Well, I know I'm about to start some trouble here, but, hey...what the heck...my shoulders are broad!

I've been reading with amusement the comments not only on our site but on DaytonDailyNews.com from people frustrated over the alleged "inaccurate" weather forecast you got from us and other media outlets over the weekend.

Now, I can appreciate your frustration if you changed your plans or otherwise suffered some loss due to the storm not pounding us like it had originally been thought it would. But, to say that somehow that the forecast could have been done better, or making the lame comment that "you guys are always trying to scare us" simply shows your lack of knowledge of the science of meteorology.

No, I am not a meteorologist. But, I have piloted single engine aircraft, so, like all pilots, I have some basic knowledge of weather and weather systems. The one thing I do know about it - is that it's an inexact science. The reason for that is simply, sometimes Mother Nature decides to have a mind of her own.

For example, a meteorologist can see the "potential" for a tornado. He or she can predict the general area that could get hit. But until the funnel cloud is seen, or the hook echo appears on radar, it's tough to say who's gonna get hit, if anyone is. Furthermore, even with such a hypothetical funnel on the ground, your meteorologist could say (as an example), "It's moving toward Piqua at 30 miles an hour, so take cover if you're in the path of the storm". But, as soon as they say that, the twister could (having a mind of its' own), then return up to the sky and never be seen again.

So, was the meteorologist just trying to scare the bejesus out of people in Miami County? Or just trying to sound the alarm? If you were in the potential path of that storm, wouldn't you rather know that you could get hit so you could take cover? Or, do you want us Radio/TV types to wait until the storm is ripping a town up to say something?

Now, back to Friday night. The storm system formed exactly as it had been predicted, and moved early on exactly as expected. Then, Ma Nature decided to throw a curve ball and the storm tracked just a few degrees further north than early models predicted. When that happened, with the rain-ice/snow line just a little bit north of the original predictions, Dayton got some ice (which had been predicted), but got a daytime temperature Saturday that was a smidge warmer and thus, instead of snow, we got mostly a little sleet and a lot of rain.

That slight movement of the storm track could not be predicted until the storm was almost right on top of us.

And that's why sometimes the forecast is dead on, and sometimes it's way off. You try to be correct more times than not, but sometimes Mother Nature just decides to change her mind. That's a woman's perogative, as I understand it.

You guys who are married understand that, don't you?

BTW: they said we'd some snow overnight. Guess what, we did. It was just a little more than expected. Blame the storm track again.

With the predictions of ice and up to 2 to 4 inches of snow this weekend, I simply can't wait to see what happens on the roads if this all hits.

It simply intregues and amazes me how so many so-called "sensible" adults turn into blubbering lumps of jelly or else seem to want to show the world "I can drive better than you can" the second the snow starts to fly. And usually, this means a there's a ditch somewhere with their names on it.

Now, me? I'm a careful driver. I can count the number of accidents I've had on the palm of one hand since I started driving and thank God, they were all minor. I haven't had a traffic ticket since the early 1990's.

Sure, I've spun out in bad winter weather. I hit a patch of black ice a couple of years ago trying to get on SB I-675 from I-70 West. I spun around, but there was no accident and nothing was damaged other that my nerves for a few minutes.

But, I understand this can happen in winter weather. I'm also not so much a nervous nelly that I slow down to 20 miles an hour in snow. But, unlike a lot of drivers, I will slow down by 5 to 15 miles an hour if conditions warrant. I drive according to conditions. And yes, I'll make sure there's more distance between me and the car in front of me. I'll even (if necessary) drive in a lower gear to help me stop.

It just amazes me that people, seemingly in the "hurry" of their lives refuse to do this.

The people in their big SUV's who mistakenly think they can drive on anything because they have a 4 wheel drive...

The impatient people who look at people like me who are doing, say...45 in a 55 zone in bad weather as impediments in their path, because they wouldn't get up 10 minutes earlier and give themselves more time to get to work.

I just wave at these people as I pass them sitting in the median or in a ditch.

Now, I know professional drivers have lots of bones to pick with these bonehead drivers. And, in many cases, they have a good point. But, we've all seen some truckers whose actions have also made us shake our heads. Not every one...just some. In fact, I've followed many an 18 wheeler (at a reasonable distance) because I know if that truck suddenly slows down for no apparent reason, maybe I should, too.

So...how 'bout you? Let's hear your bad winter driver stories!

And if all the predictions come to pass - drive carefully this weekend, OK? That just might be me in the car behind you...

First of all, I hope you and yours had a wonderful Christmas - and please allow me to extend to you and yours my wish for the best of the New Year.

I've been amused reading some of your comments about the Ohio smoking ban which, though approved in a vote of the people, seems to be languishing at the hands of lackadaisical legislators who, of course, don't want to offend anyone. So, a law it was made, but one with no real teeth in it (in terms of budget for enforcement). So if you're a smoker, you're probably not feeling too concerned if you light up at your nearby pub.

Now, I want to state for the record - I do not smoke and, other than for a brief couple of week fancy with it way back in the 70's, have never smoked. (OK, forget the times I did "inhale" as a younger guy, if you get my drift...but that was then. I think the statute of limitations expired on that a long time ago...)

But, I am not, nor have I ever really been a cigarette smoker. But, I grew up around plenty. My mother and grandmother both smoked cigarettes...my Dad smoked a pipe. So, I don't recoil in horror if someone lights up in my presence. If the smoke begins to make me uncomfortable...I move.

