Hey, I’m the “new guy” here at 100.5 The River. We’ll get to hang out for part of your workday and the drive home while you’re listening to Today’s Best Mix without the rap. Some people asked “why would you move HERE?” when I started. I answer that question with disbelief and realize that people in GR simply don’t realize what a great city they have. Grand Rapids is just a fantastic city. The people, the downtown, the festivals, the philanthropy of our ‘famous families’ … the list goes on and on. The VIBE of this city is just incredible. Those who say “why would you move HERE?” clearly don’t realize how crappy most other similar sized cities are compared to GR. We moved here from the vibrant and clean city (#sarcasm) of Toledo, OH where I was the Operations Manager for six radio stations. Before that, I was on-air or programming stations in Philadelphia, New York City, Milwaukee, Madison, Cedar Rapids (Iowa) and Waterloo (Iowa). My wife and I met in Madison and were married four days after 9/11. We have two “furry kids” named Ollie (yellow lab/bassett/corgi) and Chester (bassett). I’m also the Program Director for Channel 95-7 and 100.5 The River, so if you have any comments, suggestions or complaints (I welcome compliments, too), just email or call me!
Tom Cook
Smaller Diaper Discounts at Amazon
We have two dogs and no kids, to this doesn't have a direct effect on me. But I have friends, co-workers and employees who have kids and I diapers are ex-pen-sive! (Dashes added for dramatic effect)
Moms everywhere were a bit upset last week when Amazon said it was phasing out a 30% discount on diapers...
Ahh, Driving In Snow
It's easy for those of us familiar and comfortable with driving in snow to laugh at those who are intimidated by the idea. It's also easy for us to laugh at those people who live is regions and cities that are ill-equipped to deal with said snow...
Car CD Players = Thing Of the Past
This week there have been a ton of stories announcing that car CD players are going to become a thing of the past. That's something we all sort of knew anyway, but it's interesting to see "on the record."
Apparently, people are using the CD players less and less; they're using smartphones, iPods and USB sticks to play music. So automakers want to get rid of them (CD players, not peop
Young Girl Pissed About “All Pink” Toys For Girls
This video had floated around the interwebs for a while. It's still pretty cute today.
A little girl named Riley goes off about why companies "want girls to buy the pink stuff instead of stuff that boys want to buy."
She went on to say that some girls liked superheroes and princesses, and some boys liked superheroes and princesses.
Woman Gives Birth On Train To NYC
Most people in Midwest or Great Lakes states don't quite "get" the concept of "taking the train" to get places like they do on the East Coast. I was guilty of thinking "why on earth would you take a train? why not just drive?"
That was before I actually LIVED in Philadelphia and worked in New York City. Then I fully understood how easy it was to "take the train
Rockford Ice Festival
I'm going to start by saying if you've never been to the Rockford Ice Festival, you need to be there next year. Yeah, it's cool to see people doing ice sculptures. Miniature golf on the ice course was also neat.
But, um, well, the attempt at the "World's Largest Ice Cream Sundae" was probably the neatest thing...
Miss Michigan
Miss America was crowned over the weekend. Faith and I were surprised to hear that Miss Wisconsin won, not because of anything she did or didn't do, but because we don't remember any Miss Wisconsin ever being much to write home about. Nor does Faith remember Miss Wisconsin EVER winning...
Cost To Play Powerball Is Going Up
Anytime I hear about someone winning money, I think "Big Money! Big Money!' That's something I remember contestants on Wheel of Fortune yelling out when I was growing up. Seemed like my grandma would have show on every night, right after the 6:00 news...
Selling A House? Beware Of New Scam
First, credit to WOOD TV 8. I saw this story on their newscast and chased it down online. I think it's important for you to know!
My wife and I have been in Grand Rapids for 4-5 months now. I moved up here on August 15th and lived in a hotel for seven weeks...
Ottawa County Job Growth Highest In U.S.
Just the other day, I was discussing the economy with some co-workers. They feel the economy is "coming back." I, on the other hand, think it mostly stinks. And I'm employed, so I can imagine how unemployed people feel. Then again, I'm generally a glass-half-empty kind of guy; I don't think "optimist" is a word most would use to describe me...
January = Divorce Month?
Reading through stuff on the internet, I noticed a story about divorce rates spiking right after the holidays. It both surprised and intrigued me. Here's the scoop:
The first month of every new year is apparently nicknamed "Divorce Month" in legal circles...
Puppies First Snow!
OMG. I saw this earlier today. You know from my blogs and/or from hearing me on the air that I love dogs. Most of them.
Now, I had never even heard of this breed before. It's one of those "hybrid" ones. A cocker spaniel and a poodle mixed...