NICE ENDING FOR THE WEEK

Friday 7-23-06, 5:38 PM EST


Nice roll-down at the end of this week with the vast majority of problems solved and the dogs finally spending more than six minutes in a none airconditioned environ.
As for the tall plant featured below, it was named Mother's Weed after she planted it from seed and on the 4th Newton let us know its lineage. Cool thing is, Mom ordered extra Miracle Grow and set out on making sure she had potted not only the healthiest weed on the deck but if luck holds, the TALLEST! Next week she wants it placed on the lower deck and her picture taken beside it, her thinking is one more week of food will push it well over the five foot mark, GO FOR IT MOM!

Locally the end of summer is crawling up on us and all the box stores have their fall school supplies right next to their empty but soon to be filled, Halloween shelves. There has been no vacation for the tribe this year due to several projects that had to be completed. Still dreaming of a Jackson Hole Christmas, but right now it is still a dream.

Little to report on the media front. If they do something worthy or stupid or both we will flat let you know! Column out Sunday evening at hallsnews.com, be sure to look for it after Deadwood goes off. Have an outstanding weekend!

HOW HOT IS IT?

Friends it is so HOT...(please go to ask.com and type in how hot is it) that the dogs have cut their "Lilly watering time" in half!

Now, where were we. This week has been so dang southern, great blistering weather, bumping into old acquaintances, crackling brown grass and a real feeling that the national republican party will really do well not only in local elections but in all of the states that vote for the good of the country. Lord help that is so profound! No really here is the deal, with the major dust up between the Jews and the thugs, the left wing kids have lost all ground in slicing and dicing GW! They wanta find something WRONG but so far only CNN (Clinton News Network) has been able to ratchet up a complaint from an American escaping the fighting on a cruise ship! Yep, that's it, even AIR AMERICA is sucking wind.

Locally (here in the Tennessee Valley) the stumbling blog of WATE continues to amuse the unwashed. After they were exposed on their nothing story about the high sheriff they had to resort to a post a story about a package seen on their former rival WBIR! I kid you not, their anchor was watching Channel 10s remembrances of a weather icon and felt the need to POST about it! Lord help, in olden times when I worked rock and roll radio if we even mentioned a cross town rival our thin be hinds were tossed! Anyway, the key is after posting "nothing" shots at the sheriff and such, they (WATE) felt it would be better to "relax" the rhetoric by talking about their former (the race now is between WVLT and BIR, look at the over-nights)rival by going fluff on their blog. Such a disipoinintment!

Also this great southern week contained a return to an old station (WIVK) to cut a spot and not only did I get to work in the semi-airconditioned comfort of their high tech production room (the kids did have an old R2R on the desk) I ran into Edd and Mike. Both were nice, Mike looked a bit TOOO TAN to be in management and Edd (not sure about the two d's) relaxed a few minutes to remember the olden times.

Friends WIVK is a hell of a place, say what you will, it has just kicked more ass than Hulk Hogan and is still kicking! Got a press release from them the other day about a stack of awards they are going for and knowing the Frog they will get them.
Hey, come here. Think that is enough sucking up??? Ok, cool.

As for the column this week (posted this coming Sunday evening), hallsnews.com, there is a fun story about the local TV debates and an even "funnier" story about a fill-in weather dude at WBIR. The new gate time is Sunday evening on hallsnews.com. I don't have a clue when the hard
copy comes out.

Been re-reading the book Cumberland Ave. Revisited and would suggest anyone who hung around the University of Tennessee from 1966 to whenever go buy a copy. Go to Metro
Pulse (yep they got a web site and no I don't have a clue what it is) and they will tell you how to get a copy. For those of you who ran the strip back them just think YARDARM, The Place, Twin Light, Cats Meow, and naturally the LONGBRANCH! Great summer reading.

Stay cool!

Monday Media Fun

GOODMONDAYMORNING!

Ok, lame picture, I admit it but I hate just to read a book and not see pictures!


Late last week local news hound WATE looked at their news watches and yelled, HEY KIDS IT HAS BEEN MINUTES SINCE WE WENT AFTER THE HIGH SHERIFF! The top cop in question is none other than TH, a people's favorite (check out his election wins) and a very good public servant not to mention police officer.