I also believe in the right of the individual. So, I have no problem if you smoke, provided, you do not infringe on the rights of others.

That's where the sticky part of this comes in. You see, I also have no problem if a business owner wants to not allow smoking at his or her business. In a "family" restuarant or similarly styled business, it's probably for the better not to allow smoking, given the young lungs which may be patronizing the place with their parents. If you smoke, you have the right to decide whether or not to spend your money at that establishment.

But, likewise, private clubs (such as American Legions and the like), ones that do not just allow citizens to walk in off the street without "joining", should, in my view, be within their rights to poll their members. And, if a majority of the membership wants the right to smoke in such an establishment, so be it.

I guess (with sincere apologies to Neal Boortz), my libertarian streak makes my issue with the smoking ban merely the fact that, once again, we see Big Daddy Government and the people who supported the ban attempting to legislate personal behavior. And by the way, I feel the same about proposed "obesity taxes" (though I drink diet sodas exclusively) and other forms of legislative "nannyism".

I feel that there should be businesses who voluntarily say "no smoking, please" (and are not afraid to remind you of that policy if you light up), as well as businesses who feel it's in their interests to permit smoking on their premises. You, with your wallet, have the right to decide what businesses you support with your dollars. I support you either way.

I just think that the current law, as it was passed and written is about as good as no law at all, particularly with the Ohio legislature's refusal to spend the money to enforce it. So, if our legislators are going to be the namby-pamby wimps they seem to be on this subject, you might as well ditch the smoking ban. Then, those of you who don't smoke, and don't like it, can remember those legislators come next election.

The city fathers have some tough choices to make.

Dayton faces a budget shortfall, as does the state of Ohio as a whole. It's inevitable that some city workers will be pink slipped.

So it is heard, some 25-40 or so Dayton employees could find themselves out of jobs.

Hopefully, the cuts can be minimized. But, until the economy in general improves, this is what we're probably going to be looking at...at home, in the state and in the nation.

If this is as far as it goes, we should throw a party. Though, personally, I think things are going to get worse before they get better. I fear we're looking at only the tip of the iceberg.

There's no doubt the economic times are making it hard for some people to make ends meet here in the Miami Valley.

But, there are always cases where people go above and beyond the call of duty to help out their fellow man in times of need.

So, with this post, I'd like to invite you, if you have a story about a church or community organization that's having, say...a food drive, or a toy drive or is doing something good to help people in need this holiday, to please respond to this post and let me know...so I can give a "virtual" pat on the back to people who deserve it.

Yes, friends...winter weather has arrived. Just look out the window.

As a friendly reminder...check your wiper blades, check your headlights and tailights, keep that snow and ice scraper handy.

And remember as you head out in this stuff...when it starts sticking...slow down (just not overly slow for conditions, in other words, use some common sense here), and keep proper distance between you and the car in front of you.

And you can depend on hearing any delays or closings tomorrow morning on AM 1290 and 95.7 FM, News Talk Radio, WHIO.

A wise man once said:

"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could, and should do for themselves."

The Great Emancipator, President Abraham Lincoln was a pretty smart guy...

Tuesday, voters across Dayton, the Miami Valley, the state of Ohio and across the nation get to exercise their constitutional right to vote. That is, of course, if you haven't early voted or voted absentee.

I will not attempt to share any of my own personal political views here...this is not the time or the place. But, I will ask you to vote. I don't care for whom you vote, nor will I tell you what to vote on the issues. Just...go...vote.

And here's my own personal prayer...that regardless of how the election goes, I pray we get it right. God help us, our nation, our kids and future generations if we screw it up.

Yep...it's that important.

One thing I have believed since I have turned 18 (and that was quite a while ago), is that it is extremely important to know the candidates and the issues before you go to the polls.

OK, I'm a news-geek, and I'm in the news business. But, nothing makes me madder than a wet hen to see someone go to vote and hear they voted for someone because:

"He looks soooooooo dreamy"!

"My husband/wife tells me I should vote for (candidate)". And, of course there's:

"Well, the ad on TV said..."

So, here's your homework assignment:

This weekend, take some time and look into the candidates and the issues you'll be voting on next Tuesday. Go to each candidate and issue website that you care about. Read newspaper articles. Don't just look at candidate and issue TV ads. Look at both sides. Then...think about it. Really, really think.

Then Tuesday, vote your conscience.

But don't vote uninformed.

Yep...if the polls are any indication here in Ohio, election night is gonna be a long....long night (and maybe a couple of nights) here at the old radio station.

John McCain and Barack Obama really have voters stirred up. Predictions are of another record turnout...something approximating (or eclipsing) the 2004 presidential race with the vote in Ohio, potentially as nail biting as the 2000 election.

And, we keep hearing dire predictions of potential problems at polling stations...because the turnout could be so large.

My question: why is a large turnout a bad thing? And, why is the state of Ohio not prepared for 70-80-90 percent or better of Ohio voters voting?

Isn't that the way it's supposed to be?

Why should we as a body politic be "satisfied" with turnouts of 28 percent? Is that really "majority rule"?

Don't think I'm getting down on the people who work the polling stations and various Boards Of Election. I just think we shouldn't be coming down to the wire 2 weeks before an election wondering if we can pull off an election without major problems.

Now, if we could just get people as fired up about voting for Governor...or County Commissioner...or Mayor.