DANNY CZEKALINSKI

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protestorsI may have done or will do some crazy things in life but I can promise you I will never be involved in a protest.  I just don’t understand the purpose because a bunch of people shouting the same thing and parading around with a bunch of signs aren’t gonna change a law.  It seems to me like a wasted effort….sorta like pissing up a drape.

In order to have what is deemed a “successful” protest you need large groups of people otherwise you won’t attract the attention of the media (and that’s the main purpose of a protest).   If I am standing in line at the grocery store and the machine runs out of register tape I’ll start to have a panic attack so crowds are not my thing.

Protestors like to shout the same things over and over again to make their point.  Isn’t repetition with lack of a lot of content the premise that Sesame Street is built upon.   Talking to a giant yellow bird and someone in a bad mood that lives in a garbage can is also not my idea of a mondo jovial type tundra.

All successful protests also involve signs.  I have made one sign in my life.  I was eight years old and I was selling blackberries that I picked in the woods behind my house.  To this day I am confused by those that stand outside the Today Show studios for hours and hold their home-made signs in front of random cameras  while jumping up and down as if they had just won the Showcase Showdown on The Price Is Right.

I believe that people should follow their passion.  If they believe in protesting then I think they should do it peacefully and lawfully just know that it more than likely is not going to do it.  That made me wonder why anyone would put forth what seems to be a futile effort.  Tonight I ran across a news story that makes it a bit more clear to me.  Three Occupy Wall Street protestors received $142K from the NYPD for being attacked.  Please excuse me now…..I’m off to Home Depot.  I have some signs to make.

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shocked personI have stated in the past at how disappointed I am in the world today.  No one is nice anymore.  No one says “please” or “thank you” or holds the door open for the other person.  Something happened today that has stayed with me all day and hopefully will for quite some time.

I had a minor accident on the Harley over the weekend and there was some minor damage done to my pride and joy.  I only take my bike to one place, Nicky D’s, so I rode it there and dropped it off this morning.  Since the shop is six miles from my house I needed to arrange for a ride home so the plan was Mom would drive to get me on her lunch break from work.  To make it easy on mom I told her to meet me at the CVS nearby but this entailed that I walk from Nicky D’s to CVS.  The distance was maybe a quarter of a mile but I was wearing long pants and it was about eighty-two degrees so by the time I got to CVS I looked like a contestant on “The Biggest Loser.”

I found a bench in front of the store, sat down and called mom.  As usual I was early and she told me she would leave work in about a half hour which translates into me sitting in the direct sun for about another forty-five minutes.

I could feel the sunlight hit me directly and make me sweat like Johnny Manziel at last call.  I knew that if a producer for “The Bachelor” walked by I would not be invited to be on the show.  I started to smell like someone who should be behind the wheel of a Yellow Cab.  Then a very strange thing happened that left me stunned and speechless.

An elderly woman, probably early eighties, stopped in front of me and said “Would you like an iced tea I just bought?”  I respectfully declined but was stunned by her offer as it was something I had not seen in such a long time:  unselfishness and kindness.  She didn’t know me.  She didn’t know what I was about yet she put that all aside and was willing to make a sacrifice for someone she didn’t even know.  Isn’t that the way we are supposed to live life on a daily basis?

I may have declined her kind offer of a drink today but what she gave me meant so much more than just a quench of thirst.  She restored my faith in mankind.

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sad americaNorth Korea is responsible for the cyber attack on Sony Pictures and we respond by pulling the movie “The Interview” on Christmas Day.  Really?  When Home Depot let the identities of millions of its customers get hacked did we stop mowing the lawn?  What does this show North Korea?  Simple…..the next time they don’t like something in this country all they have to do is hack TMZ.com and no more updates on why Jennifer Anniston doesn’t wanna have kids.

This country has turned into the marching band geek in high school that takes the long way to their next class because he doesn’t wanna get a wedgie in the bathroom from a classmate that smokes.  Where were these North Korean computer hacks when “Dumb and Dumber Too” came out?  I haven’t been to the movies in about six years but my mother and I were planning on going Christmas Day to see “The Interview” NOT because we wanted to see the movie, we were gonna go just because a bunch or nerds with bad skin and no girlfriends dared us to.

We, as a nation, blew this big time.  We sent a message to potential hackers that if you mess with our X-Box then we are gonna stay home.  For a long time I have said that the next terrorist attack against us will be either poisoning our food supply or taking down power grids.  We have shown that we are not the land of the free and the brave but the home of the wimps and the wussies.  What an insult to any American that has served his or her country.  Terrorists win when you let fear take over.

So what would I have done?   I’d make sure “The Interview” was the ONLY picture playing in theatres on Christmas Day.  I’d wanna see lines outside the movies nationwide.  I’d like to show the world that we ARE leaders and those that lead don’t get into the crawl space in the attic when the bully walks down the neighborhood sidewalk.   We keep saying that we have learned from 9-11 but nothing could be further from the truth.  We are a paranoid nation…..and that paranoia stems from “potential” terrorism.  When do we stop the retreat and return to marching forward?  From what I have been seeing…that opportunity has passed.

