Lane Kiffin and press conference

My colleague Guy Reel shared this interesting story with a link to video of reporters arguing over whether to take off camera statements from former Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin when he quit to go to Southern Cal. The WBIR news director said since it was a press conference, they shouldn't agree to any off-camera comments; what's interesting, as Reel notes, is the other reporters are arguing with him.

Be sure to click on the youtube video accompanying the story.... it's 7-8 mins. but worth looking at and showing to anyone interested in journalism ethics.

By the way, SPJ is presenting the WBIR news director an ethics award at its national convention in Las Vegas coming up in a few weeks.

Woman fights off intruder who snuck into bed with her

This TV news report from Huntsville tells it all.

Hide your wife. Hide your husband!

And for a lighter and funnier take on the same news item, turn up your sound and enjoy this video.

Pseudo recession?

All the news outlets--CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and major newspapers like USA TODAY, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times--keeping beating the drum that the U.S. is mired in a recession.

Furthermore, the news gurus say that while recovery from the current recession is happening, it's glacially slow, and most things (spending, wages, jobs, workers' benefits, pensions) will never reach pre-recession levels.

Here's what I think, based on the long checkout lines and crowded, busy parking lots I've experienced this summer at Wal-Mart and Lowe's stores in Tennessee and the Carolinas. I'm also basing my thoughts on what I've encountered in recent months at fast food outlets like McDonald's, Wendy's and Chick-Fil-A.)

We are in a pseudo-recession. A lot of people still have money and they're spending like crazy.

Don't believe me?

Visit any Wal-Mart or McDonald's or Lowe's.

The cash registers are zinging! Employees at restaurants and retail outlets seem stressed to the max, barely able to keep up with the never ending flow of anxious-to-spend-money customers.

What recession, really?!

The darker side of love

Fact or reality, the old saying goes, is stranger than fiction.

Consider:

I've been doing a good bit of self-examination lately--about love, about romance, about relationships, about what matters in life.

I had a conversation yesterday with a woman, whose name we will not use in this blog post. But suffice it to say she's in her mid to late 70s. She's a widow. She had been married for at least 50 years, I'm sure.

Me: Did you ever once in your marriage contemplate leaving or divorcing him?

Her: I didn't contemplate divorcing him, but I did contemplate murdering him, not once, but many times!

And I had thought through all those years that she had been happily married.

Appearances can be deceiving.

Doggy humor

My cousin in Florida sent me this dog art. Worth a few giggles. Thanks to LW for these.

Precious grandbaby

She has no teeth and hardly any hair.

But Lucy, my grandbaby, is a cutie!

Spent some time with her and her parents, Dorothy and Patrick, a few days ago in Durham, N.C.

Almost five months old and weighs as much as a sack of potatoes!

You grow, Lucy!

Are You Lonesome Tonight?

Mark Staley, an old Air Force buddy, sent me this link that's a senior citizen version of a classic melody. Funny and sad at the same time!