tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26149271467543166142024-03-21T17:47:29.108-04:00The Mike Scinto PerspectiveGod, Family and Country! PLEASE CHECK THE ARCHIVE BUTTON ON THE LEFT TO SEE ALL MY POSTSMikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-51408334074701954232011-01-24T17:43:00.004-05:002011-01-24T17:45:56.068-05:00**Decades in jail for improper sexual conduct in the service;not a fair punishmenet**<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I understand military deportment as well as anyone, having taught it. But I have to say the CMSGT who entered a plea of guilty on 13 counts of sexual misconduct, and facing trial on 5 more, is looking at decades in military prison and dishonorable discharge as well as loss of all benefits. It's way too severe in my opinion.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As I understand the charges, adultery, sexual harassment and sending explicit photos of himself in emails, while certainly is something that should be punished, I think jail time and erasing his 27 years of excellent service to his country is a travesty of justice. I am not condoning it, just saying decades in jail doesn't serve any purpose and to take away his service, pay and benefits is way too harsh. It's misconduct on the part of the military justice system.</div>MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-81116819021727458432010-07-11T11:02:00.001-04:002010-07-11T11:04:22.600-04:00brandonhaskins.mov<object style="background-image:url(http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/FRpoM8A0Sxo/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FRpoM8A0Sxo&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FRpoM8A0Sxo&hl=en_US&fs=1" width="425" height="344" allowScriptAccess="never" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br />
Brandon Haskins was shot and killed, allegedly by his stepfather, in July of 2010 and we all miss him so much.MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-16731486284112072242010-06-09T08:29:00.001-04:002010-06-12T08:31:54.357-04:00Celebrating Graduates<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Celebrating Graduates<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By Mike Scinto<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Where has the time gone? It seems like yesterday that Zak came home with us and we were able to carry him in the palms of our hands. The first few nights when he fell asleep with us in bed (I know, that wasn’t the wisest thing to do) we were afraid we’d roll over on him during the night. But of course that sixth sense kicked in and that never happened. And now, reality has set in that he’s an adult and it has hit like a ton of bricks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> I tend to be the overly emotional member of the family and Kathy will attest to that. I am sentimental to the max and cling to memories of our past. She says you don’t need “things” or even photos to remember, but that’s how my mind works I suppose. I can hear something, see something or touch something and it’s as if it just happened, and in detail.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> In the past few months Zak has started driving on his own (he was a late bloomer in that department, as were many of his peers). I couldn’t wait until I turned 15 ½ to get my “temps”. He turned 18 and became “legal” in March. And we just watched as he marched down the aisle <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WENU22kIN6Y">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WENU22kIN6Y</a> and received his high school diploma. For a guy who has probably been a bit too “hands on” as our son traversed the halls of his various school buildings, those events were quite a shock!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Look, he and I are going at it tooth and nail as many teens testing their wings do with their parents. I feel frustration, anger and fear. But, far outweighing that is the pride that I feel and unconditional love I, no WE, have for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> I have shared in this column on a couple of occasions my belief that families should live near each other to experience and share in each others’ lives. I know in this day and age, we spread out across this continent and the globe. But what a loss! Think about those families you know, or even your own family. You may see Mom and Dad, brother or sister, nieces or nephews or even sons, daughters and grandchildren a few times a year at holidays. No job, career or lifestyle (in my humble opinion) is worth that. The family, and unique family support capability, is irreplaceable. I know there are families that bicker like cats and dogs, but beneath it all, they are still family. What a bond!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Today many jobs can be done in a remote location far away from the brick and mortar office building. Kathy has a coworker she has worked with on her team for 30 plus years who lives in a remote part of Canada. So “here” is only is where you can accomplish your tasks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Zak may or may not share those views. Frankly, until I was in my late 20’s, I didn’t get it. But I hope, as he enters this phase of his education and life, he considers that we need and love him, want his success and happiness above all else and I, and I am sure Kathy, would love to see those things achieved where we could enjoy hobbies, sports and family dinners together on a regular basis. I think it’s the way it should be because no matter how close a friendship, it can never replace family.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Congratulations Zak and all your graduates. May they find what they seek in life and enjoy great success in those pursuits. And may they always cherish their family!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">M<b>ike Scinto has served as a radio talk show host for three decades. He can be heard on the syndicated “The Mike Gallagher Show” and seen as a contributor on the Fox News Channel. You can reach Mike by phone at 937-506-4288, via his blog at http://mikescinto.blogspot.com/ or by email at <a href="mailto:mikescintocolumn@gmail.com">mikescintocolumn@gmail.com</a>. Become Mike’s friend on Facebook and learn about upcoming events and appearances.</b></span>MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-91178365698341652812010-06-02T08:33:00.003-04:002010-06-12T08:36:21.336-04:00Every Day Should Be Memorial Day<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Every Day Should Be Memorial Day<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By Mike Scinto<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> By the time you read this column the “official” day of commemoration for our fallen heroes who risked life and limb to defend our country will have passed by a few days. But I think every day should be treated as “Memorial Day” when it comes to the kinds of sacrifices our soldiers have given, and continue to give. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> As we travel through our busy schedules; projects at work, the kids in school, sports, economic issues and numerous other things that occupy our minds, men and women are in unbelievably scary, dangerous and deadly situations so our way of life can continue.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> I am proud to say that I am a disabled United States Air Force Veteran of the Vietnam era. My late father, who we lost in 2003, was a Pearl Harbor and Guadalcanal Campaign survivor. My father-in-law served several tours as a fighter pilot in Vietnam before retiring from the United States Air Force. I am so proud of both of them and of all the other veterans, living and deceased, who populate our family tree.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> As of this writing I have to offer this observation. It was announced that rather than the American Presidential tradition, Barrack Obama had decided to pass on the breakfast with family members of fallen heroes and the laying of the wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown at Arlington National Cemetery. He had decided instead to go hang with his buddies back home in Chicago. I am aware that other Presidents have opted to hand that duty over to their VPs. But none of those Commanders-In Chief have in so many other ways shown a complete lack of respect for our country, way of life or traditions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> As I said, when you read this, the actual commemorative day is past. But you can still visit your friends’ or relatives’ graves. Call a family member of a fallen veteran who is still living. Or just go visit one of the most impressive, awe-inspiring and respectful sites in America; the National Cemetery on the grounds of the Dayton VA. It’s a visit you will truly feel and will want to make again; whether it’s Memorial Day or not.