Ever since I became a parent, I have become much more in tune to the idea of suffering.

 When you're young and single, you're focused inward. You spend so much of your time worrying about everything involving you: your career, where you live, what you drive, et cetera.

 When you get married and then have kids, it all changes. You begin thinking about everyone around you and, at times, neglect yourself entirely. To become so totally focused on the health and well being of others is, for me, one way to define love.

 But I was taken aback by the photo which accompanies this blog. It was sent to us by Pam Plasier with the group "Mission Haiti". For 15 years, Pam has been traveling to Haiti to help people their overcome the horrible poverty. Homes there are typically made by whatever materials people can find: grass and mud, rocks, pieces of tin, cardboard, what have you. Plasier primarily works to improve the lives of kids living in orphanages. The picture she sent me are of Haitian orphans. To a child, each is wide eyed and smiling. They have nothing. Not even a family. But look at this picture. Now tell yourself these kids are suffering and see how that makes you feel. I have been battling this thought for much of the afternoon. To know people have died and been injured in this earthquake is a terrible thought. But imagine going through this as a kid. An orphan. No mom or dad to hug and kiss away the fear; just the reality of the situation.

 I was able to talk with Pam on Tuesday night. I told her I would go to Haiti in a heartbeat to help these people if I could get there. She will be going to Haiti on Thursday to do what she can. She should be applauded for her efforts. Which is one of the reasons I am writing this blog.

 But I also know if I went to Haiti and encountered the kids in this picture, I would want to pack all of them up and bring them home with me so I could give them a better life. I imagine that is the truly difficult part of being a missionary. The idea that you visit these people and try to help them but then at some point you have to leave them behind. It is a heartbreaking concept for me to think about.

 But someone has to do it. Especially now.

 If you would like to donate money to "Mission Haiti", click here.

 If you would like to donate money to the group "Helping Hands for Haiti", click here.

 Both groups are based in Sioux Falls and both plan to send missionaries soon to Haiti. Both need money to buy food and water for those who can not help themselves.

 This horrible story about Michael Stevens has been weighing on my heart now for about a week.

 One week ago, on January 4th, the body of this 19-year-old Sioux Falls man was found inside a parked car at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds. Investigators believe the car, and the body, had been sitting there in sub-zero temperatures for several days.

 Last Friday, Minnehaha County authorities released the information that Stevens had been shot 3 times with a 20-gauge shotgun. The ammunition used is called a Sabot slug, primarily used in deer hunting. It had to have been a horrible way to die.

 Today we learned of an arrest in the case; an 18-year-old Iowa man named Samuel Lint. One of the things investigators pointed out is that many of the people they have interviewed about Stevens death apparently have ties to local marijuana and ecstasy trafficking operations. If Stevens was involved, we do not know yet.

 What sticks with me is the horrible nature in which Stevens was killed. What had to have happened for one person to level a shotgun at another person and squeeze off not just one shot, but three. Then leave the body inside a locked car and walk away from it? It boggles my mind. The horrible nature people can harbor within themselves is a truly terrifying thing. It takes a lot of hate, or total apathy, to murder someone in that manner.

 Sioux Falls is fortunate in the fact that we do not have widespread issues with violent crime. It makes events like this stand out all the more. We pay attention to them because they are examples of what we fear: lawlessness and people who not only have thoughts of killing but act on those thoughts. Again, how does one person do that to another person?

 I have two young sons; ages 2 and 5. My wife Mandy is a smart woman and knows to turn the channel when I'm talking about acts such as murder and rape. At some point, these concepts will become known to my boys and I will have to explain to them why they happen in the first place. How do I do that? Right now, I think the short answer would be "there are people in this world who don't know how to treat other people with respect and don't have enough heart to realize that hurting people is wrong". It's accurate but it just doesn't seem like enough of an explanation. Maybe there isn't one.

 Over the last week, in commercial breaks during the news, I have been sitting there and trying to imagine the horrible surreal nature of all of this for Michael Stevens family. In a span of two weeks, they go from having a vibrant 19-year-old to having to watch news accounts about his murder. It must be a horrible thing to endure.

 Earlier this week on the news, we ran a story about a Sioux Falls woman who wants the city to consider equipping it's snow plows with what are called snow gates. It's a metal bar which can be affixed to the plow and when the plow passes a driveway or street, that bars prevents snow from piling up in that area. In other words, the days of the plow driver depositing a mountain at the end of your driveway right after you have shoveled it clear would be over.

 We checked with Mayor Munson's office and he says the city has considered this idea before but that snow gates apparently do not do well in heavy snowfall areas like ours.

