Tag: news

Categories
Fly On The Wall Blog Opinion

Obama Enforces Gay Marriage Law

CREDIT: By Ludovic Bertron from New York City, Usa [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

By Ludovic Bertron from New York City, Usa [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

– Washington, D.C.

In the wake of last week’s historic Supreme Court decision making same-sex marriage legal, the Obama administration has taken a strict interpretation of the ruling and ordered that every adult in America marry a same-sex partner.

“My administration reads the Obergfell decision as one mandating that the gay agenda be implemented fully and, if necessary, by force,” President Obama said in an address from the White House’s new Rainbow Room. “The time for change is literally now.”

Bruce Vilanch, the administration’s newly appointed Secretary of Super Gay Affairs, detailed more of the plans. “We began five minutes after the Supreme Court decision was announced. We loaded up black helicopters with our elite squad of “Do Ask and Do Tell” soldiers and went to everyone’s house, took their guns, and then used those guns to make the straights get divorced. You should have seen Clint Eastwood. He was so mad he’s still screaming at a chair!”

“At first I was confused and upset,” said 52 year old Michael Newton of Madison, Wisconsin. “I’d been married to Carol for 27 years, up until they took my gun, pointed it me and made me divorce her and marry some random guy. But, it’ll work out, I suppose. Chet seems nice.”

In addition to mandating gay marriages, the President added, “Oh, and all churches have to start performing gay wedding right now. Period. And don’t even think about not making gay wedding cakes, people. We will flat out Gitmo you if you do.”

President Obama explained the penalties for refusing to participate in the new so-called “Got Gay” initiative. “If you refuse to marry someone of your gender, you will hunt you down with a drone, send in troops and drag you before a death panel, just like the ones I saw as a young boy in Kenya. Yeah, that’s right. I’m from Kenya. Deal with that.”

The President then used a bunch of racial slurs for no reason, laughed and then announced that he had to leave to plan his wedding with Vice-President Joe Biden.

Immediately following the President’s press conference, Vilanch announced that his department will immediately get to work trying to legalize people getting married to children, dogs, three dentist at a time and “in Clint Eastwood’s case a chair! That’s a callback, people,” Vilanch said.

Joey Hack is a member of The Wiseguys improv troupe.  More of his work and the work of other hilarious people can be found in The Howling Monkey Magazine. 

Categories
News News Blog

New Poplar Plaza Security Measures Revealed During Community Meeting

Screen_shot_2014-09-18_at_4.56.32_PM.png

A couple of weeks after teenagers involved in a flash mob beat three people in the Poplar Plaza Kroger parking lot, residents of the High Point Terrace neighborhood are still worried about being victimized when they travel to the grocery store.

Many of those concerned residents gathered in the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church’s Fellowship Hall during the High Point Terrace Neighborhood Watch and Association’s meeting Wednesday night.

The event brought together more than 150 people: area residents, elected officials, Memphis city councilmen, Shelby County commissioners, employees from both the Poplar Plaza Kroger and CiCi’s Pizza (where the teens met up before the Kroger parking lot situation), and representatives from Shelby County Juvenile Court, law enforcement, and civic organizations.

Locals submitted questions about crime in the area — primarily the Kroger incident and what’s being done to make sure a similar occurrence doesn’t take place in the future.

“I want to know what protection they’re going to have in the parking lot to control this,” said one long-time High Point resident. “My way of thinking is, the kids should not be there in a group anymore. They should be monitored. I just want to see that it doesn’t happen again. There needs to be more parental control. And there has to be some justification for your actions.”

Various members of law enforcement commented on the Kroger issue and disclosed how they’re working to better assure the safety of all community residents.

Tillman Precinct Commander Colonel Terry Landrum informed the crowd that a new surveillance camera had been installed at the Poplar Plaza Kroger. Landrum said that he’s diverted some of Tillman Precinct’s bike patrol to the Poplar area and has also increased the number of police cruisers patrolling the area.

Screen_Shot_2014-09-18_at_4.32.41_PM.png

Landrum also revealed that Finard Properties, the company that owns the Poplar Plaza property, had increased security there, and Kroger is considering hiring uniformed patrol officers.

“Poplar Plaza was a terrible incident to occur. There was no real warning that it was going to happen,” Landrum said. “It’s regrettable. It’s something that we don’t expect to happen again. I cannot promise you that it won’t happen again. It can happen anywhere. Since this incident, we’ve taken every step that we should’ve taken to make sure this does not happen again.”

