Pictures of my youngest listener, Erik Ewan, are now up on the photo gallery. 

Here's a picture of our very own Miss Wisconsin USA, Melissa Young, arriving at the Miss USA pageant in Baltimore. She looks great and we wish her the best of luck to be the first Miss USA from Wisconsin! 

Kristin Howsley, Miss Galaxy International 2005, has had over 550 people drop by to view the exclusive photo gallery! Join the throngs of Kristin fans and see what everyone else is talking about! 

Shandi Finnessey, Miss USA 2004, will be interviewed on tomorrow's Stimmung Stunde!

MISS AMERICA ORGANIZATION LAUNCHES NEW TEEN PROGRAM

Miss America's Outstanding Teen to Promote Scholastic Achievement, Creative Accomplishment, Healthy Living and Community Involvement
for America's Teens

Atlantic City, NJ and Orlando, FL - March 23, 2005 - The Miss America Organization today announced the launch of its newly created teen program, Miss America's Outstanding Teen, at a press conference in Orlando, FL, where the new organization will be headquartered. Miss America's Outstanding Teen will promote scholastic achievement, creative accomplishment, healthy living and community involvement for America's teens.

The inaugural Miss America's Outstanding Teen Competition, where teen winners from each state will gather to vie to for this new title, will be held from August 17-20, 2005 at the Linda Chapin Theater, Orange County Convention Center. The host hotel for this event will be The Rosen Centre, located on International Drive in Orlando, FL.

Teens, aged 13 through 17, are eligible to compete in this program. Contestants must first win their state teen competition in order to advance to the national Miss America's Outstanding Teen finals. The winner of this national title will travel the country promoting the organization's mission and encouraging teens to project a positive image for themselves and others. The contestants in the national finals will compete for over $150,000 in college scholarship assistance, with the winner receiving $30,000 of that amount.

"For many years, the Miss America Organization has wanted to start a program that could provide scholarship assistance to America's teens," said Art McMaster, President & CEO of the Miss America Organization. "For 84 years, our organization has been helping young women to achieve their dreams and goals, and we are thrilled to now be able to provide those same opportunities for our country's teens."

"Miss America's Outstanding Teen will open doors across the nation for teens who excel in their schools and communities," said Donna Bozarth, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Miss America's Outstanding Teen. "Our scholarships and appearance opportunities will aid these outstanding young women to enter college with confidence and enthusiasm."

"I am pleased to be associated with Miss America's Outstanding Teen Program," said Harris Rosen, President of Rosen Hotels and Resorts, Inc. and Member of the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Board of Directors. "Their commitment to scholastic achievement and community service is an extension of my personal belief in the value of service and education."

Contestants competing in the national finals will be judged on personal interview, talent, evening wear, active wear and lifestyle/fitness. For more information on Miss America's Outstanding Teen, or to find out how to enter the competition, please go to www.MAOTeen.org.

Webshots - Images of 2005-03 Orlando Trip
You can now view pictures of my latest trip to Orlando.

Or not. Free country. (Make sure to read the captions!)

Newsday.com - AP New Jersey: "Trump wooing down-on-its-luck Miss America pageant


By JOHN CURRAN
Associated Press Writer

March 11, 2005, 4:06 PM EST

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- He's a reality TV star, a billionaire and he knows a thing or two about beautiful women _ between the ones he's married and the beauty pageants he already owns.

Who better to rescue a damsel in distress than Donald Trump?

Trump has approached the Miss America Organization about buying the famous pageant, which is fighting for survival after being dumped by ABC because of declining ratings.

'I've talked to them, but I have not made an offer,' said Trump, an owner of the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants. 'It's tough: The networks don't want to put it on, and I'd like to do whatever I can to help them out.'

If he bought Miss America, he would keep it in Atlantic City but make it more watchable, Trump said. When asked how, he wouldn't say, except to say he would maintain the 'integrity' of the contest.

Pageant officials, meanwhile, were playing it close to the sash Friday.

'We are flattered that Donald Trump called on the Miss America Organization, the longest-running pageant in history,' said CEO Art McMaster. 'We are currently exploring all of our opportunities.'

McMaster, who issued a written statement in response to inquiries from The Associated Press, would not elaborate. He declined repeated requests for an interview Friday through pageant spokeswoman P.J. Santos.

Trump controls 50 percent of the Miss Universe partnership, which owns the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants. He owns 25 percent personally and 25 percent through his Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts casino company.

The Trump Hotels share is soon to be transferred to Trump himself, as part of the reorganization of Trump Hotels, which filed for bankruptcy last November.

That doesn't mean The Donald's broke; Forbes magazine puts his net worth at $2.6 billion.

What he may want from down-on-its-luck Miss America is anyone's guess.

'This is what you call the vertical integration of the beauty pageant business,' said Larry Gerbrandt, a media analyst. 'I don't know what it does to Miss Universe, but you could see a natural merger of Miss USA and Miss America, so that you go on from Miss USA-America to Miss Universe.'

Miss America, by any measure, is floundering.

