HAPPY NEW YEAR!
2007-01-01 00:42:00
Might as well -- a very happy 2007 to everyone. Yours truly will spend some time emcee'ing the Fayetteville First Night parade on the town square this evening. Hope to see you there among the 20-foot tall marching puppets.
ALL CHOKED UP
2006-12-31 22:00:00
As you can tell, we've been reading a little of Drudge this morning, and this came from his site. Because of our (my) overweaning interest in anything related to television news, this gets stuck on the page. And, yes, it is a bit ironic that the female news anchor was choking (or "choking up") as she did the story about Saddam's necktie-party.
That's definitely one for the Christmas party blooper reel.
SADDAM'S SORE THROAT
2006-12-31 21:55:00
OK, we've got a "sore throat" theme this New Year's eve. This video finally made it to YouTube and pretty much everyplace else. Seems someone in the crowd at Saddam's execution used a cell-phone to take this. Apparently the execution took place a little differently than described in the media the first time through. It had a more vengeful tone, but you had to expect that. Saddam's friends can probably be happy a huge crowd didn't simply tear him limb from limb. However, the overtones of Shi'ite partisanship are curious in this...this is from ABC News Terry McCarthy...
There are five men in black face masks who are visible on the gallows platform around Saddam, acting as guards. As they guide him towards the trap door and put the noose over his head, they start chanting religious slogans with the names of Moqtada al Sadr (the head of the Mahdi army, accused of organizing death squads against Sunnis) and Baqr al Sadr (the father-in-law of Moqtada). Saddam, a Sunni, is outrage
Read more: THROAT
TUESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING
2007-01-02 14:24:00
This marks the final week of my tenure on local radio. Again, it's been fun. I imagine I'll turn up on-air again someplace, somewhere. I also want to say how much I appreciate the kind comments some of you have made. I'll always have a special place in my heart for NWA and the Natural State in general. Here's your Tuesday morning rundown...
COPS ID DEAD TEEN NEAR SPRINGDALE
THE BENTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IDENTIFIED A TEENAGER FOUND SHOT TO DEATH NEAR SPRINGDALE SATURDAY MORNING. POLICE SAY THEY DON'T KNOW WHO SHOT 17 YEAR OLD DERRICK JEFFERSON OF CENTERTON. JEFFERSON'S BODY WAS LOCATED ROADSIDE ON NORTH 40TH STREET. POLICE ALSO SAY THEY HAVE ANOTHER SHOOTING TO INVESTIGATE -- A WOMAN TOLD THEM SHE SHOT AN INTRUDER IN HER HOME EARLY SUNDAY MORNING, AFTER CHASING THE MAN OUT OF THE HOUSE. THE WOMAN SAYS SHE THINKS SHE SHOT THE MAN IN THE STOMACH, BUT HE GOT AWAY BEFORE POLICE ARRIVED. POLICE SAY THE SHOOTINGS AREN'T RELATED.
BIG BROTHER (OR JUDGE) IS WATCHING...
S
WEDNESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING
2007-01-03 14:27:00
Ah, the hours are counting down toward the big road-trip. Spent a good part of the day packing the old house up last night. I'll be glad when all this is over and I can get back to the news. Probably have to take a break from the blog for a few days until I get internet service in the new place. Regardless, here's your morning rundown...
NWA MALL HAS NEW OWNERS
FAYETTEVILLE'S NORTHWEST ARKANSAS MALL HAS A NEW OWNER. "MIDWEST MALL PROPERTIES" SAYS IT PAID 400-MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE MALL, AND TWO OTHERS IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO. THE NEW COMPANY CONSISTS OF INVESTORS FROM SPRINGDALE, LITTLE ROCK AND BATESVILLE. THE NEW COMPANY SAYS IT HAS NO PLANS TO CHANGE MANAGEMENT OR MALL OPERATIONS.
WAL-MART RECALLS TRAIL MIX
WAL-MART HAS RECALLED BAGS OF IT'S SAM'S CHOICE "NATURE TRAIL" TRAIL MIX AFTER CUSTOMERS IN OHIO AND NORTH CAROLINA REPORTED FINDING EITHER GLASS OR HARD PLASTIC PARTICLES IN BAGS OF THE MIX. THE COMPANY ALSO BLOCK STORE REGISTERS FROM PER
THURSDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING
2007-01-04 14:32:00
Only today and tomorrow to go. Moving is in high-gear now. Lot of news today, much of it coming from LR and Capitol. Also, some less-than-lucky teens try to burgle the home of the local high-school principal, with expected results...here's your morning news...
