Jackblog

Subscribe

Work excursion ... or an excuse for an all-girl road trip?

Last Thursday and Friday, three interns (including myself), one former intern and Donna took a field trip to South Mississippi for a story. Several stories, actually, but none of them are a part of this story, so never mind. We all split up into three cars, (Donna was with me, mostly, I suspect, because she wanted to road-trip in my Camaro - actually, I don't suspect it as much as I know it because she told me flat out).

Chris Joyner, Gotcha Journalist?

Meantime, I'll get Adam to try to sort it out and report back to y'all.

The Clarion-Ledger has a "big" story today that reeks of incomplete, gotcha journalism. Essentially the story is accusing David "Pops" Watkins, and perhaps others, of lying about investors in Farish Street. I sure do wish we were privy to Joyner's full interviews with Watkins and others. Joyner—the Ledger's rising "investigative" star—has interviewed me, and he lifted me far out of context that I wouldn't ever agree to such an interview again, and I don't trust anything he writes. A recent Ledger internal memo announced that he was becoming an investigative reporter, presumably sometime after they finish paying people overtime to take drunk pictures for their new, er, Gen X Web site. (At the same time that they are firing people.)

What's up with the Entertainment Industry?

Is it just me or have we decided involuntarily to accept any and all things thrown at us by artists and radio? I am just stunned to see that so many artist these days lack actual talent. This is really not just music, it's affecting the entertainment industry all together. People are no longer required to have acting skills to become celebrities. They can just sign on to a reality show, where no acting experience is required, and then suddenly they are stars. We are suddenly concerned about their entire life? Reality shows take up at least 75 % of what we see on television these days.

WLBT: Mary Hawkins-Butler Rallies…at Starbucks?

According to WLBT, the Madison Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Hawkins-Butler rallied at the Madison Starbucks, which is slated for closure:

Edison-Walthall Soon the ‘Roberts Vista' Hotel

The Roberts Companies, the family owned-and-operated holding company of local television station CW34 and radio station 97.7FM WRBJ, announced today that its Roberts Hotels Group has acquired the 80-year old Edison-Walthall hotel out of bankruptcy.

Isaac Hayes: 1942-2008

After blogging about Bernie Mac's death yesterday, I wish I was kidding. From CNN:

Bernie Mac: 1957-2008

The famous comic actor had been battling sarcoidosis and said he was getting better, but pneumonia is what took his life today. From CNN:

99% Honest and John Edwards

This begs the question - what is with these guys?!?

John Edwards' has recently admitted to an affair of some length with a paid campaign advisor.

New Polling Numbers Show National 'Lead' for Obama

This doesn't mean much in the actual presidential contest (thanks in part to the Electoral College and its role of subverting the will of the American people), but it looks like nationally Obama has gotten a bounce from his "How would y'all like me to do this gig full-time?" tour of Europe and the Middle East, while McCain toured pancake houses and the back nine with George H.W. Bush to prove that, yes, presidents do live to be older than he is.

Is Clarion-Ledger Comatose at the Wheel?

I am simply astounded to see that, right this second, the top "breaking news" on the Ledger's site is this by Chris Joyner (who is about to be promoted to investigative reporter, we're told): "New trial date set for Melton, bodyguards." Adam found this out a full week ago, and reported it six days ago. Six. Not yesterday. Not Friday. What is up over there?!? Or, not up, we should ask. No wonder they're in such trouble.

How Do You Save Money?

they are saving money.

In light of the recession blues, high gas prices, and drop in house values, how do you save money? Let's let this be a forum for folks to collaborate on how

Help keep small cosmetics companies in business!

We've all heard stories of founders of large cosmetics companies who started out by mixing concoctions at the kitchen table. Carol's Daughter and Burt's Bees are two good examples. A lot of smaller companies who make all-natural beauty products are in danger of going out of business if the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 is authorized as is. Go here for additional details and to sign the petition.

No More Autopsies for Steven Hayne

Radley Balko at Reason Magazine and WLBT are reporting that Mississippi's long-time de facto medical examiner, Steven Hayne, will no longer be doing autopsies in the state. Balko writes:

A Hall of Fame Weekend

This weekend the MS Hall of Fame inducted six new members: Will Clark, Jennifer Gillom, Coach Paul Covington, Reggie Collier, Hill Denson, and Coolidge Ball. In a time when athletes are constantly embroiled in one sort of controversy or another, it was refreshing to see a sports event where everything anyone had to say was complimentary and laudable. Just days after the MLB trade deadline's headlines about Manny Ramirez's trade as result of his refusal to play for his club, this weekend was about celebrating those who were always willing to step up, period. In a time where athletes agonize over the to retire or not to retire question, Will Clark quietly retired at the end of one of his best seasons in the pros. Before an Olympics begins where the media is sure to constantly be talking just as much about the Chinese's ability to run the games, Jennifer Gillom - gold medal-winner 1988 - has only good things to say about her honors at the Olympics. In an era where coaches can be just as big drama queens as their players, Paul Covington and Hill Denson always just wanted to coach for the sake of coaching and for the sake of their players. Denson still loves coaching at Belhaven as much as he did fifteen years ago at Southern. Covington says he still finds time to stop by practices, just for the atmosphere. While players today sometimes complain about having to wait a year before NBA eligibility kicks in after high school, Coolidge Ball just wanted to play ball - even if that meant being the first African-American to earn a basketball scholarship from Ole Miss. Finally, when any professional athlete seems obsessed with immortality, Reggie Collier couldn't be more thrilled to have earned his place in history, as a Hall of Fame inductee and with the retirement of his jersey at USM. Truly, the contributions and legacies of these six Hall-of-Famers are still relevant and will always be praise-worthy.

So, When Did Barbour Have a Change of Heart on Pardons?

Hmmm. When you poke just a little at Barbour's history on and attitudes about pardoning criminals—even men like Cory Maye who shot a police officer who burst into his home in the middle of the night—you see that, in the past, Barbour hasn't "believed" in pardons. Per Reason magazine:

Blogs