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June 29, 2005
Chatty and the Altoid Factory
Wrigley has purchased Kraft's confectionary division, and announced today that it will begin manufacturing curiously strong peppermints at a facility on Jersey Pike.
Chattanooga: Now home of Moon Pies, Gold Bond and Altoids. Also some mountains and railroads and stuff.
Posted by mesh at 04:08 PM | TrackBack
June 28, 2005
Shelby Foote Dies at 88
The last gentleman is gone.
Shelby Foote, a popular Civil War historian and the preeminent Southern man of letters in the second half of the 20th century, has died. He was 88.
Like most everyone, I first knew of Foote through his courtly appearances in Ken Burns' Civil War television series. There he was the master storyteller, kind and clever. But a profile of him in Tony Horwitz's Confederates in the Attic suggests a man less lovable but more wise, and his lifelong correspondence with Walker Percy is, to my mind, the greatest documented conversation about faith and literature in the history of American letters.
Posted by mesh at 02:39 PM | TrackBack
Do You Like Pie? So Does Everybody Else
(High resolution photo available upon request!)
A particularly strong crop of morning press releases is led by the exhilarating news from Dairy Queen that we Americans, in spite of our many divisions and disputes, pretty much all enjoy pie.
"Not surprisingly, nine out of 10 (92 percent) adults like pie," the release reads. "A new national survey commissioned by Dairy Queen® and conducted by Harris Interactive® reveals that when it comes to eating pie, almost half (46 percent) of U.S. adults who like pie, enjoy pie a la mode (with a scoop of ice cream) for dessert."
So in other words most Americans, even the majority who like pie, actually don't like pie a la mode at all. They think ice cream is disgusting. Hardly worth ingesting, really. So much for the ice cream consensus. Americans hate ice cream and pie.
The release goes on to discuss Dairy Queen's new ice cream products but, really, is there even any point in discussing these in the new, post-ice cream America? I think not.
Posted by mesh at 11:00 AM | TrackBack
June 27, 2005
A New Commandment They Give You
The Supreme Court's 5-4 decision on eminent domain may be one of the most important rulings -- and one of the worst -- in recent cultural memory. "You can take from A and give to B if B pays more taxes?" You can now.
But you just know this is going to get all the attention for the next three years. Back by popular demand, it's heathen activist judges!
Posted by mesh at 11:21 AM | TrackBack
June 23, 2005
Johnny B's Rockin' Political-Support Party
John Bailes, transitioning from reporter to superhero faster than Clark Kent, is holding a meeting tonight with supporters of his District 8 County Commission run. It's 7 p.m. at Eidson’s Restaurant in East Ridge.
Posted by mesh at 01:05 PM | TrackBack
June 22, 2005
The Terrifying Campfire Story that is RiverCity Co.
Gina Hannah, a fine reporter with the Huntsville Times, has a thorough piece on how RiverCity Co.'s role in the Dumb-Ass Mayoral Race of 2005 is already becoming a cautionary tale to other public-private partnerships.
The piece has a pretty basic moral. Public-private redevelopment: good. Public-private groups that dabble in politics: bad.
To which I would add, Politicians who exploit long-standing jealousies to win an election: also kinda shady. But let's let bygones be bygones; the piece is a trenchant review of lessons learned during the giant forehead smacking that was this spring. Old news to us, but good to see it analyzed elsewhere.
Posted by mesh at 05:17 PM | TrackBack
On Second Thought, Nah, Screw the Protesters
Bredesen cancelled the public meeting. That's. Just. Shocking.
Fortunately for everyone, Michael Moore is pitching in. Quick, Tennesseans! Hide the barbecue!
Posted by mesh at 04:48 PM | TrackBack
Do the Geneva Conventions Cover Snack Deprivation?
Tennessee Liberal grows annoyed with the Nashville media stunt:
So, protestors, it's time to stop complaining about how you're being treated in this sit-in and start acting in a real way on behalf of the people who need it: average enrollees. Instead of wasting airtime making demands for clergy to visit the protestors, start talking about how you would keep more enrollees on without bankrupting the state. Instead of making the ridiculous comparison between your voluntary protest and the crap that goes on in U.S. prison camps, why don't you show us how to fix TennCare and save people's lives?