ARKANSAS RANKS 29TH IN THE NATION IN SCHOOLS
SEEMS THE STATE'S SCHOOLS HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB. WASHINGTON BASED EDUCATION WEEK, A NEWSPAPER, RANKS THE STATE 29TH IN THE NATION IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF KIDS WHO GRADUATE FROM SCHOOL. KIDS HAVE ALSO DONE BETTER ON NATIONAL MATH AND READING TESTS. ARKANSAS STANDS SECOND TO ONLY TEXAS IN GAINS POSTED IN NATIONAL TESTS OF FOURTH AND EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS, AT LEAST LAST YEAR.
SIGNS OF STATE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN LAST MONTH
COULD WE HAVE AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN ON THE WAY IN ARKANSAS? STATE ANALYSTS WORRY THAT COULD HAPPEN -- THEY SAY STATE REVENUES FELL BELOW EXPECTATIONS LAST MONTH -- 2 PERCENT BELOW FORECASTS. THE STATE'S CHIEF FISCAL OFFICER CALLED THE NUMBERS THE FIRST SIGN OF
FINAL FRIDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING
2007-01-05 14:17:00
This will most likely be my last post until I set up shop on the east coast. Today is my final day on-air (at least on radio) although you can still catch me on cable television on Channel 14 in Fayetteville doing the "In Focus" program for the Fayetteville Schools. We have one more show to shoot (at least I do) on Monday morning. We'll focus on MLK day and Black History Month. Other than that, Arkansas Tonight has ended, and so has "The Morning Report." I won't be replaced, at least not for now -- the station will run more "Wall Street Journal" and "Glen Beck" in my place. As I said before, it's been a fantastic ride and I've truly enjoyed every minute. The best part, aside from you readers, listeners and viewers, has been making some lasting friendships with some of the finest people in the news business. Thanks for making my stay here one of my better experiences...here's your final morning news briefing (oh, what the hell...I'll be back some in a week or two)
BENCO
STILL PACKING, ETC.
2007-01-09 05:31:00
Monday night, still packing and working after a short nap and a very long day. All this and we haven't even hit the road yet. Gonna disconnect from the internet tomorrow morning as everything goes into road-trip mode. Might post from the road -- still have my trusty Compaq laptop at my side, and, if the cats sitting in the truck next to me don't become psychotic before I do and I get reasonable rest at a couple of hotels, I'll try to plug in on the way out.
Again, I want to thank everyone for the kind words, and the odd going-away beer I've consumed. I wish you the best.
HOWDY AGAIN ("HOWDY?")
2007-01-24 08:22:00
Sooooooo, just got done watching three freaking hours of MSNBC coverage of the State of the Union. Pretty funny stuff. I enjoy watching Olbermann and Mr. Hardball get on each other's nerves. The speech was an interesting approach to the President's exigencies going into a final two-year stint before leaving office, and facing the reality of the Democratic Congress.
Oddly enough, I think some of the things he proposed might get passed, and right over the heads of the minority party. The entire immigration thing will reallllly make a few people mad.
Anyway, we're settled (or at least unpacked) here on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Not a bad place -- pretty close the Atlantic ocean and Chesapeake Bay. DC, Balitmore and Philly are all about an hour or two up the street. Not a bad place to take a weekend trip.
Did the rounds this morning of the Clear Channel group out here. Nice folks. They say they used to be owned by Cumulus. They may be again with CC selling many of the
GO BEARS! GO BEARS! GO BEARS!
2007-01-25 07:57:00
Yet another sign that the scientists should move that clock back from "nuclear midnight" -- Da Bears going to the Superbowl. I hope they kick the crap out of the Colts, and so does every red-blooded American living up the road from me in Baltimore and Philly, where the traitorous team ruined their NFL post season hopes. And, yes, the people of Balitmore demand justice! The Bears will come to their rescue. Tip O the hat to the former team members who used to put up with my guff in Chicago, including Glen Koslowski, Tom Waddle and Dan Hampton (who many of you remember for his fine career in NWA and locale.) Hey! That means you'll have to root for Da Bears too! Hell, it's not like you got anything from the Hogs this season, and they've cancelled next season, right? (No? Oh, I just assumed...)
