After the “Big Game” (formerly called the Sup*r B*wl) CBS aired a program called, Undercover Boss. As I watched the program, I spotted numerous situations that made me think setup. Let me ask a question. Having had numerous jobs in my life, and, remembering those first days on the new job being filled with trepidation and uncertainty, I cannot remember a single time where my trainer/superior ever asked me to dinner with their family. I worked on a garbage truck for several summer breaks from college and I never remember anyone ever hugging me or reading me a poem. I do remember peeing in can though. Did you want to smack “Randy” for never questioning where his employees went to the bathroom while on their route? Duh! It’s not like the people whose trash you are hauling away are going even answer the door when you knock let alone let you in, give me a break.  My favorite scene was the super secret hush-hush meeting in the abandoned parking lot to make sure "Randy" can look like the good guy after his "spontaneous" dinner with Jocelyn's family. 

Saturday on the Rick Smith Show Rick was snowed in due to a massive 22 inches of snow being dumped on Central Pennsylvania but that did not stop fresh content from the airwaves. On Friday evening as the snow fell Rick attended DEMFest 2010 the meeting of Pennsylvania’s Democratic Party. Rick interviewed three of the four gubernatorial candidates, Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty, Alleghany County Commissioner Dan Onorato, and PA State Auditor General Jack Wagner. Senatorial candidate Congressman Joe Sestak, Health Care for all PA executive director Chuck Pennacchio, PA2010.com editor Dan Hirschhorn, Franklin and Marshall Professor Dr. G. Terry Madonna, Lieutenant Governor candidates Jonathan Saidel and Doris Ribner-Smith, and State House Candidates Fern Kauffman and Phyllis Bennet.  

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Sunday on the Rick Smith Show recorded interviews from Saturday’s 2010 Pennsylvania Progressive Summit presented by Keystone Progress. The guest list is a who’s who of Pennsylvania politics. Gubernatorial candidates Chris Doherty, Joe Hoeffel, and Jack Wagner spent time behind the microphone discussing their vision for Pennsylvania. Senatorial candidates Senator Arlen Specter and Congressman Joe Sestak stopped to trade thoughts. Labor guests Eileen Connelly (PA SEIU) and Rick Bloomingdale (PA AFL-CIO) talked about the conference and what progressive changes need to made to make life better for working families. Other guests included PA State House member Mark Cohen, professor and talk show host Chuck Williams, Lieutenant Governor candidate Jonathan Saidel,  Democracy Risings Tim Potts, and many, many more. 

Every dollar helps and thought helps.  Looking at the images of fallen buildings and the destroyed lives of people who had already suffered unimaginable difficulties makes me grateful for my good fortune.  I ask everyone to help.  Please help the National Nurses United to send a nurse to help care for those in need.

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Although he is a burgeoning celebrity in central Pennsylvania, Rick Smith says he is an average man—and that might just be what makes him so popular.

A truck driver for Roadway Express, Smith is a member of Local 776 out of Harrisburg. On the weekends when he’s not on the road, Smith can be found in the studios of WHYL AM 960, broadcasting his voice—and his opinions—over the airways.

Host of a self-titled radio show, Smith provides the listeners in his area with something he calls unique and different—the perspective of a working-class, union man.

“Everything here is very conservative and very far to the right. In our area, my radio show offers a progressive point of view. I look at things through the eyes of a working man because that’s what I am,” Smith said. “I discuss the struggles of keeping a roof over my head and food on my table; I think people can identify with that.”

Over the past few weeks the Rick Smith Show has been looking for a theme song for Jake's labor segment.  A listener, knowing of Jake's reputation as a big eater and lifelong member of the AHA (American Hog Association) thought food related songs would be a big hit.  SO week one saw the introduction of the Cookie Monster singing "C is for Cookie."  Week two was the Warrant song "Sweet Cherry Pie."  The next day came the bounty in the form of a delicious cherry pie and a big plate of cookies.  Jake wasted no time digging into the plate of cookies and struggled to wait the two hour of the show before diving in to the pie.  Thank you Granny Ruth your Sweet Cherry Pie was devoured and the cookies met their match.