Ewww Gross!

I have been in this business for a while now and one thing I noticed is that every newsroom is exactly the same when it comes to food…   WE WILL EAT ANYTHING!   If I come back from a live shot with food, I’m the hero for the day.  One of our old photographers said that you could put out cat food and surround it with crackers, it would be gone within the hour!  SICK!  

Now I know we are very busy, but sometimes we will let the food sit around  way toooooo long…  Here is an example of food and a cooler gone bad.   I started to notice this cooler sitting by the studio for about three weeks…  

(The old cooler – not opened)

(An open cooler with a very BAD SMELL)

Tips from TV Tech Tim when eating newsroom food:

1.  Do a smell test and look for mold.  If there is mold it can easily be removed.

2.  Dips are best, even two days old.   Just peal the layer of crust off the top, and voila it’s fresh.

3.  Remember, the microwave is your friend.

4.  If worried let intern eat it, and see what happens 10 minutes later.

5.  If need be, a fork or spoon can be substituted for a knife.   A Styrofoam coffee cup can be substituted for a bowl, and a paper towel can be substituted for a plate.

6.  If you touch it, it’s yours. Do not break cookies, bagels, or cake with your fingers and leave the rest for somebody else.

7.  Anything left at the assignment desk considered “fair game”.

8.  When in doubt throw it out.

Ohhhh, and finally:

When you come in to work at 4:00AM and notice yesterdays bread pudding is still there, just assume the responsibility of throwing it away instead of pretending not to see it.

Have a great day, I am hungry!

-Paul

Living At Fry’s

What a week at Fry’s, as we were gathering food to “Stamp Out Hunger.”   I lived in the promotional aisle in my 10×12’ tent and it was an experience I will never forget!   Stamp Out Hunger was started by Letter Carriers about 15 years ago, and it has become the largest single-day food drive in the country…   Last year alone the post office gathered more then 7 million pounds of food…  With the slow economy the food banks are running alarmingly low, and CBS 5 wanted to help get the word out about this important event.  

 

Some of the great questions I received while living there: 

 

How did you sleep?   It was pretty difficult, the store hours are from 5 am to 11pm.   But after the store closed, the lights were left on and the overnight staff stayed on restocking the shelves, buffing the floor, etc.  

 

What did you eat?   We had free reign of the store…  If I wanted a midnight snack, I would head to the freezer section and grab some ice cream!   That was great, and we ate very well that week!

 

Where did you shower?  The only time I left the store was to walk over to Bally’s gym, next door…    I had a quick shower, and headed back to my duties collecting food.

 

Scary moments?   The only time I was freaked out was when I was fast asleep and customers thought the tent was for sale…  I would wake up with people peaking in the tent.

 

In the end, at Fry’s alone we gathered more then 2,200 pounds of food, which is enough to feed more then 1,700 people a meal they otherwise wouldn’t have.   A big thank you to the folks at Fry’s Marketplace, our local postal workers, and our great viewers!  The need for food will continue year-round and if you would like to make a donation you can do so at St. Mary’s Food Bank, the number is (602) 343-3128.

 

Living At Fry’s

What a week at Fry’s, as we were gathering food to “Stamp Out Hunger.”   I lived in the promotional aisle in my 10×12’ tent and it was an experience I will never forget!   Stamp Out Hunger was started by Letter Carriers about 15 years ago, and it has become the largest single-day food drive in the country…   Last year alone the post office gathered more then 7 million pounds of food…  With the slow economy the food banks are running alarmingly low, and CBS 5 wanted to help get the word out about this important event.  

 

Some of the great questions I received while living there: 

 

How did you sleep?   It was pretty difficult, the store hours are from 5 am to 11pm.   But after the store closed, the lights were left on and the overnight staff stayed on restocking the shelves, buffing the floor, etc.  

 

What did you eat?   We had free reign of the store…  If I wanted a midnight snack, I would head to the freezer section and grab some ice cream!   That was great, and we ate very well that week!

 

Where did you shower?  The only time I left the store was to walk over to Bally’s gym, next door…    I had a quick shower, and headed back to my duties collecting food.

 

Scary moments?   The only time I was freaked out was when I was fast asleep and customers thought the tent was for sale…  I would wake up with people peaking in the tent.

