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Mary Beth & Rick
 Trans-Siberian Orchestra 2011
Trans-Siberian Orchestra in the studio
Podcast page
More info on the LCCS Gift Drive  View Document
Furnace for a Family
 Race for the Cure 2011
Hot Dog Video  Click Here
Making Strides Walk 2011 Click Here
MS Walk Video 2011 Click Here
Local Doctor's Testing their skills at "Operation" Live in Studio! Click Here for the pictures! |
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Bios
Wet Nose Wednesdays
Mary Beth's BIO
Mary Beth Zolik has been part of morning radio in Toledo for over 25 years. In the fall of 2005, she was inducted into the Ohio Broadcasters Hall of Fame, along with her now happily retired partner, Jack Mitchell. And now Mary Beth looks forward to many more years of morning radio fun with Rick Woodell!
Although Mary Beth grew up in Detroit, it is Toledo that feels like home, especially since she and her husband, Terry, are raising their family here. Their children, Tara, Derek and Cullin were all born here and are all in school now. With grade school, high school and college tuitions all looming, it's no wonder Mary Beth looks forward to many more years working on 101.5 the River. "Miles to go before I sleep!"
When not transporting her busy children hither and yon, Mary Beth enjoys napping, a good long walk, reading anything and everything and playing with the family dogs...oh, and more napping.
"Getting up at 4am is the hardest part of what I do. But I love what I do and feel so blessed. My husband says the only person who has a better job than mine is the woman who reads the lottery balls on TV!"
Rick's BIO
Rick Woodell was born and raised in Macon, Georgia, attended the community college there and eventually the University of Georgia before embarking on a 35 year broadcasting career. Rick has worked in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and Texas and been a part of the programming of radio stations in Idaho, New Mexico, Colorado and California.
Before moving to Toledo, Rick was a highly rated morning show host in Greenville, South Carolina and was co-host of "Talk of the Town," a 30 minute television travel show for Charter Communications that covered Georgia, North and South Carolina. Rick and his wife Carla moved to Toledo so he could rekindle his love for morning radio.
Rick and Carla have 4 "kids." One is Siamese...Cyan, 6 pounds of furry fury, Grayson, a loveable Gray stray from the Humane society, Frank a mini Dachshund rescue and the latest addition, Bill Blitzen, a rescued Greyhoud.. Rick's son, Alex, graduated college in South Carolina and is continuing his education at the Medical College of South Carolina-Charleston.
Rick's continued love for charity work and civic pride keeps him active in the community.
"We've been here for over 5 years now. As Carla and I continue to travel the area, we're amazed at the eagerness of people to welcome us Southerners. It really makes us feel at home."
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Featured Visitors
Kaylee Halko visits Mary Beth and Rick
 Kaylee Interview Part 1
Kaylee Interview Part 2
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Monday on the River
Monday 02-06-2012 9:31am ET
Today's mystery voice was
Vanessa Williams...in the M&M commercial last night that ran during the
SuperBowl. And that commercial seemed to be the favorite of friends on
Facebook...along with the Elton John ad for Pepsi...and the Doritos commercial
with the baby in the slingshot swing.
Good game...with two
University of Michigan connections...that made it kind of a win-win situation.
Tom Brady, quarterback for the Patriots...is a UM grad...and Mario Manningham,
who caught the winning touchdown for the Giants...is also a UM grad. Congrats
to the maize and blue.
Most people, callers and
friends on Facebook enjoyed the SuperBowl events...the game, the
commercials...and the halftime show with Madonna. The only bad thing...MIA, one
of the singers, apparently used an obscene gesture at the camera...altho, most
people said they didn't even notice it...and who is she anyway. Hopefully, the
mother in Madonna will give this young lady a good talking to. Interesting that
by time the halftime show was over, Madonna had more clothes on than she began
with...
After the Superbowl last nite,
The Voice was on...with Christina Aguilera as one of the mentor/judges. There
was a contestant, Tony, who had an interesting history with Christina...they
were mouseketeers together...along with Britanny Spears. That show is on again
tonite...two hours...followed by the new NBC show...Smash...with Katherine
McPhee and Debra Messing.
It's in the Bible
Monday 02-06-2012 5:47am ET
If you haven't gotten a raise, it's in the Bible! Here is perhaps the most bizarre case EVER for NOT getting a raise.