Other people who spoke during the meeting included Memphis Police Department Deputy Chief Clete Knight, Deputy District Attorney General Jennifer Nichols, Shelby County Juvenile Court Detention Center Administrator Gary Cummings, Rick Smith of Finard Properties, Memphis City Councilwoman Wanda Halbert, and Shelby County Commission Chairman Justin Ford.

Each person shared ideas on what can be done to make sure no one else is victimized in Poplar Plaza and throughout the community. Many of the ideas involved mentoring to at-risk youth and having more churches and schools open up their gyms for teens to utilize outside of school hours.

“Have you seen a great spike of churches opening up at night to offer their gyms? Have you seen Shelby County Schools open up their gyms to offer the kids something to do?” inquired Shelby County Commissioner Mark Billingsley. “Unfortunately, the answer is no. Instead of waiting another year for us to do nothing, you’ve got to hold people like me, and the city council, accountable. Six months from now, you need to hold another one of these [meetings] to say, ‘What schools do we have open at night? What churches are open at night? And how many people in this room are mentoring a child?’ I would just encourage you, if anything, [to do that], or [crime] will be a bullet away from your family.”

Categories
Special Sections

Media

Newspapers and Magazines

ANIMAL WORLD: 454-0807.

Monthly publication devoted to animals. Annual subscriptions are $28. theanimalworld.org

AT HOME TENNESSEE: 684-4155.

This monthly magazine covers home interiors in the Memphis area. A one-year subscription is $20. athometn.com

THE BARTLETT EXPRESS: 388-1500.

This weekly newspaper covers Bartlett and Arlington. A subscription is $22 for one year. bartlettexpress.com.

BEST TIMES: 458-2911.

Published monthly, “Best Times” provides news, consumer information, entertainment, and resource guides for seniors in Memphis and Shelby, Fayette, DeSoto, Tipton, and Lauderdale counties. The subscription rate is $20 per year. Besttimes.com

THE COLLIERVILLE HERALD: 853-2241.

This weekly newspaper covers Collierville, Byhalia, Cordova, and Germantown. A subscription is $18 per year for Collierville residents and $22 for outside the town.

THE COLLIERVILLE INDEPENDENT: 853-7060.

This weekly newspaper covers Collierville, Rossville, Piperton, Moscow, Eads, Fisherville, Byhalia, and Cayce. A subscription is $9.36 per year inside Collierville.

THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL: 529-2211.

A member of the Scripps Howard group, “The Commercial Appeal” covers local, state, national, and international news. Rates for home delivery every morning are $18.69 per month, $15.44 Wednesday through Sunday, and $11 Sundays only. commercialappeal.com

THE CORDOVA BEACON: 388-1500.

Weekly paper covering Cordova. A year’s subscription costs $22.

COTTON GROWER MAGAZINE: 756-8822.

A free publication covering the cotton industry for growers, ginners, and other industry players for more than a century. Mail subscriptions only.

THE COVINGTON LEADER: 476-7116.

This biweekly newspaper covers Tipton County. Subscription rates are $36 per year for in-county and $47 for elsewhere in Tennessee; $74 outside Tennessee. covingtonleader.com

THE DAILY NEWS: 523-1561.

Published Monday through Friday, except for legal holidays, “The Daily News” contains general news with a focus on legal notices, business, and finance. Subscription costs are $69 for six months and $99 for one year. memphisdailynews.com

THE DESOTO COUNTY TRIBUNE: 662-895-6220.

This weekly newspaper covers DeSoto County, Mississippi. Subscriptions are $18 per year for in-county; $16 for senior citizens in-county. dctribune.com

THE DESOTO TIMES TODAY: 662-429-6397.

This daily newspaper covers DeSoto County in Mississippi. Subscription rates are $20 every three months, $35 for six months, and $49 for a year. desototimes.com

THE EAST SHELBY REVIEW: 872-2286.

This weekly newspaper reports the goings-on of Eads, Lakeland, Brunswick, Bolton, and Arlington. A year’s subscription is $22.

EDIBLE MEMPHIS: 552-4742.

Quarterly devoted to regional foods and farmers. A year’s subscription is $28. ediblememphis.com

THE EVENING TIMES: 870-735-1010.

This daily newspaper covers the West Memphis, Arkansas, and Crittenden County area. Subscription rates are $75 per year for area residents and $93.50 per year for those outside the area. theeveningtimes.com

THE FAYETTE COUNTY REVIEW: 465-4042.

A weekly devoted to news and information related to Fayette County. For those inside Fayette County, a one-year subscription costs $18. fayettecountyreview.com

GAZE: 229-5877.

Free monthly newspaper covering the gay and lesbian community. gazememphis.com

THE GERMANTOWN NEWS: 754-0337.