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> God Bless our American Veterans; living and dead, past present and future!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div>MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-1278859392463844172010-05-26T08:41:00.000-04:002010-06-12T08:42:39.082-04:00Keep The Internet Free<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Keep the Internet Free<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By Mike Scinto<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Let’s start with the bottom line this time. Lawmakers, keep your hands off the Internet! I keep hearing rumblings that Congress would like to control Internet content, and states would like to control profit in order to get their cut of the pie. Obama has indicated he’d like to be able to “take control” of the web if it is in the national interest.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> The Internet is a wonderful tool, research outlet, shopping mall and personal organizer. One of the things that excites people from 5 to 75 is the fact that, for the most part, it is open and easy access to everything. Once the government, at any level, gets into it; well it’s all over.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Actually, since the Internet is global, my guess is any attempt at controls would be short-lived. There are enough certified geeks who could get around anything the government could throw at the Net.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Okay, there are inherent problems with having instant access to everything. It allows pedophiles a cyber playground. Would-be terrorists can see how to build their next bomb. Students can easily plagiarize and cheat on exams. But all of those activities will go on with or without the on-line world. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> I believe the good far outweighs the bad. Let’s keep the beauty of cyberspace free, unregulated and open 24/7/365. Admittedly our young people, and some of us fossils, spend much too much time on line. That has to be dealt with at a personal level, not through government over-regulation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Let’s all hope this fantastic tool of our generations, will remain of the people, by the people and for the people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-88942007146487137552010-05-19T08:37:00.002-04:002010-06-12T08:41:00.347-04:00Watering Down The Media<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Watering Down the Media<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By Mike Scinto<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> I suppose the media purist in me is about to come out, but I feel it needs to. All areas of broadcast media have compromised themselves so much that I’m not sure they can, or will, ever reform; I’m not even sure the current state of media isn’t so accepted that there’s no need for reformation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Ask those trained in true journalism and they will tell you there’s no place for even the hint of conflict of interest. Until recent years I’ve never heard “journalists/reporters” endorsing products. Now, every other commercial on local radio (not just here but in most markets) is being read by a reporter who’s been handed the copy after they get out of the news booth. How can a reporter maintain credibility and integrity pushing a good or service? What happens when that good or service is under investigation for some illegal or unethical activity? Does the same “journalist” read the story on the air? Do they downplay or completely ignore the story? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> On a tangent from the whole issue of reporting the news and reading advertising copy; the grammar some of these “reporters” use is atrocious! If they are going to sell their souls to hawk a product, at least make sure the copy is written using proper grammar. I know they don’t write them, they just read them, but come on, it’s their voices that are the instrument of sales.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> What makes a TV or movie star an expert on politics? Why are they sought out for their take on hot issues? Look at Tom Cruise and his attacks on psychiatry and patients with ADD and postpartum depression. Why does anybody care what this airhead thinks about anything other than when filming begins on his next flick? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Martin Sheen became a spokesman for farm laborers after several protest related arrests. The news microphones and morning “news” shows were all over him for his take on the labor movement. Hey, get a grip; he only PLAYED a President on TV!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Of course actors have a right to their own feelings on issues. But when they use news outlets to make their case, I have a problem. My problem really isn’t with the actors, although they know what they’re doing, it’s with the untrained, unskilled editors and reporters who suck up to this liberal vermin.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> I suppose in our homogenized, cost-conscious society we get what we pay for. That’s unfortunate that those faces and voices that we come to depend on and trust don’t really care themselves. At least I’m honest enough with myself, and those who listen to and read my words, to make them aware that I am not a newsman. My journalism training long ago took a back seat to my desire to offer my opinion for your consideration; just as I have done with respect to the blurring role of faces in the media.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-13725894853829076532010-04-16T14:24:00.001-04:002010-04-16T14:24:55.356-04:00Apostle Claver Part 1<object style="background-image: url("http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/kNhwXo2O2D4/hqdefault.jpg");" height="295" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kNhwXo2O2D4&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kNhwXo2O2D4&hl=en_US&fs=1" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="295" width="480"></embed></object>MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-88574843759076932752010-04-16T14:24:00.000-04:002010-04-16T14:24:31.825-04:00Apostle Claver Part 2<object style="background-image: url("http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/Fms7TT0vqnI/hqdefault.jpg");" height="295" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fms7TT0vqnI&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fms7TT0vqnI&hl=en_US&fs=1" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="295" width="480"></embed></object>MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-38236023206077195942010-04-16T14:23:00.000-04:002010-04-16T14:23:53.620-04:00Apostle Claver Part 3<object style="background-image: url("http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/kx1CJld7iiI/hqdefault.jpg");" height="295" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kx1CJld7iiI&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kx1CJld7iiI&hl=en_US&fs=1" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="295" width="480"></embed></object>MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-56978478230922011472010-02-24T09:41:00.000-05:002010-03-05T09:43:45.950-05:00Scinto to Tea Partiers: “Slow Your Roll”<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Scinto to Tea Partiers: “Slow Your Roll”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By Mike Scinto<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If you’re a Republican, or call yourself a political conservative, you probably had much the same reaction to this past year’s tea parties to “take back America” for the people. It was great to again see a conservative, small government-lower taxes attitude taking shape; especially after our direction since this President took office. But fears I expressed this past fall seem to be taking shape right before my eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Whether you view it as good or bad, we are a two party governmental system. We haven’t always been, but for as long as those of you reading this have been alive that’s been the case. And it is likely to be the case for the rest of our years. As a Republican I’ve certainly not always liked the offerings handed me by primary elections, caucuses or political appointment. But that’s how it is.