By Writer Keith, Salem High Witches Class of 1995

At 10 o’clock Thanksgiving morning, thousands of people on the North Shore will be at Hurd Stadium in Beverly, Massachusetts for a tradition that dates back to the 19th century. For the 110th time, the Witches of Salem High School (my alma mater) will do battle with the Panthers of Beverly High School. As it stands right now, the Panthers hold a slight edge overall in the rivalry at 53-47 (that includes a current string of five wins by Beverly), with seven games ending in a tie.

Yeah our mascot celebrates one of the worst episodes in our country's history…what of it!

I cannot stress to you how big this game is every year. Even if both teams came into Thanksgiving without a win all season, whichever team wins this game gets bragging rights for the next 364 days. For the people in the towns, the winner of the game also determined how we’d name an old bridge (the Salem-Beverly Bridge or the Beverly-Salem Bridge). My dad, my uncles, and my cousins have all played in, or coached, in many of these games. I was a captain on the cross-country team in high school, but cheered my guts out. It’s tradition like this – spanning generations – that has had people sitting on cold, metal benches on a holiday morning every year for the past century. At this year’s game, meteorologist Bob Van Dillen says it’ll be low 40’s and muddy from storms earlier in the week.

For me, the most memorable game was the showdown in 1994. It was my senior year and Salem had just ended a teachers’ strike that shut down the school for weeks. Our football team made headlines all across the state… not just for their great season, but because the coaching staff defied a rule that kept teachers from coaching while they were on strike. I can still see the coaches running across the field locked arm-in-arm for a big game against the Swampscott Big Blue that year. Somehow, through the controversy, the team kept winning. At the end of the season, it came down to Salem versus Beverly. If Salem beat Beverly, they were headed to the state championship. My classmates and I met in the parking lot to tailgate before the game (which for us meant cereal and juice…as far as you know anyway) rocking the red, white, and black. It was an epic contest. Beverly had a 13-10 lead late in the game, but Salem marched down the field and punched it in for a touchdown with less than a minute left. Final score: 17-13. Super Bowl bound (that’s what they called it back then). A week later, the magic ran out. We lost to Whitman-Hanson in the state championship. I have no idea what the score of that game was, but I will always remember that we beat Beverly.

To this day, anytime I cross over the bridge from Salem into Beverly, I get an icky feeling like I am in enemy territory. I have no idea why…it’s a fine city, I have many friends who grew up in Beverly. I graduated high school in 1995, and I haven’t lived in Salem for nine years. I guess it’s just something that’s in your soul. I never took a snap in football, but when I sprinted past two Beverly runners in the last 200 yards in our final cross-country race my sophomore year, I high-stepped like I was Deion Sanders because it was the first time we beat them in like 15 years. Every Thanksgiving I’ve spent in Atlanta, one of the first questions I ask my parents is “Who won?”

I guess what I truly love about the rivalry is: I am a fan of traditions. The game is pure. About 99.99% of the kids playing are never going to be in the NFL. They are just young men who love the game. The games are always a place where you can see friends you may have lost touch with, spend time with your family, and take pride in your community. No matter what goes wrong in your life, no matter how bleak things may look, it is always good to have something you can count on…and that can never be a bad thing.

Go Witches!

Posted by: Writer Keith
Filed under: Extras

Writer Keith

Thanksgiving at Writer Keith's house. I bet you had no idea I was related to Colonel Sanders.

Are you one of those people who are fed up with the red and green blitz that has become Christmas? You know, malls turning into war zones, stores playing “Jingle Bells: The Elevator Remix” starting around Flag Day, neighbors with blinking lights that just catch your eye enough to give you a migraine. Don’t get me wrong though - I love the holiday season. What I don’t like is how overlooked Thanksgiving is during this time of year. It has become almost like a Christmas dress rehearsal. It’s sad too because, in so many ways, Thanksgiving is better than Christmas.

At Christmas: You are forced to wear garish sweaters with snowmen and reindeer that make you look like you just got back from a yard sale at Andy Williams’ place.
At Thanksgiving: You are forced to wear your buffet pants. You know, those pants that have just enough give as you feed yourself to maximum capacity.

At Christmas: If you get a lousy present, you have to pretend you like it, make up a lie about why you need the receipt, then wait in a long return line to maybe get store credit from an employee who looks like dental surgery would be a better alternative than talking to you.
At Thanksgiving: Even if you get some dry turkey, lumpy mashed potatoes, or stuffing that is thicker than mortar, it’s nothing that gravy can’t fix.

