“Hangover in Detroit”

c. 2009 Rod Ice
All rights reserved
(1-09)



Note to Readers: What follows here is a one-act play. The participants in this drama are discussing gloomy conditions for America’s automobile industry.

SETTING: A secluded boardroom in Detroit, Michigan. CEOs of the ‘Big Three’ automakers have assembled for a secret meeting about their future.

THE PLAYERS: Henry Ford XVI; Walter Cerberus Chrysler; General Motors; New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick; former Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca.

The participants chatter nervously over coffee, before their meeting. Detroit remains in the midst of a ‘hangover’ after years of market dominance. Reluctantly, the session is called to order.

LEE IACOCCA – “Good morning, everyone!”

The group responds with a collective yawn. No one looks happy.

LEE IACOCCA - “I’d like to introduce Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots. We’ve both been asked by members of Congress to help you draft a plan for the future. As you know, I helped save Chrysler the first time, with government loan guarantees. And Coach Belichick has learned the art of winning after hard years in Cleveland. So… let us begin.”

BILL BELICHICK – “Ahem! Welcome to school, everyone. It’s a pleasure to have you on the sidelines. Let’s get down to business.”

WALLY CHRYSLER – “School? You’ve got to be kidding!”

GENERAL MOTORS – “I don’t need any schooling, pilgrim! Everything I need to know came from the Army Field Manual…”

HENRY FORD XVI – “Settle down guys. Coach Bill is here to help us get things straightened out.”

B. BELICHICK – (Nodding) “Thanks. I’ll do my best.”

W. CHRYSLER – “This was your idea, wasn’t it, Ford?? I saw you whispering to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reed and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi when we made the car caravan to Washington D.C.!”

GENERAL M. – “I march to my own drummer, soldier! No fancy seminar will fix what ails the automobile industry!”

FORD XVI – “Look, both of you are on government welfare right now. You’d be bankrupt if George Bush hadn’t stepped in with bailout money. So quit complaining and listen to the coach!”

B. BELICHICK – “Thanks, Henry. What I want to talk about today is rebuilding your businesses. Everything starts with a change in your mindset. You’ve all got to ‘buy into’ the philosophy of working together. That’s how I made the Patriots a winning franchise.”

W. CHRYSLER – “You sound like an Amway salesman!”

GENERAL M. – “I think he’s read too much Joel Osteen.”

B. BELICHICK – “A team is successful when all the players work as a unit. That’s just as important as having talented athletes at every position…”

GENERAL M. – “Like a well-trained platoon?”

B. BELICHICK – “Right. No individuals seeking a personal glory. Just a cohesive group of soldiers working toward shared goals.”

GENERAL M. – “Ten-hut! I’ll salute that flag!”

W. CHRYSLER – “I’ll salute anyone that’ll show me how to sell some of my backlogged SUVs.”

FORD XVI – “The Coach can’t work miracles, Wally. Relax!”

GENERAL M. – (Laughing out loud) “Yeah, you need to call a magician!”

W. CHRYSLER – “Don’t chuckle too hard, General. You looked awfully pathetic begging for money on Capitol Hill.”

LEE IACOCCA – “Let’s stay focused, men!”

FORD XVI – “Lee is right. Listen to Coach Bill!”

B. BELICHICK – “I won Superbowl rings by getting my players to believe in the idea of shared sacrifice. But everybody has to be on board. What I see out of you is finger pointing. You blame UAW wages and benefits, while they complain about your excessive bonuses. Don’t you see the light? All of you are in the same boat. It’s time to quit arguing and start rowing!”

GENERAL M. – (Grumbling) “You’re a good talker, Coach. But we want to be back on top of the industry, like when Eisenhower was Commander in Chief!”

LEE IACOCCA – “General, you’ve got to change your thinking. It’s a long way past 1955. Quit blubbering about the golden era. Get to work on tomorrow!”

B. BELICHICK – “You’ve got to have a ‘system’ that works. That’s the template. Then you plug in resources as they develop. Look at my football team - we lost Quarterback Tom Brady to injuries, in week one of the last season. But Matt Cassel took over, and we won eleven games. That how to build your business. You’ve got to get your thinking right.”

