Podcast 258

Fox News Crushes. As we head into Thanksgiving, people taking various parts of the week off, heading out on the road to where ever they’re going, easing into the week. The big story to watch in the next few days is Ferguson, Missouri. Deliberations of the Grand Jury there on whether or not there is enough evidence to charge the policeman who shot and killed Michael Brown during and after an altercation with Brown. The Grand Jury could report out at any time until January 7th, when its term comes to an end, and a new jury is empaneled. Media critics have suddenly discovered that Fox News is beating the daylights out of its cable competitors CNN and MSNBC, and on election night 2014, all three of the major networks as well. What will happen to CNN and MSNBC? What is the future for the broadcast news networks and stations? While Fox News will probably reign for some time, even Cable Television is starting to show its age. How will new digital sources of information and new ways for people to get their news effect the 2016 election. As we witness a revolution in Media, will we witness a revolution in politics? Whenever there is a major national or international story such as President Obama’s executive order on Immigration recently, The Bob Davis Podcasts gets a spate of emails from listeners, with examples of emails they want to send to Speaker Of The House John Boehner telling him what to do, and what they don’t like. Is it better to send emails and call your congressman’s office? Or to start working in local politics to influence your local governments, state government and state wide races, with an eye toward developing an organization that delivers votes and money, and therefore influence? There are many Republicans who might be candidates for President in 2016. The worst thing that could happen is another season of debates between 16 candidates. Forget writing letters to the Speaker and start organizing in your neighborhood. While there are divisions in the Republican party (watch as the media develops that story line), there are also divisions among Democrats. Republicans continue to need a cogent plan for improving the US Economy, showing they’re capable of running the White House (not too hard, given the current occupant) and a plan to improve the international relations of the US. On the Bill Cosby front, come the obligatory commentaries about how Hollywood, Politics and Sports do not give our children any role models anymore. Its time people started acting as role models for their own children, and especially teach them its ok to have heroes and role models, but famous people are humans too and they make mistakes, sometimes terrible mistakes. Planning on doing some drinking this Thanksgiving? Did you know doctors may consider you an excessive drinker? Find out why and how. Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul. 

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Podcast 219

Skype Call In. Still getting great response to the ‘Road Trip’ or ‘On The Road’ podcasts chronicling the Bob Davis Podcast’s journey from Chicago to Phoenix, through Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota. With all the major news going down these days; The resignation of Attorney General Eric Holder, the airstrikes in Syria and Iraq and an election, one would think people would want to talk about the issues. Nope. There’s still a definite ‘escapist’ bent in people’s minds. Maybe because of the dying summer. Maybe because we know winter is coming again in the Upper Midwest. Some great conversation about travel experiences, when we were young, and old. Memories of heading to Florida from Chicago in the ‘way-back’ of the old Chevy Wagon, by way of Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia and Florida. What does travel when you’re very young, especially travel by car across the country, teach a person about life, and travel in the future? You learn to chill out and take it as it comes, because trying to batter your way through, really doesn’t work on the road. Bonus discussion about social media and the tools the Bob Davis Podcasts can use to get calls into the podcasts. Do you use Skype? FaceTime? Yahoo Chat? Some other tool? Let us know. Too bad we can’t stream on FaceBook or Twitter. Still — the main reason to do these ‘call in’ podcasts is to be prepared, and let listeners know the Bob Davis Podcasts is prepared to give you a chance to share your opinions and views, when a major story breaks, as one inevitably will, that people are burning to talk about. (New software makes the calls sound even better, which is one reason we love us some Skype). Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul. 

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Podcast 214

North Dakota. The final On-The-Road podcast takes us through Montana to North Dakota. When you travel, especially in a car, you get philosophical. Subscribers to the Bob Davis Podcasts suggested a trip to Williston, for a first hand look at what ‘Fracking’ has wrought. One does not have to go to Williston to see the effects of development and economic growth in North Dakota. Everything is new. Kicking off some musing about the different ways the American West Developed, how the West uses its resources for economic growth. The sheer geographic size and scope of Western States is truly impressive, not to mention innovation and opportunity from the coffee stands and whitewater outfitters in Moab, Utah to brand new service stations, franchises, apartment buildings, hotels and office buildings in North Dakota. While North Dakota leads the nation in economic growth and energy development, it is just one state. The whole trip through the so called ‘Mountain West’ definitely leaves a visual impression, but it also serves as a reminder of just how majestic the United States is, and how much potential there really is. From trains, to smaller cities all over the west, in states so large you wouldn’t even know there is growth and development, and innovation everywhere. One can’t help but wonder how much more potential for growth would exist if people enjoyed an easier path to following their dreams. The Minneapolis Tribune and New York Times don’t like North Dakota’s oil boom, but then again, the establishment ‘back east’ has never been comfortable with the diverse economic interests ‘Out West’ that have struggled with development, exploitation of natural resources, agriculture and ranching issues, for over one hundred years. Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul. 

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