The Major Supermarket Inconvenience

Posted on February 23, 2015 by brent

Something really refreshing happened to me when I was in Spokane over Christmas. I paid a visit to Albertson’s, a western supermarket chain that I grew up going to. I picked up a few items and headed to the checkout line. After the cashier scanned my items and the total price appeared on the monitor I locked eyes with the teenager and asked him the question that would drop my total price by ten dollars.

“Can I give you my phone number?”

“No sir,” the courteous young worker said, “We don’t have a loyalty program anymore. Everyone receives the ‘preferred’ prices now.”

Hallelujah! With that said he hit a key and my grocery tab dropped like a rock. I didn’t have to hand over a key card, I didn’t have to type in a on a key pad, and I didn’t have to recite my mom and dad’s landline telephone number that they have not used in ten years. The sale price that was noted on the aisles was no longer a price that only “preferred” or “valued” or “loyal” shoppers with a ridiculous barcode on a piece of plastic could use. It was a price that applied to all customers, a price that wouldn’t waste time at the cash register because of an unnecessary swipe, a trivial spitting out of ten digits, or the major delay of signing up for a program.

I really wish other supermarket chains would follow suit. I think it is time to put to rest these stupid programs where you need a store card to cash in on the discounted/sale prices. If the item is on sale, just let it be on sale for everyone. Supermarkets holding on to these loyalty programs do nothing but waste time. Instead of just honoring the discount for everyone, an additional step must be taken no matter if it is asking someone for a phone number or having someone type something/scan something into a machine. It is complete asinine.

It is time to put the kibosh on grocery store loyalty cards.

But let me take one step back because I think I am being too hard on just supermarkets. Pharmacies and discount stores have them as well. It doesn’t matter what store I stop at on my way home from work, each one (except for Wal-Mart) will ask if I am a “club member.” Lowe’s, CVS, Rite Aid, Food Lion, Bi-Lo, etc. all pull this card (pun intended) on me. It gets so irritating because I am not a “VIP” shopper at any of them. Because of this, I pull the same dumb, time draining stunt at each one:

Cashier: Are you a ________ member?
Me: No I am not, can I become one please?
Cashier Response #1: I will just swipe our card for you.
Or….
Cashier Response #2: Yes, here is your card (hands me a worthless piece of plastic that I will not use). You must call the number on the back to activate.

I do this because heck yes I am going to get the store discount, usually it is significant. My hope is that I will get the first cashier response and he/she will just swipe the store’s card for me. If I get the second response I still get the savings because they swipe my new card it is just that I have another chunk of material to add to my graveyard.

At my apartment I have all kinds of unactivated cards hanging around. I probably have like six alone just from Food Lion. I see no need to activate these cards because I am not going to keep them in my wallet, I would have way too many of them. What, just activate the card and use your phone number at these stores? Sorry, the activation process is usually wackadoodle.

It is time to do away with these loyalty clubs. In this day of advanced technology, high tech cameras, social media, and credit/debit cards, we don’t need these types of programs to track the buying habits of customers. Let’s save time while including everyone. Don’t Blink.

“Fifty Shades of Grey” and “Kingsman: The Secret Service”

Posted on February 22, 2015 by brent

In honor of the Academy Awards tonight, I thought I would briefly review a couple movies I saw in the theater this weekend. Mind you, neither of these movies will be up for an award soon, let alone an Oscar, but since both are bringing in the cash at the box office I thought I would give my two cents. By the way, if you do want some throwback Oscar literature from yours truly, click here.

This weekend I enjoyed two movies that were both released to quite a bit of fanfare. Last night I watched “Fifty Shades of Grey” and then this morning I saw “Kingsman: The Secret Service.” Let me tell you what I thought.

“Fifty Shades of Grey” – Yesterday evening, Sidney and I went to see the movie that garnered gasps from women when the secretive teasers were shown in theaters months before the release date. I swear these same women came back for our showing yesterday. Besides them, many couples around the ages of Sidney and I also took up room in the theater. But even with these two groups, the auditorium was only about 75% full, making it very puzzling why an older gentlemen climbed all the way to the top row where Sidney and I sat and decided to sit down in the unoccupied seat right next to me. Hmmm…Fifty Shades of Weird.

My ticket for “Fifty Shades of Grey.”