W. CHRYSLER – (Making a rude noise) “Talk is cheap. We just need more money!”

GENERAL M. – (Clicking his heels) “Yes sir! We need to requisition another airlift of cash, pronto.”

LEE IACOCCA – “General, you and Walter are on government life support, right now. I‘ve been through hard times. But I turned things around. You’ve got to do the same – and better!”

FORD XVI – “He’s right, guys. There’s no other way.”

B. BELICHICK – “You need to study your opponents. Figure out what they’re doing that generates productivity. Then put yourself in a better position. Be prepared for tomorrow!”

W. CHRYSLER – “Heck, I might be on the soup line tomorrow!”

GENERAL M. – “Not me! Old soldiers never die. They just fade away…like the paint on a Monza 2+2.”

LEE IACOCCA – “Remember Volkswagen and Datsun? We laughed at those little cars. Then the Oil Embargo hit in 1973, and all of a sudden, you couldn’t give away a Cadillac or a Lincoln. We responded with cars that were thrifty, and lean…”

GENERAL M. – “Like my Chevette. It could hike 43 miles on a gallon of gas!”

W. CHRYSLER – “What about my ‘K-Cars?’”

FORD XVI – “Ugh! Don’t make me remember those junkyard queens!”

GENERAL M. – “Pipe down, Ford! Your Pinto wasn’t exactly bulletproof!”

LEE IACOCCA – “Gentlemen! Stop bickering!! You’ve gone backwards over time. SUVs were hot, and you built them at every price level. Then, gasoline went over four bucks per gallon last year. It was the same dilemma all over again. You weren’t ready for changes in the market.”

B. BELICHICK – “That’s what I mean. You’ve got to be prepared. Calamities happen and you’ve got to respond immediately – or be booted out of the playoffs.”

GENERAL M. – “But your team DIDN’T make the playoffs this year, soldier!”

FORD XVI – “Stand down, General!”

B. BELICHICK – “The point is, we were competitive. Our record was better than some teams that did advance. We kept up our level of play despite circumstances. Toyota and Honda have done the same under tough market conditions. But what about… you?”

Silence fills the room. The three CEOs hang their heads with shame.

LEE IACOCCA – “This isn’t just about the three of you, or your companies. It’s about hundreds of thousands of people who depend on our industry for a paycheck, every day. It’s about national pride. It’s about being a winner… or…”

B. BELICHICK – “Or having a meltdown like my old team on Lake Erie.”

FORD XVI – “So… what’s it gonna be, guys? Do we go for a win, or just hit the showers?”

B. BELICHICK – (Raising his fist in the air) “Winner, on three! One… two…three!”

EVERYONE – (Echoing his sentiment) “WINNER!!!”

Postscript: Condolences to the family of Ricardo Montalban, who passed away recently. His endorsement of the Chrysler Cordoba with rich ‘Corinthian Leather’ will be a part of American popular culture, forever.

Comments about Thoughts At Large may be sent to: icewritesforyou@gmail.com
Visit us at: www.thoughtsatlarge.com

HISTORY - DELIVERED FRESH TO YOUR DOOR

I'm not a traditional thinker.

Neither dominant American political tribe has held my attention for very long. I call myself a Libertarian, but that's really a methodology to describe in layman's terms the unavoidable fact that I trust individuals over institutions. And I reckon that those who founded our nation felt the same way. They crafted a system of government that is perpetually engaged in self-correction. This process takes time, but is dependable in the long run. It is also an incredible sight to behold.

From childhood, I studied political happenings under the watchful eye of my maternal grandmother. She was a Roosevelt Democrat who dedicated herself to viewing the 'American Experience' from all sides, despite any heartfelt partisan loyalty.

Today, with history unfolding, I have thought of her once again. I am certain that Grandma McCray would have much wisdom to impart on the inauguration of our forty-fourth president. Our discussion of the moment might endure for hours... and end with a loving embrace across the generations.

On this Inauguration Day, I am reminded of our nation's greatness in watching yet another peaceful transition of power unfold on Pennsylvania Avenue, during America's most storied public event...

