Podcast 340 – Mobile Podcast Command

Introducing Mobile Podcast Command Unit 8. After many delays this month, the Bob Davis Podcasts can finally announce a crowd funded mobile capability in the form of a Ford Diesel Ambulance, refitted for audio recording and travel. Aside from being a long term ambition, and part of the plan for the podcasts from the beginning, Mobile Podcast Command Unit 8 allows the Bob Davis Podcasts to get out of the bunker, and go to the story. This podcast kicks off a spring Road Trip to California, heading out right after this podcast is posted. That means a lot of Road Trip Podcasts between now and April 1st. Whatever the trials and tribulations, join the Bob Davis Podcasts as we shake down our new mobile unit. That means testing all the systems so that its ready to roll for covering major stories including Election 2016. There are a lot of listeners and subscribers to thank for listening and subscribing, but especially for donating, and we’ll be doing that by name in the next few podcasts, so listen for yours. Its hard to believe that after restarting the podcasts in 2013 (we originally kicked off in 2009), we started collecting donations, one at a time until they added up to this mobile unit. Video and more photos will be posted in the near future, as we make our way down the middle of the USA, west to Phoenix and to Los Angeles. The follow us back to Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Will Mobile Podcast Command make it? There’s only one way to find out, and that’s to hit the road! Thanks again to all who have donated, and all the sponsors of the podcasts since day one. Special mentions in this podcast for X Government Cars, and all the many friends and supporters of The Bob Davis Podcasts since the get go! Here’s to springtime, and new adventures! Oh yeah, and since we’ll need fuel for the trip … your donations are welcome at the Bob Davis Podcasts! Thanks for your patience and support. 

 

 

Podcast 261

Giving Thanks? Is it Thanksgiving or Halloween? Because sometimes it’s hard to tell. In keeping with the snark of the times, some of the things that are the most irritating about the nearly four day “Thanksgiving” “Holiday”. First, the Pilgrims don’t have much to do with it. You can thank that dictator Lincoln for the ‘holiday’, and that dictator Franklin Roosevelt for moving “Thanksgiving” so we could celebrate an orgy of consumption. For God’s sake, don’t blame the Pilgrims. What about the down market behavior? If you watch TV 24/7 you wouldn’t be worrying about beheadings or the plummeting price of commodities, you’d be worried about downmarket behavior that would make Judge Judy happy. Fighting over wide screen TV’s, Barbies, panties and stealing stuff from other people’s carts so you can get the deal. Staying with relatives? The relentless blare of the TV and endless commercials for ED medication, back pain mitigators, cures for baldness, vitamin drinks, charities, car dealers, is slightly more informative than local TV news, featuring 40 minutes of round robin coverage from — you guessed it — the local Wal Mart! Our solemn attitude of gratitude gives way to buying, you know, stuff. Thanksgiving also signals the quickening; The vaunted ‘Holiday Season’ where reality rarely meets expectations and expectations are very, very high. In Podcast 261, a list of ways to mitigate the disaster, especially if you’re a man. (Editors Note: I’m thinking about a cruise next year, that starts the week before Thanksgiving and ends about January 1oth. You know you’re in trouble when you start envying the people on ‘Survivor’.) Sponsored by Depotstar.

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