Poor reporting and made up facts cobbled together with an ambush "recorded for air" package was not only so wrong it actually caused a reaction on the sheriffs website. After reading the site you can see where 6 blew it again and any reasonable fellow would know it was time to let this dog alone, but not the news hound! Mr. Gene (I was out of town so I don't really know much about the story) posted on his now infamous blog even more slanted and false points concerning the story. The first one to respond came from a local media blog (not sure who it is but if WATE finds out they sure as heck will tell you) and they really did a point by point response to the WATE mess (story) in a calm and well written manner. Here is their site,
http://www.saysuncle.com be sure to check it out.

This morning things really got rolling on the WATE blog when folks responded to the nothing story, all but one post (and according to my IT guys they think it was none other than Mr. Anchor hiding behind a made-up name) were supporting the high sheriff and pointing out the MESS channel 6 is making of their obvious vendetta.

Never believe me, just check out the say uncle blog and get the facts for yourself. It is just scary to think a local news operation is sliding into the Jerry Springer/AllthenewswecanmakeupNewYorkTimes mode! BLESS THEIR HEARTS!

Media and Summer

The flower and bug are from the front yard and the storm is from last year (so little rain this year it is hard to get good storm pictures)

The column at hallsnews.com now changes every Sunday evening and the one coming up this Sunday (July 17 2006) is about WBIR anchor Bill Williams. He talks about his fill in return, his work with the station and his new contract starting in December.

This week has been a real trip for the local TV stations and I would love to jump into some of the fights but right now I have to just keep still. See you in the paper!

WBIR ratings and my thoughts

First here is the short and the long of it from WBIR on their May win.

Primary News Time Periods:

HH Rating WBIR/NBC News Share WATE/ABC News Share WVLT/CBS News Share HH Total
6-7a 6.6 65.3% 2.7 26.7% 0.8 7.9% 10.1
6-630p 11.7 46.1% 9.4 37.0% 4.3 16.9% 25.4
11-1130p 10.5 55.6% 3.7 19.6% 4.7 24.9% 18.9
Average News Share 52.94% 29.04% 18.01%
As of the May 2006 Nielsen sweep, WBIR nationally ranks as one of NBCÂ’s highest rated affiliates in AmericaÂ’s metered markets:
#4 nationally ranked HH delivery of the “Today Show”
#2 nationally ranked HH delivery of the “NBC Nightly News”
#6 nationally ranked HH delivery of over all NBC Primetime




Since these thoughts were sent from 10 they have hired their new anchor and have had more than a few nice wins in the 5 p.m. slot. May has shown advertisers that they can now buy WVLT at 11 and Noon and WBIR either early morning or 6 and spend much less than last May to cover the market. It has also shown Channel 8 growing, Channel 10 continuing to win big (the thought on not buying 10 at 11 was nothing but price, they are still the number one buy at 11) and Knoxville slowly turning from a market with three major local TV news competitors into one with two. As always let the account fellow from the station you are thinking about buying explain the numbers before you make your buy.

Class of 66!

The Maryville High class of 1966 had a glorious two day reunion last weekend and if you would like to see more of these great folks their blog is http://maryvilleclassof66.blogspot.com

Tons of pictures of kids pushing 58+ and looking not a day over 57!

















Here are a few of the tunes the class of 1966 dance to TODAY!

Updated hits of the 60's

1. Herman's Hermits--- Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Walker.
2. The Bee Gees--- How Can You Mend a Broken Hip.
3. Bobby Darin--- Splish, Splash, I Was Havin' a Flash.
4. Ringo Starr--- I Get By With a Little Help From Depends.
5. Roberta Flack--- The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face.
6. Johnny Nash--- I Can't See Clearly Now.
7. Paul Simon--- Fifty Ways to Lose Your Liver
8. The Commodores--- Once, Twice, Three Times to the Bathroom.
9. Marvin Gaye--- Heard It Through the Grape Nuts.
10. Procol Harem--- A Whiter Shade of Hair.
11. Leo Sayer--- You Make Me Feel Like Napping.
12. The Temptations--- Papa's Got a Kidney Stone.
13. Abba--- Denture Queen.
14. Tony Orlando--- Knock 3 Times On The Ceiling If You Hear Me Fall.
15. Helen Reddy--- I Am Woman, Hear Me Snore.
16. Willie Nelson--- On the Commode Again
17. Leslie Gore--- It's My Procedure and I'll Cry If I Want To.

