We spent some time in Las Vegas, a place where there is so much going on all the time. We drove there for a three day vacation. Its only a three hour drive so its the perfect escape. I’m amazed however how easy it is to find out what is going on in the world. You can leave your home town and still know all the happenings by the click of a button or a cell phone call. We got news of a horrible helicopter accident that crashed near the hospital in Flagstaff. Apparently there were 2 medical helicopters trying to land at the hospital but they hit each other. People said they could see people fall from the helicopters before they fell to the ground and exploded. How horrifying! I found out from our station manager who was on his way to Sacramento. Then I had to call another director and tell him the news which of course caused a ruckus in the newsroom. I’m sitting in my hotel at Treasure Island and told the people who live in Flagstaff what had happened before they even knew!

It just makes me think of back in the covered wagon days how long it took to send information across the US. During World War II, the west coast didn’t even know that we had joined the war until practically a week later. Now days people read the news right off their computers or on giant TV screens in the Vegas Casinos, or Time Square. Its all right there! Only thing is, there’s sooo much information….almost 2 much to comprehend. Was that bombing in Gaza or was it in Afghanistan? Are you talking about the murdering in Oklahoma or the one in Iowa who killed 5 people. There is just so much to absorb, and reading all that stuff can be depressing. All the stuff happening in the middle east, I have no clue about. A year after 9/11, I stopped following it because it was so depressing. Here and there I will read that insurgents did this in this city and Alkaid a did that. Even now I find it hard to understand what is really going on over there. Its sad, but I honestly think most Americans, unless they have a loved one in the military don’t really care what is going on in the Middle East. “Oh there was another bombing….Oh well, what can you do?”

I sit here and worry about gas prices going up and about Obama not being who I really thought he was. I wonder if we will ever get out of this recession. I don’t worry about being bombed. That is a luxury we have living in the US that so much of us take for granted. I guess when I celebrate the 4th of July at the end of the week I have a lot to be thankful for, despite the downfall of the American economy I still live in freedom. The only thing controlling me is my pocket.

I have to take 3 steps back. About a year and a half ago, people left the station and I was the only director for like 3 months. Now its happening again. Domenick left leaving the open commercial editing position, so of course Dylan ran for it. Now Zach is putting in his notice, and there you go, I’m the only director again. It takes 3 months to fully train a director. I do see Breana as a candidate for directing. I think she could successfully TD a show with supervision at this point due to her experience on cut ins and interviews. So I’d like to get her started on it and lessen the time when I’m the only one up there day after day. Just when you get used to your work support group, things change. Things always change, and rightly they should, you can’t get too comfortable in your own shoes.