Despite a succession of new gimmicks aimed at luring viewers back in recent years, its basic formula _ 52 women competing in talent, swimsuit and evening wear, with a tearful crowning at the end _ has gone unchanged.

Last year, it was watched by 9.8 million people _ a record low, and well below the viewership for Miss Universe, which drew 10.5 million viewers.

The loss of its TV contract means more than the loss of network exposure.

It also means less money: In 2003, ABC paid $5.6 million for the rights to televise Miss America; the Miss America Organization's total revenues for the year amounted to $6.9 million.

Now, the staid old beauty contest is pitching other networks in hopes of finding a place on the dial.

McMaster believes the key to reviving interest in the 84-year-old pageant is televising it as a reality-style serial that allows viewers to get to know the contestants, a la 'The Contender,' NBC's new reality show about boxing.

How far Miss America goes in embracing the often-meanspirited nature of reality TV is another matter, though.

'You can't turn a Miss America pageant into a reality show,' said Marc Berman, senior television writer for Mediaweek, a trade publication. 'There's just so much you can do with it, and while it can stand some changes, he'd be smart to know you can't turn it around over night.'

Pageant loyalists, meanwhile, see Trump and Miss America as an odd fit.

Bob Arnhym, CEO of the Miss California Scholarship Pageant, who has been associated with the Miss America pageant for more than 40 years, call Miss America and the other pageants fundamentally different.

Miss America Organization, a tax-exempt nonprofit whose purpose is to provide scholarships for women, uses talent as a barometer, which the others don't, he said.

'No individuals own the Miss America Pageant. There are no shareholders. You don't have to do this to protect the investment of shareholders, which would be one of the purposes of a sale. I don't know why it would be to our advantage,' he said. "

NBC10.com - News - Miss America Pageant Explores Reality TV Approach: "Miss America Pageant Explores Reality TV Approach
Show May Become 'American Idol' Type Show

POSTED: 9:21 am EST March 1, 2005
UPDATED: 9:40 am EST March 1, 2005

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Miss America might get real.

The Press of Atlantic City reports pageant officials have signed a deal with the William Morris Agency to shop a reality concept around.

One idea on the table would turn the competition into a multipart 'American Idol' type show. Another possibility is stretching the talent, swimsuit and interview segments over a five-week period.

The Miss America Pageant was dropped by ABC last year after declining ratings.

Over the past few years, officials have changed portions of the pageant in a bid to attract younger viewers."

Quote du jour

In Paris they simply stared when I spoke to them in French; I never did succeed in making those idiots understand their language.

Mark Twain

Official Announcement: Tracy Gest, Miss New Berlin 2005, will visit the
Stimmung Stunde on May 7, 2005

It was my great honor this year to be one of the judges for the Miss New Berlin pageant. It was a difficult job with many fine candidates, but eventually we did come to the decision to crown the beautiful Tracy Gest--our guest on the May 7th edition of the Stimmung Stunde.

Tracy is studying public relations at Carroll College. With her dynamite personality and killer smile, we're sure she will do great job in this occupation in the future!
She was a great candidate and we expect her to be a great titleholder. In addition to being sent to the Miss Wisconsin competition, we're sure she will continue to support her exciting platform--which is Diabetes Awareness. My Oma suffers of this illness so I am very interested in seeing Tracy continue her efforts in this worthwhile endeavor.

To this end, Tracy has created a CD to help raise funds for the group. Let me tell you--that must be some CD! Tracy knocked us all out at the talent competition with her piano artistry!

You won't want to miss this very special program on May 7th with our friend, Tracy Gest, on the Stimmung Stunde.

Official Announcement: Marci Gallo, Miss West Allis 2005, comes to the Stimmung Stunde on May 28, 2005

As my regular listeners know, I helped judge the Miss West Allis pageant this year. It was a great honor and I was amazed by the number of wonderful candidates for the title. At the end of the night, we crowned the lovely Marci Gallo as the new Miss West Allis 2005.

Now, I have to behave myself when she comes on the show May 28, 2005 because I live in West Allis. Which means this is my immediate leader. I have to follow all her commands. Little scared of that. Little scared. Why? She knows Tae Kwon Do.
And I'm fragile.

But she's so nice. She's an accomplished student studying Theology and Nursing (I guess you enact one if the other doesn't work out!) and plans to attend John Hopkins. This overachiever has studied in Beijing, Xian, Shanghi, China in the Spring of 2004. She's even performed at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. She's played violin for 12 years, but at the pageant she blew us away with her piano performance.

Her platform is "Invest Yourself." What is that all about? Well, you'll have to listen to the Stimmung Stunde on May 28, 2005.

Quote of the Day

If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything.
Mark Twain

Greater Milwaukee Auto Show

Last night, I went to the Midwest Express Center to check out the Milwaukee Auto Show. In fact, my parents are checking it out tonight. It's a lot of fun bumping around that huge complex and looking at pristine, glistening cars.

And for tall folks like me and my family, it's an absolute God-send to be able to check what vehicles you can comfortably fold ourselves into.

The car show ends Sunday. Tune in Saturday and we will be interviewing a representative of the Auto Show live on the air. Exciting, nicht wahr?