Matthew Simon's Blog-a-Palooza

Address Change

2006-03-08T03:01:00.000-08:00

My new blogs up. Check it out by clicking here.

New Blog Coming..(kind of, sort of)

2006-02-17T02:02:00.000-08:00

So we're in the middle of sweeps (when it's determined how many folks watch us; AKA ratings) and I'm hella busy. Plus, I've now moved in with some roommates. Yeah, I know I promised updates. Then moving to Alaska happened, and I got sort of kind of very, very busy. But now things are sort of, kind of calming down (sort of, kind of). As my good friend Robin reminded me I need to update this blog. I could not agree more. Just allow me a little time. But the cool news is I'm in the process of redesigning and posting a brand new blog page- complete with all sorts of pictures, including those I promised along time ago from my drive up here. So stay tuned. The new blog's coming. PS- My blog situation kind of, sort of reminds me of Birmingham's WIAT-TV way back in the 90's when they changed call letters. They fired everyone and put a big clock up on TV for a whole month counting down to their new "it's about time" newscast. Now ratings are better then ever. Hummmmm?

Yes I made it....

2005-11-19T19:52:00.000-08:00

Yes - I am in Alaska. Loving working for KTVA-TV. And loving Alaska. Updates will come (I promise).

Financing Nightmare

2005-10-01T14:06:00.000-07:00

Before I leave for B'ham I have to talk about my car. I love my 2004 Gray Acura TSX. I want to keep this car until it dies. For a while it looked like I would have to give up on this dream. My car was the only real material thing I was set on taking with me to Anchorage. So on Tuesday, I called my now former car financing company, American Honda Finance, just to let 'em know I was moving to Alaska. Well after a few moments of talking to folks Kelly informed me Honda Finance was not going to let me take my car to Alaska unless I got it refinance. So after first trying to involve an Alaska bank in this process, and that bank moving way too slow, I moved over to my good friends at Bank of America. By the end of Wednesday it all looked good. Then the bomb shell. I was told they were running into the same problem Honda Finance was- there's some Alaska law that does not allow you to bring a finaced car in from the lower 48. So an Alaskan bank would have to refinance me. This was turning into a financing nightmare; but it came to an end on Thursday. My Bank of America Wichita Loan Officer Denise Shuck pushed for me. And the whole "law" thing turned out to be BS. So I had an awesome voice mail waiting for me at work telling me I had been OKed to be refinanced. I thought the hard part was over with. Well when I went to sign my documents Friday there was some technical problem that would not allow her to print. 20 mins of waiting turned into one hour. That turned into two hours. Finally at about 6:00 Friday my car had been refinanced!!!! The pay off of all of this is I do not have to make a payment this month and my monthly payments went down. But I have to tell you I came home, crashed and took a two hour nap. So, yes I am now for sure keeping the car I love until it dies; (hopefully not for a very long time!)

Headed Home

2005-10-01T13:50:00.000-07:00

So it's about 2 o'clock, and I'm about to leave to say goodbye to all my Birmingham folks. I'm surprisingly packed on time for once in my life...and ready for some sweet tea and grits. I'm basically on a three week vacation, and this whole change thing is starting to feel real. I started packing up my place, having sold pretty much every material thing I own to my now former coworkers, and discovered I still have so much junk. I guess that's because the move to Wichita from Montgomery was so incredibly fast I just had to shove stuff in boxes and leave. So I spent Friday shredding lots and lots and lots of old papers and receipts. I discovered that I'm a closet pack rat, but not for this move. I actually have time. So lots of stuff will be going to charities, and I should be well organized for the Alaska move. I discovered another thing about myself, I seem to keep every greeting card I have ever received in my life. I think I might organize those into a scrap book once I get up to Anchorage. By the way, I'm now driving up there vs. flying, all 64 glorious hours. But my logic is I'm going to take 2 weeks to do it, see parts of the country I will never see again in my life, and just really experience this move first hand. Plus I just got a great new digital camera, satellite radio, and I'll get to see several friends along the way, and stay in some pretty cool hotels I suspect. But first back to Birmingham. YAY, SWEET HOME ALABAMA HERE I COME!

