Michael Kontras

Member since May 23, 2009

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TOO CLOSE TO HOME
It’s become “one of America’s great reality shows.”
This, according to Peggy Drexler, author and assistant professor of psychology at Cornell University, is the life of Sarah Palin.
“Reality TV has a formula,” says Drexler. “One of the surprisingly numerous guides I found to selling a reality show said that the key is the right mix of four [...]
Collected Nov 25, 2009 from mkontras.wordpress.com via blog import
tagged current events, borders bookstore, columbus, deepak chopra, martha stewart
THE POWER OF A SONG
 
“It’s really popular right now.”
“It is?”
“Yeah. My daughter loves the tune. I think it’s a theme song for some TV show she watches. She says young people really identify with the message.”
“Hmm. This might explain why the group so popular again, after all these years.”
It became a must-learn song for our band.
But it presented a huge challenge. We [...]
Collected Nov 23, 2009 from mkontras.wordpress.com via blog import
tagged so you wanna be a rock 'n roll star, cbc, don't stop believin', jian gomeshi, journey
THIS WAS IT
I lead a “safe” life.
Even when I was playing music for a living, I approached it like a small business owner – fiscally conservative, watching expenses, creating my own marketing, pricing my show competitively, not taking gigs for next-to-nothing just to be performing – a financially dangerous precedent you learn quickly not to set. I [...]
Collected Nov 17, 2009 from mkontras.wordpress.com via blog import
tagged oldest son of an oldest son (series), 3 arts entertainment, adam and the egos, adam kontras, comedy central
TWELVE MILLION LAUGHS
Don’t deny it.
These commercials make you laugh EVERY time you see them.
See. You’re smiling now.
e-Trade hit it “out of the park” two Super Bowl Sundays ago, with the introduction and  animation of this little guy, whose name has not been released.
For those of us who are interested, the marketing genius behind the ads is Nick Utton. In [...]
Collected Oct 14, 2009 from mkontras.wordpress.com via blog import
tagged time to laugh (series), bobo the clown, e-trade, e-trade baby, golden pipes
HAD ENOUGH?
Are true conservatives finally starting to realize the damage being done to their movement and the Republican Party by the extremist TV and radio talking heads that call themselves conservatives? Has enough fear, hatred and anger been spewed that rational minds are starting to rebuke these clowns?
For months, I’ve been wondered why Rush Limbaugh, Glenn [...]
Collected Oct 9, 2009 from mkontras.wordpress.com via blog import
tagged politics, 2016 olympics, conservatism, conservatives, david brooks
PHYLLIS WHO?
The latest in the serious of fear-evoking events is the How To Take Back America Conference. The fact that Joe, the Plumber is speaking tells you all you need to know. Add Michelle “I think certain members of congress should be investigated for un-American views” Bachmann, throw in Mike Huckabee, and you have the Loonies Reunion Tour. The [...]
Collected Sep 30, 2009 from mkontras.wordpress.com via blog import
tagged politics, conservatism, grassroots, how to take back america conference, joe the plumber
TO KILL A FROG
 

Far be it from me to EVER defend Glenn Beck – and I’m not defending him here. Even though he didn’t kill a frog, his political analogy was still absurd – and that’s a compliment.
But this is not about Glenn’s reasoning – it’s about the frog, which, as far as I’m concerned, deserves all the attention.
By now, [...]
Collected Sep 26, 2009 from mkontras.wordpress.com via blog import
tagged media and pundits, barack obama, fox news, frog, glenn beck
TO BE BLUNT
 