RATINGS THOUGTS FROM 8

WVLT Ratings Overview

MAY 2006





WVLT-TV CONTINUES STRONG GROWTH and SOLIDIFIES ITS #2 MARKET POSITION IN NEWS, PRIME, and SIGN-ON to SIGN-OFF!





WVLT VOLUNTEER TV NEWS is the #2 MOST WATCHED LOCAL NEWS STATION in the KNOXVILLE MARKET 6:00 A.M. to Midnight Monday through Friday, according to the most recent Nielsen Media Research for May 2006. The average weekly estimates for Households and Persons 2+ for 6-7am, Noon News, First @ Four, 5-5:30pm, 5:30-6pm, 6-6:30pm, 7pm News, and the Late News at 11-11:30pm confirms WVLT’s position.



STATION HOUSEHOLDS PERSONS 2+

WBIR/NBC 243,000 311,000

WVLT/CBS 152,000 188,000

WATE/ABC 145,000 185,000





LATE NEWS 11:00pm Monday – Friday

· WVLT is #2 in TOTAL Household Ratings for the second book in a row beating WATE in May by 4 full share points!



· Adults 25-54 Ratings:

· WVLT #2 Adults 25-54 with a 25% increase in rating and a 21% increase in share book to book, and beating WATE by 7 share points!

· WVLT also posts a 67% increase in rating and a 70% increase in share year to year! (May 2006 vs. May 2005)



Adults 18-49 Ratings:
WVLT is #2 Adults 18-49 with a 33% increase in rating and a 33% increase in share book to book!
Plus, a 100% increase in rating and a 78% increase in share year to year! (May 2006 vs. May 2005)


LATE NEWS 11:00pm Sunday – Saturday

Household Ratings:
WVLT is #2 with a 19% increase in share year to year! (May 2006 vs. May 2005)


WVLT is a strong #2 among Adults 25-54.


WVLT is also a strong #2 among Adults 18-49!


SIGN-ON to SIGN-OFF 7:00a – 1:00am



WVLT-TV finishes the May 2006 rating period as the solid #2 sign on to sign off.



NOON NEWS



For the second ratings period in a row, WVLT Volunteer TV News at Noon takes 1st place with a Household 6 rating/14 share, reflecting growth book to book, and besting both WBIR and WATE. Additionally, WVLT News at Noon showed growth year to year in key demos; Adults 18-49, Adults 25-54, and Women 25-54.
This is the third time in the last five ratings periods that WVLT has finished #1 in Noon News…


4:00 NEWS – FIRST AT FOUR



WVLT up book to book and year to year in Key Demos in both rating and share.
Adults 18-49 up 2 share points…+25% Book to Book and up 7 share points…+233% May 2006 vs. May 2005
Adults 25-54 up 3 share points…+33% Book to Book and up 8 share points…+200% May 2006 vs. May 2005




WVLT-TV 5:30 NEWS



WVLT up book to book and year to year in Key Demos in both rating and share.
Adults 18-49 up 1 share point…+11% year-to-year
Adults 25-54 up 4 share points…+40% year to year


VOLUNTEER TV NEWS @ 6:00pm



WVLT – Volunteer News at 6 reflected growth in HH ratings, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54…year to year.
Adults 18-49 up 2 share points…+33% May 2006 vs. May 2005
Adults 25-54 up 1 share point…+12.5% May 2006 vs. May 2005


VOLUNTEER TV NEWS @ 7:00pm



WVLT continues dominance as the only LIVE 7pm News cast.


MONDAY – SATURDAY PRIME 8-11pm and SUNDAY 7-11pm



WVLT up 3 share points…+12% book to book in Prime and finishes second in Household Ratings and tied for “First Place” in Key Demos...Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54.
WVLT-TV delivered nine (9) of the Top 20 Prime/Special programs, Household ratings, that ran once during the May 2006 Ratings Period, including Four (4) of the Top 10. This is more than any other station in the market.
WVLT-TV delivered seven (7) of the Top 20 Prime programs, Household ratings, running twice or more in the May 2006 Ratings, this is more than any other station in the market. Topping the list is CSI with an 18 rating and 26 share.


Highlights –



ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS an 11.6 rating and 60,000 viewers. Women 25-54 a 13 rating and Women 18-49 a 12 rating.