Alaska Pt. 1

2005-09-25T23:44:00.000-07:00

Dear blog,
I know I have not written for a while, but I have some awesome news, I'm moving to Alaska. Now I know what you're saying...ALASKA! Let me stop you there, Alaska is absolutely right for me. It all started a couple weeks ago...well I should say all this started in July when I was job hunting. Remember the ad I had talked about in my job hunting blog...the KTVA-TV one...well I'm headed there. In case you forgot this ad here it is:
"Why did you get in to television news? To tell compelling stories, to make a difference in your community, to report on the issues that really matter? Can you honestly say you are able to do those things in your current job? Is life really better in a bigger market? If you’ve reached that point in your career where you’re ready to find balance in your life, why not think about moving to a smaller market? I did it about a year ago and can honestly say life is better. I have some unique opportunities for the right people. I’m looking for reporters, photographers, producers and newsroom managers to help beef up my current newsroom. We don’t use consultants and we aren’t metered so instead of focusing on gimmicks, we can focus on our jobs. We tell compelling stories that do make a difference to our viewers. But wait, I haven’t mentioned the best part. We do our jobs in the most beautiful place on earth, ALASKA. If you love the outdoors, fresh air and friendly people, this just might be the place for you. If you think Alaska is all about cold weather, tons of snow and 24 hours of darkness, you need to think again. Check out Alaska.com to get the real story on the last frontier. If this ad seems like it was written just for you - pick up the phone and give me a call. I’d love to talk to you."
A week ago Monday, September 19 I accepted a job there - and [gulp] I start October 24. The job offer was one I simply could not turn down. I will be the senior nightside reporter for the station, fill in anchor, as well as covering the cop/fire beat for them. It's a Monday-Friday gig, so finally after six years of working weekends, I'm done. The first hour every day is mine to make phone calls, get story ideas and get settled in. I will only do one story a day here. And they are going to pay me well. All the coworkers I met are people I will really like working with. So when you say, Alaska, what the hell are you thinking- it's because this place and job are truly right for me. And over the next several days I will tell you about my Alaskan journey. But for now know I'm back.

In Memoriam

2005-09-11T23:42:00.000-07:00

In Memoriam: New York City, 9/11/01 premiered on HBO May 26, 2002. I had not actually seen it until this morning, 9/11/05, while I was getting ready for work. It stopped me in my tracks. There is just something about letting people tell their own stories. I'll paraphrase, and borrow part of Deroy Murdock's National Review article. The documentary relies on Rudy Giuliani and his staff telling that tragic day's story with the aid of audio, video, and still images from 16 news agencies and 118 regular New Yorkers. "The result is an intense, gripping, and emotionally draining reprise of the colossal tragedy. Its scope, detail, and power qualify it as an historical document worthy of repeated screenings for generations to come." I could not agree more.

Mystic River

2005-09-11T21:04:00.000-07:00

Saturday, when I was working out, I wanted something decent to watch. Since I couldn't find anything decent on TV I looked through my movies. Way back when I bought "Mystic River" as one of those "12.99 On Sale" Blockbuster specials. I had never watched this Clint Eastwood movie before, staring Sean Penn, Tim Robbins and Kevin Bacon. It's about these three childhood friends that drift apart, only to be reunited as adults, after Sean Penn's character's daughter is murdered. Kevin Bacon's cop character must investigate Tim Robbins for the murder. If you ever need a really good movie, check this one out. Twist and turns all the time, with an unpredictable ending.

PS- Football weekend II: Mizzou loses to New Mexico 35-45, Alabama beats S. Miss 30-21, AUBURN AND KU WON BLAHHHHHHH!!!!

Vacation Time, Part II

2005-09-09T02:56:00.000-07:00

Remember how my fortune said I was "going to take a vacation?" Well today I got my wish... two full weeks! Don't exactly know what it will involve yet, but I made my homecoming hotel reservation tonight. That took me AN HOUR AND A HALF. I didn't realize how popular homecoming was, until there were basically two Columbia hotels left. One was where hour hookers went to do the deed back when I was in school. (For those of you who know CoMO, think the shady place next to Country Kitchen.) Nope, don't want to stay there ;). So I'll be staying at the Days Inn. My vacation will also include a long overdue trip home to Sweet Home Alabama! For some Milos Sweet Tea. And Grits :). And I'm also LONG overdue to personally check in on Mom and Marissa, who will be 21 by the time I visit, (YIKES!) Now it's time to look for plane fares. (DOUBLE YIKES!)