At Christmas: If you fall asleep at your family gathering, whispers go around about how you may have had too much eggnog.
At Thanksgiving: Sleeping isn’t just ok, it’s encouraged!

At Christmas: One day off of work.
At Thanksgiving: FOUR DAY WEEKEND!

At Christmas: People bring presents. They’re for certain people.
At Thanksgiving: People bring food. It’s for everyone!

At Christmas: The same movies and specials you have seen on a continuous loop throughout the month of December for the past 50 years.
At Thanksgiving: Football. Lots and lots of football.

At Christmas: Once you open presents, the day is pretty much over.
At Thanksgiving: We use words like “seconds,” “thirds,” and “leftovers.”

At Christmas: You have to untangle your lights.
At Thanksgiving: You have to unbuckle your belt.

Posted by: Writer Keith
Filed under: Extras

Business Correspondent Jennifer Westhoven

This story could make a huge difference for you if you suddenly lose your paycheck.

Congress and the President have recognized the difficulties people face in the current job market.

President Bush just signed into law the bill passed by Congress that says people on unemployment get a little more time to breathe easy.

Typically, you get 26 weeks of unemployment checks; and a good general rule of thumb is that the checks are about half of your last paycheck.

The average check is for about $292 a week.

With the extension, you’ll get an extra seven weeks of benefits (so that’s 33 weeks in all).

If you live in a very hard-hit state where the jobless rate has been above 6% for more than three months, you’ll get another 13 weeks on top of that.

It makes sense, because it’s taking longer and longer to find a job these days.

The rules can really vary depending on what state you live in, so to find out how it affects you, click on your home state on this map from the Labor Department:

Posted by: Business Correspondent Jennifer Westhoven
Filed under: Your Money

Senior Writer Jeff

Every Tuesday on Morning Express, we tell you about the best new CDs hitting stores.

This week, we have a special blog edition of New Music Tuesday.

The Zac Brown Band’s new album, “Foundation” is out this week. The guys are riding high right now. Their single “Chicken Fried” is a top 5 hit, and it’s been on the country music charts for 5 months.

I asked Zac a few questions about the new album, his heroes, and of course, how to cook up some tasty fried chicken.

Writer Jeff: Your new album is called “Foundation”… and you’ve started a non-profit foundation for kids. What inspired you to do that?
Zac Brown: The inspiration came from working at camps for kids, especially Camp Mikell and Camp Glisson.

WJ: You guys sold out a show recently in New York. How does it feel to be a boy from the Georgia mountains playing in front of sold-out crowds in NYC?
ZB: It feels good to know that people like good music wherever you are.

WJ: “Chicken Fried” is climbing the charts. How do you balance enjoying your success vs. worrying about finding another hit?
ZB: I feel that people who like “Chicken Fried” will like our other songs.

WJ: Zac, you used to own a restaurant where you were also the cook. What are your tips for making great fried chicken?
ZB: Getting quality chicken, frying it in peanut oil and having the oil at the right temperature that will crisp up the skin without burning it and of course you need the right seasoning and I like to have a little breading on the chicken.

WJ: If you could pick anything to eat tonight for dinner, what would it be?
ZB: Sushi.

WJ: You’ve opened for some of the biggest names in country music. What’s it been like getting to meet your musical heroes?
ZB: Sharing the stage with them has been the biggest milestone of my career.

WJ: You’ve even opened for ZZ Top. That sounds like a battle of the beards as much as a battle of the bands. Did you guys compare grooming tips?
ZB: No, but Billy Gibbons made a point to come out and let us know he enjoyed our music. They make a lot of music as a 3 piece band. They are legends of Rock and Roll.

WJ: Do you ever think you’ll shave off your beard?
ZB: I don’t have any plans to but later down the road you never know what you’re going to do.

Posted by: Senior Writer Jeff
Filed under: New Music Tuesday

News Correspondent Richard Lui

Got a secret? If you want to work in the Obama White House those doing the hiring want to know about it.

“Tell me about your past live-in lovers, what are their names and phone numbers?”

“Have you hired a house cleaner, what are their names, are they legal US citizens?”

“Who owns a gun in your family, how’s their health, do they have any enemies?”

Those questions just scrape the surface of 63 essay questions each high level candidate is being asked to answer. It’s a far cry from the 11 blank fields like name and address one needs to fill out on change.gov to be considered for the new Obama administration. Not all candidates for the 7000 jobs listed in the new Plum Book will have to answer theses questions, just cabinet and high level advisor positions.

As you have seen in recent times, this data is important to know not only to assess the strength of one’s candidacy but also to determine how one will be perceived by the public and press under scrutiny. Tax returns can expose one’s financial and business dealings. Lovers could reveal salacious details. And family members’ actions could reflect the candidate’s character.