C.S.I. – 18 HH rating/26 share; Women 25-54 a 17 rating and Women 18-49 a 15 rating.




**********************



Also, UPN Knoxville Continues to show steady growth with gains both network and non network programming, positioning it well for the switch to MyNetwork!



Notable Highlights:



WWE SMACKDOWN – 2 HH rating and a 4 share; Demos – Adults 18-49 a 2 rating; Adults 25-54 a 2 rating; Men 25-54 a 3 rating; Men 18-49 an 3 rating.


AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL – HH 1.3 rating.


ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT – HH 1.1 rating.


COPS – HH 1.0 rating.






Steve Crabtree

Kidd REUNION

The Kidd family and various off shoots gathered at Kidd Springs ( I am sure this is not the correct title for the spot) to celebrate their annual Kidd reunion on Sunday June 26th 2006.

Walker Johnson, one of the many grandchildren of Gussie or is it Gussy Kidd attened and took these pictures. There is one characteristic running through all of the photographs and it is fun, notice the smiles and the fellowship of these folks. It is both an honor and a privilege to call them kin!

wate release

PRESS RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 16, 2006 Contact: Mark Bishop
Creative Services Director
(865) 633-6906 (office)


WATE-TV scores a big win at 5pm during May.


(Knoxville) ABC affiliate WATE 6 had a winning May sweeps performance. WATE 6 showed growth during key day parts and in the key demos. WATE 6 also won the 5pm news time slot again during this very important sweeps period. This proves that more and more East Tennessee viewers are turning to 'The News Station', 6 News.
“We are pleased to have earned growth in some key news areas during this rating period,” says Jan Wade, President and General Manager of WATE-TV. “The staff works very hard each day to bring good quality journalism to our viewers. Our goal is cover the top story news of the day, and to report on stories and issues that are of interest to the area. As evidenced by our growth, more and more East Tennesseans seem to be counting on us for just that.”
Good Morning Tennessee, Knoxville’s only local morning newscast with a daily live reporter shows great growth throughout the mornings. Growing an incredible 26% from 5am to 5:30am, and showing great growth in key demos from 6am to 7am. GMT delivers big breaking news with overnight developments along with traffic and weather together on the 6's.

5:00-5:30am May. 05 May. 06
WATE (News) 1.9 rating / 9 share 2.4 rating / 10.5 share
WBIR (News) 3.9 rating / 19 share 3.5 rating / 15.5 share
WVLT (News) 1.0 rating / 5 share 0.6 rating / 2.5 share




6-7am
May 05 Ratings
HH A18-49 A25-54 W18-49 W25-54 May 06 Ratings
HH A18-49 A25-54 W18-49 W25-54
WATE (News) 4.2 2.0 2.7 2.8 3.4 4.2 2.5 2.8 3.1 3.4
WBIR (News) 8.3 3.8 5.4 4.7 6.4 7.7 3.8 5.6 4.8 7.3
WVLT (News) 1.5 0.7 1.0 0.8 1.2 1.7 0.8 1.1 0.9 1.3
source: NSI May 05-May06, VIP Analysis

Oprah, once again won her time slot, winning dramatically in all key demos. This proves that Oprah remains the “Queen of Daytime Television”. She is still going strong, and continues to dominate the 4pm hour.
“There are so many positive attributes to be said about Oprah Winfrey,” adds Wade. “But the headline for her is that she does an excellent program, and her viewers continue to love her and watch her.”