Grateful

2005-09-08T00:34:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking about everything in my life right now: my family, job, car, apartment, clothes, food. I think about this more lately then ever before. I'm thinking about it especially after the day I have had. Did two stories today. The Boeing Military Machinists are striking, claiming they deserve the same contract and benefits their Seattle counterparts received. That seems fair. But the history in this matter is Wichita's Boeing commercial side was sold to Canada's Onex earlier this year. Now except for the military side Boeing is "Spirit" AeroSystems. Since the military folks decided to strike, Spirit is cutting most of their 8,600 employees work weeks to three days. Story two, about a Wichita travel agent who is caught in the middle. On Saturday FEMA leased three Carnival Cruise Ships to temporarily house Katrina victims until March. That means 600 "Get Out of Oz Travel Agency" customers are pissed off, because their vacations were cancelled, but none of Katrina's refugees are taking officials up on this housing offer, so they want their vacations. Even though these folks trips are being rebooked, they do not care. In reality it means out of their 6000 customers, this agency has lost 600 or 10% of their business. And they are rudely calling up screaming at these three poor woman to "fire" them. The fact is they can not to anything. I just wish people would take five seconds for a reality check, like I did. After the past few days I realize now more then ever how grateful I am to have all my material things, like my car. I am grateful my city has gas to run my car. (Yes I know, it's expensive, but at least we have it.) I'm grateful I have a job, when people who have lost everything are now being fired. The big picture of post Katrina America is I am grateful to have so much. Complaining about anything, except how these victims were/are treated right now, seems like an insensitive, lost cause.

Inscription of Hope

2005-09-06T02:51:00.000-07:00

All of us continue to be Katrina inundated. Everyday since this catastrophe occurred I have been doing story after story. It is depressing. It is too sad. It seems like the images and stories keep getting worse; and no one is holding onto hope. And then I thought of my favorite poem, Inscription of Hope. It is based on words written on a Cologne, Germany basement wall by Jews who were hiding from WWII Nazis. The main line that always gets to me is "I believe in God even when He is silent." If I can learn anything from my Jewish ancestry it is always hold onto hope, no matter how bad things get. This poems proves they held onto hope. I hope you continue to.

Inscription of Hope

I believe in the sun
even when it is not shining
and I believe in love
even when there's no one there

and I believe in God
even when he is silent
I believe through any trial
there is always a way

but sometimes in this suffering
and hopeless despair
my heart cries for shelter
to know someone's there

but a voice rises within me
saying "hold on, my child
I'll give you strength, I'll give you hope
just stay a little while"

I believe in the sun
even when it is not shining
and I believe in love
even when there's no one there

and I believe in God
even when he is silent
I believe through any trial
there is always a way

May there someday be sunshine
may there someday be happiness
may there someday be love
may there someday be peace.

ROLL TIDE, GO TIGERS!!!

2005-09-03T23:37:00.000-07:00

Alabama Football Beats Middle Tennessee 26-7

Football Tigers Upend Arkansas State In O pener, 44-17 Brad Smith thrived in Missouri's new spread offense, throwing four touchdown passes and just missing 100 yards rushing in a 44-17 victory over Arkansas State on Saturday.

By the way, Auburn lost!

The Beach

2005-09-03T17:15:00.000-07:00

When you’re an Alabama kid, family summers are usually spent at “the beach,” or what Yankees call “the shore.” Alabamians usually choose Mobile, (and that’s pronounced MO-beal NOT like the “Mobile oil” some of you might use,) or Panama City, or Sea Side. But my mom and dad always chose Biloxi, MS, I suspect primarily for one reason: gambling. It is not a battle over which gulf coast city got it the worst, but the place where I spent a lot of childhood time is now destroyed. Mississippi’s governor called it “our Tsunami,” all I know is I am shocked. Gambling and casinos are Biloxi’s heart and soul- and by looking at the pictures it appears as though this city’s soul is either on life support or not with us anymore. The casino that kept popping into my mind was Treasure Bay. They have a whole pirate theme there- in fact the casino’s a huge, floating pirate ship on the Mississippi. I had been wondering for days and days what happened to Treasure Bay. I finally found out when I checked Biloxi's Sun Herald website and just sort of stared at my computer screen when I saw the picture, knowing full well my beach definition has permanently changed.