For everything I have heard about the “Fifty Shades” franchise over the past couple of years, I was preparing myself to see something completely graphic, taboo, crazy, and sinister. When the movie concluded, I was honestly asking myself what the big deal was. I really didn’t find the film that offensive or shell-shocking.

I was pleasantly surprised that the film took place in my home state of Washington. I did not know this detail prior to last night. I enjoyed the shots of Seattle and I took pleasure in seeing the great promotion of Washington State University, the college I grew up cheering for and where I thought I would one day attend. The institution is where the lead female character, Ana, went to school.

As for the movie itself, I thought it was well-done. I think it had a very interesting plot, one in which the dilemma of Ana is very captivating. I loved the acting job of Jamie Dornan, the man who played the title character of Christian Grey. He did such a superb job of making himself a man of intrigue, someone who might really qualify as “The Most Interesting Man in the World.” He played his role so smoothly and did a convincing job of portraying the secret life his character must live. The ending absolutely sucked but I guess that is what is expected when a sequel is to follow. Even though the movie ended with me on the ropes, “Fifty Shades of Grey” exceeded my expectations.

“Kingsman: The Secret Service” – The plot for this movie is much too complex to explain so I won’t try to do so. However, I hope that by describing what the movie is like you might have a better idea on whether you want to see it or not.

My ticket for “Kingsman: The Secret Service.”

“Kingsman” is a mix between a thriller/spy/comedy film. Although the movie is very humorous and on the lighter side, you must be tuned in from the beginning to the end to understand everything that is going on. Although Samuel L. Jackson stars in the movie, it is very much a British film. Because of this, at times it is hard to catch everything that is said because of the English accents.

It is a very clever movie with lots of twists, killing, and crazy ideas. Dialogue is quick and witty. There is actually a moral dilemma that is at the center of the film but it is purposefully overshadowed by the action and humor. For me the movie lasted a little too long and I became really annoyed with a few of the characters who reappear throughout the whole feature. With that said, if you like comic books and enjoy spies, you will most likely enjoy “Kingsman: The Secret Service.” I was entertained, but like I said above, this movie will not be taking home an Oscar.

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Enjoy the Academy Awards! I will be turning back and forth throughout the evening. As I said on Thursday, my fingers are crossed for “American Sniper” to take home Best Picture. Don’t Blink.

The Return of the Thursday Countdown

Posted on February 19, 2015 by brent

Thursday, Thursday, Thursday! When you think of Thursday, do you automatically say to yourself, “I can’t wait, it is Brent’s random rundown day!”? I didn’t think so. Let’s get to the topics.

Boom, Clap, the Sound of My Tires – This morning got off to a rough start. As I was driving to campus for my workout, I rammed over what looked to be a good sized log in the middle of my lane. Driving in the dark and maybe zoning out about the day ahead of me, I didn’t even see it until it was too late. A loud crashing sound went through my car and I knew I had at least one flat. Roadside assistance came to tow my car and Sidney came to the rescue and picked me up.

Later in the day the repair shop called me. They delivered the unfortunate news that not only was the front passenger tire toast but the back one was as well. This morning when I got in my car I had little idea that I would run over some random object that would force me to shell out $172 for new tires.

It’s Going Down, I’m Yelling Tinder – Last month I was interviewed by WPDE to give an expert opinion regarding online dating, specifically with popular apps such as Tinder. I decided to take the advice I gave in the interview and expand on it for my latest Coastal Now segment. To watch me give my best advice on how to play safely with Tinder, click here. Additionally, I would like to announce that I have started my own personal YouTube channel. If you would like to check that out, click here.

In my latest Social Circle segment I talk Tinder.

You’re As Cold as Ice – This past week Myrtle Beach has seen record cold temperatures for the area. Believe it or not, temperatures have dropped to (gasp) 20 degrees. No, not -20 degrees, just 20 degrees. However, for people who are not used to those temperatures it is cold. Believe it or not, the local school district actually delayed classes by two hours. Of course the schedule went on as normal at Coastal. Speaking of my work place, I took this photo of one of our fountains at the start of the week. There is your proof that it occasionally does get cold in South Carolina.

The fountain in the Edwards Courtyard was icing over.