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I began voting in 1970. I’ve voted in every election, and special election, since then. I can tell you I have never voted “party line” just for the sake of saying I punched the “R” on the ballot. But I can tell you in all but one election, I have stayed true to the party; always based on policy and attitude not on what followed their name on the ballot. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The one time I strayed (and I’m not proud of it in hindsight) was when I voted for a former Republican who ran as an Independent; my vote was cast for John Anderson over Republican Ronald Reagan in the 1980 Presidential election.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I mentioned Anderson. There have been a handful of third party candidates who have stirred the pot even a little bit in recent decades; George Wallace and Ross Perot are the other two prominent “outsiders”. It is the Perot candidacy that I think most mirrors the possible problems for conservatives in 2010 and 2012.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">While it is debatable whether Perot was more a Democrat or a Republican, it is very obvious to me the votes that went to Perot likely contributed to the defeat of George H. W. Bush and catapulted Bill Clinton into office.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">There are already several “Tea Party” candidates running against Republicans in the primaries for national offices in state elections. The “Tea Party” can only do damage as a political party at this juncture. Even if they are elected to office, what will that do to the most prominent challenge; bringing a true conservative message back to mainstream Republicans running for Congress and to ouster this socialist President in 2012?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">At a time when Obama and his Democrat legion on The Hill are heading downhill in the polls faster than Lindsey Vonn in her gold medal Olympic Downhill win, we (Republicans) can’t lose focus on the target. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">While their message is one we should all hear loud and clear, the method of expressing it is another thing. These activists for returning to a government our founders could believe in would serve best working from within Republican ranks; serving on steering committees and leadership boards within the GOP. Anything beyond that and the movement risks becoming part of the problem, not the solution.<br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br />
</b></span>MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-26732804109374230132010-02-10T08:27:00.000-05:002010-03-06T08:29:13.280-05:00A Warm Feeling on a Cold Winter Day<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A Warm Feeling on a Cold Winter Day<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Mike Scinto<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In my line(s) of work (radio/TV and writing) I have become increasingly cognizant of the fact that things we say or do can impact others totally without our ever knowing it. Kathy and I were moved recently when, out of the blue, I received such an acknowledgment via my Facebook account. I want to share it with you just as I saw it. Since I didn’t ask her permission, I have eliminated any business names and the writer’s last name. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hi Mike! I have wanted to contact you for years and wasn't sure how to go about it. Took a chance I might find you on Facebook and here you are! <br />
<br />
I'm sure you don't remember me but I used to work as a photographer at (A Local) studio. I photographed you, your beautiful wife, and son, Zak a few different times. There was one time in particular that I will remember, I think forever!! It was during our busy holiday season and on this evening, we were extremely busy and the other photographer had to leave early due to a family emergency. You and your family had been in earlier and had returned to view your proofs. In the mean time, a former customer came in that was doing a reshoot and was not happy that I would be the photographer taking her photo that evening. There was a huge scene and of course there were many customers in the store at the time!! I was young and on the verge of tears when I returned to you and your family in the proof viewing room. I can't remember what you said to me exactly but you made some sort of comment about what had just happened to try and make me feel better because you could tell I was obviously upset. And the reason for me contacting you is to tell you how much that meant to me!! It has always stuck with me. <br />
<br />
Whenever I hear the phrase about “a person may not remember what you say but they'll remember how you made them feel” I honestly think about you and how you helped me that evening. I know this may all sound really corny but I just wanted to let you know that you made a difference to someone....to me. Thank you for that! <br />
<br />
Sincerely, Sallie<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As I told Sallie in my reply, while we don’t remember the details, we certainly remember the event…….but not with the impact Sallie shared. Don’t miss your opportunity to impact lives. It likely won’t be a planned impact, and you may never be as fortunate as we were to find out about it, but you will touch lives by offering a caring word of consolation or understanding. But remember the flip side; a negative attitude can likely have the reverse affect. I love Facebook!</span>MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-42883096495056519502010-02-03T16:59:00.001-05:002010-02-03T22:11:17.983-05:00High-Speed White Elephant<div style="text-align: center;"><b>High-Speed White Elephant </b><br />
by</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Mike Scinto</b></div> Last week President Obama, with his trusty sidekick Joe Biden close by on his leash, announced plans to pump eight billion dollars into high speed rail systems across the country. Four hundred million of that will be earmarked for Ohio. The administration might as well flush it down the West Wing lavatory. At least it might serve a useful purpose; at least it would be in good company there!<br />
<br />
<br />
In my 34 years of hosting a radio talk show, I have heard the dream of high speed rail come, and go. I can’t count the number of groups who supported it, telling listeners it was the future of intercity and interstate travel. Most of those train peddlers are selling vacuum cleaners or encyclopedias door to door now. Shows my age; I meant selling them via the Internet.<br />
<br />
During the same three decades I watched Amtrak fade into almost total oblivion. I saw Ohioans growing more and more independent with individual travel means. We, unlike commuters in the Northeast Corridor who do use trains, prefer to have our own cars at our disposal. A drive from Cincinnati to Cleveland will take 3½ hours at the most. It tends to be a scenic, leisurely drive and even at today’s gas prices is not cost-prohibitive.<br />
<br />
I admit this is anecdotal (mainly because I got so many conflicting answers) but I have been told that “high-speed” in Ohio doesn’t mean the same as in Japan or Europe. Because of our population density, the top speed under current law would be 79 MPH (plus stops). Ask any State Trooper between Cincy and Cleveland on I-71 and they’ll tell you that would be slower than most drivers……… and non-stop too!<br />
Contrast that with purchasing a ticket, waiting for a train that’s likely to be behind schedule, sitting in an uncomfortable seat next to a guy who snores or didn’t take his weekly bath and you question why you didn’t just drive.<br />
<br />
There have been no definitive studies that say we want high-speed rail, or need it; or would use it for that matter. And while it would create jobs, if we HAVE to use that money stolen from taxpayers called “stimulus”, you mean there aren’t better things to spend it on?<br />
<br />
If this system is the panacea that’s being hyped, why hasn’t some money individual, or team, jumped on board (no pun intended)? Why is taxpayer money being used to build this white elephant?<br />
<br />