 

In the end, at Fry’s alone we gathered more then 2,200 pounds of food, which is enough to feed more then 1,700 people a meal they otherwise wouldn’t have.   A big thank you to the folks at Fry’s Marketplace, our local postal workers, and our great viewers!  The need for food will continue year-round and if you would like to make a donation you can do so at St. Mary’s Food Bank, the number is (602) 343-3128.

 

A Big Trip…

I was off last week while helping my girlfriend Jennifer move to Arizona… We did the big move, with a rental truck, a trailer to move her car, and a big blanket for her dog Sampson… It was a blast until we hit the storms in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Was that ever a lot of rain, about a foot in a half in 2 days in some areas. That is twice as much rainfall that Phoenix gets all year! Crazy. We knew the storms were coming, but seeing that much rain fall from the sky was amazing. It slowed us down quite a bit as well, the visibility was horrible and at times we were only going about 30 mph. Have you ever drove across country? I have done it twice and loved both experiences. Here are some tips if you have a trip in the near future:

1. Take breaks, and find interesting places to stop along the way. We stoped by Graceland in Memphis, and yes even bought some Elvis shades! We had some great BBQ in Little Rock, and toured old town in New Mexico. Having a destination keeps you going when you have to sit in a truck for hours.

2. Get a good truck! Make sure when you are renting a truck that it is good shape. I have heard horror stories about trucks breaking down. If you feel nervous about a truck, don’t hesitate to ask for another. I have always had great luck with Budget trucks.

3. Have games and great music standing by, we had a blast listening to all the different radio stations across the country and hearing different accents.

4. A GPS helped a lot! For Christmas, my parents got me a small GPS unit. You can get them now for under $150, and it was WORTH it. You just type in the address and go, it’s that easy.

It was funny, everyone warned Jennifer and I about how we would drive other crazy in a truck that long. Well I am happy to say after 3o hours and 2,000 miles later we got along great, and it is good to have her here! Does anyone want to help us unload all her stuff?

Have a great rest of the week,

-P

What A Week!

Day four with the pregnancy suit, and let me tell you this will be a week I will never forget… I have learned so much and a big thank you to Banner Estrella Medical Center who provided all of us with some valuable information. I have a pretty sore back, but that’s it. I don’t have to deal with morning sickness, hot flashes, heart burn, etc… At the end of the week all I have to do is take off the suit, not give birth! No, I have it pretty easy except when I head out in public… If you could see the faces on people when I walk around town, it’s very funny. Some folks will say something, others will just stare and you know what they are thinking… That guy has a serious belly!

The suit we used was made by Reality Works, and is called the pregnancy profile. It is made for men and women to wear and get a small idea of what it is like to be 9 months pregnant. You fill the belly up with water and once it’s all together it weighs around 30 pounds. It’s made to be worn for 1 hour at a time, not 5 days… So I am looking forward to Friday!

Finally the reason we are doing this is for the West Valley Child Crisis Center in Glendale, it is one amazing place in Glendale… I have visited a couple of times and was very impressed… Since 1985, West Valley Child Crisis Center has provided temporary shelter and supervision for children who are victims of, or at risk of, abuse, neglect, or abandonment, in a safe home-like environment. Please join us tomorrow from 4:30 to 7:00am as we gather much needed toys, clothes and money for WVCCC.

The Magic of Radio

I got my start in broadcasting at a radio station in Portland, OR. I worked at a station called KNRK 94.7, my title was “Paul The Prize Guy.” It was the best job ever, I was the promotion guy that would deliver prizes to people. I was the fella who everyone was very happy to see. I also had many on-air opportunities for their morning show, making just $5.00 and hour… Thanks Mom for helping me with rent each month!

It takes a lot of skill being a DJ… You have to learn how to run the board, getting your timing down, recording phoners etc. When you have your own on-air shift you are your own director, producer and talent. It can get a little stressful, but there is nothing better then the thrill of putting together a good show.

My brother and I had a very successful show in Cincinnati called “Horton’s House Party.” I miss it terribly but guess what; I have my first shift on-air in Phoenix this Saturday! Make sure to tune your dials to 98.7 “The Peak” this weekend from 7 to midnight. If you haven’t heard the Peak before it is an amazing station that was a creation of program director, Joel Grey. It’s almost like listening to your I-Pod, and they play any type of music they want. Ohhh and they never repeat a song once during the day! Can’t wait, I hope I don’t make any mistakes!
Have a great rest of the week,
-Paul

What A Weekend!