4-5pm
May 05 Ratings
HH A18-49 A25-54 W18-49 W25-54 May 06 Ratings
HH A18-49 A25-54 W18-49 W25-54
WATE (Oprah) 7.3 3.0 3.6 5.2 5.9 6.3 2.8 3.1 4.8 5.3
WBIR (Style) 5.4 1.4 1.7 1.6 2.0 5.0 1.3 1.4 2.2 2.4
WVLT (News/Andy) 3.2 0.7 1.0 0.8 1.2 3.2 1.3 1.8 1.9 2.6
source: NSI May 05-May06, VIP Analysis
WATE 6 News at 5pm, Won again for the seventh time in last 8 rating periods. WATE 6 News at 5pm grew in all key demos over last year’s performance. 6 News continues to provide the people of East Tennessee with big breaking news, developing stories, and in-depth investigations that make an impact.
“We are East Tennessee’s source for local news,” says Robb Atkinson, News Director of WATE-TV. “6 News at 5 is the only place where viewers can find hard hitting investigations, and in-depth team coverage of the stories they want to watch.”
5-5:30pm
May 05 Ratings
HH A18-49 A25-54 W18-49 W25-54 May 06 Ratings
HH A18-49 A25-54 W18-49 W25-54
WATE (Oprah) 8.6 2.6 3.4 3.3 4.2 7.7 3.2 3.6 4.1 4.5
WBIR (Style) 8.5 3.1 3.9 3.8 4.7 7.6 3.4 3.9 4.6 5.1
WVLT (Andy) 4.4 1.8 2.3 2.2 2.4 4.2 2.2 3.1 2.9 3.8
source: NSI May 05-May06, VIP Analysis

The Insider continues to create a buzz in East Tennessee with another great sweeps performance. The Insider was the only show during its time period to make gains in the key demos.
7:30-8pm
May 05 Ratings
HH A18-49 A25-54 W18-49 W25-54 May 06 Ratings
HH A18-49 A25-54 W18-49 W25-54
WATE (Insider) 6.2 2.1 2.6 2.5 3.1 5.0 2.2 2.5 2.9 3.3
WBIR (Jeopardy) 11.4 4.1 5.2 4.7 6.1 10.2 4.0 4.9 4.4 5.4
WVLT (ET) 5.4 2.5 3.2 3.2 4.3 4.7 1.7 2.1 2.6 3.1
source: NSI May 05-May06, VIP Analysis

“Going forward, we will continue to pursue our mission of providing the very best newscasts, and programming in East Tennessee,” adds Wade. “We are grateful to our loyal viewers and will continue to work hard to earn their trust each and every day.”
***
WATE-TV, Channel 6, is owned and operated by Young Broadcasting of Knoxville, Inc. The ABC network affiliate serves East Tennessee and Southeast Kentucky.

Little media, little animal

Our state bird raising the devil on my roof trying to let the ladies know he is packing American Express platinum, keys to a Buick Park Ave., and his wife is on a six week cruise to the Bahamas!

CBS is saying that Dan Rather will be packing his box (old radio saying for cleaning out your desk) today! See Ya DAN!

Locally the May numbers are back and the TV sales ferrets have spun them harder than the an industrial Kenmore. Their end results will be posted here after the column hits on Wednesday night, live for it!

Powell News Lives!

Just got word the Powell News will still be around, but it will be an added supplement to the Halls News and not a separate paper.

Some other good news in the media world, RATHER finally got SACKED at CBS and although NBC ran a personal poll on GW that said his numbers were flat it looks like he is back over 40%! How can you tell if an alphabet network news anchor is not telling the truth? His lips are moving!!!! LOL

WELCOME HALLS NEWS READERS!

The famed MEDIA MAVIN is now writing in the Halls News, after a few short years with the Powell News. The Post assumed room temperature this week and the Halls News has grown in distribution and content. I mention the blog in my column so if you are a first time visitor to Tennessee Writer, you are just in for such a treat!

I will use the blog to expand on the local media and also as a place to park their news releases concerning ratings. Brother they are flat fun to read and each station can show you where they are growing and beating another station, creative writing at its best!

Anyway the giant news is I just got a new Nikon and have been blasting pictures of the river, the flowers and the dogs and I am positive you would LOVE to see these suckers!

Check out the column at hallsnews.com and if you wanta jump into the mix fire off an e mail!

Denver

Got a new camera from the TV shopping net work, SHOP AT HOME. They are selling out at the end of the month and everything is at cost! This one is an olympus and has 5 meg/pix so it does take clearer shots that the old 2 meg/pix cannon.

Still working on getting either a nikon or a cannon rebel when the prices get better!

Mocking BIRD has moved in

The squirrel, now named Rocky is sharing our home with two new kids!
Two outstanding mockingbird have moved into the bunker in Rockford and they are having a great time on the roof. They fly up about 8 feet and then right back down as they sing their brains out. So far it is just great having them, but if it gets old I think I can throw the neighborhood cat up to the level they are on!