I’ve got a better idea. If Obama feels compelled to spend that stimulus money, try this. There are approximately eleven million Ohioans. Our cut of this project is 400 million. That would be about 37 bucks per Buckeye. Send us each a check and we can all use it to buy a half tank of gas to drive to Columbus next year for John Kasich’s and Mike DeWine’s swearing in as Governor and Attorney General, respectively, of Ohio. Now that’s money well spent!MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-75143232347125828962010-01-27T09:12:00.000-05:002010-02-02T09:14:09.102-05:00Holding On To What is Ours<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C02%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C02%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C02%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Holding On To What is Ours<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Mike Scinto<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> There’s a suspicious looking pickup truck rolling up and down your block. The truck has out-of-state plates and two unsavory characters in the front seat. It’s made several passes. You head out the door as you watch this mysterious vehicle approach again, slip your door key under the mat for the cleaning lady so that she might herself in and then head off, briefcase in hand, to another day at the office. You return home that night and find you’ve been cleaned out. And you wonder how that could have happened!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Well, if you guessed I was headed someplace with that little metaphor, you’re right. The American people are that homeowner and the current elected officials (at least the majority of them) are the guys in the truck. Now I don’t mean to imply that Obama, Reid and Pelosi are thieves; they’re not. But, in an effort to change what has made America great, they have to “steal” from its citizens.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Americans seem content to give up on blocking outsiders who would sneak across our borders, take our jobs, use our health care system and run freely through our system. We seem okay with forbidding the “profiling” of those of Islamic backgrounds at airports, even though that is where our biggest terrorist threat seems to be hiding (certainly not with ALL Islamic people). It doesn’t bother us that our government owns our auto manufacturers, banks, mortgage companies and controls their lending policies. Some have been convinced that the government can somehow run our health care system when it can’t even spot a terrorist in its own military ranks (Major Nidal Hassan-Fort Hood) or a one-way ticketed, cash-carrying, no baggage-toting, would-be underwear bomber flying into Detroit from overseas.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Recent events suggest we may be starting to see the light. Americans have, through tea parties, phone calls and petitions said (in growing numbers) that we don’t want control of our health care system handed over to Washington. In Massachusetts the election of Republican Scott Brown to fill the Senate seat held by the late Ted Kennedy still has the pundits scratching their heads. These are just two of the more pronounced awakenings.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> This is a pivotal year; locally, state-wide and certainly in Congress. We must be vigilant. We can’t be distracted or mislead. Our focus must be on the goal line. And we can do it! We are, after all, Americans. You might think the guys in the pickup truck are just innocently trying to make your neighborhood a nicer place to live. But their ultimate goal is to own everything they can get their hands on by the time they leave. We can let them clean us out, or we can stand fast and send them packing. The choice is ours!</span>MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-22455103680219774952010-01-20T09:20:00.000-05:002010-02-02T09:21:00.702-05:00Grabbing a Slice of Life<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C02%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C02%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C02%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Grabbing a Slice of Life<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Mike Scinto<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> My father was born and raised in a house on Park Street in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was one of five children in this Italian-American neighborhood near the center of town. Stella, the only female sibling in the family lived in the neighborhood her entire life. Tony, a right-out-of-“Grease” leather-jacketed tough guy lived in an apartment across the street with his wife and son. Lenny moved to a nice house in the suburbs post-war. Ernie married young, divorced and lived in a room in the large family home his entire life. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> My father, post World War II, met my mother in Memphis and the rest, as they say, is history. That’s where my brother and I were born and spent our pre-teen years.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> This column isn’t meant to dig into the roots of my family tree but was simply setting up the background of this New England-rooted family and its love for the great American food…..pizza, and the best parlor to ever bake it, Jennie’s Pizzeria (still in business I might add). If I were to be asked for my two favorite foods on the planet, they would be pizza and bar-b-que; the Memphis, Bridgeport influences of course.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> If you Google it, I’m sure you can find millions of anecdotal stories of the origin of tomato pie (pizza). My grandmother’s explanation has always rung true for me. In the “old country” women would take leftover dough and flatten it out. She would spread some freshly ground tomatoes, oregano, olive oil and a light sprinkling of ground parmesan cheese on top. Voila! It’s tomato pie. And I am true to Grandma.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The thinner the crust is, the better. You need to take that big old pie shaped slice and fold it in half to take a bite. But as much as I love this traditional American food, getting a pizza place to make it that way for me is</span> nearly impossible.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> If I say “extra sauce and light cheese please” they act like they can’t believe anybody would really want a “plain” pizza with light cheese and, seemingly to “get my mind right”, they load on the cheese anyway. I had Zak hooked on the correct way to eat pizza until his Mom suggested pepperoni………..and extra cheese. The interloper won him over. It’s as if he went over to the dark side to join Darth Momma.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Elvis liked bar-b-que pizza. I’ve eaten margarita pizza, sampled Hawaiian pie and munched on dough with green onions and ham. I felt like I was back in my Catholic childhood when I snuck into a protestant church with a friend. It was so wrong!</div><div class="MsoNormal"> So you go on ordering your gourmet “pizzas”, cut in squares and baked in a deep dish, and I’ll stay true to my Italian-New England roots and eat tomato pie the way it was meant to be eaten. And you can only dream about how GOOD truly tastes!</div>MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-66760820858280835942010-01-13T11:37:00.001-05:002010-01-11T11:40:33.248-05:00“The List”<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>“The List”</strong><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong></strong><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>By</strong><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Mike Scinto</strong><br />
</div><br />
Are you on “The List”? If you are, you know it by now. If you’re not, you’ll likely be wondering why after reading this. But it is open to additions (and deletions). I’m talking about the Scinto Family Christmas card list.<br />
<br />
I’m sure there’s a master list somewhere but all I have is in bits and pieces on this laptop, or that desktop. Some of it is on my external hard drive and some is simply in Kathy’s old handwritten address book.<br />
<br />
I’m not even privy to the origins of the list or the criteria for staying on, or being banished from, the list. So, at best, these are guesses since my sole role is creating the annual newsletter/update, printing off the labels and taking them to the post office.<br />
<br />
I believe the very first parchment with names of the fortunate ones was penned following our wedding nearly 35 years ago. But that original list is hidden better than the Holy Grail. It somehow comes together (most years anyway) and sneaks into my database.<br />
<br />