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no dating for meMy last relationship ended 10-23-11.  I told myself that day I was gonna go a year without dating.  That time line is now over three years and counting and I really kind of like it.  I used to be very co-dependant.  I couldn’t even keep up with who I was with or who would be next.  I didn’t really “know me” and, quite frankly, I was wasting the time of a lot of really kind and intelligent women.  I needed to find out about me.  What makes me tick?  What are my faults?  How can I improve?

I’m an only child.  Left the house at 18 and got into radio full-time at 21.  I have lived in Wichita, Grand Rapids, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Cleveland and now West Palm Beach.  I say what’s on my mind and not necessarily what people wanna hear.  I have a 4 bedroom 2 ½ bath house but have not slept in my bed in over three years.  I sleep on the couch and the TV has to be on 24 hours a day.  The only other rooms I use are the kitchen and my office that has three computers.  I have five televisions in the house.  I am a news and sports junkie.   The only alcohol I drink anymore is beer and that only happens twice a week at the most.  I have a Harley Road King Classic that I have invested 42K on.  I don’t own a suit.  I think my mother is the greatest woman I have ever met–although she does know how to drive me nuts.  As I figure out what to do with the rest of my life I exist in my boxers and my boxers alone.

My psychiatrist tells me I am “the most honest patient he has ever met.”  He has been in practice for 28 years.  I’m pretty sure that’s a compliment.  I’m a Libertarian but I don’t like to argue about politics.  Inform yourself about the issues and THEN go and vote.  I have zero tolerance for stupid voters…actually you can expand that to “stupid people.”  I’m not sure about what religion is “right” but I know there is a Supreme Being.  I don’t mind saying “I really don’t like Pat Robertson.”  I don’t have any children and am amazed and impressed by those that do and do it well.  We all make mistakes but it’s truly the way we ever learn.

So back to why I don’t date…..it has forced me to take a look at myself.  I have learned and changed so much in the past three years I only wish I did it sooner….like maybe when I was ten but I was too involved in climbing trees and playing baseball.

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Xmas musicI tell the truth.  Many people tell ya what ya “wanna hear” and I’ll tell ya the truth again….I don’t like those people.  They won’t support you in your time of need, they aren’t truly your friend and they are only in life for their own personal gain and benefit.

During the past couple of weeks some of you have asked “Why do some radio stations switch to all Christmas music weeks before the actual holiday.”  From an industry standpoint I should shut my mouth and not be honest with you but that is not what I am about.  Is it because they are so into the holiday spirit they can’t resist changing the playlist to feature nothing but holiday classics?  Pardon me while I roll on the floor at the absurdity of that claim.  The truth?  To manipulate the ratings system.

Usually the station or stations that make this move aren’t doing well in the ratings.  The switch to all holiday music a month and a half before Xmas increases their listenership, helps them for about 45 days in the ratings, gives them a temporary boost, then the station uses those results to increase their advertising rates afterwards until their ratings drop and return to normal.  Now don’t get me wrong.  From a business standpoint it’s a great idea but if they are telling you the reason is because “it’s time to get into the season” that’s what I refer to as a “Cleveland steamer.”  To further insure maximum revenue in switching to all holiday music the station may also have this feature “sponsored” by a client.  Why?  You guessed it…..all about the almighty dollar.

I hope this clarifies your question and that you all have a wonderful holiday.  Please wait a while before asking me why so many stations like to feature a “Song of the Day.”

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Mass-ConfusionSo Rob O’Neil is the guy that allegedly put a bullet in Osama Bin Laden’s dome and he gave an interview to Fox News and a bunch of people are upset.  Maybe it’s just me but I wanna hear what this guy has to say rather than seeing the latest selfie Kim Kardashian has tweeted of her turn cutters hanging out.

I also wanna know why they dumped his corpse at sea so quickly.  Look….this is the US Government we are talking about.  They aren’t exactly truth mongers with us citizens.  I’m sure we could prop him up and drag him around the US on a mini-tour like “Weekend at Bernies.”   Have him be a guest host on “The Voice.”   Have a “Terrorist Week” on Jeopardy.  Let him drive a cab for a weekend in New York City.  The possibilities are endless.

I illustrate the absurd by being absurd for a reason.  The majority of Americans bitch about the economy and the direction this nation is headed but do they really spend the time studying what is happening with our government or are they more interested in the dilemma of if Bruce Jenner wants a vagina?

92 million Americans are out of the work force….that’s different than unemployment and far more concerning.  It is estimated that five out of ten jobs today will no longer exist in ten years but we all seem to be giddy about landing on a comet.  We can’t find a cure for cancer, ALS, AIDS etc., but we are kicking the tires of a rock a half a billion kilometers away just to find Jason Priestly’s career?