 Well, after seeing all the snow we got this week (plus the massive snowfall we got two weeks ago), I'm wondering if we can't be a test city for a new type of snow gate. Certainly the company which makes these things has got to be working on a model which can handle heavier snowfall areas. It would at least make sense that they would be trying. I imagine a lot of cities in the upper Midwest would be interested in getting a couple. I know the phones at public works ring off the hook when the plows are out from people who are angry at the plow leaving a wall of white at the end of their driveway or at their nearest intersection.

 I remember once, years ago, we got a huge snow and I was out in the driveway shoveling it clear for what had to be two hours. I finally got the entire thing clear and was standing there, leaning against my shovel, relaxing and glad the job was done when a city plow came by and, in almost comedic fashion, ending up creating what had to be an 18 inch wall of snow at the end of my driveway. I stood there and watched the plow pass in amazement and disgust. The guy driving the plow waved at me. I know he was trying to be friendly but in my mind, at the time, I could almost hear him saying "Hey, you look pretty adept at snow removal. Here's more for you!". I know Mandy was out one time and the same thing happened to her; she may have yelled a choice comment or two at the plow as it sped away. I shall neither confirm nor deny.

 Warmer temperatures are in store for this weekend which may help everyone's mood but, given how this winter has gone already, it's a safe bet more snow is on the way and more plowing "fun" in the city of Sioux Falls.

 Quote Of The Day: "I hate this stuff and it's time it stopped. You have got to be kidding me." What I said yesterday morning as I looked out the window and saw more blowing and drifting snow in my neighborhood.

 This Day In History: President Lyndon Johnson announced his "War on Poverty" on this date, January 8, 1964.

 Something You Should Check Out: To see exactly what a snow gate is and how it works, click on this link. It will give you a good idea of how they work and why they would be a good thing for the city to have.

 Remember the old Sammy Hagar song "I Can't Drive 55"?

 It was the anthem for lead foots back in the 1980's. Hard charging, old fashioned rock and roll.

 Every time I hear this song, I always harken back to when I was first learning how to drive. It's not that I went fast or ignored traffic laws. It's just that learning to drive, for me, was a true adventure.

 I would sometimes drive with my mother but more times than not, I was with my 71-year-old Grandfather. I loved the man and it's in that spirit that I can tell you that patience wasn't his strong point. I can remember being a child and helping him with household projects. I would usually get one chance to hand him the right tool before he would invite me to go play. And since I never could remember which was the Phillips screwdriver and which was the straight head, I ended up playing a lot.

 Back to the driving lesson. My Grandfather first taught me how to drive on Ashworth Road in West Des Moines, Iowa (my hometown). For those of you not familiar, Ashworth Road is roughly 7 inches wide and two lanes in each direction. If you sneeze, you could end up hitting the car right next to you. Grandpa figured if I could drive on this road, I could drive on any road.

 Eventually, my driving lessons broadened out to the rest of Des Moines. One afternoon, I was driving the family conversion van. My Grandfather was in the passenger seat and his brother, my 70-something Uncle Jim was sitting in the back seat.

 I went to change lanes and heard an abrupt horn from a car already occupying the space in that lane.

 "You should have known that car was there." Grandpa said, annoyed.

 "Did you know the car was there?" I asked him.

 "Yes." he said.

 "Then why the hell didn't you tell me?" I asked him. Keep in mind, I'm 16. Asking this of my elder.

 The statements we traded back and forth became increasingly loud and increasingly blue. I looked in the rear view mirror and could see my Uncle's face go from discomfort to amazement as he wached this battle of wits unfold. Growing up, my Grandfather and I were close and didn't really get on each other's nerves too badly. But I was amazed that he was going to let me slam into a car when he knew it was there.

 "The only way you'll learn to be careful is by being careful!" He finally said. How do you argue with that? It kind of brought the conversation to an end.

 Months later, after I got my drivers license, I was involved in a car accident. My fault. I was turning left, turned too much and hit a car in the opposing lane. No one was hurt, just minor damage to both cars. Grandpa was very understanding. One of the things he told me was "Now you know the importance of being careful". It's tough when past lessons come back and bite you. That one did. Since then, I like to think I am careful when I am behind the wheel (though my wife will tell you otherwise). But it's always that one day and that one argument that sticks with me and whenever the idea of learning to drive pops up, that memory pops back into my head.

 Quote Of The Day: "Telling the future by looking at the past assumes that conditions remain constant. This is like driving a car by looking in the rearview mirror." Herb Brody

 This Day In History: The first presidential election in history was held on this date, January 7th, 1789. Voters selected George Washington to become the first president of the United States.