MB and R
Bible Says Thou Shalt Not Give Teachers A Raise, Argues State Senator
By Claire Gordon
There are a lot of arguments out there for why teachers' salaries should be higher or lower. But the Bible must be a new one. Shadrack McGill, a first-term Republican state senator in Alabama, made the case at a prayer breakfast Monday that teachers shouldn't get a raise, because then they'd be drawn to the job for the wrong reasons.
"It's a Biblical principle," he said, while admitting that he wouldn't want to do a teacher's job.
Before launching into his philosophy on teachers' pay, McGill justified the 62 percent pay raise Alabama's legislators had given themselves in 2007 -- over a governor's veto. This brought their salaries to $49,500 a year. Legislators in the state meet for only 30 days a year, so earn $1,650 per day. McGill said the raise made politicians less susceptible to bribes.
But nothing so noble could come from upping teachers' salaries, according to McGill. "If you double a teacher's payyou'll attract people who aren't called to teach. To go and raise someone's child for eight hours a day, or many people's children for eight hours a day, requires a calling. It better be a calling in your life. I know I wouldn't want to do it, OK?"
Not that the Alabama legislature has considered doubling teachers' salaries. However, the Dekalb County Times Journal reports a senator as saying that he would introduce a bill to raise pay by 2.5 percent for the one third of the state's teachers with the least seniority. Public school teachers in Alabama earned an average of $47,156 in 2009-10, according to the National Education Association, the largest teachers' union. The national average was $55,350.
McGill introduced a bill last year that would link legislators' salaries to the average teacher's salary, including benefits. He also claimed that Alabama's teachers pay and benefits totaled $65,000, making it the fourth highest earnings package among teachers in the nation. In terms of just pay, the National Education Association ranks Alabama 35th.
The state senator clarified his comments to the ABC-affiliate WAAY on Thursday, saying that he supports a system that would reward good teachers.
"The point that I was trying to make in the speech is simply that ... things ought to be in balance," he said. "I believe God made everything to be in balance. He weighed the Earth and the valley and the mountains and the hills on a scale to keep them in balance because he knew he was going to be spinning it real fast, so that's the jist of it."
A majority of Americans believe teachers are underpaid, according to a poll of 1,142 registered voters conducted earlier this month by the polling company Poll Position. About 56 percent of respondents said teachers don't make enough money.
About 93 percent of Alabamans, on the other hand, opposed the raise their state lawmakers gave themselves, according to a poll by The Decatur Daily in Northern Alabama. Help Wanted
Monday 02-06-2012 5:36am ET
Looking? Here are 10 companies that are hiring!
MB and R
1. Sears
Most people recognize Sears as the department store common to countless shopping malls. While its department stores are certainly popular, Sears Holdings operates several other brands as well.
Sears recently named Ron Boire as its new retail chief. The company has ambitions of transforming its retail business after posting poor holiday sales with both its Sears and Kmart brands.
Employee Review: "My favorite thing about working with Sears is the stability. The company has been around for over 100 years and is one of the largest in the world. It has great benefits and work-life balance is excellent. I don't have to worry about being on-call on nights and weekends. They have really great quality people who are easy to get along with."*
Top Job Categories:
 2. Macy's
Originally founded as Federated Department Stores in 1929, the company was officially renamed Macy's in 2007. With over 800 stores across the nation, Macy's is one of the largest retail companies in the United States. Macy's sales rose throughout 2010 and it already has announced plans to hire 3,500 employees in the next two years.
Of the major department store brands (Macy's, Dillards, Sears, Saks Fifth Avenue and J.C. Penney), Macy's was the highest performer throughout 2011, according to a recent report. Retail sales in December were weak, yet still strong enough to post an overall record for 2011, and the largest annual increase in over a decade.
Employee Review: "The management is competent. Employees are given a good discount and still able to use coupons. You can pick up more hours online when they become available."*
Top Job Categories:
 3. Citi
With the world's largest financial services network, Citigroup Inc. spans 140 countries and employs roughly 260,000 worldwide. After suffering from massive losses during the financial crisis of 2008, the company fell from the esteemed title of "largest bank in the world by assets." It is, however, still one of the "big four" banks in the United States. By the end of 2010, Citigroup repaid in full the emergency government aid it had received.
In a recent report, Citi said it increased loans to small businesses in the U.S. throughout 2011. This amount is over 30 percent higher than their small business lending in 2010.