Once you’re on it, it’s tantamount to a lifetime appointment. I’m sure divorce, prison or death can mean an exit for you. In some cases there seems to be a two year rule; If you don’t reciprocate with a card for 24 months you’re thrown under the bus for good………or until you prove yourself worthy again; that is to the “Keeper of the List”. <br />
<br />
I know I saw names on there this year that we haven’t heard from in a couple of decades. When I sheepishly ask her about them, I get “the stare” and go back to printing labels.<br />
<br />
Don’t shoot the messenger. I’m just delivering the message for Kathy (unofficially). I’m almost afraid to suggest it but if you’d like to make the list, you might discretely ask her. But don’t push it! Be good, try not to cross her this year and you may just have something special in your mailbox about ten months from now……..then again, you may not!MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-85948076797077206992009-12-23T18:39:00.001-05:002009-12-23T18:44:08.197-05:00Merry Christmas 2009!<div align="left"><strong>Merry Christmas 2009!<br />By<br />Mike Scinto </strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br /></strong>It’s here again and this year we’re ready! Christmas is here. This Holiday encompasses so many different emotions, ideologies, spiritual experiences and sentimentalities. As a Christian, I am well aware of the significance of the celebrations, and reverence, surrounding the birth of our Savior. As a big kid I just get downright excited!<br /><br />Would it shock you if I told you that a guy in his 50s believes in Santa Claus? I do. Without going in-depth into the evolution of the spirit of St. Nicholas, suffice it to say I believe things happen at this time of year, miraculous things, that can’t just be explained away.<br /><br />I am fortunately married to a lady who loves gaudy outside, and inside, decorations. To quote Kathy “you can’t have too many decorations”. So this year I kicked it up a notch. I started well before Halloween with our outdoor lighting. I’m not quite Chevy Chase’s Clark “Sparky” Griswold, but Zak says I am heading in that direction.<br />Zak is 17 now and is still excited about the season and Carly is always excited about anything involving Elmo, her musical toys or the sound of ripping off wrapping paper!<br /><br />Over the years on my show I’ve dealt with the myriad stories about some Scrooge or another in government ripping apart a nativity scene in Any Town, America because the ACLU said it was a violation of the so-called “separation of church and state”. I’ve deliberately tried to ignore those stories this year although I’m sure one or two will come up while hosting the national show these next couple of weeks.<br /><br />So continue, or start, your own seasonal family traditions. Reach out to those who may be alone or depressed. Remember in your heart and soul the real “Reason for the Season”. And don’t forget to let the kid in you come out. I can tell you, it feels GREAT! Merry Christmas from the entire Scinto Family! </div>MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-28817666289991999052009-12-16T09:26:00.000-05:002010-02-02T09:26:51.112-05:00Your Camcorder Can Be a Treasure Chest<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Your Camcorder Can Be a Treasure Chest<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Mike Scinto<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I actually had three inspirations for writing this column. The column itself is my Christmas gift to you and I hope you take advantage of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I recently spoke at a ceremony honoring our veterans during Veterans’ Day week. As I relayed a story about my own Dad it stirred some thoughts in the back my mind. I talked about my Dad’s memories of his breakfast-cut-short on December 7<sup>th</sup>, 1941. You see, he was stationed at </span><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Schofield</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Barracks, Pearl Harbor on that “day that will live in infamy”.</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">He then served in the Guadalcanal</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Campaign. I heard his recollections of those momentous events all through my years growing up. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I was fortunate. Because I hosted radio and TV shows I have several hours of those stories on audio and video tape shot for my shows. It paints a more realistic and colorful picture than me trying to pass the story on to our children or other family and friends than I could ever do as I try to recapture it now that he has passed on.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The second thing that inspired me to write this was our own thanksgiving feast, and the funeral of a wonderful man we’ve known, our sister-in-law’s father. It made me realize what I had known for years; there are generations of living memories out there that won’t be with us forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The third inspiration is trying to discover if this could present an avocation for me. I have been Blessed to have a job that is a passion for the past 34 years. I plan to host radio and TV shows for many more years to come. But, if there is a market, I would like to utilize my gift in a job that I could enjoy just as much; memory preservation archivist. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Let’s tie all this together. The oral (and visual) stories our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents or even friends can share are priceless! Watching a DVD of your uncle who fought in the Korean War, or traveled around the globe on his job, sure beats a second hand account that may be shaky at best and that will eventually fade into oblivion.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I doubt there is a family out there that doesn’t have at least one camcorder or could borrow one from a friend. The rest is making time to have the person whose brain you want to pick sit down and open up. It would be the best hour or two you could spend on many levels and would create an irreplaceable heirloom. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I realize there are people who cringe at the thought of “interviewing” somebody or being on tape themselves. And some of these “vaults of living memories” may appear too shy to open up. Thinking out loud, that is where I could envision me, or an outgoing family member of yours, coming into the picture. I’ve learned over the years that, with the right approach, even the most shy of interviewees will let it all out after the right button is pushed. And then you have it. And it will always be there for your family to enjoy, and share.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> So consider archiving those memories. And what better time than on your Christmas visits. I only wish there were tape recorders or camcorders when I was a teen so I could now share my Grandparents’ stories with Kathy, Zak and Carly. The wisdom in their words and the sincerity in their expressions would touch us all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-8474416566658673582009-10-08T17:33:00.009-04:002009-10-09T18:12:48.491-04:00Issue #3 a Real Roll of the Dice for Scinto<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 55px;"></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-size:12.0pt;">By Mike Scinto<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="line-height:115%;font-size:11.5pt;">I need some help.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I don’t say that very often, but I’m saying it now.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I need your input to help me decide how to vote on Issue 3 in the upcoming election.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Oh, I understand the issue.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I just don’t know which side I favor.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m riding the proverbial fence until it’s, well, quite painful!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-size:11.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>In case you’ve been in a monastery or biosphere and don’t know about issue 3, </span>it’s a proposed Constitutional Amendment (to the <b>Ohio</b> Constitution) that would open the state up to legalized casino gambling specifically in 4 key locations – Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus, and Cincinnati<span style=" line-height:115%;font-size:11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-size:11.