7:20 AM Wed, Sep 30, 2009 | Permalink
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Maggie O'Mara: September 2009 Archives
Here's a little "Behind the Scenes" fun from this morning's show. Today, Larry was LIVE at a preview for a doll show that's coming up this weekend - and the woman who runs it presented him with his very own Bobble Head Larry doll. (Or so he thought!) It's actually a Marlon Brando bobble head that was "transformed" into Larry. (Kind of...) I see a slight resemblance - but mainly I see Marlon Brando. You?
Larry has always wanted his own Bobble Head doll, but this is as close as he's gotten to that goal! He also chose these barbies to represent Doug and I. "Malibu Maggie" and "Dashing Doug" is what he named them. I think Dashing Doug really does look like Doug. My version needs highlights, or some hair bleach. (Shhh... don't tell anyone - but she's actually sporting my natural color!) I would love to get a real Bobble Head version of Larry for him for Christmas - the closest thing I could find is a Bobble Head of Ron Burgundy from the movie "Anchorman" ...
There is a striking resemblance, wouldn't you say????
Larry gets that all the time! I like to call him "Boise's very own Ron Burgundy" ... Next time you see Larry out and about around town, go ahead and ask him to do his "Ron Burgundy" impression. It's pretty darn good!
Is Bank Robber a HE or a SHE?
The Nampa Police Department is asking for your help. They have a mystery on their hands over there! They aren't sure if this bank robber is a man or a woman because of the disguise - and they want to find him/her ASAP. This "suspect" robbed the Key Bank in Nampa yesterday. Witnesses say he or she came into the bank just before 2pm - and handed the teller a note demanding cash.
If you look closely at the picture - he or she is wearing a scarf covering the head and face, sunglasses and baggy clothes. I guess that made it hard for the teller to decide if it's a man or a woman. After review of surveillance photos from the bank, investigators can't figure it out either! This robber had quite a disguise... most likely done on purpose to get away with the crime. If police can't give the public a solid description or even tell us what sex this person is - the clever suspect goes free. We don't know who we are looking for, do we? So, what do you think? Take a good look... is this a man or a woman??? PS: If you have information - call Nampa Police at 465-2257 or Crimestoppers at 343-COPS.
Changing Lives!
This week's Seven's Hero is truly making a difference in the lives of people who use wheelchairs. Patrick Dougherty was in a motorcross accident close to seven years ago - afterwards he found himself paralyzed and using a wheelchair. It was frustrating for him, he knew there had to be a better way to get around more easily! So he invented something in his garage, that turns a wheelchair into a three wheel roadster... check it out: The FreeWheel Wheelchair Attachment
It simply clamps on to the footrest of a wheelchair, lifts the front wheels of the chair, and makes it easier to navigate bumpy city streets, and grass. Pat invented this in his garage, and says he's getting calls from around the world from people who want one! This past weekend, Lacey Heward (a 2002 paralympian medalist) of Boise used her FreeWheel in the St. Luke's Women's Fitness Celebration. She told us the FreeWheel gives her feel so much more FREEDOM. Pat agrees with that! He can do just about anything with his kids now, and says he gets sheer joy out of watching people use it. His goal, is to one day get a FreeWheel in the hands of every person out there who wants one. One day, he hopes to move out of his garage shop, and mass produce them. Something tells me he just may do that! Pat has a lot of determination...
If you'd like more information on Pat Dougherty's FreeWheel, or if you want to contact him - you can do that on his website:
You still have time!
The St. Luke's Women's Fitness Celebration is this weekend! If you haven't registered yet, don't worry... you still can! All you have to do is go to the Women's Show at the Boise Centre on the Grove and sign up. It's that easy! If you've already registered, it's time to pick up your race packets at the show. TODAY - the Women's Show is open for business from 10am to 8pm. Guests are welcome to SHOP and SAMPLE over 160 businesses. You don't want to miss it!
The weather is going to be beautiful (no rain in the forecast this year!) - so join us for the CELEBRATION... look for members of our Channel 7 family. Carolyn Holly, Dee Sarton and I will be there at the start line waiting to cheer you on! Also, I'll be doing LIVE reports from the Celebration on the Saturday Morning News from 8 to 10am! You might just be asked to be on camera with me... :) Don't be shy!
"News to Me" by Nick McMullin
Confused indeedy! This week, Nick is experimenting in watercolors... I'm in my own wonderland.... or dream sequence, or something. :) I can't live without coffee... that's the plain truth!
BRONCOS vs BULLDOGS
What a GAME this weekend! It was a barn burner... and there were some scary moments there. But we came out victorious! A big night for Bronco Nation indeed!
Boise or Boize?