 Something You Should Check Out: One of my favorite pieces of classical music is "The Imperial March" by composer John Williams. This piece is also known as Darth Vader's theme from the 'Star Wars' movies. It's a powerful piece and I could listen to it for hours.

 Thanks for dropping in. Make sure to check out my second blog as well called the BriAlNews Blog. I hope you like it too.

 I have been working in broadcast journalism now for just over 20 years, more than half of my life.

 As a result, I am used to wacky hours. This job sometimes involves working late, coming in early, working overnights, working weekends, undertaking tasks that technically don't fall into your job description. All of it to make sure the job of informing the public gets done and hopefully gets done well.

 The time constraints of this job never bothered me until Mandy and I had Austin and Cameron. And now it seems to be more of a fight than ever to be a present and influential parent to both of them. I know this is an issue many of you wrestle with as well.

 The problem became apparent this last Fall, when Austin started all day, every day Kindergarten. He is in school from 8AM-3PM. So I get to see him for just a little bit in the morning, then he goes to school. When he comes home from school, I am already at work. When I get home from work, he's in bed getting rest for the next day. I try to make it home for dinners to actually sit down and talk with him, even if it's just for a few minutes. But again, the reality of this economy means every business is doing more with less. Consequently, many nights I miss dinner because there's work that has to be done. It is very frustrating.

 My big fear is that as time goes on, I will become a stranger to my boys. There's a famous story in the book "Anchors" by Robert and Gerald Goldberg. Dan Rather's son is sitting in the living room with a friend, watching his father anchor the evening news. The friend asks Rather's son "Who is that on the TV?" and Rather's son answers "Dan Rather". He didn't say 'Dad' or say 'That's my Dad! Can you believe it?'. He said "Dan Rather". I never want to become "Brian Allen" to my sons.

 The old phrase says we all have our crosses to bear. Given everything that is happening, I still enjoy my job and I am thankful to have a job. That being said, there is a growing issue with time and my sons that I am trying to work through. Hopefully 2010 will be better in the time and workload aspect so I can more consistently get home to say 'Hi' and to pass out hugs and to let my boys know they are a priority.

 Again, I know many of you have struggled...and are struggling...with this very situation. Any words of advice you could offer would be helpful as I work to strike a better balance between work and home.

 Quote Of The Day: "What children take from us, they give...We become people who feel more deeply, question more deeply, hurt more deeply and love more deeply." Sonia Taitz

 This Day In History: Samuel Morse gave the first public demonstration of the telegraph on this date, January 6th, 1838.

 Something You Should Check Out: Thanks to my friends Gina Grad and Randy Wang for tipping me off to this. Watch this locally made commercial for a place called "Flea Market Montgomery" in Montgomery, Alabama. I had never heard a man rap about living rooms and dinettes until I encountered this. Click, watch and enjoy.

 I grew up here in the Midwest; in central Iowa. We had harsh winters there. I remember growing up the wind chills would dip into the -30 range and the snow would fly. I remember one storm where the drifts were as high as the gutters on our one story home. So the fact that Old Man Winter can work his worst is no surprise to me.

 That being said, every year that passes is another year where I want to become a snowbird and move south for the winter. I don't want to wait until I am older and of retirement age. Rather, I want to pack everyone into our truck and hit the road for the southern climate NOW.

 As beautiful as the Midwest is in the Spring, Summer and Fall..the winter is equally awe-inspiring for it's ugly nature. Some people think a winter storm is beautiful and frames the region in a beautiful blanket of white. I do too. But only during the first storm of the season. Every storm after that is a genuine pain in the backside. The snow piles up, you grit your teeth when you go outside because you know you're going to get slammed by a wall of arctic air that tightens your skin, makes your toes curl and hurts your lungs.

 I've had my share of frostbite. I've slipped on ice too many times to mention. I've thrown out my back shoveling snow. It is a pain, a nuisance and every Fall when I feel the air turn cold, I get a little feeling of dread that says "Here comes the cold stuff".

 When my grandparents got old and retired, they decided to stay in Iowa for their golden years. They could have easily moved south to a winter home and basked in the sunshine while the rest of us froze in our boots. Why didn't they? I asked my grandfather once and he told me "Because this is where we're from". A simple answer to a simple question. That being said, I would not have begrudged him one bit if he jumped in his car in November and yelled "See you in May!" as he sped away.

 So I'm sitting in the warm comfort of my basement now. As I look out the home office window there is a drift that is creeping up half-way the window. I'm wondering how much more of the window will be buried by the time Spring gets here. It can not get here soon enough. Did I mention I hate the cold?