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>I believe gambling, if it’s for financial gain, is for fools. I would just as soon use my cash to start one of my autumn bonfires as use it to feed the craps tables, slot machines or roulette wheels.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It would serve a more useful purpose that way; for my wallet anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-size:11.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>I also believe that a good number of patrons frequenting casinos are folks who should not be there.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They may be on government assistance, have a gambling addiction or are bordering on both of those areas. My compassionate side asks if we want to feed those desires and needs. Is that how we want to “fix” our economy, through the misguided greed of those less fortunate?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-size:11.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>The Conservative/Libertarian in me, who wants an individual to be free to make his or her own choices without government edicts, says if that’s what you want to do with your money, it’s not my problem!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-size:11.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>The parent/good neighbor in me acknowledges that, as contradictory as it might sound, I don’t want prostitution (another vice)to be legalized and a brothel to open up in the vacant property down the block.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It just isn’t right. So we do allow our morals to dictate behaviors………at least I allow them to affect MY judgment. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-size:11.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>I don’t believe the 34,000 new jobs propaganda, the claims that jobs will ONLY be filled by unseemly characters from out of state, or that the money generated will repair our sagging economy. I think there are grains of truth on both sides of the issue. I still remember when Governor Jack Gilligan told us that the Ohio Lottery would assure a solid monetary foundation for our schools in Ohio. What happened to that promise? But Buckeyes bought it hook, line and sinker.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-size:11.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>I absolutely believe gambling attracts unsavory characters, is a major enticement to those trying to find an easy way out of life’s financial woes and can be a crippling noose around the necks of those who (depending on whether or not you buy the addiction angle) can’t stay away from it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It did, after all, destroy the lives and dreams of many players including two famous area legends; Pete Rose and </span>Art Schlichter, the Ohio State quarterback who had such great potential until gambling took its hold on him. I also acknowledge that some of us, including this writer, might like spending a Friday night having some fun at a local casino.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>It really is a conundrum for me. I would love to hear your input.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Drop me a line and share your views on this one before I have to go into the voting booth. While I don’t let others’ opinions control my decisions, I do weigh those views. My contact information, as always, is listed at the end of this column. I look forward to hearing from you.<span style="line-height:115%;font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">________________________________</p> <p><span style="Calibri","sans-serif"font-family:";font-size:11.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Mike Scinto has served as a radio talk show host for three decades. He can be heard on the syndicated “The Mike Gallagher Show” and seen as a contributor on the Fox News Channel. You can reach Mike by phone at 937-506-4288, via his blog at http://mikescinto.blogspot.com/ or by email at mikescintoshow@gmail.com.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p></span><p></p>MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-17861535029084301352009-09-16T17:41:00.004-04:002009-10-09T18:12:06.919-04:00Please Deposit $.50 for Your Next 3 Minutes<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px;font-size:15px;"><b>by Mike Scinto</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It doesn’t take much to get my inquisitive mind wandering.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This past weekend, it was my cell phone.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It wasn’t charged as I was about to make a run into town, so I had to leave it behind. We live in the township and the trip back and forth (including stops) could have taken as much as an hour.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What was I going to do? My communication with the outside world was gone! I felt like one of the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 on “Lost”.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My first thought was to look in the garage for my old Midland 40 channel CB radio from the 1970s.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">That baby got me out of more than a few tight situations.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I found it but couldn’t bring myself to dislocate the poor insects that had taken up residence in there.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">They looked like they were preparing for winter. So I suppose this journey had to be made sans radio or phone. Could I make it?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I did.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And I’m here to tell about it.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">That little bout of insecurity likely takes place in homes like ours, and yours, almost daily.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And that made me ask the question about how things in our lives have changed; and was it really for the better?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You see, I reminded myself that not so long ago, if you weren’t anchored to a wall in your house by a twisted up wire that seemed to get shorter with time, you couldn’t be on the phone at all.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And if you were planning to call Uncle Billy in Missouri, you’d better have deep pockets to cover the long distance charges. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style=" line-height:115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">If your phone service was down, you could always run to the nearby corner gas station or shopping center and use one of the myriad of pay phones you’d practically trip over. In my recent panic I did a visual search of the territory I covered, in case of an emergency; not a phone booth to be seen ANYWHERE! All I saw were the empty shells where that link with the outside world used to reside, awaiting our dimes and quarters; and perhaps Clark Kent’s quick change into Superman.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I guess he has to use the back seat of his car now.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I don’t know about you but I feel absolutely naked when I am out in the real world without my phone.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And try to get a teen to part with theirs. This is not one of those “I remember when gas used to be a nickel a gallon” stories from the turn of the last century.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This has happened in the blink of an eye. </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The technology is growing so fast it’s really hard to keep up.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My wife and I just recently joined the iphone crowd.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I’m not bragging.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">They had to get me there kicking and screaming until I realized how amazing this little thing can be. My wife is a systems engineer, and has been for three decades.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Our phones, besides calling Uncle Billy for free, can do calculations it used to take an entire room of her mainframes to handle. It’s a phone, a road map, a computer, an alarm clock, a trip planner, an egg timer, a phone book, a Day-Timer and a gaming device.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It fits in my shirt pocket!