High time someone said it.
Posted by mesh at 11:23 AM | TrackBack
UPDATE: Bredesen Will Hold Public Chat with Insurance-Losing Interlopers
Phil has talked to them! Said he'd meet in public! Democracy is safe for another day! The
The best part of the whole thing (rivaled only by the cries of prisoner abuse by voluntary protesters) was Bredesen's hilarious irascibility this morning when confronted with the public meeting idea. From Pith in the Wind:
"Someone comes, and occupies your office, and then demands a meeting, and it's not good enough to have a private meeting, it's not good enough to have a meeting with representatives, it's got to be in front of the media, and planned in advance. You know, don't blame me for being just a little suspicious about what the motivations of a meeting like that are."
Now, what could those motivations be... Halting nuclear proliferation? Burning the flag? Finding the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler?
Posted by mesh at 09:36 AM | TrackBack
Why Joe Lance is brilliant
"A republic cannot sustainably thrive if its citizens, off-handedly and with meager participation, elect officials among themselves only to then pay little to no attention to how those fellow citizens go about the officiating."
Nice post, Joe.
Posted by colrus at 09:04 AM | TrackBack
June 21, 2005
Two Breasts and a Wingnut
PETA is sending a naked protester out to Miller Plaza tomorrow at noon. Wonder what the over/under is on "minutes until the cops forcefully remove naked animal lover"?
Also, I love how Chattanoogan.com lists this announcement under "Outdoors."
Posted by mesh at 04:50 PM | TrackBack
UPDATE: Five Protesters Still in Bredesen's Office
CAUTION: This news update contains editorial elements. (But heck, what on this blog doesn't?)
Blogger Sharon Cobb reports that five of the TennCare protesters are still chillin' in Philly McSpendthrift's office. Still no food or water being offered. I think. That part seems a trifle vague to me; I can't quite tell if no one is allowed to bring them snacks, or if they're not allowed to eat things they've brought, or what would happen to them if they ate (would some guard choke them 'til they spit it back up?).
But Cobb is definitely upset about it. "Clergy were not allowed in unless one person left and then another would enter," she writes, not explaining why random priests were needed at a sit-in. "Troopers talked all night, according to Smith, so they got no sleep. (Now where have we heard of sleep deprivation as a torture technique?)"
Then she asks for volunteers to relieve the current five. See, I don't think it counts as prison torture if you're allowed to ask for subs.
Anyway, enough quibbling with the enthused. Good cause and all. Looks like at least one Chattanoogan was in the building: Michael Bennett, a Fisk University student who has three family members on the TennCare rolls.
If all of this seems a mite hazy, well, it is; we've got a reporter looking into the story, and the whole thing will likely clear up as soon as Bredesen realizes the people in wheelchairs are pleading for water in his office. What's that? You think he knows? No way!
By the way: Where are the Hamdems in this craziness? I thought this sort of thing was their bag.
Posted by mesh at 03:42 PM | TrackBack
Egad! John Bailes is Running for Office?
We had no idea! What a shock! Heavens to Betsy!
Kudos to Baydala for figuring it out. (There's something about starting the morning by reading that your own reporter is running for office that makes you strongly consider devoting the entire day to vodka and orange juice.)
But in all seriousness, we alt-weekliers are excited about our boy taking his shot at Curtis "Screw the Children" Adams. We hate to lose his consistent, incisive reporting to the campaign trail, but you'll still be able to read his political wisdom as he continues his Pulse column.
Let me be the first to say it:
Bailes in '06!*
*This is not an official endorsement, but c'mon, did you think we were going to back Curtis?
Posted by mesh at 12:02 PM | TrackBack
June 20, 2005
BREAKING NEWS: TennCare Patients Occupy Bredesen's Office
About two dozen TennCare protestors -- including several enrollees slated to be cut from insurance coverage -- have occupied Gov. Phil Bredesen's office in Nashville. At least a dozen plan to remain there overnight. They aren't getting food or water, but they're not leaving.