This is no online McDonald’s application which will take you about 30 minutes to fill out (I just looked at it online). But running the U.S. is not even close to running a fast food restaurant (although I hear they serve french fries with the West Wing Burger at the White House Mess—the eatery under the Oval House).

So here’s the list if you want to see all the questions.

Since these leaders will be running the U.S. during a very fragile time of its history, many of you are probably concerned about whether these job candidates have what it takes—the X factor in running the largest economy in the world.

So what do you want to know? What would be your questions for the next Treasury Secretary or White House Press Secretary? Blog below and don’t hold back. As you can see, neither did the Obama Transition Team.

Posted by: News Correspondent Richard Lui
Filed under: Election Connection

Business Correspondent Jennifer Westhoven

We're seeing a lot of outrage after news broke of yet another fancy AIG conference. AIG says the somewhat lavish conference is legit, but does it pass your smell test? You make the call!

The Federal Reserve rescued American International Group from collapse by lending the US's largest insurer up to $85 billion. Are they handling that money responsibly?

The insurance giant is asking for billions of dollars of YOUR money ($150 billion dollars' worth of taxpayer money) to survive the financial crisis, and has already been excoriated in the press (even on Oprah!) for its lavish conferences.

After it vowed to mend its ways, the ABC affiliate KNXV reported on a secret AIG conference at a luxury hotel in Phoenix. It reported that hotel employees were told to make sure that AIG's name was not on any signs, or to even say the words "AIG".

Then KNXV caught an exec staying in a 2-story suite, and walking out of the spa while everyone else was in the conference.

This morning Congressman Elijah Eummings of Maryland blasted AIG saying "they" don't get it: "These guys said 'We are on the critical list' ... then they are out partying!"

AIG countered, saying that sponsors and attendees covered 90% of the bill – leaving AIG with just minimal costs. It also said the conference was necessary for doing business - that most of the people attending are independent financial advisers who will then go out and *sell* AIG's products.

AIG says that conference attendees need to know about AIG's products, and who to sell them to, and that's the only way AIG can make money to get back on its feet and pay back the US taxpayer.

What do you think? Here are some pictures of the hotel.

Share your opinion in the comments field below.

Posted by: Business Correspondent Jennifer Westhoven
Filed under: Your Money

News Correspondent Richard Lui

It came earlier in the night. I got the email from CNN’s Political Team at 8:39pm that CNN was projecting Pennsylvania as an Obama win. It was the state the McCain campaign had targeted as necessary to reach the White House. When that didn’t happen, it hinted of things to come.

Sen. Barack Obama addresses a crowd of 125,000 people in Chicago, Illinois.

Then Ohio went Obama at 9:33pm—as has been said, no Republican has won the White House without Ohio.

Then at 11pm, CNN projected Senator Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. History had arrived, and was reached by breaking a lot of well-investigated conventional wisdom.

The youth did turn out as 18% of votes were aged 18-29, and 2 out of 3 of them went for Obama. Large numbers of Clinton supporters didn’t protest vote: of those who wanted her to be the Democratic nominee, 82 to 17 percent went for Obama.

As for the Bubba vote or Bradley Effect, it didn’t materialize it appears based on early numbers. CNN’s last average of polls had Obama/McCain at 51/44. Popular vote at this hour is 52/47. And Independents favored Obama 51/45 percent. If this much discussed dynamic where voters will not tell pollsters their actual preference did show up, it did in small numbers.

And there are more stats, but really this is about you and the country in the days and years ahead.

What do you think this election means to the country’s financial crisis, healthcare, and terrorism?

Will you remember where you were when you learned who won?

Going forward, will the country work in a bipartisan way, or is it still divided? And on a more personal level, what does this day mean to you? Let us know!

Posted by: News Correspondent Richard Lui
Filed under: Election Connection

Writer Aimee

Election Day voting kicks off less than 24 hours from now in most states, and we’re expecting a record turnout.

Ohio voters wait their turn to vote early.

More than 23 million people voted early in the 25 states that are reporting their numbers.

So, we’re asking YOU to be our eyes and ears at the polls this Tuesday. What are the lines like? Are there are issues, or is everything pretty much problem-free?

We’re certainly not asking you to tell us whom you voted for, but we do want to know what you experienced!

Once you cast your ballot Tuesday, leave a comment on our blog to tell us how it went.

We’ll be reading some of your comments on the air on Election Day Tuesday, right here on “Morning Express.”

Posted by: election, voting
Filed under: Election Connection