Noteworthy entries.

The latest “ordinary person” singing sensation

Perhaps you remember Paul Potts, the singing mobile phone salesman? Now there's singer Susan Boyle, who did her training in a small village pub (when she wasn't taking care of her sick mother), but who is now a household name in British television. I do love these occasions where ordinary folks (especially ordinary-looking folks) are discovered for their special talents. The embed codes have been turned off on these youtubes, so you'll need to click on through.

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My hat is off to Danny MacAskill for his bicycle skills

I can't say that I've ever tried (or even imagined) these stunts. Danny's Youtube commentary states "Without a doubt, this video pushes the envelope of what is perceived as possible on a trials bike." Yep, especially those lonnnggg drops. He must really open the eyes of the folks walking around Edinburgh.

Continue ReadingMy hat is off to Danny MacAskill for his bicycle skills

Isn’t it NEWS when the daily newspaper fires one of its prominent columnists?

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch recently fired one of its prominent columnists, Sylvester Brown. Why? Here's all you'll find even if you carefully scour the Post-Dispatch: A one-paragraph "Note" that Sylvester Brown acted unethically and that he deserved to be gone. But isn't it a big news story whenever the only daily newspaper serving a major metropolitan area fires one of its columnists for a purported isolated ethics infraction? Doesn't it deserve more coverage than a one-paragraph "Note to Readers"? Isn't this story news? What about when the columnist (who wrote three full columns per week) disputes the Post-Dispatch version of the facts? Isn't that news? You won't read about both sides of this dispute in the Post-Dispatch (though you can read about it here). What about the fact that Brown often criticized the Mayor of St. Louis coupled with the fact that the Mayor is on the paper's "Advisory Board?" Isn't that news? Should a newspaper ever have politicians on its "Advisory Board"? Isn't that issue big news? I decided to put out my own "edition" of the St. Louis Daily newspaper. I called it the St. Louis Post-Disgrace. Click on it to see the "paper" full screen." It contains the headlines that illustrate various aspects of the Sylvester Brown story that the Post-Dispatch failed to cover. I'll be waiting and watching to see whether the Post-Dispatch ever advises its readers any of these issues.

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Continue ReadingIsn’t it NEWS when the daily newspaper fires one of its prominent columnists?