But also, I celebrate Grandma's patient love. Because of her, my faith endures.





(Photos from the January 20th, 2009 Cleveland Plain Dealer)

EAST COAST BIKER - ISSUE #1

Here's another fictional magazine cover from the Icehouse home office:

SEDIQ IDRISSA SPAM MESSAGE

When I wrote about Bhag Sulaiman of Malaysia, it didn't seem possible that other spam artists could surpass his devious style of Internet con-artistry. But since then, new messages have appeared here at the Icehouse that are just as memorable, if not more. Here is the most recent example:

FROM THE DESK OF MR SEDIQ IDRISSA
AUDIT/REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT OF
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB)
OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA FASO
PHONE: 00226-70 64 24 10


SIR/MADAM,
(CONFIDENTIAL)

I KNOW THAT THIS EMAIL WILL BE A BIG SURPRISE TO YOU, BUT I WANT YOU TO CALM DOWN AND READ VERY CAREFULLY.

I HAVE A BUSINESS WHICH WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO BOTH OF US. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY INVOLVED IS U.S $7.215 (seven million Two hundred and fifteen thousand United States dollars) WHICH I WANT TO TRANSFER OUT OF THE COUNTRY TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT, ALL TO MY FINANCIAL BENEFIT AND YOURS TOO. AND ALSO TO TAKE MY WIFE ABROAD FOR TREATMENT OF LIVER DAMAGE.

THIS MONEY IS OWNED BY A MAN CALLED JIN SUN, A BUSINESS COMMERCIALIST IN WEST-AFRICAN REGIONS. HE HAS BEEN DEAD SINCE SIX YEARS AGO AND SINCE THEN, NO CLAIM HAS BEEN PLACED ON HIS BANK ACCOUNT BALANCE.
I WANT TO TRANSFER THIS MONEY OUT OF THE COUNTRY BUT SUCH FUND CANNOT BE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT A NEXT OF KIN ATTACHED TO THE FUND.

THE FUND COULD BE TRANSFERRED IN THESE WAY; YOU SHALL PRESENTYOURSELF AS A BUSINESS ASSOCIATE TO THE DECEASED PERSON[JIN SUN] AS DETAILS SHALL BE THAT YOU ARE THE CARE-TAKER BUSINESS ASSOCIATE TO MR. JIN SUN AND HIS PROPERTIES.

I SHALL MAKE AVAILABLE TO YOU MATERIALS AND INFORMATION WITH WHICH A SUCCESSFUL CLAIM SHALL BE PLACED ON THE FUND. I SHALL ALSO BE YOUR GUIDIANCE AND INSTRUCTOR THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THIS TRANSACTION SO AS TO ENSURE A SWIFT AND SURE TRANSFER OF THE FUND TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.
AS TO YOUR BENEFITS, YOU SHALL BE ENTITLED TO 40% OF THIS FUND FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION IN THIS TRANSACTION WHILE 5% WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR EXPENCES INCURED DURING THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION.

SO IF YOU ARE INTRESTED, SEND A REPLY TO ME IMMEDIATELY AND IN YOUR REPLY PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR [PRIVATE PHONE AND YOUR FAX NUMBERS] URGENCY HAS TO BE IMPLIED AND THIS BUSINESS MUST STRICTLY BE A DEAL BETWEEN BOTH OF US.
WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT RESPONSE SO THAT I CAN MOVE AHEAD AND GIVE YOU THE INDEPT DETAILS CONCERNING THIS TRANSACTION AND ALSO THE STEPS TO TAKE FOR A SMOOTH TRANSFER OF THE FUND INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.
BEST REGARDS,
MR. SEDIQ IDRISSA

PLEASE REPLY ME HERE; mr_sediq@hotmail.com

Do people actually fall for these dubious proposals? It seems unlikely. But such scandalous propositions help to keep things interesting in cyberspace.

Let the games continue!

“Crystal Ball Predictions”

c. 2009 Rod Ice
All rights reserved
(1-09)




The arrival of a New Year always comes with much hope for tomorrow and reflection over what has gone before. We celebrate and remember in the same instant. For humanity, yesterday and tomorrow find union in this annual tradition.