This weekly newspaper focuses on news pertinent to the Germantown community. A one-year subscription is $25. germantownnews.com

GRACE: 579-9333.

This bimonthly publication’s mission is to offer a positive voice for African-American women in Memphis and the issues that concern them. Subscriptions (six issues) are $21.95. gracemagazine.com

HARDWOOD MARKET REPORT: 767-9126.

Weekly trade publication. Subscription are $230. hmr.com

THE HEBREW WATCHMAN: 763-2215.

A weekly publication featuring local, national, and international news of Jewish interest. Subscription costs are $25 for one year.

JABBERBLABBER: 725-2223.

A free monthly publication designed to foster the creative skills of children through a variety of art projects. jabberblabber.com

JACKPOT MAGAZINE: 662-363-3637.

A bimonthly magazine providing the latest information on Tunica County casinos. Subscription rates are $30 for six months, $50 for one year. jackpotmagazine.com

JUSTINE MAGAZINE: 761-2845.

A bimonthly publication geared toward teenage girls. A one-year subscription costs $14.95. justinemagazine.com

THE LAMPLIGHTER: 827-4797.

Free monthly newspaper covering the Cooper-Young neighborhood. cooperyoung.org/lamplighter.asp

MEMPHIS: 521-9000.

“Memphis” magazine covers all aspects of life in the Bluff City. A one-year subscription costs $15; renewal rates are lower. “Memphis” is published every month except August, when it publishes the annual City Guide. memphismagazine.com

MEMPHIS BUSINESS JOURNAL: 523-1000.

This weekly contains news about the local business community and issues pertinent to area businesses. A one-year subscription costs $82. bizjournals.com/memphis/

MEMPHIS BUSINESS QUARTERLY: 521-9000.

Quarterly magazine focusing on business matters in the region. Subscription are $9.95. mbqmemphis.com

MEMPHIS DOWNTOWNER MAGAZINE: 525-7118.

This monthly magazine covers city development, history, personal profiles, and current events. Subscription rates are $15 for one year and $26 for two years. memphisdowntowner.com

MEMPHIS FLYER: 521-9000.

“Memphis Flyer” is a free newsweekly covering arts, news, and entertainment in the Mid-South. memphisflyer.com

MEMPHIS HEALTH & FITNESS SPORTS MAGAZINE: 729-4200.

A free monthly tabloid covering local health, fitness, and recreation news. memphishealthandfitness.com

MEMPHIS PARENT: 521-9000.

This free monthly magazine covers news of interest to parents of children who are school-age and younger.

MEMPHIS REGIONAL CHAMBER GUIDE (MEET MEMPHIS): 521-9000.

Published annually, this is a complete resource for companies and families relocating to Memphis. memphischamber.com

MEMPHIS WOMAN: 761-8114.

This free monthly magazine illustrates the success of women in the Mid-South. Mail subscriptions are $16 for one year.

MIDSOUTH: 271-6700.

A monthly home and garden magazine. Annual subscription (10 regular issues) is $19.95. midsouthmagazine.com

THE MID-SOUTH TRIBUNE: 728-5001.

This weekly newspaper has a predominantly African-American and limited Hispanic readership extending throughout the Mid-South. The cost is $1 per issue; a year’s subscription is $37.50.

THE MILLINGTON STAR: 872-2286.

This weekly newspaper covers north Shelby County. Subscription costs are $22 per year. millingtonstar.com

NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE: 372-8280.

Monthly publication, now in its 78th year, covering all aspects of the hardwood lumber industry. A one-year subscription is $55. nationalhardwoodmag.com

THE NORTH SHELBY TIMES: 358-8034.

This free weekly newspaper covers Midtown, Bartlett, Raleigh, Frayser, Millington, and south Tipton County. northshelbytimes.com

NUMBER: AN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL OF THE ARTS: 678-2224.

This free publication focuses on the contemporary visual arts in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi. numberinc.org

LA PRENSA LATINA: 751-2100.

A free bilingual (Spanish and English) weekly publication devoted to issues of interest to the Hispanic and Latino community. laprensalatina.com

RSVP: 276-7787.

A free monthly, this magazine follows Memphis social events and is distributed throughout the area’s main business districts.

THE SHELBY SUN TIMES: 755-7386.

This weekly newspaper covering east and southeast Shelby County is mailed free to everyone in the 38138, 38139, 38017, and 38018 zip codes. The subscription cost outside these areas is $22 for one year.

SKIRT: 521-1927.

Free women’s monthly magazine featuring profiles, essays, shopping tips, book reviews, advice, and more. memphis.skirt.com

THE SILVER STAR NEWS: 452-8828.