Posted by mesh at 07:11 PM | TrackBack
Queer Eye for the Redneck Restaurant
Cracker Barrel: Not just for straight whiteys anymore!
Posted by mesh at 10:26 AM | TrackBack
June 17, 2005
Next Week, a Chat with Gus Van Sant in the Form of Aristotle's Poetics
Williamette Week in-
terviews John Darnielle. In
haiku. Results are mixed.
Posted by mesh at 03:58 PM | TrackBack
June 16, 2005
Travelin' in Style!
Here's a couple of pictures of Michael's "luxury accomodations" at the YMCA in San Diego.
Notice how the bottle of water dwarfs the 12" "plasma screen" TV...
(Michael, are you shooting these with a hidden camera or something?)
Posted by colrus at 03:17 PM | TrackBack
June 15, 2005
Meanwhile, in Local Cockfighting News...
State troopers and SWAT teams have broken up the Great Smoky Mountains Cockfighting Beaktacular.
John Goodwin, of the Humane Society of the United States, who took part in the raid, said it served notice on those conducting such illegal operations. "I wouldn't want to be a cockfighter in East Tennessee right now," he said.
David Webb, a gamecock owner from Rhea County, said he lost more than 20 chickens valued at $150 each during the raid. "I've been around this stuff all my life. Everything I've ever known is a chicken fight," he said.
We all feel that way sometimes, David.
Posted by mesh at 04:45 PM | TrackBack
Dangerous Pulse inside secrets revealed here!
This story in today's USA Today -- about a Wells Fargo employee who was fired after he divulged sensitive information about his company on his blog -- got me to thinking. There are company secrets here at The Pulse, that, if ever made public, could ruin the company.
Things like:
1. Eric Jackson has a dirty mouth.
2. Each day, I smuggle a banana into the office.
3. Sometimes, we shake and reuse toner cartridges.
4. Aaron is known to enjoy a drink or two.
5. Andrew is sporting a goatee these days.
6. We aren't able to review all the CDs we receive in the mail.
7. Action Jackson is an actual person.
8. Our microwave is often dirty.
9. I'll often go downstairs, grab the large recycling bin, roll it up to the office, fill it up with paper, roll it back downstairs and leave it for...um...whoever handles that sort of thing.
10. Most of us prefer the restrooms on the other side of the building.
Posted by colrus at 03:00 PM | TrackBack
Mike all up in AAN
Michael Kull -- co-publisher of the paper which has the website of which this blog is an extension -- is en route to the AAN Annual Convention.
Oh yeah, it's in San Freakin' Diego this year.
I. AM. OFFICIALLY. JEALOUS.
Posted by colrus at 01:43 PM | TrackBack
June 14, 2005
Scandal in Action
I've had this image on my camera for a couple of weeks. It's a shot of the copying machine at WGOW, as staffers were hurriedly making copies of the Ward Crutchfield/Charles Love indictment.
Posted by colrus at 11:45 PM | TrackBack
Joe Lance can be seen (very briefly) in Dave Winer's 25-second Nashville film
Watch it here. Joe is the one in the lime green shirt towards the end.
Posted by colrus at 04:53 PM | TrackBack
So, Who Are These New Bloggers?
Chattabloggers: Wondering where all the wacky blogs and comments are coming from?
Josiah and I spent some time today at a Girls, Inc. session, teaching about 15 teenage girls in the summer journalism class how to navigate and start their own blogs. It was quite cool, and they all seemed to get the hang of it without much help from us.
Welcome these new bloggers to Chattablogs, and thank Chloe and Ashley for helping us expand the blogosphere.
Bailes, you've been debating a 15 year-old girl.
Posted by colrus at 03:30 PM | TrackBack
Michael McDonald Redux
Sorry, but this is the first time I've been able to jot down my notes regarding Michael McDonald and the CSO at Riverbend on Sunday night:
First of all, after two straight days of crappy weather, Sunday night's weather absolutamente gorgeous. Beautiful. Wonderful. Or maybe it was just because it was my anniversary...