Short Stay – Catholic priests usually don’t stay at parishes for too long. Dioceses move around personnel every few years or so. However, this past weekend I saw an early exit that was especially brief. A few months ago at St. Andrew we received a Polish priest named Fr. Filip Wodecki to serve as our parochial vicar. This man, probably in his forties, loved to joke around and had a very sharp wit. The only problem was that his humor didn’t translate with everyone simply because they couldn’t understand him. His accent was sometimes difficult to decipher, even for me. Nonetheless, he was still a great guy who was committed to his job. It came as great surprise last Saturday evening when he said he was moving on. The bishop had assigned him to a new parish. I wish Fr. Wodecki the best of luck!

The front of St. Andrew Parish. This is the church I attend in Myrtle Beach.

My Oscar Pick – So obviously you all are anxiously awaiting my Oscar pick for Best Picture. Having seen half of the nominees, I have to go with “American Sniper.” The story, the themes, and the acting make this film the best of the year. I will tell you this, there should be no way in hell that Bradley Cooper doesn’t win Best Actor. His performance as Chris Kyle is one for the ages. Dear Academy, please give him the award.

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You made it through another rundown! I hope you all have a great weekend and thanks again for reading. Don’t Blink.

SportsCenter Highlight Atrocities

Posted on February 18, 2015 by brent

Everyone has their gripes with ESPN. I have my short list as well but I don’t try to make it public because, well, ESPN happens to be my favorite channel. It kind of goes against the advice of “don’t bite the hand that feeds you.” However, there is something that I do want to throw out there just because it bugs me so much.

I get irritated when the network’s signature program, SportsCenter, showcases events that have no relevance in the sporting world at all. The spelling bee and competitive eating are two examples. If I didn’t enjoy watching poker I would include it as a third. But what really gets me is what Sportscenter has decided to show “highlights” of the past two days. I think it is a sign that our society is going downhill when the most popular sports show on the planet decides to feature the Westminster Dog Show. Yuck!

I would rather watch ants crawl around on a curb than watch the Westminster Dog Show. I find it boring, stuffy, and stupid. With that said, I guess it pulls in decent ratings for the USA Network so I can’t blame that station for broadcasting it. But I can blame ESPN for putting something on SportsCenter that is the ultimate antithesis to anything remotely athletic. In my opinion, a dog show has no right to take up even two seconds on a station that is supposed to be devoted to real athletes and the spirit of legitimate competition.

But like I said above, I know ESPN features non-athletic junk quite frequently. However, I got to thinking…if ESPN insists on filling SportsCenter highlights with strange, quasi-competition oddities, why don’t they at least make it interesting? I am talking about permanently axing dogs walking across a stage and kids trying to spell long words with something entertaining and physically skill-based. If I had to pitch you an idea for such an alternative, I would tell you to go to one place…

The arcade.

ESPN should create an arcade league that brings people from all over the world that specialize in the following events. Following each competition is my thinking on what it would be like/look like:

Skee-Ball: These competitors go for the highest-value hole at the top every single time and seldom miss. They massage those nasty brown balls for good luck and make the celebrations of bowlers look tame.

Air Hockey: These head-to-head battles are absolutely ruthless. Competitors slam the puck with as much strength as they possibly can. Many times the mallets go airborne. There is sweating involved and the march to seven points is usually very grueling.

Hot Shot: These “athletes” train their lives away hoisting up as many shots on the mini hoop in 60 seconds as possible. It is a game all about speed because the people who compete in this activity never miss. Those who score 100 points automatically make the Top Ten on SportsCenter.

Ball Crawl Wrestling: Object of this game is to submerge your opponent under the balls for three seconds. This competition gets nasty and by the time the bout is over, half of the balls are out of the netted area.

Whack-A-Mole: Of course this little game would be prominently featured. Pros at this game would have excellent hand-eye coordination as well as an uncanny ability to know in their heads what mole would pop out of which hole next. Watching this would not be for the faint of heart…competitors swing with violence and curse excessively.

So who knows if any of these games would ever make good TV. Most likely, it would probably appeal to a niche, just like competitive eating and poker do. But one thing I know for sure, you ask? It would be much more entertaining and physically challenging than the Westminster Dog Show. What a complete waste of time. Don’t Blink.