Anyway, remember....
In Ditka we Trust! (even if he hasn't been on the team physically or actually for years - he's still the patron saint...) Hey, at least I think he's still
FINAL WORD - FROM ME, FOR NOW
2007-01-31 08:31:00
I've got to tell you, it's been a great (almost) seven years with you in NWA, but things change. I'm not blasting you on the radio anymore, my last piece (I think) ran in Citiscapes either today or in the January issue, which felt good because it's where I started writing in NWA. I've also moved on to greener television pastures, and I have a new home and new history and news to read, write and learn.
This'll be my last "official" post here until a later date. My friend and sometime companion in criticism Cris Seligman has agreed to take over what posting you might see here in the future, at whatever pace he'd like and on whatever issue he'd like - I'm turning over the keys to the old Model T to him.
He's in and out of the area and sometimes he writes, sometimes he doesn't. Your e-mail will go to him now for the most part.
Again, I've enjoyed this effort, and will continue to read it in the future. Who knows, maybe Baber may even post here again someday, in someplace
What Bugs Me
2007-02-12 01:54:00
Believe it or not, there are some things that bug me - other than the existence of Republicans and radical Islamic terrorists. You may not want to know this. If that is the case, just put down the paper and go back to the Golden Girls rerun you were watching before you flipped over here. No harm done.
Up first, it bugs me that the "Preparation H" people didn't think up the "Head On" advertising concept before they did. That would have been so much more interesting.
Second, there's the guy in the "Quizno's" commercial that says "Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm!", when there are clearly only four "m's" there on the screen. You'd think somebody would've caught that. Why do I have to do everything?
Having been a raging, wild-eyed liberal all my life, it bugs me to have to tell you that Nancy Pelosi's eyes look like they're propped open with invisible toothpicks.
Somebody should have explained to that crazy astronaut lady that, if she hurried, she could pee whi
TEAR DOWN THAT WALL!
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Goodbye Frank. Goodbye HD. Goodbye Stan. Nifty work, Max.
Haven't blogged in a bit, but figgered now was the time to try it again, since the media guy is gone.
Nothing fancy, just a note that we think Frank leaving (today!) is a great idea, and payback for the fans irate over Mitch's leaving and Gus getting out too.
Frank has ruled NWA too long like some unelected king. Good to see him depart, and I guess you just don't screw with Mustain's mom, do you? Not after you promised to throw her some real estate biz then hose her kid when he was playing well enough to help the team win a national championship.
Ta-Ta.
PADDYCAKES ON A PLANE
2007-03-02 16:55:00
People say I’m crazy because I’d rather drive to California than fly there. I mean, people say I’m crazy for a lot of reasons, but that is one of them. Sure, you can get there faster by air, but if I need to be in San Francisco that soon, I’ll leave three days earlier. Capice?
It’s not so much a fear of flying. Not even a fear of crashing, really. It’s more the fact that I can’t stand being out of control. To understand how out of control one is as a passenger on an airliner, all one has to do is peruse the recent situation in New York where passengers were held captive on one, sitting still on a frozen runway, for ten hours. No, not held captive by terrorists – in the classic sense. Held captive by the Airline. Did I mention it was ten hours?
What could you do in ten hours? You could watch 1200 annoying TV commercials. Twenty episodes of “That 70’s Show”. You could drive from Batesville to Little Rock, and back, three times, then watch the Daily
WISH YOU WERE HERE
2007-03-04 06:51:00
Howdy, all. Thought I'd drop you a quick note. This is where I spent the day today. Not bad, not the warmest day, but still a lot of fun. It's a barrier island in the Atlantic near Maryland and Virginia. Huge beach, probably the last time I'll see it deserted like this. Doing well, just wanted to say hello and thank Cris and Mr. Baber for continuing the posts.
Time to get back to relaxing.
HOWDY, WHAT'S UP?