We got there early, watched a hilariously precocious little kid jam out on the D.A.R.E. karaoke machine, ate some kettle corn, counted the empty beer bottles (14!) surrounding to the little kids wading in the very-much-still-gray-and-murky pool at the bottom of Passage, and heard (far too many) people on their cellphones giving directions:
"Well, I'm over near the...um...do you see big stage? I'm next to that...."
Question: How did people find each other before cell phones?
The Pure Prairie League sounded great, and the crowd was diggin' them. I remember hearing "Let Me Love You Tonight" in the grocery store in the '80s. Good times.
Now, I am a huge Steely Dan fan, and though Michael McDonald was a key figure in most of their recordings, I knew going in that it was unlikely that he'd be doing a medley of the Steely Dan songs he sang back-up on ("Pehhhggggg!") or that he'd sing the one lead verse he had on "Pretzel Logic" ("When I stepped upon the dance floor, the man gave me the newwws...," so I eagerly awaited what he actually delivered: a smattering of his solo and Doobie Brothers hits along with a bunch of Motown covers from his two albums.
Call me old or lame or both, but coupled with CSO, I thought that this show might've been the best I've ever witnessed at Riverbend. It was perfect. The crowd was into it. The CSO filled the muscial gaps nicely, and Michael McDonald's band was stellar, featuring (most notably) Yvette "Baby Girl" Preyer on drums AND vocals. I'd call her a monster (cuz that's what she was) but she's a lady. Other than having a little trouble hitting the higher notes (men's voices get lower as they get older), McDonald was spot-on.
SETLIST:
Peace
It Keeps You Runnin'
Sweet Freedom
I Keep Forgettin'
Stop, Look and Listen
Ain't No Love to Be Found
I Heard It Through the Grapevine
All is Fair in Love
What's Goin' On
Reach Out
Second That Emotion
You Belong To Me (more known as a Carly Simon tune)
Minute By Minute
What A Fool Believes
encore:
Hey Girl (King/Goffin)
You're All I Need
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
And Nothing Like the Real Thing
Takin' It to the Streets
Posted by colrus at 10:52 AM | TrackBack
June 13, 2005
MJ: Not guilty on ALL CHARGES!!!
Now we can get on with our completely unchanged, unaffected lives.
Posted by colrus at 05:20 PM | TrackBack
URGENT: Michael Jackson verdict expected shortly...
He's making his way to the courthouse as we speak...
Posted by colrus at 04:49 PM | TrackBack
June 10, 2005
Kid Rock is a redneck
Well, that's what HE says...
Anyhoo, we left four songs into Kid Rock's set tonight when a little girl fainted, knocked a beer out of her mother's hand and all over my wife. (Thanks, little girl. We needed an excuse to leave...)
Heard behind me (out of the mouth of a rather husky-voiced woman): "Dude, I'm tellin' you. Sheryl Crow is gonna be here."
Right after the video tribute to Mary Ellen Locher, she was heard saying, "I just don't think that was appropriate."
She didn't have any problems with Mr. Rock's rapid fire smut, however.
I wonder if Michael McDonald will have as many pyrotechnics as Mr. Rock:
"I keep forgetting..." BOOM! "We're not in love anymore." BA-BOOM!!!
That would be sweet.
One observation from tonight:
Meth is bad.
Posted by colrus at 11:27 PM | TrackBack
My First Fisking
Tennessee Liberal argues that I got taken for a ride by Detroit spokesmen in last week's news lead -- and adds that Project Pinetree isn't that big a secret anyway.
All of this, I fear, is pretty much true. (Although, really, did anybody think that national Kia and Toyota spokesmen got promoted for blurting secret information to small media outlets?)
Which is not to concede that anything in my story was inaccurate or underdocumented. It's all true. There's just more going on than I realized...
Posted by mesh at 11:56 AM | TrackBack
June 09, 2005
On the Star Watch of New York
The New York Times announced this week that it is starting a free, weekly, cheap little ol' piece of ad crap, totally stealing the idea of a million other publishers. We in Chatty even have our own variation rotting on sidewalks, and though I wouldn't want to drop names, you know who they are.