They just don’t get it.
They’ve lived in their Lilly-white, gated community world for so long, they have no handle on the pulse of this country. They only associate with the very small minority of those who look and live like them. They are the majority of the “two-percenters” (the highest income-earners), the “white elite,” and often, without realizing [...]
Collected Sep 25, 2009 from mkontras.wordpress.com via blog import
tagged politics, american family association, american values, bigotry, family research council
MEET ERNIE
I seldom watch our local news broadcast here in Columbus. It’s not that I’m not interested in my community, it’s just that I’m more interested in national news. I watch ( or listen to) many different cable broadcasts throughout the evening. They often air at the same time as the local broadcasts, so cable wins.
Ernie Anastos and [...]
Collected Sep 18, 2009 from mkontras.wordpress.com via blog import
tagged media and pundits, broadcaster, columbus, dari alexander, ernie anastos
THE DANGER OF A BROKEN RECORD
“When we lose our curiosity, we disarm ourselves as Americans.”
This quote is not from some philosopher. I didn’t hear it in a political speech or from a CEO. This was said by a man who is a former college football player and coach, a hunter and fisherman, and the owner of two small businesses. 
I’ll tell you [...]
Collected Sep 17, 2009 from mkontras.wordpress.com via blog import
tagged current events, fox news, tea party, president obama, rush limbaugh
YOU GOTTA LAUGH, OR YOU’LL CRY
I can’t believe I’m even writing about this.
The President gives a “pep talk” to our students, encouraging them to stay in school, work hard, behave and follow their dreams. Most of us heard these words growing up – from our parents, our teachers and yes, our Presidents. Somehow, this simple, traditional address to our children, has [...]
Collected Sep 12, 2009 from mkontras.wordpress.com via blog import
tagged politics, address to students, indoctrination, parents, president obama
THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO
The depth and breadth of my Christian understanding exceeds that of most church goers. I was a volunteer, a team leader, a musician, and ultimately the administrator for my church. It was a rewarding, albeit, exhausting time in my life. Being “on the inside” of church operations allowed me access to information and knowledge few [...]
Collected Sep 12, 2009 from mkontras.wordpress.com via blog import
tagged religion, christian, pastors, ministers, jesus
LOONEY LANE
I was at my Dad’s house September 5th to watch the Ohio State / Navy game. (OSU has some work to do!) As I have mentioned before, there are many Republicans in my family. It’s all they know, and I for one, have no intention of trying to change their minds. They’ll figure it out [...]
Collected Sep 9, 2009 from mkontras.wordpress.com via blog import
tagged media and pundits, fox news, glenn beck, president obama, sponsorship
WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES
Many people prefer staying in their “comfort zones.” They know what they know and live their lives accordingly – even if what they know is false. Challenging their knowledge with new ideas or asking them to re-think existing ones is usually a recipe for disaster. In other words, truth be damned.
Elected officials, both currently serving and retired know exactly [...]
Collected Aug 13, 2009 from mkontras.wordpress.com via blog import
tagged politics, bigotry, birthers, black, death panels
IT’S NOT THE BEST BUY
Let me start by saying I am a BestBuy customer. I think they offer good value on many items.
Not on cell phones.
BestBuy has been running commercials advertising offers on cell phones and calling plans from many popular providers. The idea is this is a convenience.

This “convenience” will cost you twice as much or more for your phone.
Full disclosure: [...]
Collected Jul 31, 2009 from mkontras.wordpress.com via blog import
tagged electronics, best buy, blackberry 8130, blackberry 8330, verizon wireless
“THE BEST OF A BAD LOT”
Calm down. I explain the title in the third paragraph.
I wasn’t a big evening news watcher when I was younger. Being a professional musician, that time of day was usually spent traveling to a gig or, if it was local, getting ready for one. I do remember a few news anchors that really stood out [...]
Collected Jul 24, 2009 from mkontras.wordpress.com via blog import
tagged media and pundits, chet huntley, chris matthews, david brinkley, grandfather
THIS IS NOT ABOUT A BIRTH CERTIFICATE
Here we go… again.
The people who are creating the story about President Obama’s birth certificate are not telling the truth. They could care less about his birth certificate. They KNOW he was born in Hawaii. The evidence is overwhelming.
This “Birther Movement” is just the latest in “coded rhetoric” and actions by those who hate our President because he [...]
Collected Jul 23, 2009 from mkontras.wordpress.com via blog import
tagged politics, msnbc, president obama, sean hannity, roosevelt
NOT IN 2012 – NOT EVER
When she debuted at the RNC Convention last year, she delivered her speech very well. What many people don’t know is that not one word was hers. The speech was written by one of the best speechwriters in the business, Matthew Scully – a writer for George W. Bush. Her ability to deliver the speech [...]
Collected Jul 20, 2009 from mkontras.wordpress.com via blog import
tagged politics, 2012, 2016, democrat, joe biden
SOUR GRAPES
He just can’t stand it.
He has to be in the spotlight. His narcissism is second-to-none. He never retracts statements – regardless of how malicious and untrue they may be. Fortunately for him, he’s not paid to be a nice guy – a role that would an anathema to his existence.
The idea that a counterpart could [...]
Collected Jul 16, 2009 from mkontras.wordpress.com via blog import
tagged media and pundits, ed schultz, msnbc, rush limbaugh, the ed show
STRATEGY OVER BLATHER
When the current battle over healthcare is over, there will be choices – which will include a Public Option – for everyone.
How do I know?
The same way our President knows.
Numbers.
This is why you don’t see him out there everyday going head-to-head with media, pundits, and his political opposition. As I’ve written before in Checkers and Chess, No [...]
Collected Jul 11, 2009 from mkontras.wordpress.com via blog import
tagged politics, healthcare, media, phil donahue, president obama
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