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Our problems today don’t revolve around that anchored landline. No, the problem today is watching out for the other drivers texting while behind the wheel going 80 MPH. Then there are the drivers who used to be easily distracted by a carload of passengers yakking away, now doing the same thing into their handheld devices. And what about the choice of restaurant, not being based on the menu but on whether the establishment offers free Wi-Fi?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SAfont-family:";"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So the $64,000 question is; are we better off with these little gadgets that connect us with the world? My answer is that we probably are, as long as we don’t become even more dependent on them than our old landline phones had to be to that wall mount.</span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px;font-size:15px;">____________________________________________________________</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px;font-size:15px;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SAfont-family:";font-size:11.5pt;">Mike Scinto has served as a radio talk show host for three decades. He can be heard on the syndicated “The Mike Gallagher Show” and seen as a contributor on the Fox News Channel. You can reach Mike by phone at 937-506-4288, via his blog at http://mikescinto.blogspot.com/ or by email at mikescintoshow@gmail.com.</span></b></span></span></div>MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-85660599813604942712009-08-10T09:32:00.007-04:002009-08-10T09:50:41.718-04:00August 9, 1975 A 34th Anniversary Dinner<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdQY9K48hOM1Hk7gWLCyQqYi37rKVy3j71IOmHQoT_smyo4HE6zSPzSNhcaA1XEDWp7_OQtYYJfI4mlgwHVLb8W2n5T9hNThuFrehJaeV2ZM2Yf7WxDQovEzyO43rvfsAYgdB174FVH8/s1600-h/4X6+Scinto-Malloy+34th.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdQY9K48hOM1Hk7gWLCyQqYi37rKVy3j71IOmHQoT_smyo4HE6zSPzSNhcaA1XEDWp7_OQtYYJfI4mlgwHVLb8W2n5T9hNThuFrehJaeV2ZM2Yf7WxDQovEzyO43rvfsAYgdB174FVH8/s400/4X6+Scinto-Malloy+34th.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368330609400467874" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Marty and Barb Malloy and Mike and Kathy Scinto-August 9, 2009 Celebrating Our 34th Anniversaries Together at Brio<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-91452344938951049202009-06-03T12:23:00.004-04:002009-06-22T12:38:42.173-04:00Break out the Shackles-by Mike Scinto<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link 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<br /></span></p><p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:100%;" >A reader recently provided me with the following dissertation:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 115%;">"A Democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on the majority always vote for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a Democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the worlds greatest civilizations has been two hundred years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to great courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to selfishness; from selfishness to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to dependence; from dependency back again to bondage."<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:100%;" >Keep in mind we are not a democracy, as the reader points out, but a republic.<span style=""> </span>However the message of this writing could apply to both forms of government and, more importantly, transcends that message.<span style=""> </span>It is a roadmap for our journey as a nation; and I might add we are frightfully close to our destination in that journey with the socialist who now sits in the White House.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:100%;" >These words were written over two hundred years ago by English historian Alexander Fraser Tyler about the fall of the Athenian Republic but hold so true today about the “ME” generation in America.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:100%;" >The reader points out that we have become apathetic and self-centered.<span style=""> </span>We expect to be cared for from womb to tomb.<span style=""> </span>We took a Social Security system that was supposed to supplement our retirement years and turned it into our sole means of support, thus nearly destroying it. Our banks and major corporations are now being commanded by King Obama. The free market system which, unfettered, is designed to function at its best is being dismantled. Obama Motor Car Company now replaces the “Big Three”. We give Americans a free pass if they choose not to work, defend their country or obey our laws. And now we have elected a President who is enabling us continuing to continue those practices; heck, he WANTS us to!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:100%;" >We don’t bother to go carry out what was our most cherished birthright, the right to vote.<span style=""> </span>And many of those who do at least bother, have no clue for whom, or what, they are casting their ballot.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Yes, if you carefully study Tyler’s words again, you’ll see we have just about run full circle. And, as my reader so aptly concluded his letter to me; How soon bondage?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-82286563407574567182009-04-27T08:30:00.004-04:002009-10-09T18:26:00.968-04:00Ambassador Alan Keyes on the Legitimacy of “President” Obama and more<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyPVGbbuTGT2nlGJa12UTj1JEk_xZ-wXfp_FyZZCe-eDxLo54sL64acXR4yoB3Hdiyz-pvpckUjNdgiVQCRTg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was my sincere honor, and pleasure to dine with Ambassador Keyes in 2000. He is genuine, direct and usually right. I found this commentary on Barack Obama posted and wanted to share it with all of you.</div>MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-47225166384960763102009-04-24T08:12:00.003-04:002009-04-24T08:59:14.657-04:00Mike Scinto with Fox News Sunday Host Chris Wallace 4/17/09<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyGHGndYLst_X_Jpb8rgiefWibRa3_q2TphtUCiJp3Oi4CV5ciLtK1FiUfcoRMHyk0izQKJAdqdNnlylLKwkQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-67627965995340821892009-04-08T12:28:00.003-04:002009-06-22T12:35:26.123-04:00“Amerika” the Changed; Let’s Hum a Few Bars-by Mike Scinto<meta equiv="Content-Type" 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<br /></span></p><p style="text-indent: 0.5in; font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;"><span style="">Folks, what’s happening to our country is beyond novel, interesting, historic or part of “how the system works”.<span style=""> </span>What this President is doing amounts to dictatorial power-grabbing and we are just letting him, along with the help of Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and the other Liberal numbskulls, rewrite our laws, destroy free enterprise and irreparably alter our economic system; bankrupting our great country for our children and grandchildren.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-indent: 0.5in; font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;"><span style="">This past week Barack Obama fired Rick Wagoner, CEO of General Motors, and dictated which models of cars the once great carmaker would be “allowed” to continue to build. He planted his own hack in the CEO’s chair to make sure the Obama magic can really go to work at GM. And we’re just sitting back and watching!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-indent: 0.5in; font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;"><span style="">We are letting him dictate to Chrysler that it merge (again) with a foreign car maker. Again, we’re just kicked back in the Lazy Boy watching King Barack I bark out the commands for his minions to carry out.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-indent: 0.5in; font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;"><span style="">If it weren’t so serious, it would almost be sit-com funny. Who would have thought that a young, inexperienced lawyer would assume the highest office in this land and proceed to dismantle it and reform it into a Euro-Socialistic state.<span style=""> </span>Well, I suppose if you had looked at his limited track record as an office holder, and what he SAID he wanted to do while campaigning, maybe you would have figured that out……..Duh!