The Gadfly On The Wall
Hoops Hoopla: O-State Cowboys took Texas in THREE overtimes 105-103 in an instant classic. And the Hornets prevailed as well. All is good in roundball land. Tonight, my Lady Sooners! Preoccupied Media: Within hours of the miraculous rescue of the two boys in Missouri, inquiring reporters wanted to know why the boy kidnapped four years ago had not taken advantage of numerous opportunities to escape. The flaw in the questioning rests in our inability to grasp the workings of the human brain. Why do kidnapped children (and adults) not flee when they have the chance? We don't know the answer and all the questions and speculation in the world won't provide it. Now there's veiled criticism of the parents by reporters who want to ask the boy directly why he didn't flee and want the parents to parade him out for their questions. Parents are right; it's none of their damned business.
OETA News: Veteran Oklahoma City broadcasters George Tomek and Angela Buckelew have joined the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority as news anchors. They're part of a team that will replace Dick Pryor, who is now Lt. Governor Jari Askin's chief of staff. Buckelew and Tomek will join Gerry Bonds as anchors, alternating days. Buckelew will appear on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Tomek on Mondays and Wednesdays. Tomek has been a fixture in Oklahoma City television for more than 30 years; most recently, he has been a spokesman for advertising clients. Buckelew was at Channel 9 for 12 years. OETA also has added Mark Beutler, ex-4, 5 and 9 reporter, as its State Capitol specialist. He replaces Robert Burch, who has joined the OETA documentary unit.
Global Warming: Came to Oklahoma last Friday and it's still on the ground, with more to come. Jim Inhofe has a big grin on his face. And global warming has hit California as well, as this paragraph from Fresno proves: "Shoppers soon will be feeling the sting of higher prices from a wave of icy weather that has hit California farms. As much as three-quarters of the state's citrus crop withered in the field during the cold snap, but nearly every winter crop, from avocados to fresh-cut flowers, has suffered severely." Photographic evidence of global warming comes in this New York shot from Calvin Rees of demookie.com.
Texas Water Raiders: Oh boy. Those North Texas folks who want Oklahoma water best not set foot north of the Red River. Rep. Jerry Ellis did go a bit over the top in blasting them; he said Texas should get its water where it gets its employees: Mexico.
Keating No-go: Former Governor Frank Keating resisted the urge; he won't run for president.
Ice-bound: It's been a while since we've experienced anything like this. End not yet in sight. My wife is now boycotting 4, 5 and 9; says overkill can't describe the wall-to-wall coverage of ice pellets and slick spots and reporters pushing snow shovels along icy streets. Can't wait to see what the tv stations do with 3 to 6 inches of snow this weekend.
A(ll)P(ay)D(ay): Adrian Peterson is turning pro. AD's now APD...All Pay Day. Mega-millions, no doubt. I've volunteered to be his financial counselor. Fat chance.
Dead Terrorist: Captain's Quarters reports that the Philippine franchise of al-Qaeda took a heavy blow yesterday, as the government announced that it had killed one of the leaders of Abu Sayyaf. If confirmed, the terrorists will have lost their leader and chief organizer within a span of weeks: The Philippines said on Wednesday that troops had killed the top planner of the country's most deadly Islamic militant group in a clash at a rebel jungle camp in the southwest. Abu Sulaiman, one of the top five leaders of the Abu Sayyaf militant group and who is believed to have links with al Qaeda, was killed in a gunbattle on Tuesday on the island of Jolo, military chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon told reporters.
Media Blackout: (From The Washington Times) "So what happened to the story about Nancy Pelosi exempting American Samoa from the minimum wage because it benefits companies in her district?" radio talk-show host Neal Boortz asks at his blog site, boortz.com/nuze. "Here we have a juicy little story affecting the Speaker of the House, and the media has chosen to look the other way. Imagine if this had been Newt Gingrich or Dennis Hastert. Would the press be so kind? Nope ... but hey, this is a Democrat ... the big cheese, the head honcho. She gets a pass. Maybe it's because Dems plan to revise the bill to include American Samoa and cover the speaker's behind," Mr. Boortz said. "Never mind the hypocrisy of it all. Democrats stand up there and tell us that you can't raise a family on $5.15 an hour, that it needs to be raised to $7.25. Evidently you can raise a family on $7.25 an hour, even if it is phased in over two years. But when it comes to American Samoa, that's different. And as long as the Del Monte Corporation, through its Star Kist subsidiary, is loading you up with campaign cash ... then well ... maybe you can raise a family on $5.15 an hour. At least if you live in American Samoa. "So the story will wither on the vine, thanks to media bias. Can you imagine if Tom DeLay were doing this? It would still be front-page news. But Nancy Pelosi is a Democrat, and Democrats are protected by the media. You should know that by now."