Northern MockingbirdAbout the photographs range mapPlay sound from this species
Menu
Cool Facts
Description
Similar Species
Sound
Range
Habitat
Food
Behavior
Reproduction
Conservation Status
Other Names
The "American nightingale," the Northern Mockingbird is known for its long, complex songs that include imitations of many other birds. It is a common bird of hedgerows and suburbs, and has been slowly expanding its range northward.

Cool Facts


The Northern Mockingbird frequently gives a "wing flash" display, where it half or fully opens its wings in jerky intermediate steps, showing off the big white patches. No one knows why it does this behavior, but some have suggested that it startles insects into revealing themselves. However, it does not appear to flush insects, and other mockingbird species that do not have white wing patches use the display, casting doubt on this idea.


The Northern Mockingbird is a loud and persistent singer. It sings all through the day, and often into the night. Most nocturnal singers are unmated males, which sing more than mated males during the day too. Nighttime singing is more common during the full moon. In well-lit areas around people, even mated males may sing at night.


A Northern Mockingbird continues to add new sounds to its song repertoire throughout its life.


The Northern Mockingbird typically sings throughout most of the year, from February through August, and again from September to early November. A male may have two distinct repertoires of songs: one for spring and another for fall. One study found only a one percent overlap in song types used in spring and fall.


The female Northern Mockingbird sings too, although usually more quietly than the male does. She rarely sings in the summer, usually only when the male is away from the territory. She sings more in the fall, perhaps to establish a winter territory.


Description

Last night before they take over

The restoration of the up stairs in our 1878 building is finished and the FIRST renters will be coming in on June 1.
I went down to the great old building and took some pictures before they get the keys. Molly went along but didn't like the place and would not stay in ANY of the rooms alone. Look close cause she is in all of these pictures!

BROTHERS and SISTERS,

Another week has slipped under the wire and lord help us all it was great fun!
First, the media mavin's column at hallsnews.com shown the light of truth on a real hack job done by our local ABC affiliate. THEN unbenounced to said MEDIA MAVIN, another scribe at hallsnews.com named BEAN took aim and nailed the same drama that WATE (the ABC affiliate) tossed out to the viewers last Monday afternoon.

Glorious response from the unwashed to the OUTRAGEOUS drama the station tried to call news filled the WATE blog, dash over and check out the posts.. http://blogs.wate.com/patterson/

Brethren we are in a major media quagmire of fabrication and manipulation tossed at us just about 24/7 from the major networks and the cable fools. We all know there is nothing we can do about it, BUT when it filters down to the local level the playing field changes! You got a DELL then you GOT a voice! Jump on the WATE blog AFTER you read the two stories on hallsnews.com and fight the good fight!

There are fine people lurking in the halls of Graystone, but they are starting to follow in the footsteps of the strange and I might add FADING national broadcast media, again nothing we can do about the big kids but TVO the hell out of Everybody Loves Raymond or Andy and run the living HECK out of them at 6:30 Eastern. As for the local children, we can light the pine knots and march as one onto their blogs!!


Well? Why are you not clicking the links! Go for it!

Storm is a brewing in TN media

I am an OPEN hater of the drive by media and the cable fools who call themselves reporters. The giant problem is their style of NON news and LEFT WING attitudes is swinging into our local TV news.

WATE.COM is a place where the blog I responded 2 is located. Friends and family it is a blog so hidden you need a GPS and a sniffer dawg to find it. If you do make the trip to their site, click on SOUND OFF and give it your best shot.

In the shell of a nut, they tried to fabricate a story about the high sheriff of Knox County Tennessee. I have no puppy in the fight cause I live in a neighboring county but I flat HATE to see these southern TV news kids turn into the sad fools we catch twenty four seven when we click over to either the nets or the cable kids.

Here is my post, if you want more go to WATE.com

As for the picture, it is me and some kid I can't remember in the late 50s. Sorry, if you are a left coast liberal, but neither of us went the BROKE BUTT MOUNTAIN route, all though the picture is incriminating!

Responses are always welcome.

walker johnson said,


on May 24th, 2006 at 2:33 pm

Have they lost the skill at hiding bias like NBC, CBS, FOX, CNN, et al. did during the last Presidential election?”

KRUPTO, I like the way you think (Back to School, Sam talking to Rodney in history class)!

The big kids (nets and cable) are all news fabricators and agenda pounders. Tonight turn on NBC at 6 30 and count the number of stories that either openly bash GW or come at him with the left hand. Most nights there are 3 before the first break.