We are soooooo concerned about being politically correct when this country was built on being a melting pot of cultural differences.  Different is good.  It’s the yin to the yang.  It causes one to look at a different opinion and heaven forbid we LEARN from these situations.  I broke my iPhone this week, shattered the screen and the first thing I muttered was “Dumb Pollock.”  I didn’t expect Al Sharpton to show up at my door.  I didn’t print flyers or t-shirts or try and organize a march.  I went out and found a kid with greasy hair, bad skin, and lots of piercings and had him fix it.  I paid for his services with money that has “In God We Trust” on the back of it while many schools have banned the Pledge of Allegiance because it contains “One nation under God.”  If this country was a horse we would put it to sleep.  Wake up America before the day comes because it’s closer than you think.

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broken americaThis Country has become K-Mart—-ya can’t walk down an aisle without finding something broken.  Anyone can walk into the White House.  People are freaking about Ebola when roughly 36,000 die from the flu each year.  The guy that was supervising a Haz-Mat team transporting an infected patient to a departing plane was in a short sleeve shirt carrying a clipboard and HE was in charge.

Over 48 million Americans live in poverty.  No one says “please” or “thank you” any more.  This week some college football players left a tip covered in feces.   Let me break that down for ya; they must have wiped their ass with some currency and left it on the table.   The middle class is evaporating like steam off a hot lunch.  They drug test those looking for jobs but marijuana is legal in two states and medicinally 23 states have made it legal but this country has no problem dishing out Xanax and antidepressants like they are flying out of a broken Pez machine.

This week in Florida the two candidates for governor squared off in their first debate but one wouldn’t come out to start the debate because the other candidate had a fan under his podium.   What is this a Van Halen concert rider?  Get the other guy a freaking fan or if ya can’t find one take the fan away from the one that has it.  The state of Florida is Darwin’s waiting room and we need to focus now more than ever on the issues.  The sad fact is lobbyists control this country.  Getting elected takes money and when you get into office you have to be a fool or in complete denial not to realize those big bucks sway votes.

So many brave men and women served in the military and countless gave their lives while in the line of duty.  We owe it to the veterans to get our shit together and not worry about the size of a soft drink or the logo of a sports team.  Wanna change the name of the team???  Buy the freaking team.  Now my blood pressure is boiling and I don’t have health care because I am part of the record 92 million out of the work force.  The American dream has turned into a nightmare…..better go and take my Xanax.

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adrian-peterson-son-abuse-1Here we go again.  Another week and another problem for the NFL.  This time around the player in focus is Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.  He was deactivated for last week’s game as child abuse allegations surfaced.  Peterson allegedly injured one of his children while using a “switch” in an act of discipline.

I am not a parent but I can speak about corporal punishment based on being on the receiving end as a kid.  I had the best parents a kid could ask for and I am very fortunate that my mother is still alive.  I was a handful as a kid.  I’m a handful as an adult.  Even when mom is over my house and she wrestles through the drawer looking for a wooden spoon my first reaction is to run to the dining room table and get ready for “the chase.”  Dad was a “belt guy.”  The sound of that belt unbuckling has carved an indelible tattoo on my subconscious.

So what is my point here?  Simple.  Time out wasn’t an option for me.  It simply wouldn’t reinforce the point of discipline that I needed to behave.  I never looked at what my mother and father did as “abuse.”  I misbehaved and I deserved it.  To hit a child with a switch is beyond my comprehension but keep in mind that is how Adrian Peterson was disciplined as a child.  It doesn’t make it right by any means but keep in mind what we allow is what we teach.  In order for us to evolve as a society it’s necessary for us to acknowledge or mistakes and correct or behavior.

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Ray RiceBy now we have all seen the second Ray Rice video where he knocks his then fiancé Janay Palmer out with a solid left hook in a casino elevator.  It’s terrible.  It’s disturbing.  There is no excuse for his actions.  Some have come forward to say “How could she marry this guy after this?”  That’s her decision and not the point.  The NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, is now in hot water because some believe he saw the second video as early as April and yet still decided to ban Ray Rice just two games.  Goodell denies this but again that is not the point.

The first video we all saw back in February where Rice is dragging Palmer out of the elevator should have been enough.  That was the effect of his actions so you know there had to be a cause.  THAT’S the point.  The NFL has the means necessary to obtain the video of what happened inside the elevator.  This was a casino.  There are cameras everywhere.  Although I think Goodell is lying through his teeth when he says he didn’t see the second video until Monday I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.  The fact that there wasn’t a full blown investigation here based on the first video is enough for me to blurt out “cover up” at the very least.

So who is to blame?  Many people over the course of many years.  The NFL is a big business that makes billions of dollars.  Exemptions have been made by many coaches of many players for their off the field problems because a player can run fast, jump high or hit a ball far.  THAT’S where the blame should lie.  This is not a problem that happened overnight.  This has been festering for years.  If anything good can come from this horrific situation it would be that coaches, managers, commissioners, owners and executives will stop “looking away.”  That’s the way it’s supposed to be but that isn’t the way it is.