A Reason to Talk About Pancakes

Posted on February 17, 2015 by brent

It pains me to ever mention a stupid, phony “national day of _________ (enter a specific item that has no reason for a day’s worth of recognition)” on brentreser.com. One time, I even blogged about how much I hate it. However, when it inspires a blog post I have to swallow my pride. For whatever reason, today is National Pancake Day. It just so happens that pancakes are my favorite breakfast item. Just a few words on this delicious delicacy:

I grew up loving pancakes. From the ages of 9-16, whenever we went out for breakfast I would always order two pancakes and a side of hash browns. Perhaps no place offered better hot cakes than our family Italian restaurant, the Pastime Café, in Walla Walla, Washington. The plate sized pancakes had something special about them, a taste that included a slightly sweet flavor. The whipped butter and old fashioned maple syrup set them apart.

This is me with a plate of banana pecan pancakes in a Myrtle Beach restaurant.

I have other restaurants that stick out in my mind because of their pancakes. A place in Spokane called Frank’s Diner would serve silver dollar pancakes covered in whipped cream, chocolate chips, and sprinkles. A family restaurant in Walla Walla called Clarete’s would whip up great tasting pancakes that happened to be yellow! In Missoula, Montana, I was very fond of a place called Paul’s Pancake Parlor. At this particular restaurant I would order the signature dish, a sampler plate with a chocolate chip pancake, a sourdough pancake, a blueberry pancake, and an original pancake. Other establishments with really good hot cakes come to mind too but I don’t want to bore you.

These are some chocolate chip pancakes I had at Plantation Pancake House in Myrtle Beach.

Of course I grew up eating my mom’s pancakes. Quite frequently she would make pancakes for weekend breakfasts and even for dinners. She would get her griddle out and pour on the batter, making several pancakes at once. Every now and then she would let us make our own pancake! Standing over us, she would let us pour the batter on the surface, flip it over, and then transfer the completed product to a plate.

People sometimes get weirded out by this, but to this day I always have my mom undercook my pancakes. I am talking undercooked in such a way that the pancake pretty much rips apart in doughy shreds as it is transferred from the serving plate to my own individual plate. Actual batter streams out on my plate. This makes some people a little queasy but when it comes to eating pancakes hot, this is my preferred way to do it.

I am also a huge fan of leftover pancakes. My mom would always make extra pancakes and freeze them. I would then eat several breakfasts where I would reach into the freezer, take out a bag of 3-4 pancakes, heat them up just enough so they would unthaw, and spread peanut butter on them. It was a great way to start off the morning!

Now I live in an area that has “pancake houses” on every corner. In Myrtle Beach you will find numerous breakfast restaurants that specialize in pancakes. It really is a little slice of heaven for me. I went through a little spurt where I tried three or four of them in a short span. At one place I ordered banana pecan hot cakes and loved every bite.

Pancake Houses are all over Myrtle Beach. This is Woodhavens Pancake House.

So that is what I have to say about pancakes. If you know of a place that I have to try, please let me know! As much as I say to hate it, Happy National Pancake Day. Don’t Blink.

Fiverr: Best Website Ever

Posted on February 16, 2015 by brent

I feel really compelled to write tonight because I want to tell you all about an awesome website. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, in some fashion you will be able to utilize this promised land on the internet. Bear with me for just a couple minutes this evening.

In September I attended a social media conference in Columbia, S.C. It was here that I heard about www.fiverr.com for the first time. The presenter explained how Fiverr is a website bursting at the seams with freelancers who will do pretty much anything for $5 (hence, FIVErr). Well, of course the word anything in this context has limits. He was talking jobs dealing with branding, marketing, writing, website design, social media, etc. I was mildly intrigued and looked up the website while he was talking but then kind of forgot about it.

The Fiverr logo.

A couple weeks ago while thinking that I needed a professional logo for my blog, I remembered Fiverr. I surfed on the site and started looking around. The amount of graphic design artists on the site practically pleading to design your logo for just $5 was astounding. I scrolled down looking at my options. I could choose from 3D logos, cartoon logos, retro logos, signature logos, elegant logos, mascot logos, and more. To say the least, it was a little overwhelming.

This was the first logo that my seller made for me. She made me two vintage logos for $5. I told her I wanted a circle-shaped logo in blue.

After looking around and doing some research, I chose a seller who specialized in vintage logos. For $5 she would not just create one logo for me but TWO logos. In the Fiverr world, a job is called a “gig.” I purchased the gig and the seller immediately contacted me to get some information. She asked for color choices, shape preferences, and style considerations. The next day, I had two cool looking Don’t Blink logos to use at my discretion.

This is the second logo she created for me and the one that I prefer.

