During Jake Miller’s almost-three years anchoring and reporting for WGEM News, I have always enjoyed listening to his accounts.

I finally figured out why the other day.

Jake "sounded" the same in person as he did on television. There was no difference in his "TV voice" and the one I would hear whenever we had a casual conversation. He was the same person off screen as the one I saw each evening on television.

Jake recently landed a weekend news anchor and reporting position with the Fox affiliate in Milwaukee, WITI. Good for him. I’m sure he’ll do well. His last day at WGEM is Oct. 10.

He says leaving the Quincy area was not an easy choice, but a professional move he could not refuse.

“My experience in (this area) has been unforgettable," he said in an e-mail. "Driving my motorcycle along the river road up to Nauvoo in late summer, visiting Hannibal and learning more about the area that helped raise one of the world’s best-known writers … the Mississippi River, living and working by this legendary body of water every day was amazing to a me, especially being from landlocked Indiana."

Jake says he’ll also miss the people here in the Quincy area.

"The kindness people expressed to me whether I was out on a story or somewhere lost in the grocery store … the people of the Tri-State community are giving and kind," he said.

Jake said it was "an honor" bringing the people of this area the news each evening.

I can’t tell Jake it was "an honor" listening to him each night — I’m sure his head is big enough already with that Milwaukee gig in the bag — but I will say it has definitely been enjoyable.

Jake begins his new duties in Milwaukee on Oct. 21.

When did the rules change for telemarketers? Did I miss the memo or something?

Remember when those bothersome calls would only come on weekdays, and never past early evening? Well, things have changed.

Our home phone is plagued by telemarketing calls as late as 9:30 p.m., plus on Saturdays and Sundays. Yes, we’ve tried all the blocking procedures the law allows, but some still get through.

Here is what I have been doing lately to discourage this "audio spam" as much as possible.

• Thanks to caller ID, if it is an "800" or similar type of number, I simply pick up the phone and hang it up. That’s "Nice Steve."

• I have even called a number back to try and sell THEM something.

• If the same number keeps calling back, "Bad Steve" takes over and it is not a pretty sight. I eventually answer the call, making certain it is some sort of telemarketer, then allow the person at the other end of the phone to begin his line of garbage and then I just go off.

I especially pity the fool (insert "Mr. T" reference) who calls my house on the weekend or late at night.

"Do you have any idea (insert either "what time of night" or "what day") it is? Well, if you don’t let me tell you. And don’t you EVER call here again. Don’t you even THINK about calling here again."

Imagine a control panel with a volume level of 1 to 10. Mine is on "10" for Bad Steve.

Admittedly, I feel sorry for those who have to work as telemarketers. Outside of occupations that require you to take your clothes off, I can’t imagine many more jobs that would be as demeaning, demanding or downright boring.

But you know what? I don’t care, not anymore.

It all comes down to a matter of choice, and if they choose to call my home at 9:30 on a Tuesday night, they will get what (I feel) they deserve.

Remember our conversation a few weeks ago about ordering at the fast-food drive-thrus? No matter what I would say to emphasize I did not want anything on my sandwich except for tomato, and no matter how many times I said it, the voice would always respond with:

"Would you like cheese on that?"

Along with the fact my order was totally screwed up that day — I received EVERYTHING on my sandwich EXCEPT tomato — I decided to give this particular fast-food oasis one more chance. It was kind of a mano-a-mano thing. Me against the world, and all that.

So I tooled up to the drive-thru area on a bright, sunny afternoon, holding no grudges and wearing an optimistic smile.

"May I help you," said the voice from behind the big, plastic menu.

"Yes, I would like a No. 4 with tomato only. No cheese, nothing but tomato, Tomato only, nothing else. And a Coke to drink."

I watched the order pop up on the little electric screen and everything looked fine. I prepared to shift out of park into drive and move slowly forward to pay for and pick up my order.

Just as my hand touched the gear shift, the voice returned.

"Would you like cheese on that?"

I wanted to pound my head on the steering wheel, but figured that would really hurt a lot. I also considered torching the place, but the idea of doing life with a celly named Bubba did not appeal me to either.

So I stared directly into the plastic screen and said, "No, I do not want any cheese. No cheese. None. Just a tomato. Please. Just a tomato."

You’re probably thinking this is the end of the story, right? I don’t blame you, but it isn’t.

When I got to the window to pay for my order, the same voice (now in the form of a real person) asked me, " Do you remember how much your order was? I lost your total."

Why do I continue to do this to myself?