OETA News: Veteran Oklahoma City broadcasters George Tomek and Angela Buckelew have joined the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority as news anchors. They're part of a team that will replace Dick Pryor, who is now Lt. Governor Jari Askin's chief of staff. Buckelew and Tomek will join Gerry Bonds as anchors, alternating days. Buckelew will appear on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Tomek on Mondays and Wednesdays. Tomek has been a fixture in Oklahoma City television for more than 30 years; most recently, he has been a spokesman for advertising clients. Buckelew was at Channel 9 for 12 years. OETA also has added Mark Beutler, ex-4, 5 and 9 reporter, as its State Capitol specialist. He replaces Robert Burch, who has joined the OETA documentary unit.
Global Warming: Came to Oklahoma last Friday and it's still on the ground, with more to come. Jim Inhofe has a big grin on his face. And global warming has hit California as well, as this paragraph from Fresno proves: "Shoppers soon will be feeling the sting of higher prices from a wave of icy weather that has hit California farms. As much as three-quarters of the state's citrus crop withered in the field during the cold snap, but nearly every winter crop, from avocados to fresh-cut flowers, has suffered severely." Photographic evidence of global warming comes in this New York shot from Calvin Rees of demookie.com.
Texas Water Raiders: Oh boy. Those North Texas folks who want Oklahoma water best not set foot north of the Red River. Rep. Jerry Ellis did go a bit over the top in blasting them; he said Texas should get its water where it gets its employees: Mexico.
Keating No-go: Former Governor Frank Keating resisted the urge; he won't run for president.
Ice-bound: It's been a while since we've experienced anything like this. End not yet in sight. My wife is now boycotting 4, 5 and 9; says overkill can't describe the wall-to-wall coverage of ice pellets and slick spots and reporters pushing snow shovels along icy streets. Can't wait to see what the tv stations do with 3 to 6 inches of snow this weekend.
A(ll)P(ay)D(ay): Adrian Peterson is turning pro. AD's now APD...All Pay Day. Mega-millions, no doubt. I've volunteered to be his financial counselor. Fat chance.
Dead Terrorist: Captain's Quarters reports that the Philippine franchise of al-Qaeda took a heavy blow yesterday, as the government announced that it had killed one of the leaders of Abu Sayyaf. If confirmed, the terrorists will have lost their leader and chief organizer within a span of weeks: The Philippines said on Wednesday that troops had killed the top planner of the country's most deadly Islamic militant group in a clash at a rebel jungle camp in the southwest. Abu Sulaiman, one of the top five leaders of the Abu Sayyaf militant group and who is believed to have links with al Qaeda, was killed in a gunbattle on Tuesday on the island of Jolo, military chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon told reporters.
Media Blackout: (From The Washington Times) "So what happened to the story about Nancy Pelosi exempting American Samoa from the minimum wage because it benefits companies in her district?" radio talk-show host Neal Boortz asks at his blog site, boortz.com/nuze. "Here we have a juicy little story affecting the Speaker of the House, and the media has chosen to look the other way. Imagine if this had been Newt Gingrich or Dennis Hastert. Would the press be so kind? Nope ... but hey, this is a Democrat ... the big cheese, the head honcho. She gets a pass. Maybe it's because Dems plan to revise the bill to include American Samoa and cover the speaker's behind," Mr. Boortz said. "Never mind the hypocrisy of it all. Democrats stand up there and tell us that you can't raise a family on $5.15 an hour, that it needs to be raised to $7.25. Evidently you can raise a family on $7.25 an hour, even if it is phased in over two years. But when it comes to American Samoa, that's different. And as long as the Del Monte Corporation, through its Star Kist subsidiary, is loading you up with campaign cash ... then well ... maybe you can raise a family on $5.15 an hour. At least if you live in American Samoa. "So the story will wither on the vine, thanks to media bias. Can you imagine if Tom DeLay were doing this? It would still be front-page news. But Nancy Pelosi is a Democrat, and Democrats are protected by the media. You should know that by now."
Labels: Gadfly's Columns
posted by Mike McCarville @ 12:39 AM
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