With such great results the first time around, I started exploring the site more. While Fiverr definitely includes all of the services I mentioned above, it offers so much more. People will write songs about you, dance for you, hold signs on your behalf, give legal advice, Skype with you for 15 minutes, write blog posts, model your jewelry, and do voice-over work. Fiverr also enters into the “weirder” realm as well. For an Abraham Lincoln bill, you can listen to someone overact about any topic you choose, watch a fat man pour chocolate on himself, enlist a fake girlfriend to write on your social media accounts to make others jealous, have someone’s baby kitten sit on a digitally imposed photo of yourself, or direct someone to prank call an enemy.

So far though, I have just purchased the more practical gigs. Last weekend I had a seller create me a personal business card. I was very happy with the design and immediately went to Office Depot where I had them printed. You bet, I now have my own Don’t Blink business cards.

These are the business cards that a seller off of Fiverr created for me.

The last gig I purchased though did result in a few jokes and eye rolls at my expense. I paid an aspiring actress/model the normal Fiverr fee to provide me with a testimonial of my blog. When I opened up the video for the first time and showed Sidney, we both rolled on the ground in laughter. The seller did exactly what I wanted, and she gave me an excellent review, but with her over exaggeration combined with my silly request to have a testimonial created for my website in the first place, it all seemed a bit absurd. Please, please, please check it out by clicking here. I am proud of it and embarrassed by it at the same time.

Here is a screen capture form my testimonial. I sought out the help of an actress/model to talk about my blog. It is 15 seconds of gold.

I plan to continue to utilize Fiverr. For the first time in my life, I now know what an online shopping addiction feels like. I could literally order 15 different gigs tonight if I let my temptations take over. The anticipation of waiting for the finished gig to be delivered is just as fun as receiving the final product.

Writing to you all in a perfect state of honesty, I would recommend Fiverr. The website can offer tremendous opportunities for your business or personal brand. In the future, I might become a seller myself. I have a couple ideas but nothing concrete yet. If you need something done or created, I can tell you that Fiverr is not a scam. You might want to stay away from those testimonials though. Don’t Blink.

Our Ruth’s Chris Valentine’s Day Experience

Posted on February 15, 2015 by brent

When my girlfriend suggested that we try out Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse for Valentine’s Day dinner, I didn’t object. What guy doesn’t love a great steak? I had heard a lot about Ruth’s Chris before and knew its reputation as the best fine dining steakhouse chain in the nation so I was all in…as long as we could get a reservation that is.

It turned out we could. The only stipulation was that I had to settle for a 10:30 p.m. reservation because I made the preposterous error of calling them just a week before Valentine’s Day. Oh well, I reasoned that the late time might actually make the evening more memorable as the restaurant probably wouldn’t be as crowded and the wait staff would not be as stressed. Yesterday I spaced out a couple of light meals throughout the day so by the time 10:30 p.m. hit, I would be in prime dining form for a fabulous dinner.

My blurry photo of the Myrtle Beach Ruth’s Chris from the outside.

Sidney and I arrived at the Myrtle Beach Ruth’s Chris and checked in. We were about 10 minutes early so we went to the bar and had a drink. The bar itself was inviting and the bottle arrangement was aesthetically pleasing. Mixed drinks ran at least $12.50 but beers were only $4.50. Sidney sipped on a Fuzzy Navel while I enjoyed a Budweiser. A few minutes past 10:30 p.m., a staff member came and took us to our table.

The Ruth’s Chris bar and then Sidney and I sitting at it.

We sat down at our table and the wait staff warmly greeted us. As is the case with most fine dining establishments, you have a team of people taking care of you, all with different roles. The person who sat us, the person who set our table, and the person who checked on us for drinks all told us that Maureen would be our main server. When Maureen came over she asked us if anyone had called to ask if we wanted to come in earlier. I said no. It was the last time we would see Maureen.

You see, her question made sense. As Sidney and I looked around the dining room, it was probably 35% full. Open tables and booths were all over the place. If this was the case, why couldn’t they have called us for an earlier reservation (I had requested that if an earlier slot came open I would like to be contacted) and why were we seated late? It wasn’t that big of a deal, though. We did wonder what happened to Maureen, however. After her brief appearance, a man named Saul came by and announced that he would be our server. This gentleman did a fabulous job.

Sid at our table.