It all started Friday when I was asked by the Harlem Globetrotters to be a part of their big show! What an experience, I played for the Washington Generals and they even hooked me up with my own official Jersey. What amazed me was how the Generals go all out during the game, but in the last 82 years they have only won one game! Sure a lot of the game is scripted, but the talent on the Globetrotter team is amazing… They had me in for just a few plays, I am happy to report that I put two points on the board for the Generals. Thanks again to the Globetrotter organization for that wonderful experience.

On Saturday, I woke up early went out for a beautiful hike up Camelback. Then trekked out to Scottsdale to help host the PACC911 Hope luncheon. PACC911 brings together the many animal welfare organizations throughout Maricopa County, working for the benefit of local animals. Over 500 people attended, raising money for the Emergency Medical Fund. Thanks to Bari and her staff, the event turned out to be a HUGE success. If you would like more information about Pacc911 check out their website at www.pacc911.org.

Then on Sunday, football! Since the Bengals are out of it, I am rooting for the Packers!
Have a great week,
-Paul

A Parade in December!?!?!

OK, I know I am a weather guy… But, I didn’t know how much the sun would make such an impression on me. IT IS BEAUTIFUL HERE! I grew up in Portland, and worked in Seattle, Spokane and Cincinnati. If they planned a parade in December, no one would show up. In both Seattle and Portland they average about 40 to 50 inches of rain every year, grey and gloomy every other day. Last Saturday, I walked from my house to the Fiesta Bowl parade with my shorts and sunglasses and loved every minute of it. Now I know that rain is very important especially in such a dry area, but being able to count on good weather most of the time is very new to me.

Just this month, imagine all the things that we are able to do because this amazing climate! The Fiesta Bowl, Super bowl, a huge marathon, and FBR! Then in February the baseball teams start rolling into town! I LOVE IT! Well at least until June… How will I handle the extreme heat? That’s new to me as well, stay tuned…
Happy new year everyone!
-Paul

BUBBLE’S WHO?

What a day yesterday! I had a chance to hang with “Buckets” from the Harlem Globetrotters, and then fly with Fighter Combat International.

First, the Globetrotters… On January 11th they asked me if I would be interested in playing in a game as a member of the Generals! I said “HECK YES,” what a blast that would be! The only problem is the nick name my executive producer gave me… “Bubbles.” How the heck could I look tough on the court with a nick-name like bubbles? Buckets wanted to make it a tougher name like “Hurricane Horton,” but now it looks like Bubbles is catching on, GREAT! Don’t forget to look for Bubbles Horton on January 11th, at US Airways Center at 7pm, love to see you there.

After the big morning with the Globetrotters, we were hungry so we made a stop at McDonalds in Mesa… We tried the new Mcburrito, which turned out to be a bad idea. Our next stop was at the Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport, for a flight of a life time! If you are looking for that perfect gift for someone who loves adventure, look no further then Fighter Combat International. Our pilot was Dennis Quaid’s brother Clarke, his call name was Otter… That sounds a bit tougher then Bubbles! We took off around 10 am and he had about 8 or 9 aerial tricks that I was even able to try. Just a warning though, do not eat right before the flight!

Have a happy holiday everyone, and I hope you have a wonderful start to the new year!
Sincerely,
Paul Horton

Job Swap

If you have a job that you think would be great to share with our viewers, send us an e-mail… I am ready for the challenge!

So far we have done some great things, trading jobs with a barista, a doggy day care worker, and the toughest, a stay at home mom.

Last Tuesday, I was a pizza maker at NYPD Pizza. Boy did I learn a lot! The Zeigler brothers taught me that it’s the little things that make a difference. Did you know they use real New York water to make the dough?!? It’s the water, the very fresh ingredients, and the brick oven they use that puts them on top. I think the toughest part of the live shot was learning how to properly throw the pizza, remembering to always keep your hands at 10 and 2 while rotating smoothly. Another tough part was not eating everything I made, I LOVE ITALIAN FOOD and PIZZA! If I worked there, I would be a huge man!

Thanks again to all of you who have e-mailed us with your job swap ideas. One of our next ones, is job swapping with Arizona’s #1 bike repair man.

Email me your idea, Phorton@kpho.com