Yet one other habit also prevails during this turn of the calendar page – a making of predictions.

Visionaries are many in the early days of a year. Rarely are they scrutinized with hindsight to check for accuracy. But their soothsaying can bring much entertainment if little in the way of actual enlightenment.

The checkout-lane tabloids are fond of such artful guesswork. Their slant on tomorrow often provides the sort of wild imagination typically associated with Hollywood scriptwriting. While not literal or dependable, they help sell issues to eager consumers.

Other publications take a more disciplined approach to looking beyond the horizon of today. Many formulas exist to identify and catalog probabilities. But still, their observations are founded on chance. One guess is as good as another.

For your inspection, here are tidbits of regional prognostication from The Icehouse.
Read them and believe… or not!

ONE: Geauga County Sheriff’s Department Deputy ‘Midge’ will endorse her own line of dog food, to be produced locally and sold at stores across the region. ‘Midge Munch’ will eventually outpace Purina as the best selling brand in Ohio.

TWO: Wal-Mart in Middlefield will be redesigned to gain greater appeal for Amish customers, and those who are environmentally conscious. The Arkansas-based retailer will introduce its first non-electric format store, with skylight ceilings, and chalkboard registers. Chinese products will be discontinued in favor of domestic equivalents made with organic materials. Employees will wear uniforms made of all-natural fibers. New hours of operation will be sunrise to sunset, with Sunday closings. Buggy parking will be plentiful.

THREE: A book about Cal & Stephanie Williams, generous owners of Zeppe’s Pizzeria in Chardon, will be published by Geauga Press. Called “Giving and Growing – Doing Business in the 21st Century,” the story will claim a spot in Oprah Winfrey’s recommended reading list by year’s end. Autographed copies will be sold as part of a family meal package with ribs, a large deluxe pizza, and breadsticks.

FOUR: The new ‘Sheetz’ location in Chardon will feature a special row of pumps dedicated to locally-sourced alternative fuels, including reclaimed restaurant oils, pureed corn cobs, and horse dung. CNN will televise the station’s Grand Opening as part of its ‘Green Scene’ series.

FIVE: After a series of minor scandals relating to his cabinet and former political allies, Barack Obama will reach across the political divide to name Chardon City Councilperson Mary Bramstedt as his new Secretary of Student Athletics. Local G.O.P. officials will be stunned, but appreciative. As a result of the pick, tennis teams from America will dominate competition around the world.

SIX: The Ohio Power Siting Board will bow to public pressure and modify its decision to allow a 138 kilovolt transmission power line in eastern Geauga County. The new plan, dubbed ‘Project Toaster Trail’ will bury the huge cable underground, along Route 528. Waste heat from the line will keep the roadway clear throughout winter months, delighting drivers fatigued with lake effect snow and ice storms.

SEVEN: LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers will end his basketball career prematurely, to become Director of Public Relations for the New York Yankees. Team owner George Steinbrenner will hail this acquisition as proof that his franchise is the greatest in American sports history. Meanwhile, Cavs team shops will offer a full refund on any ‘King James’ merchandise purchased during the season.

EIGHT: A UFO sighting will occur in Thompson, during the summer. The event will be reported across America, Europe, and the Orient. Investigators will conclude that the visiting aliens are looking for Olden Moore, who encountered earlier travelers from their distant planet in 1957. An in-depth series of articles about this happening will be written by Ezekiel Byler-Gregg, of The Burton Daily Bugle. They will be reprinted in Flying Saucer Review of Great Britain.

NINE: Inductees at the new McDonald’s ‘Hall of Fame’ in Chardon will be honored by members of the City Council during a public meeting. Following the official ceremony, restaurant managers will roll out a new local menu that includes items like the ‘Geauga McMuffin’ with real maple syrup, and a hometown breakfast featuring Amish ham with farm-style, iron-griddle pancakes. Hall of Fame members will be the first to try these meal items, along with other county dignitaries.

TEN: Vandals who destroyed decorative scarecrows placed on the Chardon square will find themselves outmatched when trying to disrupt a local presentation of ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ While performing his role as ‘The Scarecrow,’ high-school wrestler and actor Josh Dzelka will forcefully apprehend the bunch. The gang of miscreant boys will immediately be taken into custody by police officers from the city.