Did you notice the lack of coverage of the DEM. crook caught with the 90K in the freezer?

Locally we have a former office holder and a lawyer who live to file on TH, just what they do. A fun story would be to look into their win loss record it court!


I live across the river, have a great sherifff and am on no bandwagon in Kvle. I do join you in feeling both sad and a little scared at how the TV kids in Kvle are picking up just a tad of the national attitude. Lets hope they get back to real news.

FOG=NEWS COVERAGE!

As the late Saturday evening fog crawls out of Little River (hell yes I am writing a book, can YA TELL?) it reminds me of the national and now L O C A L news we are being shown here in the TN valley.

Nationally the left wing odd ball networks are all in a giant rush to try and out "hate" GW. His immigration speech the other night was not half bad at all, he had a clear plan and it involved LAW BREAKERS making restitution and STILL being able to work in OUR country.

Course that Dobbs fool on CNN hated it, NBC sent the young drunk (Gregory) to try and embarrass the man at the boarder and ABC and CBS just slithered along in the same WE HATE YOU rut as always!

Locally our INVESTIGATIVE station is just getting to be a bore. These children are so hard pressed to CREATE and FABRICATE both facts and news they are walking into walls. Sure we all know they hate certain folks and agencies and sure we know they live for having their reporters standing on the side of the road waving a CONAIR hair dryer to see if speeders will slow down thinking they are cops. We can laugh at that, but when they join the ranks of the sliding NETWORKS in their open manipulation of facts and stories to further their agendas it just drives one more nail into the TV news coffin.

Damn do I feel better!

BEAUTIFUL NIGHT

A cold front blew in this afternoon and before the big wind and rain came the sky was outstanding!









Next month the 4th largest and third oldest TV shopping network is going belly up.
Dash over to hallsnews.com and click on Walker Johnson for the story. Over 600 folks will be out of work, although the ones I have talked with are saying they are getting some big packages to carry them to the next job. Media ain't what it was, if you want stability in a job bout all I can think of is undertaker school.

CP AND WALKER ON 1180

MONDAY the day after MOTHERS DAY at 7 a.m. CP and Walker will be on WVLZ (AM 1180) until 11 a.m.IF you would rather listen on the net http://southernrootsradio.com
and click on what it tells you until you get the station. Last minute invite from the folks on Friday is causing the boys to work all weekend on their snappy patter and off the wall hilarity. Yep, in other words, if you don't call in this thing could turn into a bore that could even rival Hal Hill!

Not a clue what the phone number is but if you dash over to the site bet you can find it.

As for the picture it was taken in 1976 with the then midday person who is now a rich and famous TV star in Denver!

Please pass this on to all your OLDER friends who want to stagger back the mid 70s on Monday Morning!

THANKS

FRIDAY 5-13-06

Great things this week, first the B L O G started to take my posts, second the weather turned great, third found the words to some songs I needed for a new CD, fourth my dork knee only gets stiff when it rains or the BP drops, fifth Tony Snow is going to try and explain GW while fighting off the mad dawg Washington Press. OH YEA, that book in my profile (the one that is always being edited) is just about ready to be REALLY edited!

OH AND ONE MORE, the Maryville High Class of 1966 blog got its first responses this week and all of them are posted WITH pictures of classmates, wives and even children. These people are at least 58 years old and most don't look at day over 57. Big MHS reunion will be July 1st. We were going to have it at the Hilton but they banned us because of the Little rascal drag races in the lobby from last time.

Thanks for dropping in!!!!

GAS PROBLEM SOLVED

My mailbox is being flooded with mail concerning gas prices and illegal
immigrants. To boycott oil companies or not; to provide amnesty to illegal
immigrants or not, etc. Since I have become jaded to the various solutions
proposed by the Republicans, Democrats, Sierra Club, ACLU, etc. I have
elected to solve the problems as they affect me. It solves both my gas and
illegal immigrant problem: I have hired illegal immigrants to push my car.
They're plentiful and cheaper than buying gas.

FANS

Few years back the regionally famous WALKER AND ANDY orchestra played at an odd ball dive in Knoxville for a few months. Not a clue who this guy was, but he sure did drop in more than a few times and even recorded a love song he rendered while WALKER AND ANDY watched in abstract terror behind him.

