of Bettye Fine Collin's stubbornness. He had a ton of projects and I do believe he was genuinely interested in moving this city forward. Dome, Da Da Da DOME!
One of my favorite morning rituals was opening the paper and seeing what the Mayor was up to the night before. This is a guy with endless energy who never took no for an answer and could always be counted on to lighten up and brighten up our show. I really miss those days and I'm not ashamed to say it.
John Archibald from the Birmingham News told us the first time he talked to us about Langford. He said "Never look him in the eyes". I should've listened, but I didn't. The last time Mayor Langford came to sit with us in the studio was the week of the trial. As he got up to leave, I went to give him the usual hug and he felt like a bag of bones. I thought I might crush him if I squeezed too hard. It was at that very moment that it hit me.....I have somehow come to really care about him. I wish I didn't. It sure would be easier.
So I took the opportunity while I talked to his machine to thank him for all the fun we've had on the show because of him and to wish him good luck with Judge Coogler. As I hung up the phone, I realized that in any other situation, I would probably feel joyous that someone is getting what is coming to them. I feel no smugness here. I feel no joy. I will not celebrate along with those who feel vindicated.
I will feel sadness as they lead Larry Langford away to prison. Sad for him, sad for the city and sad for the show.
Leah
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