ELEVEN: J.D.’s Post House in Parkman will be selected as one of Ohio’s top ten roadside eateries by the editors of Knife, Fork & Gas Pedal Magazine. The resulting swell in customer traffic will attract a producer from The Food Network and publicity appearances by Kevin ‘Floorboards’ Dupree, a noted NASCAR veteran from Troy.

TWELVE: Newbury entrepreneur Jonas Shackelford will shock the local community by opening a new radio station at a former car parts warehouse on Route 87. WNB 510 AM will offer a wide range of listening alternatives, exploding the typical paradigm of ‘formatted’ broadcasting. The station will offer a live feed from the Geauga County Maple Festival’s ‘Battle of the Bands’ that is simulcast on Cleveland FM giant WMMS. Later, retired schoolteacher and goat expert Hazel Pfennig will be the first county resident to host a ‘talk’ program at the station.

THIRTEEN: A clandestine group of ‘extreme artists’ will finally paint the water tower in Burton like a stack of pancakes dripping with maple syrup. This stunt will draw national attention to the village, and create a furious debate within the community. Finally, critics will point out that the hasty act yielded a breakfast dish with no pat of butter on top. Using state funds, the tower will be returned to its original look for 2010.

FOURTEEN: New Cleveland Browns Head Coach Eric Mangini will visit Geauga County to help promote the coming NFL season with local fans. This goodwill tour will directly connect the former Jets coach with weary supporters who have endured years of disappointment from the franchise. Before leaving, Mangini will pause for a brew at the Chardon Beverage & Bar with veteran quarterback Bernie Kosar, shocking patrons who are unprepared for the pair of notable football celebrities. Nineteen-cent drafts of beer will be sold during the joint appearance.

FIFTEEN: Auburn poet Isabel Leanne DiCenza will be arrested after her one-woman performance of ‘Life, Love, and Regrets Swirled in a KitchenAid Blender’ causes a riot at the Geauga Theater. Playwright Eve Ensler will hail the show as a dramatic achievement worthy of international renown. Late in the year, DiCenza will be interviewed by MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow.

The New Year may not strictly follow the path proscribed by these visions. Yet it promises to be an interesting period in our history, nevertheless.

Comments about Thoughts At Large may be sent to: icewritesforyou@gmail.com
Visit us at: www.thoughtsatlarge.com

Liz Guitar

For Mrs. Ice, a.k.a. Liz Pink!

WKYC DESKTOP PHOTO

Here's our new desktop background, using my wife's favorite station. The TV set is an early 60's Curtis Mathes, courtesy of my mother-in-law.

“The Rearview Mirror - Chapter Two”

c. 2008 Rod Ice
All rights reserved
(12-08)


Note to Readers – With the Old Year drawing to a close, here is a second look at the material that comprised ‘Thoughts At Large’ for 2008. Thanks so much for your support!

When school children are asked “What would you like to be when you grow up?” most choose from a familiar roster of career occupations. Many aim to become doctors, firemen, teachers, or astronauts. Some ache to experience military combat or the intense competition of professional athletics. Others find appeal in public service and volunteer work. Yet few would be likely to choose writing a weekly column as a preferred avocation.

Still, for this writer, such work has always been worthy of pursuit.

My first love as a kid was the habit of radio broadcasting. In particular, the personality of ‘Wolfman Jack’ always provided inspiration. But as a close second, creative pounding on a typewriter keyboard seemed undeniably attractive.

While reading the work of Mike Royko, I often imagined my own journalistic flight into the intellectual cosmos. But it seemed unlikely that I could ever reach that point of wordsmithing prowess.

Then came The Geauga County Maple Leaf.

From a humble beginning in February of 1998, this column inherited a place first occupied by the late Lee Rogers. He opened the way for those of us not so gifted in years or experience. Even today, I remember his legacy with fondness.

‘Thoughts At Large’ developed from a primitive writing project into something more enduring. With each installment, I began to discover new ways to connect Geauga to the world.