But the Times' litter is special.
"This product is really unique," says Jyll Holzman, the Times' Senior Vice President of Advertising. "We have an opportunity to reach an 18- to 34-year-old reader – or perhaps even a Times reader – with very specific information. It's very targeted toward those readers that are interested in finding a new job, purchasing a home or purchasing a new car."
Because, heaven knows, there are no places to go if you're looking for a job, a house or a car in New York.
Posted by mesh at 04:30 PM | TrackBack
Mary Ellen Locher has passed away
From Channel 9's site.
This is a sad, sad day.
Our deepest condolences go out to Mary Ellen's family, friends and co-workers.
Channel 9's press release:
Veteran NewsChannel 9 Anchor MaryEllen Locher Passes Away After Long Fight With Cancer
WTVC Television today announces the death of award-winning NewsChannel 9 co-anchor MaryEllen Locher. MaryEllen died overnight with her husband David and son Alex at her side.
Funeral arrangements are yet to be determined.
MaryEllen’s death comes just two days after the announcement of her retirement from WTVC after almost 20 years as reporter, then anchor-reporter.
“As we at NewsChannel 9 suffer over this announcement, our thoughts and prayers are centered on David, Alex and the rest of MaryEllen’s family. We know our viewers will understand how difficult it will be maintaining our professionalism while presenting the day’s news,” said news director Tom Henderson.
“Today is a sad day. The NewsChannel 9 family has lost a loved associate and the Tennessee Valley has lost a true icon and good person. We have to remember that David and Alex have said goodbye to a loving wife and mother. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and all of MaryEllen’s family and close friends.” said Mike Costa, WTVC Vice President and General Manager.
During her career at NewsChannel 9, the station benefited greatly from her hard work and success. MaryEllen won awards for Best Newscast, Best News Team, and Best News Series Reporter by the Tennessee Associated Press. Viewers responded by keeping NewsChannel 9’s newscasts top rated.
MaryEllen has battled cancer since its first occurrence sixteen years ago. Her personal experiences with the disease have influenced her civic commitments. She founded the not for profit Hats from the Heart program, giving free hats to cancer patients onsite at cancer treatment centers. MaryEllen also founded Children of Breast Cancer Foundation. This non-profit organization provides endowment money to public colleges and universities for children who have lost a mother to breast cancer.
MaryEllen most recently was honored by Memorial Hospital with the naming of their Breast Cancer Center as The MaryEllen Locher Breast Center at Memorial. The goal of the center, according to Memorial Hospital, is to streamline the patient’s experience with the best care possible as expeditiously as possible. It will combine the latest in technological and clinical advances with an emphasis on the whole person body, mind and spirit. Construction of the center is set to begin no later than July 2006.
Posted by colrus at 11:41 AM | TrackBack
On this day in 2003
Tory Hardy was killed following the Bessie Smith Strut.
Posted by colrus at 10:44 AM | TrackBack
June 08, 2005
Let the Imitation Begin: Ye Olde Times Free Presse Gets a Blog
By C. Tyrone Biggums
Blog-O-Rocker
I work in a newspaper. The office has walls with pretty pictures of important things that happened before I was old enough to remember them: The first moon landing. The Bad Thing that happened in New York. Bob Corker's 40th birthday party.
Someday, this article may hang next to those pretty pictures. People will stare at it. They will be amazed at the antiquated artifact. They will giggle like underaged schoolgirls. They will say, "I can't believe his hair really looked like that." They will also be surprised to see paper. In the future, there will be no paper. There will only be skateboards with rockets on the back. And blogs.
This Friday, we're starting a blog. That means we're starting an Internet Weblog. That means we're starting a diary that is on the Internet. That means we're starting a diary that you can read when you turn on your computer.
This is an important moment. A special day. Not as historic as my bosses' birthdays, or their wedding anniversaries, or the day someone discovered hair gel, but big nonetheless.