This free weekly covers news of interest to the black community. Mail subscriptions are available for $27.50 per year.

THE TRIANGLE JOURNAL: 278-6642.

Free monthly newspaper distributed by the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center. mglcc.org/trianglejournal.htm

THE TRI-STATE DEFENDER: 523-1818.

Weekly newspaper covering local, state, and national news with an emphasis on the black community. The subscription rate is $30 for one year, $20 for senior citizens. tri-statedefenderonline.com

VIP MEMPHIS: 766-2999.

Free monthly lifestyle magazine featuring party pics, stories on home decor, and more. vipmag.com

AM RADIO

WHBQ 560 AM: 375-9324. Sports talk format. sports56whbq.com

WREC 600 AM: 259-1300. News talk. wrecradio.com

WCRV 640 AM: 763-4640. Christian family radio. bottradionetwork.com/station_memphis/memphis_home.asp

WSMB 680 AM: 767-0104. Fox sports radio. 680wsmb.com

ESPN 730: 522-1919. ESPN sports. 730espn.com

WMC 790 AM: 726-0555. Classic country. wmc79.com

KWAM 990 AM: 260-KWAM. News talk. kwam990.com

WGSF 1030 AM: 454-9948. Various types of Hispanic music and programming. flinn.com

WDIA 1070 AM: 259-1300. Talk/R&B/Blues. am1070wdia.com

WLOK 1340 AM: 527-9565. Gospel music. wlok.com

WOWW 1430 AM: 375-9324. Disney music. flinn.com

WBBP 1480 AM: 278-7878. All-Christian gospel music and ministry. bbless.org

FM RADIO

WQOX 88.5 FM: 320-3464. Operated by Memphis City Schools students. Urban adult contemporary.

WKNA 88.9 FM: 800-766-9566. News talk, National Public Radio, and classical.

WYPL 89.3 FM: 415-2752. Radio reading service for the blind operated by the Memphis Public Library; selections played from Memphis music collection.

WEVL 89.9 FM: 528-0560. Diversified alternative programs featuring blues, bluegrass, Celtic music, rock, reggae, etc. wevl.org

WKNO 91.1 FM: 325-6544. National Public Radio affiliate and

classical music.

WUMR 91.7 FM: 678-4867. All-jazz station operating from the campus of the University of Memphis. wumr.tripod.com

WMFS 92.9 FM: 535-0939. Alternative rock. 93xmemphis.com

WSNA 94.1 FM: 767-0104. Adult contemporary. Snap941.com

WHAL 95.7 FM: 259-1300. Inspirational. hallelujahfm.com

WYYL 96.1 FM: 375-9324. Hispanic music. flinn.com

WHRK 97.1 FM: 259-1300. Urban contemporary. k97fm.com

WXMX 98.1 FM: 680-9898. Classic rock. 981themax.com

WKIM 98.9 FM: 535-0999. ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s pop. 989kimfm.com

WMC 99.7 FM: 726-0555. Adult contemporary. fm100memphis.com

KJMS 101.1 FM: 259-1300. Urban adult contemporary. v1011.com

WEGR 102.7 FM: 259-1300. Album-oriented classic rock. rock103.com

WRBO 103.5 FM: 680-9898. Urban oldies, soul classics. soulclassics.com

WRVR 104.5 FM: 767-0104. Soft rock. wrvr.com

WGKX 105.9 FM: 680-9898. Country music. kix106.com

KXHT 107.1 FM: 375-9324. Hip-hop, urban. Hot1071.com

WHBQ 107.5 FM: 375-9324. Top 40 hits. Q1075.com

TELEVISION

WREG CHANNEL 3: 543-2333. Local affiliate of the CBS network. wreg.com

WMC CHANNEL 5: 726-0555. Local affiliate of the NBC network. wmctv.com

WKNO CHANNEL 10: 458-2521. The local public broadcasting station, featuring educational, dramatic, musical, performing, and public-service programming. wkno.org

WHBQ CHANNEL 13: 320-1313. Local affiliate of the Fox network. myfoxmemphis.com

WPTY CHANNEL 24: 323-2430. Local affiliate of the ABC network. abc24.com

WLMT CHANNEL 30: 323-2430. Local affiliate of the CW network. myeyewitnessnews.com

COMCAST: 365-1770. Call for cable-TV prices. comcast.com

Related Stories…

The Magic 2008-Ball

Calendar 2008

Arts Listings

Education Listings

Entertainment Listings

Government Listings

Health Listings

Recreation Listings

Shopping Listings

The Magic 2008-Ball

Calendar 2008

Arts Listings

Education Listings

Entertainment Listings

Government Listings

Health Listings

Recreation Listings

Shopping Listings

Categories
News News Feature

Predictions for 2008: a Quiz

CREDIT: image: utoledo.edu

A do-it-yourself quiz for Memphis prognosticators and Flyer readers.

