Hot ... smokin' hot

A hot topic, that is.
Smoking.
It looks pretty likely that some form of a statewide smoking ban will be passed this week and those of you who are regular Channel 13 viewers have seen our promos for tonight's "What's Bugging Andy." We're already getting emails on the topic, and the piece hasn't even aired yet. Here are a few:

"Why is our State Government dicussing smoking bills instead of dealing with important issues such as Illegal Immigration? By the way, Why do we have an asthma epedemic in young children, when fewer people are smoking ?? Why don't you find out whats really killing us ?"

This is part of an email from a gentleman who calls himself, "A citizen for freedom of choice." He's sending this to our state senators (and the all caps are his, not mine).
"DO NOT PASS THIS!! BANNING SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES!
I MAY BE JUST ONE LITTLE GUY BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF US! AND YOU WILL NOT GET MY VOTE NEXT TIME AROUND! AND I WILL NOT CARE WHAT YOUR RECORD IS OR WHAT YOU VOTED FOR, THIS IS THE ONE VOTE THAT WILL STAY IN MY MIND WHO VOTED FOR IT AND WHO DID NOT! THE ONE THAT VOTES FOR IT WILL NOT GET MY VOTE NEXT TIME AROUND NO MATTER WHAT!!!"

"I was shocked when the comment was made that if a bowling alley can go smoke-less why can't everyone else? Why don't you say that to the state about the Casino's in Iowa? It goes both ways."

What do you think about the debate? Are you for the ban, against it, don't care? We want your comments on the issue - and Andy's story tonight at 10.

Happy Monday!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

You know you're getting old when ...

You talk about movies, music or tv shows from your youth (ie: Knight Rider) and some of the people you work with either have no idea what you're talking about or they say "Oh - I wasn't born yet!"
You refer to those people as "kids."
You worry about people when they travel and anxiously await the phone call that tells you they arrived at their destination safely.
You'd rather clean your house on the weekend than go out.
You look at the latest fashion trends and see recycled versions of what you were wearing fifteen or twenty years ago.
You start sounding (and looking) like your parents.
You no longer get carded.
Do you have anything to add to the list? If so, post it or drop me an email.
Happy Monday!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

For a good cause, expiration dates, no new ideas

Hi gang!

It's been years since I've listened to, or participated in any karaoke singing but that's what we did Saturday night for a good cause. Sonya and I sang (more like screamed) Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" with a bunch of other ladies at Maddy's in West Des Moines. I think we should stick to reading! However, if you've got a good voice and $25 bucks, you should enter the contest. All proceeds to to the Variety Club of Iowa. Hit Billy Joe's this Saturday at 4pm and next Tuesday, the 19th at 9pm.

How do you deal with expiration dates? Are you the type to pitch a food item if it's even a second past the "use by" date, or do you sniff and nibble and finally take your chances? I just got done eating a bag of salad that had "Use by 2/09" printed on the front, and some cheese that needed to have a bit of mold cut off the edge. I just hate throwing food away, it drives me nuts. If I'm not on tv later this evening, you'll know why.

My husband is freaking out everytime he sees a promo for "Knight Rider" and not in a good way. Michael is ticked off because the car in this new version is a Ford Mustang.

It's a hot car ... but this is a serious departure from the orginall KITT, which was a Trans Am. Plus, I don't know who the guy is in the 2008 "Knight Rider" but he's no David Hasselhoff!

I suppose it's kindof how I felt about a new "Bionic Woman." No one can replace Lindsay Wagner. I was also a little ticked off when Jessica Simpson got to play Daisy Duke in "The Dukes of Hazard" and she didn't even dye her hair. Daisy is a brunette, people! What do you think of remakes? There seem to have a been a lot of them in recent years. Do any live up to the originals? Were the originals just as lame, but our nostalgia overshadows how bad they were? Deep things to ponder, I know.

That'll do it for now, it's almost time for the five o'clock show. Don't worry, Sonya and I will be talking - not singing!

EEK

Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com

Payback

There are too many ornery men in my life.
Two of them were in cohoots last week and the result has been the airing on tv of some very old pictures of me in a very embarassing outfit.
There's no need to rehash any of those details, but I'd like to take this opportunity to share with you an adorable photo of my husband, Michael Jerome Kiernan. His birthday is this week so I thought a childhood photo would be appropriate. This is Michael with his older brother Dan, circa 1977. Happy Birthday babe, I love you!

One down.

One to go.

Many thanks to Chad and Jen in our production department for digging up this classic pic of Murph. That's right, you're looking at Mr. Keith Murphy. I'm assuming this is a prom or homecoming photo, although I'm afraid to guess what year this was taken. What do you guys think? Regardless, the mustache is smokin' hot. Almost as hot as the pose Keith is striking here. When I saw this, I laughed so hard I almost peed.

Finally, some loose ends .... so many of you recommended a neti pot that I think I'm going to invest in one.... to the ladies who dropped me emails about the shoe comments last week, thanks for backing me up .... we're glad to have Jarrett Schneider reporting for us, although it means I can no longer call him "brainiac intern" .... this winter is feeling loooooooooonnnngggggggg ... it's time to do the news!