Today, thanks to the Maple Leaf website, this column has graduated to a useful place among Internet readers. But its primary focus remains… to connect with friends at home.

What follows here are a few more examples of TAL pages from the past year, and the responses that followed:

DOLLAR MENU MOTORVATOR – While watching owners of Detroit’s ‘Big Three’ automakers visit Capitol Hill in search of an industry bailout, I was moved to reflect on the Chevrolet Chevette of bygone days. A 1977 advertisement stated that EPA mileage estimates for the car were 43 on the highway and 31 in the city. I remembered that my own four-door ‘81 model was just as thrifty. This had me wondering… how had GM lost their way while rolling toward the 21st Century? I sent a copy of the column to Rick Wagoner, CEO of the corporation. Shortly afterward, a message appeared on my cell phone:

“Good morning Mr. Ice… I’m calling from General Motors’ Executive Office in regard to the… article you sent in. Thank you very much for that. It was very interesting reading. And I wanted to let you know that we have received it, and we do appreciate when the consumers do take the time to write us and give us their opinions. I will make sure that it gets on to Mr. Wagoner and the board. And, if you have any questions or concerns you can call me… your file number here Mr. Ice is 716… Once again, we do appreciate it and thank you very much… Have a great holiday season!”

- Lisa Watson, General Motors

HOME FROM HOG HEAVEN – While traveling between Thompson and Marietta to visit my niece, I discovered a distinctive restaurant in New Philadelphia. It was a barbecue palace blessed with biker décor and incredible vittles. Once my sister’s daughter had finished her studies at Marietta College, these trips came to an end. But I wrote a column to celebrate our final pause at the eatery off of I-77. One week later, I received a message from the ‘Head Hog’ himself:

“Rod,
Thanks for the nice write up. We have three locations and are very proud of
our food and service. It is nice to hear that our customers enjoy what we
offer… on your next visit… please leave room for desert and try our Hog Log. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
Thanks again.”

- Byron Rosenthal, founder of HH

MC DONALD’S HALL OF FAME – After visiting the Canonsburg, Pennsylvania McDonald's during a southern adventure, I became hopeful over Chardon’s new ‘Golden Arches’ location. The Keystone State Mickey D’s I’d patronized had bronze busts of Perry Como and Bobby Vinton, two favorite sons of the city. With anticipation, I pondered who might be honored at our own fast-food emporium. Responses to the column were upbeat, and plentiful:

“Hey, Rod--my goodness, thank you so much for the honor! I'm astounded to make your Top 10 list. Glad we crossed paths at the PO recently--nice to see you on your bike. Keep on keepin' on, eh? Cheers.”

- Grace Butcher, noted Geauga County writer, educator, and athlete

“It was very nice of you to include Ron in your top ten! Thank you.”

- Thalia Hutter, Hutter Racing Engines, Ltd.

“Rod, thank you for including me in the ‘Hall of Fame’ story. What an honor!”

- Mary Bramstedt, Chardon City Council

CROSSED BONES/WILD TONES – Working on dual projects helped inspire this column about motorcycles and biker music. I connected the recordings of guitar hero Davie Allan with a ‘retro’ cycle that had just been introduced in Milwaukee by Harley-Davidson. The result produced a quick response from ‘King Fuzz’ himself:

“Rod,
Oh my.............. Fabulous article (and not just because I'm in it).
It blows my mind that you have featured me again… I think you will be up for another liner note session if I can do the ‘Retro’ album… I do have the track listing and one of the tunes is a bit of a ripoff of "Blues Theme" with the working title (if I can get away with it) "Heavenly Blues"!
Thank you, thank you and to make sure it comes through............thank you!!!”

- Davie Allan, Legendary guitarist from southern California

HOMETOWN THOUGHTS – After publishing the ‘Thoughts At Large’ collection, it seemed proper to send copies of the book to our soldiers stationed overseas. In a cooperative effort with the Thompson United Methodist Church, I was able to have local citizens write their own messages inside these volumes before they were mailed to military personnel with a Geauga County connection. The idea had been inspired by an Akron native who was busy sending guitars to our troops through his own charitable organization. A positive reaction came quickly from this former Marine:

“Rodney,
That sounds like a GREAT idea!
Words of support and inspiration are needed for our troops just as much as anything else... your books would raise a lot of peoples spirits in the Sand Box.
With your permission I will post this on my Marine website and see if some of the northern Ohioans on the site would like to support your efforts. Thanks."