Employee Review: "Nice co-workers, good hours, pleasant management, good location, interesting work spanning decades of involvement in the country. Good springboard for future jobs."*
Top Job Categories:
 4. TruGreen
TruGreen provides a variety of lawn-care-related services including fertilization, targeted insect control and tree care. The company was purchased in 1990 by ServiceMaster, which is one of the nation's largest commercial and residential service networks. ServiceMaster is the company behind brands such as Terminix, American Home Shield and Merry Maids.
All lawn specialists at TruGreen are full-time employees who must complete a training program before they are certified to work in the field. In its lawn care services, the company uses its TruNatural fertilizer, a completely natural and organic "lawn feeding program," derived from both plant and animal sources.
Employee Review: "TruGreen Landcare is a very good place to work; they pay well and the work keeps you in great condition."*
Top Job Categories:
 5. Concentra
This Addison, Texas, provider of outpatient heath care was purchased for $790 million last year by insurance-giant Humana. Concentra currently operates approximately 300 medical centers in 40 states.
Additionally, the company runs 250 workplace health centers that provide health screenings, as well as athletic training, vaccinations and medical advisory services. In February the company acquired two more hospitals in New Jersey, bringing its total presence in the state to 13 locations.
Concentra has announced publicly its commitment to improving customer service and patients' overall experience. As President Ted Bucknam has said, "We wanted to change the health care experience to one where patients were more confident and engaged in their own health and treatment, instead of anxious and apprehensive about the level and cost of care, and the experience they might have."
Employee Review: "Concentra is constantly trying to improve its position in the marketplace. Pursuing this type of flexibility provides plenty of challenges. If that's your thing, you'll find plenty of people around you that make the challenge fulfilling."*
Top Job Categories:
 6. AT&T Retail
With over 96 million mobile customers, AT&T Wireless is the 20th largest mobile phone service provider in the world, and according to Forbes, the 14th largest company in the world by market value.
AT&T's mobile division is headquartered in DeKalb County, Ga., just outside of Atlanta. Between 2005 and 2007, the company acquired Cingular Wireless and BellSouth. Until recently, AT&T Wireless was the exclusive carrier of Apple's popular iPhone line in the United States.
The company was recently named the "Top Organization for Multicultural Business Opportunities" by DiversityBusiness.com.
Employee Review: "They provide great benefits and pay. I know they match quite a bit for 401(k) investment. It is a great job for someone interested in technology and learning about new technologies. Also, it is great to know that you are helping others out on a daily basis."*
Top Job Categories:
 7. UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth Group currently provides health insurance services to over 75 million people worldwide. It also has been actively involved in creating several technological advancements in the health care field, including the development of video conferencing systems for patient/doctor communication, the creation of electronic health records systems, and the release of an iPhone app to locate participating physicians.
The company recently reported earnings for the fourth quarter of 2011. It met the expectations on revenue, and exceeded its expectations on earnings per share. This bodes well for the start of 2012.
Employee Review: "I really enjoyed my time at UnitedHealth Group. The trainers were very knowledgeable and were always there to answer any questions that I had. I worked as a claims associate for just a few short months before being promoted to another department. I then went on to work from home! Only left this company because of personal issues not related to my job. Great place to work!"*
Top Job Categories:
 8. Snap-on Tools
Founded in 1920, Snap-on designs, manufactures and markets professional-grade tools in the United States. It operates on a franchise model, with dealer vans that function as mobile showrooms. This sales and marketing method has proven successful and is the basis for the company's entire business model.
Snap-on has a history of involvement in the automotive and motor-sports industries. Snap-on tools are popular among mechanics, and the company has traditionally sponsored various motor-sports teams in the U.S., including Roger Penske Racing and Penske's Sprint Cup Series team.
The company recently announced the expansion of its production facility in Elizabethton, Tenn. The 23,000-square-foot expansion will provide opportunity to hire many new workers, although Snap-on would not estimate how many new employees it expected to bring on.
Employee Review: "Progressive environment, clear strategic business objectives and communications, clear mission. Vision values communications. Company going through changes for the better."*
Top Job Categories:
 9. T-Mobile Retail
One of the four major wireless providers in the U.S., T-Mobile is headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., and continually ranks high in retail-store satisfaction and customer care. It's the fourth-largest carrier in the United States, with approximately 33 million customers. The company has begun a rollout of its new HSPA+ "4G" network, with speeds comparable to the high-speed LTE networks on AT&T and Verizon Wireless.
