Tips for dining out

1. Never go to an establishment that has a sign out in front that says "Help Wanted" or "Manager Wanted".

2. Fast food isn't always fast.

3. Never eat at a place where the cook wears baggy pants. How do you think he is keeping them up?

4. Don't complain about the food until after you have finished.

5. Don't leave a tip if you don't get good service, that is what the tip is for.

6. If you go to a drive through and the parking lot is full and the drive through line is backed up either go someplace else or plan on a wait.

7. If you go into a fast food place and there are 10 or 11 people sitting around with no food, go somewhere else or plan on a long wait.

8. Never go to a restaurant on "kids eat free" night unless you have kids who eat a lot. Something has to make up for all the screaming brats sitting around you.

9. If you want a really good meal at a fast food restaurant order the salad otherwise go somewhere else.

10. McDonalds really does have the best french fries.

What news?

What is with the networks now days? You can't watch the evening news without them "covering" the latest reality show on their own network. Someone ought to tell them that this isn't news, it is advertising. News today has turned into a self-licking ice cream cone. In fact, most of what they cover today isn't news. Michael Jackson, who cares? The media has sensationalized this freak show to the point of insanity. They put more emphasis on movie stars and pop singers than they do what impacts our lives like the loss of lives in Iraq and Afganistan. It doesn't make sense.

I am concerned about the opposition to public radio and television, if the powers that be are successful in getting the funding cut or somehow limiting these two real news outlets the US is in trouble. I base this on 25 years of working with the media, most of the time the only coverage you get from the network news in a difficult situation is negative at least NPR or Public Television will give you balanced coverage. I suspect that is the issue. Not that they lean one way or the other but that they present things from both sides. How can you convince people of the sensationalism if they hear both sides? What is really behind the assault on public radio and TV is loss of revenue. I am sure there are many people, like myself who surf right on by the network news and the "all news" channels. We have more choices but it is like saying you have three choices tonight for dessert, vanilla ice cream, vanilla ice cream, or vanilla ice cream and none of them are really vanilla ice cream. The alternate sources for news, such as the internet, cut into that profit line also. I guess survival of the fittest will force networks to change or to die. I for one am doing my part to make sure public radio and television survive.