1. The current buzz phrase most likely to be forgotten a year from now will be (a) Aerotropolis (b) political consultant (c) Blue Crush (d) monetize.

2. The next big deal for Memphis that will show tangible progress in 2008 will be (a) Biotech zone on the site of old Baptist Hospital downtown (b) makeover of Sears Crosstown (c) Fairgrounds (d) Shelby Farms.

3. The Memphis sports surprise of 2008 will be (a) highly-rated Tiger basketball team falls short of Final Four once again (b) a new hunting and fishing alliance (c) University of Memphis football team wins eight games (d) the Grizzlies playoff run.

4. The Memphis attraction that will suffer the biggest attendance drop in 2008 will be (a) Graceland (b) Tiger football (c) Memphis Redbirds (d) Grizzlies.

5. The 2007 news headliner most likely to be forgotten one year from today will be (a) indicted former commissioner Bruce Thompson (b) “sex-plot” diva Gwendolyn Smith (c) strip club owner Ralph Lunati (d) indicted former MLGW CEO Joseph Lee.

6. Which of the following people is most likely to have another 15 minutes of fame in 2008? (a) Mary Winkler (b) Rickey Peete (c) Roscoe Dixon (d) John Ford.

7. The share price of FedEx, which hit a 52-week low of $94 in December, will be how much a year from now? (a) $85 or less (b) $95 (c) $105 (d) $115 or more.

8. Local governments will make ends meet by (a) raising property taxes (b) implementing a payroll tax on commuters (c) cutting services (d) layoffs.

9. The downtown big deal that will go away in 2008 will be (a) Beale Street Landing boat dock (b) Gene Carlisle’s high-rise hotel and condos (c) Bass Pro in The Pyramid (d) the COGIC convention.

10. The government-by-referendum idea that will pass in 2008 will be (a) term limits for city politicians (b) no property-tax increase without a referendum (c) both (d) neither one.

11. The next superintendent and top leadership of the Memphis City Schools will have a background in (a) education and Teach For America (b) the military (c) big business (d) Memphis or Tennessee politics and government.

12. Facing public loss of confidence and financial pressure, the Memphis City Schools will close or schedule the closing of how many schools in 2008? (a) none (b) five or less (c) five to ten (d) more than ten.

13. A final decision will be made in 2008 to put the football stadium for the University of Memphis (a) on the main campus (b) on the South Campus (c) build a new stadium at fairgrounds (d) renovate the existing stadium at Fairgrounds.

14. The big news out of the federal building in 2008 will be (a) major new indictments of public figures related to political corruption (b) no major new indictments of public figures related to political corruption (c) a courtroom defeat for prosecutors (d) reversal of Judge Bernice Donald’s desegregation order for county schools.

15. The news with the biggest negative impact on ordinary Memphians in 2008 will be (a) sky-high MLGW bills (b) rising violent-crime rate (c) $4-a-gallon gasoline (d) massive foreclosures and falling housing values.

16. Who is most likely to leave their job in 2008 for whatever reason? (a) Tommy West (b) My Harrison (c) John Calipari (d) Willie Herenton.

My answers: 1, b; 2, a; 3, a; 4, d; 5, b; 6, a; 7, d; 8, d; 9, d; 10, d; 11, a; 12, b; 13, d; 14, a and d; 15, c. 16, b.

Categories
News

Andy Wise is Now on WMC-5’s Side

CREDIT: WREG.com

The Flyer just received the following press release from WMC-TV:

December 21, 2007 — The Mid-South’s premier newscast and best known investigative reporter are joining forces in an unprecedented move: Investigative reporter Andy Wise is leaving WREG to join WMC-TV and Action News 5.

Wise is a long-time consumer investigative specialist who is instantly recognizable to Mid-South viewers as a no-nonsense, hard-hitting reporter. With Wise joining “The Action News 5 Investigators” there can be little doubt that WMC-TV5 has cornered the market for television investigative reporting.

“For generations, Mid-Southerners have trusted the tradition of broadcast journalism at Action News 5. They grew up watching it. Their parents grew up watching it. Now in the age of HDTV, I am thrilled to be a part of producing ground-breaking segments for WMC-TV and wmctv.com that will set a new standard for consumer protection in this generation,” said Action News 5’s Andy Wise.

Got that, people? Andy Wise will take his hard-hittin’ investigative mojo over to Joe Birch’s place. You’ve been warned.