T-Mobile's U.S. operations currently employ about 42,000 workers. The company is owned by Deutsche Telekom AG, one of the world's largest communications companies. T-Mobile recently announced that it will begin sales of the Square credit card reader in stores. This is part of an effort to emphasize small businesses.
Employee Review: "The culture is a plus. Our previous CEO, Robert Dotson, said that his experience from managing volunteer missionaries has really affected his leadership style, and it shows. After all, how do you motivate someone to do something if you can't fire them?"*
Top Job Categories:
 10. Avis
Avis Budget Group, headquartered in Parsippany, N.J., is a leading vehicle rental agency in North America, Australia, New Zealand and other regions that the company serves. The company's fleet has more than 350,000 vehicles and ABG completed more than 23 million rental transactions in 2009.
Among the company's efforts to streamline the car rental process is its iPhone app, which allows customers to make, change or check reservations on the go. The company is also keen on using surveys to solicit feedback. Such surveys led them to be the first company in the industry to offer a completely smoke-free fleet.
Avis Budget Group's recent completion of its "Performance Excellence" initiative helped generate over $65 million in cost reductions and revenue enhancements. That initiative also improved its customer experience and reduce the depreciation of fleets.
Employee Review: "You do get good health benefits and a company car. Airports are the best places to work in this company...."*
Top Job Categories:
Beauty Defined by Science
Monday 02-06-2012 5:33am ET
Here is an interesting viewpoint on beauty. It's pretty much math. Hmmm. Read on...
MB and R
Beauty Studies Show Ratios Explain Human Attractiveness
How do you define beauty? What are the factors that govern whether or not you find someone physically attractive? This question has plagued philosophers and artists for millennia. And now, modern scientists think they're close to finding that magical formula for physical beauty. Aside from the obvious cues,--youthfulness, smooth skin, bright eyes--it pretty much all comes down to math.
When it comes to sexual attraction, we've known for some time that men prefer a waist-to-hip ratio of around 70%. And although opinions about a woman's ideal weight have shifted throughout history, that 70% ratio has been a consistent measure of her beauty.
Another thing we've noticed is that across cultures (and even across species), animals are most attracted to mates that have highly symmetrical faces. Some think that asymmetry may be indicative of underlying genetic problems, so we tend to seek out symmetry to improve our evolutionary chances of survival.
A southern California plastic surgeon named Dr. Stephen Marquardt continued in the tradition of famed mathematician Pythagoras when he claimed to find the golden ratio phi, popping up all over the ideal human face. He found that pretty people's mouths were 1.618 times wider than their noses, and that the widest point on their noses was 1.618 times wider than the narrow tip. He even claimed that the width of a supermodel's front two teeth is precisely 1.618 times the height of each tooth.
Since then, other researchers have found golden ratios of their own, but not of the Pythagorean variety. Studies at UCSD and the University of Toronto found that female faces were judged most attractive when the distance between the eyes and the mouth was roughly 36% of the overall length of the face, and when the distance between the two eyes was around 46% of the face's width. See, these researchers claim that we cognitively average all of the faces we encounter on a day-to-day basis. So those people that represent the most average face possible--the 36 and 46 percenters--are the ones we gravitate toward.
Now get this: repeated studies have found that people are most attracted to people who look like themselves. What's worse, they often choose mates based on how much they look like--you ready for it?--their parents! Let's hope that's an unconscious phenomenon.
And you won't believe what researchers at Albright College have been up to. They claim to have found the biological basis for gaydar. Yeah, you heard me: gaydar. In their study, straight men's faces were found to be more symmetrical than those of self-identified gay men. Ultimately, they claim that symmetry is a greater predictor of heterosexuality than masculinity.
I'm not convinced. I know that this is anecdotal, but I find myself wishing, from time to time, that the gay men in my life were attracted to women (namely me), because well, they are damn good looking. I'd be interested to see if this study is repeatable, and if so, whether gay or straight participants have different perceptions of symmetry, masculinity, and beauty overall.
Friday on the River
Friday 02-03-2012 10:23am ET
Today's 80's rewind was Don't
Lose My Number by Phil Collins...(or Billy, Don't lose my number)...altho, Rick
thought it was Ricki Don't Lose That Number...but that is by Steely Dan.