The bread served at Ruth’s Chris is outstanding. They come in loaves with a delectable spread. We ate the first loaf (well, I ate most of it) and they brought us another one right away. Sometimes at these types of places they can be a little stingy on the complimentary bread. Sidney had her eyes set on a ribeye but unfortunately they had ran out. She settled with a petite filet while I ordered the regular filet. We decided that we would each decide on a side to share. I chose mashed potatoes. Sidney narrowed her choice down to two options and let me choose…asparagus or onion rings. Naturally, I chose onion rings.

As you can see, the onion rings were just silly big. The steak is my filet.

The wait for the food was perfect. Not too long, not too short. Because the restaurant had a closing time of 11 p.m., I thought the food might be out in lightning type speed but it wasn’t. In fact, we never felt rushed at all, even though we left the restaurant at around 11:45 p.m. Our steaks came out sizzling on their plates, a signature trademark of Ruth’s Chris. The onion rings were outrageously gigantic. When the staff set them down for us, a girl at the table next to us exclaimed “Why didn’t we order those?!”

Sid with her steak. The girl who asked aloud why they didn’t order the onion rings is in clear view.

My steak was delicious. It was cooked perfectly and I could cut it with my fork. However, while it was very good, it wasn’t the best steak I have had in my life. I was expecting a little more flavor. I have ate at steakhouses where no matter how full I was, I would eat my whole steak just because it was so phenomenal and I wouldn’t want to ruin the taste by taking it home. Last night, I ended up taking a good chunk home. The mashed potatoes were good, nothing too amazing though. As for the onion rings, they had to have been the best value on the menu. For just $9 you received seven enormous rings. Eating just one could almost act as a meal itself. We ended up taking four home.

Me with my steak.

Saul came back and asked us if we wanted dessert. We declined. The staff member responsible for bagging up leftovers and clearing the table of crumbs then came by. He made a show of perfectly packing up the remaining food and cheerfully obliged when we asked him to take a photo. Saul then came back with a surprise.

The Ruth’s Chris staff member was more than happy to take our photo.

Even though we had passed on dessert, Saul came to our table and said he wanted to provide us with a complimentary treat since it was our first time dining at Ruth’s Chris. He placed in front of us a plate with chocolate mousse cheesecake on one side and bread pudding on the other. Even though I was full to the brim, I still dug in (Sidney watched me). It was an edible joy taking a bite out of the cold cheesecake and then switching to a bite of the hot bread pudding. It was exhilarating going back and forth. Even though I was full it was absolutely delicious and definitely my favorite part of my meal. With the very nice gesture, Ruth’s Chris secured a repeat customer.

Even though I was crazy full, the dessert was my favorite part of the meal.

We walked out of the restaurant satisfied with our special dining experience. While my steak maybe didn’t live up to all the hype I had heard over the past week, the atmosphere, service, and other food did. Most importantly, I had an amazing girl to share it with. It was a good first Valentine’s Day for me in Myrtle Beach and a good first Valentine’s Day with Sid. Don’t Blink.

The Latest and Greatest Thursday Rundown

Posted on February 12, 2015 by brent

Once again I am face-to-face with Thursday. As is the Don’t Blink custom, it is time for a random rundown.

Grammys Disappointment – So much for my anticipation. I was bored to tears by the Grammy’s on Sunday night. I was so disappointed with the performances, hosting, and flow of the show. Making matters worse, the artists who I wanted to win didn’t come out victorious. With that said, I didn’t throw a big fit like Kanye West did. Can he please just go away for good? His actions and ego sicken me. But back to the topic. One good thing about the lackluster Grammy’s was that it made my decision very easy to flip over to the season premiere of “Bar Rescue.”

What #CCUSocialMedia is Doing Differently – I swear this isn’t a copy and paste job from last Thursday’s blog post. As you might remember, I talked about how WMBF did a great story on the social media group I hold each month. Believe it or not, the same station followed that story with another one a few days later. All-star reporter Mandy Noell looked into how #CCUSocialMedia doesn’t write off controversial social media apps like other universities do. Instead, we evaluate each different service to find a creative way in which we can effectively use it. Once again, my ugly mug is prominently featured. To see the story, click here.

Once again, here is your chance to see this sad face.