Categories
We Recommend We Recommend

Anchorman

Would you like to have lunch with acclaimed anchor and author Tom Brokaw and help support cancer research all at the same time? Of course you would. Brokaw is the Tony Bennett of newsmen: ageless, eternally laid-back, and impossibly smooth. He began his reporting career covering the civil rights movement of the 1960s and became NBC’s main Washington correspondent at about the same time President Richard Nixon was erasing several minutes of tape. He became a full-fledged television star in 1976 as the co-host of Today, a personality-driven morning show also featuring media superstar Jane Pauley. But it was his groundbreaking interviews with subjects such as Soviet prime minister Mikhail Gorbachev that helped him into his position as anchor of NBC Nightly News and elevated Brokaw to the upper tier of the talking-head pantheon. His reporting on the World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001, contained the defining pronouncement of 21st-century America: “This is war,” Brokaw announced, before anybody was fully aware of what exactly had taken place or what it all might mean. “This is a declaration and execution of an attack on the United States.”

By the time he retired in 2004, NBC Nightly News was, for the first time in the network’s history, the number-one nightly news program in the country.

On Thursday at the Peabody, Brokaw will reflect on his 40 years in front of the cameras and in front of the nation. The talk benefits the Methodist Healthcare Cancer Center.

Tom Brokaw, Thursday, November 15th, 11:45 a.m. at The Peabody hotel. $100. Call 516-0500 for more information.

Categories
News The Fly-By

Fly on the Wall

Meth for Kids!

Memphis has a lot of scary crime, and it’s not hard to put together a reasonably factual television news report that makes our blighted little bluff town sound like something out of Frank Miller’s Sin City. But for so many of our TV journalists, reporting the facts about bad guys and bloody murder just isn’t good enough.

In recent times, Memphis viewers have been treated to a variety of titillating untruths ranging from manufactured scandals about cross-dressing high school students to freakish erotic fantasies about gangs of hyperviolent lesbians. This week, Fox 13’s Jill Monier contributes to the growing catalog of unsubstantiated fear-mongering by passing along an urban myth about Strawberry Quik, an exciting, new kind of flavored methamphetamine intended for our precious children.

From Fox 13: “Strawberry, chocolate and cola, not soft drinks but a new version of meth aimed at children. The new meth is reportedly being found on the West Coast, but Memphis police are skeptical. … Around Halloween, a ‘strawberry meth’ e-mail started popping up in inboxes, warning parents that candy-flavored meth was being passed out in Arkansas schoolyards. … Some reports say drug-dealers are adding Strawberry Quik.”

Snopes.com, the internet’s ultimate resource for debunking urban myths, reports that while there are candy-colored, and perhaps scented, versions of the drug, there is no evidence that it’s being distributed to children. There are no actual reports indicating that flavored meth is being handed out in schoolyards or that children are being rushed to emergency rooms because they mistook the colored meth for candy. Snopes describes these claims as a product of the original e-mailer’s “imagination.” Thanks to Fox, they are now, also, the meat and potatoes of an actual news segment.

Monier’s report went on to note — factually, we suppose — that festive red and green meth would be available during the holiday season.

Categories
Best of Memphis Special Sections

Media

CREDIT: Justin Fox Burks

A precedent was set this year, as one man topped three categories and placed in two others. There has never been a sweep like this in any section of the Best of poll since it started in 1994. That man is Chris Vernon, host of “The Chris Vernon Show” on AM 730 ESPN. (Full disclosure: Flyer music and film editor Chris Herrington has a regular slot on the show.) Last year, Vernon’s single appearance in the results was a tie for third place in “Best Sports Show.” So how did Vernon become the man of nearly all Memphis media in just one year? He did campaign hard, asking his listeners to include him while making their Best of picks. But, really, only the voters know for sure.

Best TV News Anchor

1. Joe Birch, WMC-TV, Channel 5

2. Claudia Barr, WREG-TV,
Channel 3

3. Donna Davis, WMC-TV,
Channel 5 — tie —

Dee Griffin, WPTY-TV, Channel 24

Joe Birch gives Action News 5 a TV-category sweep in Best of Memphis. Sage, with a magical voice, some might say Birch is the Väinämöinen of Memphis TV, but that would just be silly.

Best FM Station

1. WEVL-FM 89.9

2. WXMX-FM 98.1, The Max

3. WMC-FM 99.7, FM 100

When WEVL 89.9 calls itself “listener supported,” they aren’t kidding: They got enough support to take this year’s top prize. WEVL’s stable of excellent and diverse programs and volunteer hosts makes a great case, but Friday night’s Cap’n Pete’s Blues Cruise might have been enough to do the trick by itself.