- Paul Hickman, founder of Guitars for Grunts

Postscript – My best wishes to everyone from Geauga, and beyond. May you find peace and prosperity in the New Year!

Comments about Thoughts At Large may be sent to: icewritesforyou@gmail.com
Visit us at: www.thoughtsatlarge.com

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

Another year, another lost opportunity for Jim Tressel and the crew...



FIESTA BOWL 2009:
Texas 24, Ohio State 21

30 YEARS

Thirty years... they go faster than you might believe.

Thirty years ago today... January 5th... my homegrown Rock 'n' Roll program debuted on WCIC-13 in Ithaca, New York. It ran from 11:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. on a Friday night.

In honor of gritty New Wave music popular at the time, I called it "Punk-Out!"

My work at the station began in late 1978, through 'The Learning Web' apprenticeship program of Cornell University. But a personal dream of broadcasting adventure soon carried me to the next level - hosting my own show.

I had nothing more than an armload of vinyl albums, and a belly full of desire. Yet the idea worked. From the beginning, it attracted lots of attention from the community.

Eventually, the show featured a boisterous crew of local celebrities like Manic McManus, Neon Diamond, Joshua Fried, and Mark Lebowitz. Also present was a live studio audience. Phone callers were numerous as well, sometimes approaching one hundred per night. I hosted the program through February of 1980.

It was a hands-on learning adventure. One that reverberates with meaning, even today.

CAR SPOTTER: 2009 Dodge Challenger

Chrysler Corporation wowed the automotive world last year with their reborn Dodge Challenger at car shows across America. Now, this new model has finally appeared locally - at a dealership in Madison.

Sighted were two versions, one black and one red:






Ford has had their 'retro' Mustang on the market for a few years, much to the pleasure of 60's musclecar enthusiasts. GM is bringing up the rear with their own Johnny-Come-Lately, the 2010 Camaro.

It's like the golden era never faded away!

KEEP HOPE ALIVE!

“The Rearview Mirror”

c. 2008 Rod Ice
All rights reserved
(12-08)



Note to Readers: With the end of another calendar cycle at hand, I am about to complete eleven years of ‘Thoughts At Large.’ Reader responses to this column have never been more plentiful than during 2008. What follows here is a brief overview of comments offered by those valued souls who have made our newspaper a continued success.

Every column from the past year has been unique in its own way. But some seemed to provoke more thought among readers of The Maple Leaf than others. Here are a few that resonated meaningfully with citizens in Geauga County, and beyond:

MESSAGE FROM MALAYSIA (Chapters One and Two) – This pair of columns was inspired by a dubious financial offer from Barrister Bhag Sulaiman, of Kuala Lumpur. They yielded much attention from readers around the globe. It helped to demonstrate just how widespread such Internet scams have become:

“Hallo Rod,
I am writing to you about your article about: ‘Message from Malaysia’ (Part One)
Yesterday I received the exactly same e-mail stating that I inherited $8.7million.
I also had the same questions like:
Why is he using a yahoo mail account if he is a practitioner of law?
Why does he not mention the name of his practice?
And seeing that I know my heritage line, there is no person from my line in Malaysia?
That started my thoughts and while searching for a ‘Mr. Bhag Sulaiman’ I came upon your article. Can you please keep me informed about this Mr. Bhag Sulaiman. Thank you.”

- Johan Prins, Peacehaven, Vereeniging, SOUTH AFRICA

“(I) received the same message yesterday 22 Dec 2008 telling me about a sum of 8.7 million US dollars, belonging to a folk who died of a heart attack. The timing is amazing, my application for a bursary to study medicine was rejected an hour before. Thanx for publishing this, you saved my life.”