 Quote Of The Day: "In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer." Albert Camus

 This Day In History: Automaker Henry Ford introduced the $5-a-day minimum wage on this date, January 5th, 1914.

 Something You Should Check Out: It's interesting the "conspiracies" that people will invest their time in. For example, this is one I heard about the other day. If you're familiar with "The Three Stooges" you know that the 'original' Stooges were Larry, Moe, Curly and Shemp. At first, it was Larry, Moe & Shemp. Then Shemp left which led to Curly. Curly had a stroke and Shemp came back but then Shemp died. Larry and Moe were still under contract. So what did they do? They brought in a stunt man to play Shemp but never showed his face. Watch this video which shows clear examples of the "Fake Shemp"; lots of back shots and some side shots, but no straight on shots of his face. Interesting. 

 Thanks for stopping by. Remember, I have now started a second "side blog" which I will periodically update. You can find that blog by clicking this link.

 As always, feel free to leave a comment below or send me an e-mail by clicking here.

 I'm not going to lie. I am so amazingly glad 2009 is done. You have no idea. Or maybe you do.

 I don't know anyone who is saying "You know, 2009 was a good year for me" or "Boy, 2009 rocked! I had such a good time".

 Instead I am hearing a lot of "Hopefully 2010 will be a lot better". I fall into that category. Big time.

 I saw a lot of my friends lose their jobs in 2009. I saw more people in need over the last 12 months. More people who were suffering and fearful about their present and future lives. For the people who were able to keep their job (congratulations), their workload increased. A lot. The idea of doing more with less is admirable. I think it shows a strong work ethic and underpins the American spirit of hard work being it's own reward. That being said: it's also a lot like steak. The end result may be OK but you don't want to see how it is made.

 The previous year has been a real education with words like "corporate debt load", "credit score", "personal bankruptcy" flying through the air on radio and TV an on-line. What will the next 12 months bring? Will it be more fear? If corporate America continues living in fear, there will be fewer jobs available. If people continue living in fear, there will be less consumer spending which means companies will make less and hire fewer people. It is a horrible cycle. The free market version of "the chicken and the egg".

 I have been on vacation for the last 12 days. As I type this, I have a pretty good Grizzly Adams beard going. I will have to shave it off tomorrow before returning to work. Doing so will require a couple sharp razors, a tarp and maybe a transfusion when I am done. But while I was on vacation I had a chance to spend some time with my family back in Des Moines and with Mandy's family near Sioux City. It was a relaxing time. All of us were able to enjoy ourselves and for a couple of days, I forgot entirely about the economy. I stopped worrying about the future. My stress level dropped considerably. In short, I was able to just live for a while and not be weighted down by the worries of the world. And it felt good. This is what I hope for for 2010, for myself, my family and for you.

 Quote Of The Day: "Life is a foreign language, all men mispronounce it." Christopher Morley

 This Day In History: Former professor wrestler Jesse Ventura was sworn in as the governor of Minnesota on this date, January 4th, 1999.

 Something You Should Check Out: Need a quick pick me up? Invest 15 seconds and enjoy "The Fish Slapping" dance from the guys of Monty Python. Very quick, very slapstick but very funny.

 PS: One thing I wanted to share with you. The new year brings a new blog. I'm calling it the "BriAlNews Blog" and you can find it by clicking here. Hope you like it and check in on it from time to time.

 OK that's it. The first blog entry of 2010 is now in the books. Thanks for stopping by and as always, feel free to leave a comment below or send me an e-mail by clicking here.

 It has been a month now since Austin had a non-cancerous tumor removed from his right inner ear.

 From the outset, the entire thing has been a struggle and stressful. From the initial diagnosis (of Cancer) until the second opinion (non-cancerous tumor). When Austin went in for his surgery, it was one of the toughest days of my life. Austin handled it like a champion; partly because he didn't really understand what was happening, partly because he is just the type of kid to meet a challenge head on.

 I sat in the waiting room with my wife Mandy and my mother who, God bless her, came up to be with us. Cameron was with Mandy's folks down in Iowa (and God bless them too for allowing us to focus on the matter at hand and not have to worry about Cameron).

 The hours ticked by. We were told to expect a surgery that would last maybe 3-and-a-half hours. We hit hour #4. Then we hit hour #5. I told Mandy I was going to go scrub in and help when the surgical nurse appeared saying the surgery was over and Austin was in post-op.

 We had a post-op meeting with Austin's surgeon, a fantastic guy named Dr. Greg DeSautel. He gave us the low down; the tumor had progressed a little farther than they had thought and had actually started to "eat" one of the three small bones in his inner ear which allow him to hear. They had to remove that bone and put in a prosthetic ear bone (I didn't even know such a thing existed). The fact that it had progressed that far took them, and us, by surprise.