Best AM Station

1. WREC-AM 600

2. AM 730 ESPN

3. WHBQ-AM 560 — tie —

WWTQ-AM 680

With its potent mix of national programming (Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity) sandwiched between local drive-time shows (Memphis Morning News, Mike Fleming), WREC-AM 600 has daytime news and commentary covered. Add overnight spooks and conspiracy theories with George Noory and the rest of Paul Harvey’s story, and you’ve got an AM station lots of folks want to lend their ears to.

Best Drive-Time Show

1. Drake & Zeke, WXMX-FM 98.1, The Max

2. The Chris Vernon Show, AM 730 ESPN

3. Karson & Kennedy, WHBQ-FM 107.5

Since relocating to 98.1 from Rock 103, Drake and Zeke have taken over the morning FM airwaves. The comedy duo is ersatz coffee for Memphians in need of waking up before punching the clock. Sports reporter and sidekick Marky B spikes the concoction with salt.

Best Sports Show

1. The Chris Vernon Show, AM 730 ESPN

2. Sportstime with George Lapides & Geoff Calkins, WHBQ-AM 560

3. Morning Rush, WHBQ-AM 560

Vernon’s show is Memphis’ vote for best sports talk. But that’s not all …

Best Radio Talk Show

1. The Chris Vernon Show, AM 730 ESPN

2. Mike Fleming, WREC-AM 600

3. Drake & Zeke, WXMX-FM 98.1, The Max

Vernon’s show also has been named best talk in all of radio. But that’s not all …

Best Radio Personality

1. Chris Vernon, AM 730 ESPN

2. Drake and Zeke, WXMX-FM 98.1, The Max

3. Ron Olson, WMC-FM 99.7, FM 100

Winning the Triple Crown of Memphis radio, Chris Vernon has also nabbed the best personality prize. We’re pretty sure Vernon set up a booth in front of the Flyer offices asking people to vote for him on the way in, not unlike a high-schooler dreaming of being homecoming queen. We’re touched that you care, Verno! Also, at Vernon’s request, please make the following adjustments to your life: When playing 20 Questions, acceptable categories are now Vegetable, Mineral, or Chris Vernon. When talking about a dance club, you should now begin its name with the possessive phrase “Chris Vernon’s.” For example: “Chris Vernon’s Raiford’s Hollywood” and “Chris Vernon’s Backstreet.” Finally, in voting for next year’s Best of Memphis, Chris Vernon asks you to remember that he may be eligible for all kinds of nontraditional categories. To name but a few: Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant, Best Grizzlies Player, and Best Memphis Failure. Congrats, Chris!

Best Newspaper
Columnist

1. Geoff Calkins, The Commercial Appeal

2. Wendi C. Thomas, The Commercial Appeal

3. Tim Sampson, Memphis Flyer

What’s great about Geoff Calkins goes beyond his sports columns, which are often tinged with social commentary and give Memphians something to ponder while eating their Wheaties. It’s that readers can call him up on his radio show, Sportstime, on WHBQ-AM 560, and sing his praises or give him what-for. Now that’s service!

Best TV
Sportscaster

BOM 1. Jarvis Greer,
WMC-TV, Channel 5

2. Greg Gaston, formerly of
WPTY-TV, Channel 24

3. David Cera, WMC-TV, Channel 5

The sports director for WMC-TV Channel 5, Jarvis Greer has been a fixture on Memphis TV screens for decades. He looked great all those years on tube television. He looks even better on plasma and LCD.

Justin Fox Burks

Best Weatherperson

BOM 1. Dave Brown, WMC-TV, Channel 5

2. Ron Childers, WMC-TV, Channel 5

3. Jim Jaggers, WREG-TV, Channel 3 — tie —

Joey Sulipeck, WHBQ-TV, Fox 13

A paternal, benevolent force, with powers over the wind and rain and thunder: That’s right, Dave Brown is the Ukko of the Memphis TV broadcasting pantheon.

Justin Fox Burks

1st Place: Best Weatherperson

Best Memphis-Themed Web Site

1. MemphisFlyer.com

2. LiveFromMemphis.com

3. CommercialAppeal.com

You like us! You really like us! Actually, as far as we’re concerned, the best part of our site is the reader comments. It takes a village to kick so much ass.