Busy Friday – Tomorrow I will have a busy day at work. Currently our University is putting on a major conference. Thanks to our Women in Philanthropy and Leadership (WIPL) group, the 2015 Women’s Leadership Conference is going on as we speak. The event is two days of keynote speeches and breakout sessions. Tomorrow is the headlining day where women such as Leeza Gibbons and Gloria Gaynor will be speaking. I was out at the Sheraton Hotel covering it this afternoon and I will be back there tomorrow morning doing the same. After the WIPL conference in the early hours I will bust back to campus for the second half of the day so I can cover the opening of our brand new baseball stadium. Our Chanticleer ball club will be breaking in Springs Brooks Stadium against Old Dominion. Not only will I be working it for social media but I will also be on assignment for a magazine feature as well.

Springs Brooks Stadium will open up tomorrow.

Valentine’s Day Plans – On Saturday night I am taking Sidney out to Valentine’s dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. Perhaps the nicest steakhouse chain in the country, I am looking forward to a delicious meal. It is my first time frequenting Ruth’s Chris and it should be memorable…unless of course I fall asleep. You see, our reservation is for 10:30 p.m. Dinner reservations on Valentine’s Day fill up quickly, especially for prime dining establishments. The only way we could get seated was if we took this late time. Bon appetit!

Long Overdue Mikayla Update – Because I haven’t done so in a long time, I thought I would update you on the development of my niece. Mikayla is now five months old and growing! As you can see, she is still as cute as can be.

Mikayla is now five months old.

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Happy Valentine’s Weekend, everyone. I know some people love it and some people hate it. To the people who love it, don’t rub it in the faces of those who hate it. Those who hate it, there is no need to constantly remind the world of your feelings (Want me to elaborate? Read this blog post I wrote three years ago). Don’t Blink.

Not Enjoying the Downfall of Brian Williams

Posted on February 11, 2015 by brent

I thought for tonight’s blog post I would just briefly weigh in on the Brian Williams situation. This story has taken on a life of its own, probably rightfully so.

Personally, I find the situation sad. During my childhood I grew up with Brokaw, Jennings, and Rather, three journalists who were evening news giants. Because I was a nerd as a child just like I am a nerd as an adult, I constantly watched their broadcasts, switching between the three. They were the three men in the nation who had absolute authority when they reported on the day’s news, delivered election coverage, and reported breaking stories. I respected them and they held my trust.

After the big three went away, two of the networks have had revolving doors in their main anchor seat. NBC, however, has had stability. Brian Williams came in for my all-time favorite news personality, Tom Brokaw, and served for over ten years in the anchor chair for the top newscast in the world. I liked Williams, I thought he did a good job. I saw him as a worthy successor to Brokaw. He had my trust and he definitely had my viewership over ABC and CBS. Then disaster struck.

His inaccurate account of an incident on a Chinook helicopter during the Iraq invasion has cost him dearly. When his false story surfaced last week his career, his spotless reputation, and, most importantly, his trustworthiness came under direct fire. Up until yesterday I was pulling hard for him. I was hoping that his self-imposed hiatus from the Nightly News broadcast in addition to his solid service over the years would save him. Sadly for Williams, it didn’t. NBC suspended him for six months yesterday. Although six months is not forever and although some people say the punishment is too lenient, in my mind it is a death sentence. How do you come back from a half year suspension in his position? When you are banished from American homes for 183 days because you lied that creates a black cloud that will follow you forever.

I hate to see this. In my mind, it is like the smartest and most well-behaved kid in class getting expelled. Williams always seemed like a straight arrow. It just doesn’t seem right. Only, in the back of my mind, I know it is. Brian Williams lied, perhaps on more than one occasion. For a veteran journalist sitting in the throne of all news jobs, it is not acceptable. I suppose NBC didn’t have much of a choice when it came to leveling a severe punishment.

Some people love seeing careers go down in flames. I don’t. I wish Brian Williams was able to make a triumphant return to the chair this week. With his downfall, the storied legacy and integrity of the NBC Nightly News franchise becomes tarnished. It is a sad time for not just American news but American culture. I wish Brian Williams the best. Don’t Blink.

Loving My Gym

Posted on February 10, 2015 by brent

I have mentioned my gym a couple times, most notably right when I arrived at Coastal. At the time I was so impressed with the practically brand new facility that I couldn’t wait to get started with my regimen. After ten months of putting in my 6 a.m. Monday-Friday workouts, my sentiment has not changed. I love working out at the HTC Center and consider myself lucky to exercise in a first class gym. After nearly a year, it is time for some updates and evaluations.