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-indent: 0.5in; font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;"><span style="">What’s next? Will he come to our quaint little dot on a map and tell us how to spend our tax money?<span style=""> </span>Will he direct our Parks Board on which projects are good and which should be scrapped? Could he possibly decide that our economy could be better served if our local hardware store and grocery store (which I prefer to frequent) folded and let ONLY Menard’s and Wal-Mart handle the business?<span style=""> </span>And don’t you think for a minute he can’t do it. Oh, maybe not by sending in one of his flunkies, but through his hands-on control of the Commerce Department and the IRS; the reins of which he turned over to a man who really didn’t think paying HIS taxes was that important anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-indent: 0.5in; font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;"><span style="">You folks who were swept up in the majesty of the new “Camelot” still believe this “change” is for the better. We tried to warn you.<span style=""> </span>I was tarred and feathered and run off the Mum Festival stage for making a joke about His Highness.<span style=""> </span>I was thrown out of a thirty year career by refusing to bow at his altar and accept his “stimulus” package as anything but a blueprint to national bankruptcy. And fear not, the rest of you will get yours too.<span style=""> </span>He has enough in his bag of tricks to work his magic on every one of us to some degree.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-indent: 0.5in; font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;"><span style="">How do we fix it? It may very well be too late. But we need to write, call, let our voices be heard in places like our local, state and national office holder’s phone lines, email boxes and through snail mail.<span style=""> </span>And we don’t stop. We sound off continuously in places like the Independent Voice blog site; one of the few places (at least for now) the King can’t stop us. Or, as some of you have chosen to do in the past, just roll over and let His Majesty’s men rub your tummy and make everything right for you.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;">There’s a scary, but all too real scenario that could play out.</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;">You see, this great nation has managed to overcome greater obstacles than this would-be dictator.</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;">And it may just be strong enough to overcome his power and come out of the financial struggles on its own. If that happens, he’ll get credit and will be able to write his ticket for the next 7 ½ years.</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;">But trust me; someday future generations will pay the multi-trillion dollar price tag of this sweeping change blowing across our land! But, not to worry, as with the G-20 conference, I’m sure Michelle’s wardrobe and fashion will take our minds off the real problems at hand.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" ></span>MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614927146754316614.post-57865891582646751632009-03-03T12:05:00.001-05:002009-03-03T13:02:52.244-05:00Censorship is Alive and Well in the Gem City<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CDad%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" 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Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <div style="border-style: none none solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color windowtext; border-width: medium medium 1pt; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"> <p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">As our President’s stimulus package continues to drag the stock market down to decades-old positions and millions are becoming statistics as companies brace for the new tax burdens they will be facing, Yours Truly joined the ranks of those suffering under the Obama-Reid-Pelosi regime. What I am about to relate, I assure you, is NOT sour grapes…….but you take from it what you will.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">I was told yesterday, almost ten years to the day after moving my radio talk show to the black-oriented Liberal WDAO radio, that the show needed to go in a different direction. What I believe, based on many signals, is that it meant it needed to go in the Obama direction.<span style=""> </span>And that Kool-Aid didn’t wash down well with me at all.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Posted here is the sign that I stared at since the inauguration.<span style=""> </span>It says that Obama must be referred to as President Barack Obama.<span style=""> </span>And if a caller slipped through and just said “Obama”, or if I said “Obama Administration” I was called on the carpet. These weren’t negative references either, but commonly accepted terminology for all administrations. This was quite obviously a term of my employment.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">My thoughts may have become all-too-apparent in my facial expressions as I wondered why, during the previous eight years, I didn’t see a similar memo when callers referred to George W. Bush as a war monger, drunk, moron or other tasteless terms. They called Bush everything BUT “President George W. <span style=""> </span>Bush”.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">And even though I tried my best to walk that thin line, I had several confrontations with the owner about my lack of support for the stimulus package.<span style=""> </span>It came to the point that he suggested we just not talk about the economic plans at all if it meant dissension. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Heck, here I am, a white conservative talk show host on a liberal black radio station and for about two months prior to the most historic election battle in our nation’s history, we couldn’t’ talk about the Presidential race at all! We couldn’t mention Obama or McCain…….period! And we heard about it if we let a caller slip through and mention one of their names or the race itself.<span style=""> </span>Is that what a talk radio show is supposed to be like? I must have missed that page in the manual.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Look, Jim Johnson (WDAO Owner and General Manger) is my friend and has been for 30 plus years. He can be a very nice man and has a good technology skill………..he can build a radio studio from scratch.<span style=""> </span>I just question his motivation in handling this censorship issue the way he did.<span style=""> </span>Look, it’s not a crime, or even a character flaw.<span style=""> </span>It just means he could be shortchanging himself and the people of this community, both black and white.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Censorship on the public airwaves is bad enough.<span style=""> </span>Being less than honest about your reasons for that censorship is even worse. I can only assume that WDAO has already gotten its marching orders from the Obama camp to begin the elimination of conservatives from the air before the “Fairness” Doctrine can kick in. At the very least I feel very comfortable that I have maintained my integrity throughout this situation. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">WDAO was the only station left in the market offering a local balanced (until recently) channel for the community to speak out.<span style=""> </span>I can only hope the other fine radio stations (some of which I have been affiliated with over the decades) decide to assume that role.<span style=""> </span>And I encourage you to suggest that to them with a very loud voice.<span style=""> </span>Or we may only hear what station owners, like my former employer, DECIDE we can hear! <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <p style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;"><b style="">Now in his 33<sup>rd</sup> year Mike Scinto has served as a radio talk show host. Call Mike at 937-506-4288. Email him at <a href="mailto:mike@themikescintoshow.com">mike@themikescintoshow.com</a>. And visit Mike Scinto at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/">http://www.facebook.com</a> or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/scintoonfilm">http://www.youtube.com/scintoonfilm</a>.<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;"><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> MikeScintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09980422149212106334noreply@blogger.com