Back in June I offered 11 people I would like to meet. Here are 11 more:

1. 
   HULK HOGAN, former pro wrestler: I loved the Hulkster in the ’80s. I actually saw him wrestle in person, and it was a moving, emotional experience. I can’t believe he lets those rotten kids of his run his life. Take a stand, man. Take a stand.
2. DAVID HASSELHOFF, actor (?): I’m not sure how The Hoff has made a career out of being a second banana to a talking car and being a popular "singer" in Germany, but that’s what I’ll want to find out.
3. MICK JAGGER, singer: Shortly after an introductory handshake I would probably have to say, "Dude, you’re really too old for all of this now." I’d also consider suggesting that it’s time to get Keith checked into rehab so you both can make it to 70.
4. CLINT EASTWOOD, actor-director: Remember when he was making those "Every Which Way But Loose" movies and he had that pet orangutan named Clyde? That was the Clint we grew to adore and admire. It was kind of brutal watching him in efforts like "Bridges of Madison County," but I accepted the fact he needed to grow as both an actor and director. But Clint, before you call it a career, how about a revival of "The Outlaw Josey Wales" … or anything that includes guns, horses and spitting.
5. 
   SARAH PALIN, politician: She’s made the presidential race exciting again. And Sarah, sweetheart, where did you get those glasses!?
6. CONAN O’BRIEN, comedian-talk show host: Conan, please for your own sake and your family’s, turn back before it’s too late. You are no Jay Leno, and you are certainly no Johnny Carson. Don’t accept The Tonight Show gig. Please.
7. DAVID LETTERMAN, comedian-talk show host: Dave, once upon a time you were the greatest. I watched your old morning show on NBC and followed you proudly to late night. I was your man, Dave. I was your man. But somewhere along the line you decided to become a political activist and now you’re not half as funny. If you would go back to being Old Dave you could soon rule late night TV once more, especially when Conan O’Brien takes over at NBC.
8. ROD BLAGOJEVICH, governor: I hear Alicia Silverstone called your office the other day, something about a remake of "Clueless."
9. DIANA ROSS, singer: On a cold, Friday night in the winter of 1967 I saw Diana Ross and the Supremes perform in the gymnasium at Ashland College. I thought she was the most beautiful person in the world and I loved that nasal Motown sound of hers. Then she kind of went nutso and the love affair was over, but I would still like to tell her that for about five of my formative years she was my favorite singer.
10. DANIEL CRAIG, actor-secret agent: He’s no Sean Connery, but neither is anyone else. That said, Craig is going to be a solid 007, if his first secret-agent film is any kind of hint. I’ve got your back, Daniel. Don’t take any crap from those Pierce Brosnan and Roger Moore lovers.
11. JIM BELUSHI, comedian: I think I’d like to watch Monday Night Football with this guy. He’s spent his entire career trying to live up to his late brother’s memory, and that can’t be easy. Jim, you’re welcome at the Eighinger spread anytime.

I’ve decided I need a nickname.

For most of my life I have always been greeted with "Hey Steve," "Steve-O!" … you get the idea. I’ve always been jealous of the guys known as Sparky, Lefty, Buster and T-Bone.

Here are some ideas I have received so far from "friends," and the term is used loosely. For those who don’t know, my last name is pronounced EYE-ing-er. (That will come in handy for you as you read on.)

• Steve "What Kind of Fool Am" Eighinger.

• Steve "Here’s Mud in Your" Eighinger.

• Steve "Eighinger of the Tiger."

• Steve "In Your" Eighinger.

• Steve "Easy Writer" Eighinger.

• Steve "Eagle" Eighinger.

• Steve "I’ve Always Been" Eighinger.

• Steve "Light My" Eighinger.

• Steve "I Like Ike" -inger.

• Steve "The Apple of My" Eighinger.

• Steve "Write On" Eighinger.

• Steve "Smoke Gets in Your" Eighinger.

• Steve "I Poked Myself in the" Eighinger.

• Steve "The King and" Eighinger.

• Steve "Private" Eighinger.

• Steve "Wooden" Eighinger.

• Steve "Bulls" Eighinger.

• Steve "Evil" Eighinger.

Other submissions included Shamu, Sports Stud (I kind of like that one), Tuba, Pizza Man, Race Man, The Gourmet (the entry included the note "because I know his appetite"), Inky, Snake, Stein, Big Stein, Stein Van Damme, Big Daddy Cool (not bad), The Sloth, Flounder and Skunky.

The one I have settled on, however, is "Tater." I like the sound of it and it reminds me of my favorite time(s) of day — meal time(s). It also comes from a skit by comedian Ron White, which if you haven’t seen I highly suggest doing so. He’s one of the "Blue Collar" bunch on Comedy Central and repeats are quite frequent.

So from now on, when you call The Herald-Whig, you can simply ask for "Tater." Or if you call me, feel free to let go with a "Yo, Tater!"

Eat your hearts out, all of you Sparkys, Leftys and T-Bones. There’s now a Tater in the house.