When I left the University of Montana, I looked back fondly on the relationships I had made with people solely because we saw each other at the gym every day. I mentioned how I hoped the same would happen at Coastal Carolina. It has. Over the months I have worked out in the HTC Center I have met professors, staff members, and students. Several of these people I am on a first-name basis with. The center’s director is around a lot, even when it is during the 6 a.m. hour. We have become very well acquainted. I have locker buddies that I talk to. I have had people come up to me in the middle of my workout and introduce themselves. I have connected with many of the student workers, but that is worth its own paragraph.

This is the very front of the HTC Center…my gym.

The rec center student staff is absolutely amazing. Jody Davis, the director I mentioned above, has done a fabulous job of hiring and training his student employees. The word “professional” is what comes to mind when I think of the young men and women who serve at the welcome desk and monitor the weight room floor. I have literally pulled a couple outstanding students aside and told them I was going to feature them for #CCUfamily, completely bypassing the nomination process. Funny things happen too. Last week one of the new floor attendants came up to me and asked if I was a foreign language professor. I responded that no, I wasn’t, I was a staff member. I asked her why she thought that. She told me it was because I looked foreign. It made me laugh.

A look at Coastal’s gym. I took this photo at around 11 a.m. on a Monday.

I really appreciate the fact that I don’t have to pay for a membership. I equally appreciate that I don’t have to pay for towel service either. Each morning I pick up a big fluffy black towel to shower with. The facility’s showers are nice with water pressure about 20x greater than what I have in my apartment. Speaking of towels, the HTC Center probably owns about a million workout towels that you get to use to wipe off with during your exercise. Adding to the resources to combat sweat, there are numerous damp disposable towel dispensers around the weight room floor to wipe down equipment after use (or before use). I always despised spraying disinfectant into an old towel and scrubbing.

A side view of the HTC Center. The large windows create great views.

As far as the equipment offered, I have more than what I need. Machines and free weights are top notch. There are more than just a few benches to use. Thankfully they have an indoor track. A floor attendant once told me nine laps equaled a mile but just to make sure I always run ten laps or 20 laps based on whether I am running one or two miles. The direction you are supposed to run on the track never changes so you never have to worry about whether it is an even or odd day. One thing I do notice…far less people use the indoor track at Coastal than at Montana. Many times I am the only one running on the track and I think people look at me like I am crazy for completing my cardio in such a boring fashion.

I took this photo directly from one of the large windows in the HTC Center. Each morning I watch the sun rise while doing my sit up routine.

The HTC Center comes with a climbing wall, several rooms for fitness classes, ping pong tables, and drinking fountains where you can actually slurp up an adequate amount of water. You type in your Coastal ID number and scan your hand to enter through the facility’s gate. Televisions are located throughout the whole floor as opposed to just on the cardio equipment/cardio area. Each morning I watch “Sportscenter” while getting my pump in.

Another look at the gym with a good view of the track and climbing wall.

Now to the music. I have said before that when I work out, my thoughts are my music. I don’t use a personal iPod and I am not dependent on whatever the gym I am at is playing. I enter my own zone and block the external sounds out. With that said, I do at least notice what is being played through the facility’s speakers. At the HTC Center they have a very clear, volume-sufficient system. It can be a role of the dice though when it comes to what is being played. Depending on the day, I routinely hear mainstream pop, country, old school hip-hop, and classic rock. What usually seems to win out though is a station that plays a mix from the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. Once in a rare while though, a station that specializes in techno type mainstream remixes will be blasting and on these days (and these days only) I allow myself to enter into a trance.

Finally, time to address the crowds. As mentioned, I work out in the early mornings. There is a core group of us, probably around 15 people, who show up every single day when the gym opens up. Depending on whether it is a Monday or a Friday, you will see an additional influx of about 10-30 people. Because of the size of the gym and the equipment offered, it never gets crazy early in the day. Us morning people have it very good. I have worked out a couple times during the lunch hour when I returned from trips and let me tell you, the people volume is turned up a couple notches. I have heard the traffic reaches an insane level during the evening…I have yet to experience that and have no desire to do so.

Working out in a place where you are comfortable and feel welcome is important. Luckily for me, both of these needs are met at Coastal Carolina University. I love the HTC Center and can’t wait for my workout tomorrow! Don’t Blink.

Don't Blink

By Brent Reser