- Nelson, via Blogger.com

A GREEK ODYSSEY, COMPLETED – When local restaurateur George Diskes passed away, it was a moment filled with great measures of sadness and joy. Though friends and former patrons of The Dinner Bell Diner ached with sorrow over his passing, they also celebrated his memory with colorful stories that depicted his generosity and individualism:

“Thank you for your tribute to George. It captured all the essence of my brother-in-law's unique and loveable personality. He was the perfect host on our family's visit to Painesville and Mentor in August of 1995. He was so proud and happy to show off his favorite places - a baseball game at Jacob's Field…in Cleveland, a vintage soda fountain, the county fair and all his friends there, a farm where his Camel JJ lived since the closing of his petting zoo, his home and some of his favorite animals, and of Course Famous George's Dinner Bell Diner with it's delicious and humongous servings. George also took us to buy jelly and jams from his Amish friends. He loved his employees and his customers and introduced many of his favorites to us. I told him one of the Best days of my life was the night he took us to the Opening Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with a dinner at his nearby favorite Greek Restaurant before the once in a life time concert. The whole evening was delicious and AWESOME and included one of his favorites Johnny Cash (June Carter). George truly loved your area of Ohio and I enjoyed those few days with George sharing his favorite places there with him. I will treasure those memories forever.

It was so difficult to watch George's health decline these past few years and even harder to say goodbye to him. His son Andy with his friend's help created an original multimedia tribute to his father for the wake and funeral and he gave a heartwarming eulogy. There was a lot of love put into it and included pictures and a letter from George's granddaughters Sofia and Catalina. I hope he shared the eulogy to George with you.

Thank you so much again for your tribute to Famous George. He had such a ZEST for life right up until his passing. It is so quiet without him and no one will ever be able to take his place in our hearts. The void that has been created without him is only eased by knowing he is at peace now and no longer suffering.”

- Pat Diskes, sister-in-law of Famous George

“Thanks. (we) loved going to George’s for dinner. He will be missed. I will miss seeing him sitting him at his table. That place had the best prime rib. I remember seeing a picture of Gabor dancing on one of the tables when she visited. I seem to remember one of the ABC reporters doing a report from there during a presidential campaign.

- Cindy Campbell, Geauga County

LETTING GO OF LAWSON FORD – For many years, local residents still referred to the Classic Ford-Mercury dealership on Center Street in Chardon as ‘Lawson Ford.’ When the business closed, it provided cause to remember and reflect on what had gone before. The column received many comments, including a kind response directly from the Abrams family:

“Dear Mr. Ice,
A friend called our attention to your wonderful article on May 22, 2008 ‘Letting Go of Lawson Ford’ in which you refer so kindly to the owner, my husband, Milt Abrams. We bought the paper yesterday and can't tell you how much your article meant to Milt and our family. Milt suffered a stroke at the beginning of April and has only been home from the hospital for a few weeks. He is slowly recovering and doing well. Your article just boosted his spirits to the moon, it's just what he needed. FYI, he still wears the belt buckle made out of coins. It has sort of become his trademark. People have even stopped him when we have been out of town to say they recognize that buckle and had bought a car from him years ago in Chardon. Thanks again.”

- Ronnie Abrams, Chagrin Falls

Writing this column is happy work. Yet it would mean nothing without the support of readers in Geauga and across the globe.

My sincere thanks to you for visiting this page, every week.

Postscript: This has been a year of great challenges for America, and the world. But I hold fast to the belief that difficult times bring out the goodness in humanity. Best holiday wishes to you, and much hope for a prosperous New Year!

Comments about Thoughts At Large may be sent to: icewritesforyou@gmail.com
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NEW YEAR'S ROCKIN' EVE

Dick Clark has long been a mainstay of American television. Many know him as the central figure in 'American Bandstand' for many years. But with his 'New Year's Rockin' Eve' on ABC, the long-time network host has endured for nearly four decades.

Clark began his year-end tradition on December 31st, 1972. His broadcast offered a cultural counterpoint to Guy Lombardo, who was a favorite of older generations. A stroke in 2004 slowed his pace and temporarily forced him to the sidelines. But he has continued to appear on the program since then.

Ryan Seacrest, known for his association with American Idol, joined Clark as co-host and producer in 2005.