Fortunately Vicky from Sylvania knew the correct answer...and won Hafner Flowers
and basketball tickets to the UT Rockets versus Ohio University.
Alison from the Heart Association paid a visit this morning to encourage everyone to wear red today...in an effort to get women to take better care of their hearts. More women die from heart disease than all forms of cancer combined. And 90% of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease. To learn more go to the AHA website: www.GoRedForWomen.org And mark your calendar for March 10th...for the Heart Gala at the Pinnacle...where Rick will be the evening's emcee. Speaking of a healthy
heart...there is an interesting article at the River homepage today about
drinking diet beverages and the risk for heart disease. Apparently the pause
that refreshes is not that afterall!
The average mom does this 122
times a year? So many possibilities...but it is... Asks their children to clean
their rooms. If you have a great plan for accomplishing this, Mary Beth and
Rick would like to hear from you Monday morning.
And of course, we want to hear
from you on Monday...in the aftermath of the SuperBowl...so what was your
favorite commercial. Give us a call after 8am.
The Perfect Super Bowl Plan!
Friday 02-03-2012 5:41am ET
Your party is only as good as your planning! Here are some tips for the PERFECT Super Bowl party!
MB and R
Throw The Perfect Super Bowl 2012 Party: 7 Entertaining Tips
Ah, the Super Bowl is back! The one night where potato chips, pretzels and beer are the preferred foods to serve and you don't even have to worry about small talk since everyone's eyes will be glued to the TV. Easy, right? Eh, not so fast!
We've all been to the parties where open bags of chips, cans of beer and anonymous bowls of mystery dip were the call of order. And while there really is nothing wrong with that -- who doesn't like French onion dip -- this effortless entertaining can have its own hassles. Like people knocking over bags, getting salsa on the floor and mixing up their beer cans. Also, since there are few reasons to throw parties, it's fun to try something a little unexpected. Especially when the game is an epic re-match like this one (ahem...flash back four years when the Giants stopped the Patriots from a 19-0 season). Okay, our office is in New York, we had to mention it one time -- but, back to decor. [EDITOR'S NOTE FROM BRIE DYAS: Some of us are Steelers fans, ahem.]
Simple changes like creating a buffet table or arranging the seats beforehand can do wonders for making your party feel like something new. So, keep reading for seven easy ways to upgrade your Super Bowl party, because hey, the TV doesn't have to be the only thing people take note of!
Arrange your seats in advance. Avoid the haphazard run for dining room seats seconds before the game begins by bringing your extra seats into the TV room before your guests arrive. This way you can arrange the chairs to ensure that everyone will not only have a great view of the game, but will also have avenues of escape for bathroom breaks, drink refills or a second-round of dinner.
Know your colors. The Patriots are the home team, so they'll be in blue while the Giants play in white. For the ambivalent hostess who doesn't want to choose sides, decorate with red since both teams have hints of the color on their uniforms. For a simple accent, put ribbon around a vase and find some fresh flowers in the right color -- perfect for the coffee table!
Put together a buffet table. Rather than plopping everything on the coffee table for easy access, display the food and drinks along the kitchen or dining room table. (Or, relocate whatever table is most convenient to your living room to bring the snacks closer.) No one will be reaching over one another for food, which means fewer spills and a faster serving time so no one misses any part of the big game.
Change up your food. A takeout pizza is nice, but homemade tailgate favorites will be a little more filling. If you have a slow cooker, root beer pulled pork or spicy beef chili still fit the football mood, but add an extra-flavorful food option your friends will love (and are incredibly easy to make!). If you don't have a slow cooker, balance takeout and snack foods with easy homemade accents, like homemade dips -- this jalapeno dip looks especially to die for!
Ditch the chip bags. We've all known people who treat the bag of tortilla chips as their personal property. A communal bowl is a little less easy to hog and the addition of a big serving spoon makes it a little more civil than grabbing handfuls of snacks.
Opt for a mini-keg. It's practical: With only one option, guests won't be able to complain about the absence of their favorite brew and you'll accumulate less trash. If you have them, put glass mugs in the freezer overnight. The icy cold cups will not only keep the booze from becoming luke warm, but will also give the party a great pub-like feel.
Utilize free printables. Skip the trip to the party store--There are crafty people all over the web creating free printable decorations out of the kindness of their own hearts. Let's take them up on this offer! If you're not sure where to start looking, click here for a whole slideshow of fantastic options.
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© 2012