Best Memphis Blog

1. Paul Ryburn’s Journal,

http://www.paulryburn.com/blog/

2. Verno’s Blog,

http://chrisvernon.blogspot.com/

3. Two Cents with Randy Malone,

http://memphissport.typepad.com/randy/ — tie —

Rachel & the City,

www.rachelandthecity.com/

Whenever we see Paul Ryburn out and about in downtown Memphis, sipping a brew at the Flying Saucer or strolling along South Main, why is it we feel we’ve spotted a famous person? Is it another product of the Internet age, where bloggers are celebrities? Or is it just the great neighborhood advocacy work Ryburn does on his Web site?

Categories
Editorial Opinion

A Master Journalist

David Halberstam, who was killed in a car accident in California last week, was no stranger to Memphis and the Mid-South.

He began his journalism career in West Point, Mississippi, and Nashville in the 1950s and early 1960s. He returned to Nashville 10 years ago to revisit the Rev. James Lawson and the other participants in the lunch-counter sit-ins in his book The Children. His own daughter joined Teach For America and worked

at a school in the Mississippi Delta. And Halberstam was a close friend of Memphian Henry Turley and, through him, became acquainted with several Memphians.

In the jargon of psychology, Halberstam would be considered a “phenomenologist” — someone whose judgments came from intuiting the life lived by the subjects of his journalism, seeing the world as they experienced it in the fullness of keenly seen details. He was never one for bestowing prefabricated judgments on his subjects.

Curtis Wilkie, a retired Boston Globe journalist who, like Halberstam, logged time in Mississippi before heading to other points on the compass, recollected his friend and fellow émigré in remarks to the downtown Rotary Club on Tuesday. Wilkie, who still has his down-home drawl and settled finally in New Orleans, talked of how Halberstam never got the South out of his system. He would return to these parts over and over, and though Halberstam had documented better than most the South’s time of trial during the years of the civil rights revolution, he never felt superior to the troubled region and never failed to see its virtues.

Halberstam was generous with his time and advice if he considered one a serious journalist and not a “twinkie.” His voice was god-like, his eyes probing, and his range of knowledge simply incredible.

Many of us in the news business grew up with his bylines in The New York Times during the Vietnam War. For four decades after that, he produced an impressive shelf of thick, hard-to-put-down books on the news media, war, the Fifties, baseball, basketball, and the auto industry.

The fact is, he was able to discern the complexities of humanity and its struggles and surprises from wherever he reported — including Vietnam, where he was the first full-time reporter of the war, getting there years before the massive infusion of American troops and seeing, earlier than almost anyone, the developing tragedy of that effort. For his efforts, he won a well-deserved Pulitzer. And Halberstam’s books on sports history, notably his chronicle of the Yankees-Red Sox pennant battle of 1949, showed that he could render conflict and suspense in that arena as well.

He was a master at interviewing people and explaining things. His books touched so many people in so many walks of life that his memorial service could have filled Yankee Stadium (or, well, Fenway Park) had that been his wish.

To read David Halberstam was to feel uncomfortably inferior but also to determine to try harder and do better at the craft he practiced so well.

Categories
Letter From The Editor Opinion

Letter from the Editor: Those Expat Memphis Bashers

Part of my job, as I see it, is to read as many local blogs and Web sites as I can. And it’s interesting to me how the local efforts mirror the national blogs. Thaddeus Matthews, for example, is our local version of the Drudge Report. He throws up every outrageous rumor that comes his way, no matter how potentially libelous or scandalous. And about half the time he’s on target.

Of course, that also means that about half the time he’s totally full of crap. It’s a case of reader beware, but even so, Matthews has posted dozens of items that have led to stories in mainstream media outlets.

It’s the same with other local sites. In Memphis, we’ve got media blogs, liberal blogs, conservative blogs, food blogs, art blogs, and dozens of variations on those themes. Add in the hundreds of MySpace accounts and personal journals and the number of options for reading local “authors” of one sort or another becomes overwhelming.

One thing I’ve noticed, though, is a consistent theme in reader comments: Memphis-bashing. It usually comes in the form of “I’m glad I left this stupid town” or “This is the last straw. I’m moving to DeSoto County” (or Fayette County or Covington or some other perceived Shangri-la).

What the Memphis-haters seem to have in common, however, is an inability to stop themselves. If they’ve moved away, why are they still engaged in local issues? Why go to a blog to insult Willie Herenton if you’re now living the good life in Olive Branch?

Sure, we’ve got problems here in River City, but there is also hope and more media outlets than ever before — amateur and professional — performing watchdog functions. The old 24-hour news cycle is dead. Web sites, including MemphisFlyer.com, post around the clock, as news happens.

Never has more information been more available to the public, and I believe better things are possible with a better-informed electorate. It happened nationally in the last election. It can happen here. We need to keep smoking the rascals out and then take action at the ballot box.

Bruce VanWyngarden

brucev@memphisflyer.com