2007-04-11 09:16:00
(yeah, the pic is of the cast of "Welcome Back, Kotter" - stupid, I know, but I felt like it...)Man, Oh man...I can't seem to get anyone else to do it for me, and I've been spending so much time reading the "Morning News" and "Arkansas Times" I just can't resist poking my ugly mug back in. Greg and everyone at thefiveforty.com seem to have also decided to take a long vacation, so why not? The beach is great out here, crab season is starting on the Bay and we've already been to DC for the Cherry Blossom fest, sure. But what's all this about the Coach? Someone dropped me a line aboutsome sort of series of text messages between "the man" and a local news anchor. Not sure what's happening with that in the least, but it sure makes it tough to stay away from the Arkansas websites. And, what's this? Do my eyes deceive me? Did my old friends at the Arkansas Family Coalition pack it in? I see nothing on their site but some sort of You-Tubishness. Please, someone tell me the st
ANCIENT WRITINGS
2007-05-13 22:10:00
Quran (9:11)
For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah and lo, while some of the people trembled in despair still more rejoiced; for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah; and there was peace.
Chilling, no? It came to me by Internet. So you know it’s got to be true.
Even more compelling than that deal where you fold up a $20 bill and see the World Trade Center burning. Even more than the story of the off-duty Marine who shot the Muslim at the gas pump on 9/11, before the authorities discovered that the trunk of the Muslim’s car was filled with explosives.
Right there, by their own “good book”, written 1375 years ago, you can tell that we’re doing those people over there a favor – finally bringing them peace after thousands of years of conflict. So, the fact that we invaded the wrong country, for concocted reasons, suddenly seems insignificant in light of the grand
SO WE DON'T FORGET...
2007-08-10 04:40:00
A blast from the recent past, so nobody forgets what's up for grabs next year. Listen and learn from the master.
MITT MANIA 07
2007-08-10 04:18:00
"Mitt Romney...the only presidential candidate named after a glove."
- Jon Stewart, "The Daily Show" Aug. 9
We've bided our time long enough, stayed silent and stealthy in the shadows, watching, waiting, much like Asa Hutchinson's career, we sure we looked just "mostly dead."
Most of what we've done is watch and listen to the never-ending stream of political debates gobbling up airtime on cable. The Dems have crazies Gravel and Kucinich (we actually like Dennis) and the rest seem pretty much on the same page...hell, even Joe Biden has had a moment or two of clarity.
However, on the other side, Republicans continue their public self-destruction in the most entertaining fashion one could imagine. They just keep punching each other, and the nation watches and can't imagine who these guys are trying to appeal to. The candidates couldn't tell you either. If the target is Bush America circa 2001, the boat done passed them by already because it no longer exists.
We have, however, wa
A MEDIA HERO...
2007-08-15 13:34:00
Pay attention local tv weenies...this is how you do it, and do it right. CBS' Bill Plante is the man we want working at every television station, because he does something you don't see here in NWA...he asks questions, and doesn't care what anyone thinks about it. During a recent press op to annouce Dark Lord Rove's departure, the men at the mic didn't take questions about the story. However, Bill decided to ask one anyway, and it's a good one.
Towards the end of the appearance, as the President and his favorite pol were about to head in the direction of an awaiting helicopter, Bill Plante, CBS White House correspondent, broke the embargo.
“If he’s so smart,” said Mr. Plante, “how come you lost Congress?”
We could probably answer that one. Wingnuts called Plante a "rude little liberal" in response, and bloggers who often don't know squat about journalism, went crazy about it. Hey, that's the way it's done.
Plante went on to offer a darned good explanation.
DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU...
2007-08-14 11:19:00
...on the ass on the way out. Yesterday, we were remiss failing to mention the upcoming departure of Evil Lord Rove from DC. Much cheering was heard by all, much celebration across the nation. Above you'll find the Daily Show's coverage of the major news event. Enjoy.
HUCKABEE HILARITY
2007-08-14 10:56:00
What can we say? This is truly funny video that maybe you didn't see. Huckster's man on the ground (Van Plaat?) thinks placing second in the Iowa Poll is as good as winning. Hell, it even got the former Governor some attention online when writers asked if there wasn't enough humor in politics. So, he's a funny-man, second placer who knows how to lose weight.
We're still not sure if that would even be enough to get the man elected to Congress, much less the White House. We do believe, however, he has more going for him than the current resident of the Oval Office...but that ain't sayin' much.
WE'VE BEEN HAD!
2007-08-20 00:05:00
A few days late, but still worth posting. To all you who still insist on staying the course in Iraq, here's your answer, from the VP himself. He sums it up best, and now you have one of the best arguments against the war. That's got to make the families of military folks who died in the war feel very good...that the first Bush administration didn't feel removing Saddam was worth very many American lives. This should break your heart if you vote, or if you care about America.