We may need to start some sort of a letter writing campaign to ESPN - so they tell all their people how to properly pronounce the name of our great city on national television. Just an idea...???
BOISE STATE SNUGGIE?
I have great news for you... you can now buy yourself a BSU SNUGGIE! Yes, yes... you can. It's the blanket with arms! I came across this online and I had to share it with all of you. It's hysterical...
I bought my husband a SNUGGIE for Christmas - and let me tell you - they are just as comfy as they look on TV. :) This would be a hoot to wear at Bronco Stadium! You will be the envy of all of your friends! You can find them at the Bronco Shop at the Bookstore on campus, or at Bronco Shops around the area. I made some calls and found out they are $29.99! If you google it online, you can find other places to buy the Snuggie, but why not support Boise State by buying it local?
"News to Me" by Nick McMullin
Boise Mayor Dave Bieter has a nice head of hair... I came to this conclusion after running into him this week downtown. Many men (who don't have hair) envy his hair, I'm sure. :) This week, I found out that if Camp Rainbow Gold raises $25,000 dollars at the Helpful Happy Hour event tonight, Mayor Bieter will shave his lustrous locks. One of the Camp Rainbow Gold campers will get the honor of shaving his head! When I asked the Mayor about it , he says he's ready to do it! The community just needs to raise the money...
In case you don't know, Camp Rainbow Gold is a program for kids diagnosed with cancer and their families. It provides events all year long to help them experience and celebrate life. I've had the chance to be a part of some of these events, and let me tell you - it's powerful stuff! Helpful Happy Hour will be held TONIGHT at Lake Harbor Waterfront in Boise. 100 percent of the money made will go to Camp Rainbow Gold to build a ropes course at the summer camp, which is located in the Wood River Valley. You can network with other Boise professionals, while supporting a great cause. Get your tickets at the door for just $10 bucks! There will be dinner, entertainment and silent and LIVE auction items. Here are some of the fun things that stand out: *A weekend getaway in the Wood River Valley Elizabeth Lizberg, the childhood and family services director for CRG says they are hoping for a sell-out, and they are hoping they can hold Mayor Bieter to his promise! They just need to raise $25,000 buckaroos! If that happens, he'll shave his head within two weeks, maybe on the steps of City Hall for all to see???
Helpful Happy Hour
TONIGHT, Sept 17th
5:30pm - 8:30pm
The Waterfront at Lake Harbor
3250 N Lakeharbor Ln
Boise, ID 83703
If you can't make the event but would like to add to the Shave-the-Mayor efforts, call 422-0176, or go to www.camprainbowgold.org
Jay is Back!
Last night, Jay Leno premiered his new show at 9pm right here on KTVB! It looks like Jay pulled in a pretty good audience for his first show, the early ratings are strong. Jay also had THE ULTIMATE first show guest - Kanye West. As you have most likely heard by now (unless you've been living in a cave) - Kanye West made quite a spectacle of himself on Sunday night at the MTV Video Music Awards. He rushed the stage and ruined Taylor Swift's acceptance speech! Kanye apologized again last night on Jay's show for stealing Taylor's moment... did you see it? Do you think he was genuine???
Jay took it a step further when he asked Kanye how his mom would feel about what he did. Kanye's mom recently passed away, and he seemed stunned into silence by the question! Jay also had Jerry Seinfeld on the show last night, and HEADLINES... which is always a fan favorite. Tonight, Tom Cruise will be on the show! So, what did you think of Jay's NEW show? Will you keep watching? Do you think Jay's show will be a success?
THIS WEEK: Maggie still trapped in the clutches of Von Sneed... she's awaiting rescue by her faithful superpals!!! BUT, they run out of GAS???? Hello????????????????????
Where were you?
It was just a normal day at first, a day like any other. We were giving our viewers the news of the morning, the weather with Larry, a little traffic - when suddenly, my producer was talking to me in my ear piece. It was just after 6:46am. He told me we had BREAKING NEWS out of New York - a PLANE HIT A BUILDING. A plane hit one of the twin towers. Here's a picture of us from that day - when we delivered the news to the Treasure Valley:
The next three months in morning TV land were somber. We didn't laugh, we didn't joke around like we usually do with Larry - we just couldn't. It just didn't seem right. Everyday there was more news about 9/11, more sadness, more heartache, loss. It took us all quite a while to laugh again, didn't it?
Who is your HERO?