Vacation Time?

2005-09-01T23:37:00.000-07:00

As I opened up my dinner time fortune cookie, courtesy of The Dillon's Chinese Cafe, my little paper slip said the following, "You will soon take a vacation." All I could think is it's about time since I, allong with my fellow Gray employees, do not get vacation until your one year anniversary; in my little case that's not until October 18. So let's hope my "fortune" comes true soon ;).

Why?

2005-08-31T11:54:00.000-07:00

I know you don't know 16-year-old Leah Gieson, 15-year-old Morgan Elliott and 15- year-old Laura Arnet but, if you don't mind, take a moment and think about these three girls. Now that you've "met," look at the picture. That's the car these Chaparral High School students were riding in about 1:30 this afternoon. The volleyball players, honor roll students, and all around good kids were doing what they considered to be an honor- selling year book ads. Then it happened, less then a quarter of a mile from the vary high school they loved so much. Highway patrol officials say, for whatever reason, Leah drove her 1992 Pontiac Sunfire around the car in front of her and right into a dump truck. All three were gone, just like that. Anthony, Kansas, which only has about 2,500 people, is in a lot of pain right now. I saw this first hand, as I tried to interview kids. I didn't go up to them with a camera, I just tried to find one kid, any kid, that would at least talk to me. For the most part every time I'd said hi, and asked, they cried. They could not talk. The grief they showed spoke much more eloquently then words ever could. Someone they loved was gone forever. So now that you know Leah, Morgan and Laura, and ask yourself why they had to leave before it was time, maybe it was so another kid could meet them too, and learn why safe driving is so important.

The Job Hunt

2005-08-30T19:37:00.000-07:00

Posting a blog entry about mailing my job packets got me thinking about the job hunting process in general. I'm using two job hunting websites, TVJobs.com, and MEDIALINE. Here I am competing against 100-500 of my closest broadcast journalism colleagues for a job we all really want. I decided I needed a strategy to get my tape in the said news director's "good pile." I found it in my hometown, Birmingham, AL. Ironically Trailhead Resume Production Services' owner not only went to my high school, but is also a Mizzou Journalism grad. And I think my tape looks great, and Michael really accomplished the job hunting goal I established earlier. Everyone's asking me where I have applied, well here you go (by market size): 15. WCCO,Minneapolis, MN 27.WSOC, Charlotte, NC 28. WTIC, Hartford, CT 31. KMBC & WDAF, Kansas City, MO 35. WYFF, Greenville, SC 47. WXII, Greensboro, Highpoint, Winston-Salem, NC
50. WLKY, Louisville, KY 59. WDTN, Dayton, OH 81. Shreveport, LA 84. WHNT, Huntsville, AL 87. WSBT, South Bend, IN, 100. WEHT, Evansville, IN 115. WRDW, Augusta, GA 155. Anchorage, AK. Now I know what you're thinking, ALASKA! But after doing the research this is the one that most intrigues me, and turns out I'm a finalist to be the junior investigative reporter. Before you think I'm totally nuts here's the ad. It's hard to find stations truly committed to journalism anymore, and after talking with KTVA-TV News Director Staci Feger, I truly believe in her vision of building a journalistically right station. We'll see what happens.

Priority Mail?

2005-08-30T18:54:00.000-07:00

My job search continues. I've sent off 15 tapes thus far- which means spending a lot of time at a place that makes me twitch: The Post Office. Now don't get me wrong, with out The Post Office my tapes and letters could not get where they need to go. I realize this. But the experience, none the less, makes me want to have an adult beverage. Long lines, and employees that most of the time act like doing their JOB is a waste of their time. Early on I got fed up with this attitude, when they made me fill out every little, delivery confirmation line, verbatim, in front of their eyes to make sure I "was not committing mail fraud." Give me a break. Well, I discovered the awesome little, (well not so little,) automatic mail machine in the lobby. No more dealing with long lines, or nasty attitudes. You just follow the touch screen instructions and do it your self. It's awesome. The other day the post man came out and said "when you use that one, you don't have to pay for delivery confirmation." Yeah I found that weird, but he works for them right; must be true? So, Monday I mailed off 5 or 6 tapes, was having a grand old time doing it myself, when this same "mail man" came out and said "you realize you have to pay for delivery confirmation?" There I was done, about to mail off my tapes, and here comes the "mail man." So I had to go back to waiting in line and pay the $2.70 deliver confirmation fees I had neglected to pay. And then the man who told me to do this in the first place ended up waiting on me! So here's the lesson: if you want to do it your self, go for it, it's great. But if you need delivery confirmation, you have to wait in line. Ah, happy, happy times at The Post Office!