HITLER APOLOGIST?
2007-08-19 03:14:00
(Ooooooooh, yet another nazi reference!)
We read with some interest the little bit of history from long-time favorite insanowriter Dana Kelley in the DemGaz on Friday.
While we don't disagree with his assessment of the scope of destruction and the human cost of the Stalin regime, we're curious why he decided now was the time to right the wrong of crediting Adolf Hitler with many of the same crimes...
Kelley writes...
It’s time to apply the Hitler / fascism repulsive stigma—and then
some—to Stalin / socialism.
Reads an awful lot like a note from a Hitler / fascist apologist. Socialism? Interesting here, and maybe Kelley knows this already, seeing as he's a professor of some sort (he still is, right?)...socialism is quite a varied political structure. Fascism is pretty straight down the line, and much easier to define. Sounds like he enjoys fascism, and doesn't mind the tag when applied to him, and we're sure it is on a fairly frequent basis.
If you wanted to apply
COULTER THOUGHTS
2007-08-19 02:24:00
OK, been reading a lot about the shrill level of hype reached recently by people like MAF's Mark Williams and some blonde Coulter knockoff making the rounds of MSNBC. Those people induce uncontrollable urges to projectile-vomit hereabouts. Thought we'd rely on our old friend Henry Rollins to sum up our feelings about the talk-radio vermin that will eventually cause even Republicans in Congress to reconsider the Fairness Act and force the FCC back to the old days of limiting morons with a mic to just a couple of hours a day on-air. Enjoy while cranking up something like "Nervous Breakdown" or better yet Black Flag's "Revenge."
MARKOS THE BLOG "FUHRER"
2007-08-17 11:30:00
Very funny stuff from Stephen Colbert's show on Comedy Central. Doesn't Fox have some lame show that tries to serve as a conservative Daily Show? The only Comedy on Fox has got to be O'Reilly's program. Bite it Poppa Bear! How's that radio gig going?
WHO THE HELL IS HUCKABEE?
2007-08-17 11:27:00
Yeah, we knew him for a few years, and we still don't know. But Colbert does. (yeah, he is a nice guy, but President? we'll move to canada for real if that happens.)
MORNING ROUND-UP
2007-08-28 04:54:00
No, we're not reviving the news round-up now. This is something else...a catch-all of the odds and ends of the day. Daily Roundup, or, What We're Reading (you do read, don't you? We thought so...)
current book is about the Nuremburg War Crimes Trial. We've read it before, but what can we say? We're the same people who love the History Channel..OK, we used to love it, now it's become pretty boring. Play "Victory at Sea" or "World at War" again, front to back. Most interesting point so far? That Nazi Julius Streicher told his imprisoned colleagues he suddenly respected the Jews in 1946, and that
he'd go join them as they fought for statehood in Israel because he admired any people who could band together and fight. Of course, he was the same slime who'd published a repugnant newspaper that called for the extermination of the Jewish race. To his chagrin, and much rejoicing by others, he was hanged by allied
troops for his role in the war...the Alec Baldwin version of the
SO LONG, FAREWELL...
2007-08-27 10:17:00
Goodbye, Al. The man who wrote the excuse for violating the Geneva Conventions, the man singlehandedly responsible for damaging the Constitution, has left office. Read the story here. You'll see he tendered his resignation Friday, but made the announcement today. Above, you'll see video of his pathetic testimony into the firings of US Attorneys...a retrospective of his greatest hits.
FT. SMITH CITY DIRECTOR: AN IDIOT
2007-08-30 05:23:00
Seems those at the top in run-down Ft. Smith think they've got a really good idea - make English the city's one-and-only official language. Here's a bit of the article that sheds some light on the reasoning behind it...or does it?
Maddox said after Tuesday’s study session the idea for the ordinance arose from a discussion the directors had earlier this month on immigration.
He’s heard of cities and communities being overburdened by providing city documents in more than one language, he said.
Hmmmmm...we'd like to challenge Mr. Maddox or any of his colleagues to produce the proff there. Which communities? Which cities? Can we hear the details behind this, or are you just making all this up (which is what it sounds like to us.)
Like 'em or not, here's what the NEA had to tell Congress about crap like this...
English Only is government-sanctioned bigotry," asserts the NEA. "Whether or not its proponents are bigots themselves, English Only gives comfort to anti-immi
Read more: IDIOT
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