A Million Thanks!!

Cheeeeeeers Chuckleheads, and a Happy Full Moon Thursday to you all.

Earlier in the week, I was ruminating through the number of listens that our IWS Radio Show has had since its inception in late 2010.  The number of listens?

A little more than 302,000.  Eh, not bad.

Yesterday, I was looking over our website stats, and I was a bit flabbergasted.  I noticed the number of page views this website has had since its inception in the summer of 2011, and y’know what that number is?

Nearly 701,000.  IKR?  Sheesh!!

Being the numbers guy I am, I added those two numbers up, and realized that since the Jayman and I started our campaign to corner the market on social media some two and a half years ago, our IWS Radio website and our IWS Radio Show have been read and/or listened to….

1,003,000 times!!

I know.  I know.  Some sites get that many hits in a matter of hours, but…not bad for a couple of unknown, above and below the Mason-Dixon Line satirists and socio-political provocateurs.

Upon reflecting upon these numbers, I said to myself…

“Self?  This would be a good time to thank some folks who have helped Jay and I get to this point.”

So allow me to begin…

First of all to some of most faithful listeners, readers, and doers…

IWS Pin-Up Girl Tamra, Dour and Mrs. Mike, Bad Boy Dr. Mike, Bad Ass Jesse Ferg, Edita, Dianne, Knight, Snaaaake, Katy Anders, Jo (when she can hear the show, and who has also done artwork for us!!), and of course…

Our Fave Canadian and most loyal listener, the One and Only Jaaaaaamie!!  Thanks to all of you and the many that I am sure have escaped my mind.

Our past guests such as…

Stacy Swenson Johnson, Carrie Welch, West Coast Kat, the uber-lovely Warrior Kat who guest hosted with Jayman, Nicole Russin, Debi Daly, Andy Longo, my brother Party Marty, the hottest lesbian on Earth, Annnnngie, and the one idiot who referred to Jay and I as Nazis.

I need to thank our IWS correspondents and at-large contributors…

Joshua, Paul Piatt, Kirk Douglas, Guy Ahnyurdyck, Dixie Ozark, Slyder Balzcock, Kim Fragile, Bobby Kraft, Stubby Stonehenge, Keith Olbermann, and Hank Philpot DIE Traitor!! Carl Paladino, and Billy the Kid.  You all rock!!

And lastly, there are a few people who have done a variety of things for us…

First of all, the man who invested the $400.00 in us in order for us to become a Premium show on BTR… The crazy Cat Man of Columbus, Big Dick.  Thanks Big Dick!!

Dana and her barely pubescent significant other who puts the “boy” in boyfriend, for putting up with our many sarcastic jabs toward them, but mainly directed at Dana.  Thanks Dana!!

Lastly…

A shout out to Missalicious who has in the past, broken child labor laws on our behalf, and an uber-Shout-Out to…

Schmoop and JayMom for providing their voices to characters, shedding their dignity for the show, and putting up with our anal retentive bullshit.

To all y’all…A great big thank you, and hopefully bigger and better things will happen, but in the meantime, thanks for everything that you have helped us to achieve.

Have a Happy Thursday, and thanks for being a friend to Jay, to me, and to IWS Radio.

Cheers!!
Matt-Man

mattmaniws@ymail.com
@mattman_iws

Living in a Van Down by the River

Cheers Bitches, and Happy Monday…Matt-Man here.

There are quite a few things going on and going down in my life this week, so I’d thought I’d do a pre-cap of all the action that will be unfolding, so when I go over the edge, you’ll know what is going on and why I will have lost my mind.

Found out yesterday that my BFF/OSP Schmoop who hasn't worked since October 22 due to health issues, has been denied at least her first two weeks of unemployment compensation, and may not get any whatsoever.

Apparently, her newly former boss who laid her off, claims to the powers that be, when questioned by the those who give the thumbs up or down to a claimant’s request, that…

“Laid her off!?  Oh no, that’s crazy talk.  There’s plenty of work for her to do here.”

The whiplash that I incurred when Schmoop informed me that that is what the folks at unemployment told her that that is what they had been told by said boss left me feeling and sounding like Dr. Phil.

I…was…STUPIFIED!!

The entire thing would be inexplicable except for one incredibly undeniable and transparent fact…her newly former boss is, and always has been, a completely selfish and self-centered dick who has no regard for anyone unless they are making money for him.

And here is what really disconcerting and foremost in my mind…This Friday, the lovely, yet soon to be indigent Schmoop is going under the knife at OSU Medical Center.

She will be on the table and under the knife for anywhere from 4-7 hours, as Dr. Rawalpindi removes a mass from her bile duct.

It’s bad enough that she has to worry about that, but due to the actions of her newly former boss, she has to worry that after her discharge from the hospital, which will take anywhere from 7-10 days, Schmoop will have to worry if she and we, have a home in which to stay come January.

Am I being hokie?  Am I being melodramatic?

No.

During the chaos surrounding her surgery , the battles over not being compensated, and the trepidation she has over the possibility of having cancer, Schmoop has had only one overriding fear and a singular point of ultimate sorrow…

She said to me…

“This apartment, for as small as it is, is home. I never felt that way at my house growing up, nor when I lived with John, but this is our home, and I don’t want to lose it.”

Here is what this unfeeling, un-thinking, ego-centric, self -serving jerk of a boss doesn’t understand…

With the arrogant and flippant statement he made to the folks at the unemployment office, he not only prevented Schmoop from garnering her opulent unemployment salary of $230.00 per week, he may have kicked her out of the home she loves as well.

Perhaps he doesn't realize that, or…perhaps he does.  Either way…

Even after twelve years of dedicated and loyal service on Schmoop’s behalf to him and his company, confidence is high that he doesn't really care.

And sadly, because of his actions, instead of merely worrying about her surgery, Schmoop has to worry about the financial situation as well.

Well…As I am not one to stand idly by, I will make sure he has to worry about his as well.  Letting his customers know the truth about him and his business practices is one way to do just that.

It won’t make our financial situation any better, but when Schmoop and I are living in a van down by the river, it’ll make me feel much better.

Cheers!!

Matt-Man
mattmaniws@ymail.com
@mattman_iws

On a lighter note…Jay and I broadcast a most festive and astounding celebration of Hanukkah on the IWS Radio Show Saturday night.  We had music, frivolity, and a regaling of all things Jewish.  We also checked-in with Dour Mike and Ariel Sharon.  If you missed it live, you can catch the magic right here: