Brad Hicks' Blog

What are your plans for New Years Eve?  Big Party?  Romantic Evening?  Sitting on the couch eating bon-bons watching  other people party on TV?  Fess up!

With the holidays coming, think back.  What was THE BEST gift you ever received? 

You know-- the one that surprised you so much as a kid, your jaw dropped and your eyes popped out.

Or the one that, as an grown up, brought tears to your eyes.

Come on-- Let's hear 'em!!!!

By now, you've probably all seen the video of the reporter throwing his shoes at President Bush. 

My question is-- WHERE THE *#$&)# WAS THE SECRET SERVICE?

The guy stood up and was shouting--  No Secret Service.

The guy throws a shoe-- No Secret Service.

The guy throws a second shoe-- Still No Secret Service.

I would have thought, hoped and expected they would be up in front of the President the moment the guy started his throw.

But that's just my opinion.

Who loves the children?  Apparently not the Bureau of Child Welfare in Milwaukee.  That's right-- those who are supposed to be looking out for children appear to be more interested in looking out for themselves.

By now, most of you know about the story of Christopher Thomas-- the 1 year old boy who was in a loving foster home with caring foster parents who wanted to adopt him, but was then removed and placed in the home of his aunt, where he was murdered.

Now, in one more outrageous chapter in this sad story, the Bureau of Child Welfare seems to be punishing the loving foster parents for talking to the media.  The Bureau's character assassination of this couple is shameful.    This couple loved little Christopher - and showed him love both in his short life, and after his horrible death.  They tried to save him when he was alive; then they tried to help pay for his funeral when he was dead.  

The Bureau's response:  Suspend the couple's foster care license, and inform them they were overpaid for their foster care work and they have to pay the money back.   The people doing this at the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare should be ashamed of  their despicable response.  Unfortunately, I'm sure they're not.  No time for shame when they're too obsessed with protecting their own jobs.

I hope you had a chance to enjoy the Holiday Parade on Fox6 Saturday morning.  It takes an enormous amount of work from a lot of people to pull it off.

Here are a few pics of some of the good folks behind the scenes who made it happen!

A few weeks ago on the news, I was rattling off a list of toys that have been inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame. 

Mr. Potato Head is one such toy, and I briefly mentioned as an aside that  I really wanted one for Christmas when I was a little kid (Cappy Piercy across the street had one), but my parents never gave me one.  (I don't know if they had a thing against the plastic spud or what).

Anyway, when I came into work today, what's on my desk???  A MR. POTATO HEAD!!!!  A Fox6 viewer sent it to me with a very nice note about how no kid's Christmas is complete without the friendly fellow.   What a great surprise.  She made my day!!!    Fox6 viewers are The Best!!!

I just got back from voting.  I was in line for 1 hour-- about what I expected. 
How long did you have to wait?

I was craving bicycling in the mountains recently, so I decided to drive to The Black Hills in South Dakota.   I had modest expectations; they were greatly surpassed.

The drive is pretty BLEEP-hum, but the destination was great.  I stayed in Custer for a couple days and did some great rides-- lots of bison, beautiful rock formations, etc.

I also spent some time in Spearfish Canyon.  Nice place.  And, of course, I bicycled up to Mt. Rushmore.  Very impressive.

Have you ever been to the Black Hills?

In Chicago, students in 20 public high schools are going to get paid for getting good grades:  $50 for an A, $35 for a B, and $20 for a C.

I have a basic problem with paying kids to get good grades.  Whatever happened to getting good grades because you want to do well?  

But what really kills me is they're going to pay $35 for a B and $20 for a C!!!  You've got to be kidding me.     That's pathetic.   Reward mediocrity-- that's a great lesson for the kids.

Okay-- just a little gripe here.  You know the generic voicemail message that comes on after the personal message?  The woman's voice says, "To page this person, press 5, or, after you leave a message you may hang up, or.... blah blah blah."

I know how to leave a message thanks.  I think most people do by now.  Why do the phone companies have this default message after the personal greeting?  Drives me nuts-- and wastes my time.

Okay- I feel better.

We're hearing a lot about how bad the economy is-- tough economic times.  Gas sure has gotten more expensive and foreclosures are up.  

But I was in a Best Buy the other day -- a store drowning in luxuries, not necessities -- and there was no shortage of people forking over hundreds if not thousands to get their hands on the latest high-tech whatever.

And now I read that the summer box office is expected to rake in a record $4.2 Billion.  That's a lot of disposable income people spent to see movies at $9 bucks a pop, or whatever they charge for a ticket now.

What do you think:  Are Americans spending at the movies because it's the one pleasure we can afford (cheaper than a vacation), or do we like to complain about  hard times when in reality we have money to burn??? 

Whe we do our newscasts live from the field, it usually draws a crowd.  When there's drinking involved, it's usually a pretty rowdy crowd.   (Some of you may recall the mauling when I was at Summerfest.)

But Saturday night was a first:  I was on Old World Third Street anchoring live from the Harley 105th Block party.  As I was broadcasting, I felt a pinch behind me, turned around, and there was a woman on her knees bitting my butt!    Women have grabbed my butt when I'm working, but I've never been chomped on before.   Different.   Very different.

Seems everywhere I go I hear, "Hey, you're a lot taller than you seem on TV" or "You're bigger than on TV."  

So earlier this week, when someone said they figured I was about 5'4", I figured I should set the record straight.   I'm 6'2", 218lbs.    Don't know if that's a surprise to you.  Don't know if you even care.  But there ya have it! 

Did you see Favre's news conference with the Jets today? 

Was it me, or did he look totally bummed?

When he held up that Jets jersey, he looked like he was hating it, and was ready to change his mind.

Do you think Brett is full of regret?

This "thing" washed up on a Long Island beach.  Lots of speculation about what it is.   What do you think?