Every week, I get e-mail from viewers who want to nominate a "7's Hero" - someone who is doing something great for the community, and giving back. Sadly, I can't get to them all - so I thought I'd BLOG about one of them that really touched my heart. I recently got an email with a school essay attached called "MY HERO". It was written by Noah Humphreys, a young Boise boy who decided to write about his neighbor. "The little neighbor boy, Noah, wrote this in school. His mother brought it to my parents house in Boise for my Dad. His Mom said he got an A on it. I thought I would send it on to KTVB 7's Hero. My father has been fighting lung and bladder cancer for about six years now. Helping others really helps him feel better. He is always watching out for his neighbors and helping them when they need it. I thought it was definitely worth sharing with you - just to show you all that HEROES are all around us. We just have to look for them! Or maybe we just have to BE A HERO in someone's life.
MY HERO
Written by: Noah Humphreys How sweet is that? It just goes to show you that even the little things add up in a child's eyes. Wouldn't it be wonderful if every little boy had a neighbor like Mr. Dugger?
Don Dugger, 7's HERO.
The season is off to a BANG!
In the AP TOP 25 poll, Boise State is now ranked 12, but BYU jumped 11 spots to number 9 after the upset over Oklahoma this past weekend. Oklahoma dropped 10 spots after that! Here are the numbers, and how it all breaks down: AP TOP 25 1 Florida (56) 1-0 1493 This does create a bit of a conflict between BYU and BSU fans - it will be interesting to see how it all plays out! In the USA Today Coaches Poll, BYU jumped from 24th to 12th. Boise State earned the number 11 ranking, just one spot ahead of the Cougars. USA TODAY 1 Florida (56) 1-0 1472 The Associated Press poll doesn't have any bearing on the Bowl Championship Series standings. BUT, The USA Today poll is one of several parts of the calculations. Our sports team says the coaches poll is the one to watch because that's the one that figures into the BCS formula. Our Broncos need to keep winning to stay in the running for a BOWL GAME. This weekend's game is against the Miami of Ohio Redhawks on the BLUE. KTVB - The Official Station for Bronco Nation - will be broadcasting the game Saturday night. We have a special hour long pre-game show planned for you at 5pm, and kickoff is at 6pm!
"News to Me" By Nick McMullin
Here's a look at the morning crew (our production crew included!) at the BSU vs OREGON game... notice Doug went shirtless and painted up - all in the name of the BRONCOS. Larry and Edgar forgot... or did they???
Nationwide, some parents on the conservative side have called their schools wondering if the speech will be carried in the classroom. They say they're worried about politics in schools, and are considering pulling their kids out of school for the day. Liberal parents seem to be upset by this idea, saying the President's message about staying in school and working hard - is a good one - regardless of his politics. Here in Idaho, Superintendent Tom Luna says schools can decide not to air the speech, but he doesn't see anything wrong with what the president will be talking about. The Boise, Meridian, and Nampa School Districts are allowing students to opt out of the speech with parental permission. Some schools in Idaho Falls have already decided NOT to air it. Here is the full text of today's speech. You can read it for yourself, and form your own opinions on it: Arlington, Virginia The President: Hello everyone - how's everybody doing today? I'm here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we've got students tuning in from all across America, kindergarten through twelfth grade. I'm glad you all could join us today. I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it's your first day in a new school, so it's understandable if you're a little nervous. I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now, with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you're in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer, and you could've stayed in bed just a little longer this morning. I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn't have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday - at 4:30 in the morning. Now I wasn't too happy about getting up that early. A lot of times, I'd fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I'd complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster." I've talked about your teachers' responsibility for inspiring you, and pushing you to learn. And that's what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself. Every single one of you has something you're good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That's the opportunity an education can provide. Maybe you could be a good writer - maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper - but you might not know it until you write a paper for your English class. Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor - maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or a new medicine or vaccine - but you might not know it until you do a project for your science class. Maybe you could be a mayor or a Senator or a Supreme Court Justice, but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team. And no matter what you want to do with your life - I guarantee that you'll need an education to do it. You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You're going to need a good education for every single one of those careers. You can't drop out of school and just drop into a good job. You've got to work for it and train for it and learn for it. You'll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You'll need the insights and critical thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. You'll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy. We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems. If you don't do that - if you quit on school - you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country. Now I know it's not always easy to do well in school. I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork. But I was fortunate. I got a lot of second chances and had the opportunity to go to college, and law school, and follow my dreams. My wife, our First Lady Michelle Obama, has a similar story. Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn't have much. But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country. Some of you might not have those advantages. Maybe you don't have adults in your life who give you the support that you need. Maybe someone in your family has lost their job, and there's not enough money to go around. Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don't feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren't right. But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life - what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you've got going on at home - that's no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude. That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. That's no excuse for not trying. Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up. No one's written your destiny for you. Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future. That's what young people like you are doing every day, all across America. I'm thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who's fought brain cancer since he was three. He's endured all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer - hundreds of extra hours - to do his schoolwork. But he never fell behind, and he's headed to college this fall. That's why today, I'm calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education - and to do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending time each day reading a book. Maybe you'll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community. Maybe you'll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all kids deserve a safe environment to study and learn. Maybe you'll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn. And along those lines, I hope you'll all wash your hands a lot, and stay home from school when you don't feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter. Whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it. That's OK. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who've had the most failures. JK Rowling's first Harry Potter book was rejected twelve times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, and he lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. But he once said, "I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." These people succeeded because they understand that you can't let your failures define you - you have to let them teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently next time. If you get in trouble, that doesn't mean you're a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to behave. If you get a bad grade, that doesn't mean you're stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying. No one's born being good at things, you become good at things through hard work. You're not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport. You don't hit every note the first time you sing a song. You've got to practice. It's the same with your schoolwork. You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right, or read something a few times before you understand it, or do a few drafts of a paper before it's good enough to hand in. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and to learn something new. So find an adult you trust - a parent, grandparent or teacher; a coach or counselor - and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals. And even when you're struggling, even when you're discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you - don't ever give up on yourself. Because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country. The story of America isn't about people who quit when things got tough. It's about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best. It's the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and found this nation. Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war; who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon. Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google, Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other. So today, I want to ask you, what's your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a president who comes here in twenty or fifty or one hundred years say about what all of you did for this country? Your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions. I'm working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books, equipment and computers you need to learn. But you've got to do your part too. So I expect you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don't let us down - don't let your family or your country or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.
What do you think about Obama's planned speech?
If you aren't lucky enough to have a ticket to tonight's game, and you don't get ESPN at your house... don't despair! Taco Bell Arena will open the doors at 7:45pm for you and yours! Inside? You can watch the game on a GIANT big screen TV. The game will be larger than life (see below) and on Bronco Vision screens.
They're calling it "Taco Bell Arena Game Day Lounge", and this opportunity allows you to be as close to Bronco Stadium (and all the atmosphere!) as possible. Here's the deal Bronco Fans: you can bring in your own food and drinks - but you CANNOT bring any alcohol inside. Coke products and popcorn will be provided while supplies last! You can bring the kids, and watch the game in a family friendly environment with TONS of other fans just like you. The best part is...
IT'S 100% FREE!
GO BRONCOS!
Brotherly Love
You could say BSU star cornerback Kyle Wilson has a fan club of his very own - his super supportive and incredibly proud BROTHERS. They had Kyle's likeness painted all over their RV! They got permission from Boise State to do it, and it really looks incredible. They drove it here to Boise for the big game against the Oregon Ducks tomorrow night.
Rolling to Boise in style!
We also heard that ESPN is doing a story about the Wilson brothers, and the whole process of putting Kyle all over the RV. I bet we'll see that story tomorrow night during the game!
If you happen to see the Wilson brothers' RV while you're tailgating, you'll know the story behind it!
Rammell Makes National News
Rex Rammell, an Idaho Republican gubernatorial hopeful says he was "only joking" when he said he'd buy a license to "hunt" President Barack Obama. Rammell made the controversial comment at a Republican rally last week in Twin Falls, Idaho. The topic turned to Idaho's wolf hunt, and the sale of $11.50 tags. Apparently, someone in the audience shouted out, "Obama tags!" - reports say Rammell responded by saying, "The Obama tags? We'd buy some of those." Rammell told The Associated Press last week he sees no reason to apologize for the comment because it was just a joke:
"What I would say to all my Democrat Idahoans: Take a deep breath and relax. We're not going to go out and hunt Obama." - Rex Rammell
@rammellrex: "Obama hunting tags was just a joke! Everyone knows Idaho has no jurisdiction to issue tags in Washington D.C." U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick, U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo, and Govornor Otter are all upset about Rammell's comments. The story has made national news headlines, and some worry it gives Idaho a bad name. UPDATE: 11:30am
Rammell: "Mountains out of Mole Hills..."
Today, Rammell held a news conference in Boise to address the comments. He said he doesn't and wouldn't advocate taking a life, or harming the President. He said he's not sorry for the comment, but he is sorry about the way people took it. He says it was simply a joke. He also criticized Idaho's Congressional Delegation, and the Governor for "attacking" him for what he said. Rammell says his comments were taken out of context, he says he wasn't serious, and he was simply responding to a woman with a comment in the audience. Rammell says he didn't do anything wrong... and that in his opinion - it was an insignificant comment. He says he won't apologize because of the "condemnation" he's received from our Idaho GOP leaders. He says they are just worried that "Rex Rammell will become the Governor" - and are trying to ruin his chances of winning. *What do you think? Should he apologize or not?
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