Misc. News Stories

The President and Congress are arguing over a troop withdrawal timetable. This disagreement over a timetable is holding up funding for the troops. The Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, has announced that this impasse could increase the length of tours of duty for people already in Iraq. The shortage of funds would reduce training for troops to leave to go to Iraq and would delay the troops' returning from Iraq. There's something odd about that.

There is a movement afoot in Vermont for secession. Some of the people there think that the Federal Government is overreaching and has more or less trampled on the rights of the States for self-government. Too bad the last time something like this happened, it turned out so badly.

A student who will rename nameless (for fear he may burn this blog, unless you follow the link) stole hundreds of copies of his school newspaper and burned them at a fraternity sponsored party with a bonfire. This student may have been trying to hide the fact that his name appeared in a small section of the paper under a police blotter for public drunkenness. Good think that his shenanigans didn't then make the front page of his school paper and get even more attention that he was arrested for drunkenness. Or did it?

In a three way race for Justin Brady's new legal name, Ynot Bubba (why not bubba) edged out Lacon Marlboro (favorite town and cigarette), and More Chek (representing his desire for more money). Not to cater to stereotypes, but Ynot Bubba worked as a truck driver for more than 20 years prior to the name change and presumably continues to drive trucks.

If you have not seen it yet, you may be interested in The Great Tennessee Marijuana Cave. Three men were arrested after it was discovered with the leader of the operation running it from Florida.

A strip club owner was forced to shut down his place in 2002. He was ordered to pay $6,000 in attorney's fees to the city his club was in and he paid it in pennies. He painted the club pink and left town to open a new club. He named the new club after the mayor responsible for shutting down the old club. It is called Fat Jack's Cabaret. He seems to target small towns where he will have better success in lobbying for support and licensing.

In perhaps one of the strangest twists of a current story, Fred Goldman in an effort to partially satisfy a $33.5 Million judgment against OJ Simpson for the murder of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson is seeking to auction off the rights to publish OJ Simpson's book If I Did It. Chris Rock saw something like OJ's book coming almost 10 years ago.

Comments Welcome

News or Not?

News used to be about informing people about important issues and stories of the day. It is now becoming a buffet of things that people want to know for whatever reason. The demand for ratings and ad revenue drive most of what we see broadcast as "news". Here is a small sampling of stories in the last week:

$15,000 of underwear was stolen from a Victoria's Secret store in the Newport Mall in Jersey City.
You bet they have brassieres on that page.

A Xenoglaux has been found in a Peruvian preserve.
Also known as the "long-whiskered owlet".

In an effort to prevent unnecessary deaths of migratory birds, two skyscrapers will turn off their lights during "peak migration hours".
You can donate money to the cause on your Minnesota State tax return form, or call the Audubon Society at 651-739-9332.

Don King attended the Pope's general audience in the front row this month.
"Afterward, King announced that the pope will be fighting George Foreman in Las Vegas for the World Boxing Organization heavyweight crown."

An eBay auction listing a George Foreman Grill owned by Manny Ramirez was pulled after reaching a high bid of $99,999,999.00.
Well, that's a relief. Too bad it wasn't Anna Nicole Smith's diaries. They sold for over $500,000 on eBay.

"Berlin Zoo's irresistibly cuddly baby polar bear made his public debut Friday."

A Man in the state of Maine that captured a mouse three times had to retrieve his dentures from behind a wall when the mouse took them as part of the most recent escape.

Gay Police told not to sway their hips, or risk being fired (in the Philippines).

Sex workers in British Columbia seek to form a co-op to provide training and health services.

Humuhumunukunukuapuaa ousted in Hawaii. (the state fish).

The list could go on. Is this stuff really news? What is the purpose of news supposed to be?

Writing sensational headlines and misleading stories were part of the newspaper wars in New York City 100 years ago. They called it "Yellow Journalism". Are things getting better or worse?

Comments Welcome