Dr. DeSautel told us there would have to be some follow-up tests done to see what, if any, hearing Austin has lost. We have not had that testing yet. It comes up on November 17th. Another thing Dr. DeSautel told us; this specific type of non-cancerous tumor can grow back and does in many cases. There is no medicine for this....the only way to treat it is through surgery. Meaning Austin might have to go through all of this again. We are praying that is not the case.

 From surgery day until now, things have gone well. His surgical sites are healing nicely. There is no sign of infection whatsoever. The "at home" hearing tests I give him, he passes. He was back in school a week after surgery. His pain has been minimal and what pain he has experienced, we have been able to control with medicine.

 There were some scary moments: Austin had trouble coming out of his anesthesia and he had to stay overnight for observation and treatment. Then when we brought him home and took his gauze off his ear all you could see in and around the ear was dried blood. The external incision was a 180 degree cut on the backside of his right ear. It looked awfully mean and turned my stomach when I saw it. Since then, it has healed nicely and, while still noticeable, is lessening day by day.

 The important part is that he is now healthy and, while we wait to see if this tumor will return (we should know in 9-12 months) we are so amazingly grateful that he is recovering well. While the tumor did progress further than anyone thought, the good news is that it did not impact any facial nerves nor did it lead to any type of cranial abscess (which was a possibility).

 Not that I ever took Austin for granted, but this experience made me value him even more. It shone a new, important light on what family is and what family should be at all times...not just during a crisis.

 It opened my eyes to how many good and caring people there are in the world. Many of you are among them; I know you said prayers and had prayers said for Austin. You would post blog messages and send me e-mails and even call the TV station after the surgery to see how Austin was doing.

 It is humbling to know so many of you came to the aid of my son. I love him with everything I have and to know so many of you care about him too is one of the real blessings in my life.

 Thank you for supporting Austin when he needed love, warm thoughts and prayers the most.

 It is tough when your heroes die. To know that their good works have come to an end and their voice has been silenced.

 Early this morning, one of my broadcasting heroes lost his life.

 His name was Dic Youngs. If you're old enough, you've probably heard of him. He was a legend, spending more than 45 years in broadcasting. Most of that time was spent behind a microphone at KIOA in Des Moines. He WAS rock and rock in the 1960's and 1970's, eventually growing into the role of "radio grandfather" in the 80's, 90's and beyond. He was a mentor to so many broadcasters, directly and indirectly. Those fortunate enough to work with him benefited from his direct involvement. Those who benefited indirectly were provided with a road map on how to respect yourself, others and the business of broadcasting.

 Every year, Youngsy would broadcast live from the Iowa State Fair. His booming voice audible even without the big speakers KIOA would set up. He was like Santa Claus in the Summertime; always quick with a joke or a smile or a pat on the back. I am 36 and have missed only a handful of Iowa State Fairs, so I had many opportunities to sit down and talk with Dic. But I never did it. Not really. Every once in a while I would approach him and start a conversation but then almost back out of it. He wasn't intimidating, not in the least. I just think every time I would try I would end up having a "you're not worthy" moment and not finish what I had tried to start. But I would always admire from afar and be amazed at how well he knew people and how well he knew the music. That was the thing; every time Dic Youngs was on the radio you KNEW he loved the music. That he was particular about playing songs with strong lyrics and attention getting guitar licks and bass lines. It was always a party with Youngsy....at least that's how he made it appear and that's why he was so fun to listen to.

 For years, Dic hosted a Saturday Night Oldies show on KIOA. When I lived in Des Moines...and eventually when I moved away but would come back for visits...I would always turn the show on and listen. It always made me smile. What a master of the radio dial!

 Which brings us back now to today and the horrible news which greeted me this morning. Dic had been hospitalized for a while now at Mercy in Des Moines. This morning about 1:30, his body apparently had enough and he passed into history. Going forward, it will be odd to think and talk about him in the past tense. He made the world a better, more tolerable place....one record at a time. His jokes, sometimes corny, could bring a smile to your face and make you temporarily forget about your woes.

 He was a big man in size and a big man in heart. Of all the people I know who have worked with Youngsy, I have never heard one of them gripe about Dic and that is saying something. Broadcasting can be fairly two-faced and has it's fair share of back stabbers. That being said, Dic Youngs was respected but more than that he was loved. And when someone you love dies, it's tough to take.

 KIOA Statement On The Death Of Dic Youngs

 Dic Young Personality Profile On DesMoinesBroadcasting.COM (includes audio of Youngsy doing his thing)