Our bloggers will cover the news that matters most: the Riverbend and Bonnaroo festivals. We are sending reporters who are "square" enough to interview hippy douchebags rolling in the mud, and "cool" enough to rock out to the music of Jimmy Eat World. Meanwhile, I will be on the waterfront, turning tricks. I will tell you all about the madcap adventures I have, like the hot "behind-the-scenes" action at the Channel 45 newscast and how many corndogs that dude from US 101 can eat.
Don't thank me. This is what I do. When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do -- after a hot shower and a little "me" time -- is think about Chattanooga. Because that is the city I live in.
We are not the first people to make a blog. But we are bigger than those other bloggers, so we're more important. God will smile when he hears this news. He will say, "Ye Olde Times Free Presse has a blog, all's right with the world." And so it is.
Welcome to the club, kids...
Posted by mesh at 02:30 PM | TrackBack
"Nobody Reads Your Poxy Magazine"
This may be the greatest letter ever written. I expect our writers to excerpt from it -- liberally -- whenever we muck up their work. No doubt they will take me up on the offer.
Posted by mesh at 01:08 PM | TrackBack
William Hung's "Achy Breaky Heart"
Several of our staffers can testify:
This morning, US-101 played William Hung's version of "Achy Breaky Heart."
(His version of "I Believe I Can Fly" is still the best thing he's ever done, however.)
Posted by colrus at 09:21 AM | TrackBack
June 07, 2005
NewsChannel 9's Mary Ellen Locher announces retirement
We received this news today:
WTVC Television today announced the retirement of award-winning NewsChannel 9 co-anchor MaryEllen Locher. MaryEllen and her family released the following statement:
Dear Friends,
The time has come for me to announce a life change. Due to the requirements placed on me by my fight with cancer, I am announcing my retirement from WTVC effective June 17th. As anchor and reporter for NewsChannel 9, I have enjoyed many exciting and rewarding experiences, but more than that, I feel like my work has given me the chance to add to the good in our community. I will be forever grateful for the many wonderful viewers and colleagues that my career put me in touch with.
To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven. Now is the time for me to be with my family and my closest friends. The cancer is still present, and I am receiving hospice care at home. Through all, I keep my faith in God and in His power to heal me completely. Your prayers for full recovery have sustained me thus far. I ask that you continue those prayers as I enter this new period in my life.
Thank you all for the many ways you have blessed me and my family, and best wishes to my many friends at NewsChannel 9.
Sincerely,
MaryEllen
Continue reading "NewsChannel 9's Mary Ellen Locher announces retirement"
Posted by colrus at 01:24 PM | TrackBack
June 02, 2005
Ah, the Power of Imagination
"I hold up my dead cat and say to the children, 'Imagine that you go home today and find out that your pet cat just died. What are you going to do?'"
You'll never guess what Ken Ham thinks they should do. Not a high-water mark in the history of creation science.
(Link from WMFU)
Posted by mesh at 12:17 PM | TrackBack
June 01, 2005
Let Me Be the First To Make the Obvious Joke
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall on BellSouth Park.
Posted by mesh at 07:44 PM | TrackBack
Poor, Poor Ward
$50,000 a year poorer, if the School Board decides it's nervous about the indictment thing.
Also, when I've written here about technology jobs and revitalizing the Southside, this wasn't exactly what I had in mind. Don't tease me, Mr. G-Man, unless you're gonna please me.
Posted by mesh at 07:38 PM | TrackBack
Pulse Website Delay
Our website hosts are having server issues which are impeding proper viewing of our site. The situation is expected to be resolved by noon Thursday. We will make this week's complete print edition available online as soon as the bugs are fixed. Thanks for your patience.
Posted by colrus at 03:03 PM | TrackBack
Well, It Wasn't Linda Lovelace
Former FBI number two man W. Mark Felt declared himself Deep Throat yesterday -- and Colby Cosh is quick to note that the anouncement confirms an Atlantic theory that Woodstein's anonymous source was motivated not by liberal fear of Nixon, but by conservative fear of Nixon, who was undermining the autonomy of the FBI. A worthwhile read, and especially useful as a reminder to reporters that your ideological enemies are often your best friends on background.
Posted by mesh at 10:57 AM | TrackBack