Although it has been years since we have seen him, late at night I have this burning feeling that he is in a one room Montana shack writing away on a very old typewriter, BLESS HIS HEART!

You ain't from here unless......

1. You can properly pronounce Ooltewah, La Vergne, Etowah and Maryville.

2. You think people who complain about the heat in their states are
sissies.

3. A tornado warning siren is your signal to go out in the yard and look
for a funnel.

4. You know that the true value of a parking space is not determined by
the distance to the door, but by the availability of shade.

5. Stores don't have bags or shopping carts, they have sacks and
buggies.

6. You've seen people wear bib overalls at weddings and funerals.

7. You think everyone from a bigger city has an accent.

8. You measure distance in minutes.

9. You go to the lake because you think it is like going to the ocean.

10. You listen to the weather forecast before picking out an outfit.

11. You know cowpies are not made of beef.

12. Someone you know has used a football schedule to plan their wedding
date.

13. You know someone who has a belt buckle bigger than your fist.

14. You aren't surprised to find movie rental, ammunition, beer, and
bait all in the same store.

15. A Mercedes Benz isn't a status symbol. A Chevy Silverado Extended
Bed Crew Cab is.

16. You know everything goes better with Ranch.

17. You learned how to shoot a gun before you learned how to multiply.

18. You actually get these jokes and are "fixin'" to send them to your
friends.

And finally:

19. You are 100% Tennessean if you have ever had this conversation: "You
wanna coke?" "Yeah." "What kind?" "Dr Pepper."

remember the ALAMO

Dear President Bush:
I'm about to plan a little trip with my family and extended family, and I would like to ask you to assist me. I'm going to walk across the border from the U.S. into Mexico, and I need to make a few arrangements. I know you can help with this.



I plan to skip all the legal stuff like visas, passports, immigration quotas and laws. I'm sure they handle those things the same way you do here. So, would you mind telling your buddy, President Vicente Fox, that I'm on my way over? Please let him know that I will be expecting the following:



1. Free medical care for my entire family.
2. English-speaking government bureaucrats for all services I might need, whether I use them or not.
3. All government forms need to be printed in English.
4. I want my kids to be taught by English-speaking teachers.
5. Schools need to include classes on American culture and history.
6. I want my kids to see the American flag flying on the top of the flag pole at their school with the Mexican flag flying lower down.
7. Please plan to feed my kids at school for both breakfast and lunch.
8. I will need a local Mexican driver's license so I can get easy access to government services.
9. I do not plan to have any car insurance, and I won't make any effort to learn local traffic laws.
10. In case one of the Mexican police officers does not get the memo from Pres. Fox to leave me alone, please be sure that all police officers speak English
11. I plan to fly the U.S. flag from my house top, put flag decals on my car, and have a gigantic celebration on July 4th. I do not want any complaints or negative comments from the locals.
12. I would also like to have a nice job without paying any taxes, and don't enforce any labor laws or tax laws.
13. Please tell all the people in the country to be extremely nice and never say a critical word about me, or about the strain I might place on the economy.



I know this is an easy request because you already do all these things for all the people who come to the U.S. from Mexico. I am sure that Pres. Fox won't mind returning the favor if you ask him nicely. However, if he gives you any trouble, just invite him to go quail hunting with your V.P.



Thank you so much for your kind help.



Sincerely,
U. S. Citizen

At last!

finally the bog has started to work again!! Post after post has died at the gate trying to make the cut.

BROKEBUTT MT STILL LIVES!

The Top Ten Old West Phrases That Will Never Sound The Same After That Queer Cowboy Movie.


10. "I'm gonna pump you fulla lead!"

9. "Give me a stiff one, barkeep!"

8. "Don't fret---I've been in tight spots before."

7. "Howdy, pardner."

6. You stay here while I sneak around from behind."

5. Two words: "Saddle Sore."

4. "Hold it right there! Now, move your hand, reeeal slow-like."

3. "Let's mount up!"

2. "Nice spread ya got there!"

1. "Ride 'em cowboy!"

Spring

This is such a GREEN spring, grass I didn't even know I had is going nuts!

Bought an azalea bush 3 years ago and left it in the original pot (was going to plant it but FORGOT it) and it never did a thing, THEN this spring it just exploded!