Catastrophic Destruction

2005-08-29T21:52:00.000-07:00

I was working on my local Katrina story tonight, (about a Wichita man who has about 20 New Orleans family members who fled the storm,) when I looked up to the ABC news feed monitor and saw what Katrina really meant. WDSU News Anchor Norman Robinson said it best the first time he saw the horrifying images, "We knew it was going to be bad. But until we saw it, our minds just could not define just what bad actually was." I really do not have a great New Orleans knowledge, but I suddenly became sad, I suspect along with so many other people. In that instant it became real: a great US city had been completely whipped out. I continued to watch WDSU as I worked, and more video started pouring in. It seems as though young people hunkered down with their grandparents to ride out the storm. As the water got higher, these folks punched holes in their homes and climbed higher, and higher, depending on cops to cut their homes open and pull them out. Then, there were the folks trapped on their roofs, again rescued by cops. The image that is forever burned in my brain is the family, including three small, crying children being rescued off of a boat. What those kids must have thought, dealing with nature's worst. If Andrew did not teach us, let's sure hope Katrina did, take Mother Nature seriously. Somehow I expect to hear about a lot of deaths. And death is my least favorite thing to cover. All I and most can now do is truly take a second to think about New Orleans folks, and reflect on what is sure to be another great American tragedy, and, as my story's subject said, "Hope for the best."

Mother of a Hurricane!

2005-08-28T21:41:00.000-07:00

Like anyone in news I find myself sort of addicted to current events. Right now it's Katrina information. Having covered several weather events, they always make great stories, and great TV. But, doing your job in the the middle of severe weather conditions is always one of the most challenging reporter assignments. You must deal with uncontrollable mother nature elements while trying to keep people up to date (and your composure.)
A lot of folks think we're idiots, moronic, etc. for being out in the middle of said weather event. Keep this is mind, these reporters are risking their lives to show you exactly what you want to see. Yeah, we gripe a lot when we're out in it, I'll be the first to admit it. But these images impact people's lives. That is why they are important. That's why I do this job. The pictures let people see what they are unable to- and in a time of unreason, many times our voices are the voice people turn to. How do I know this? Hurricane Ivan came up through Alabama, and the TV station I was with at the time provided just what I am talking about. And those the responses I listed- I heard, and read over and over again. Keeping that in mind, safety first.
What is great about the internet, you are literally connected to the world. So I can watch some of the New Orleans TV stations. My award goes to WDSU and their parent Hearst-Argyle Company. Truly fascinating what they did- moved their headquarters to their Jackson, MS sister station, WAPT; and the two have joined forces. Not only for their employees safety, but to keep people informed. That is why I do what I do, because during bad weather times people turn to us to feel safe. Hopefully that is what is happens, and as our senior anchor phrased right on the money God speed to New Orleans.

I'm proud of my self...

2005-08-27T13:26:00.000-07:00

If it’s any indication of how computer illiterate I am, (and probably a sign from up above I should’ve not joined the blog band wagon,) it took me close to 24 hours to even figure out how to put a friggin picture of myself on my profile. Now this might be simple to most people, but it was an awful process for me. You know when you get an urge to drink- this was one of those instances. Finally, I guess 18 hours into the deal, I posted a picture! The process sucks. You think a website that’s suppose to make the blog process easy- would be easier set up to post your own picture on your own profile! I mean this is no cut and paste. It reminded me, (or brought back nightmares,) of when I had to design a webpage in college. For my fellow Mizzouers think the Broadcast II web portion. You actually are required to turn your picture into internet code. WTF? 18 hours is when I finally was able to located instructions on how to do this. That is why I’m proud of myself. The sad thing is, I have so much left to do with my blog- and it took me almost one whole day to put a picture up.