I’m off this week so it’s a free for all. Have fun and remember to keep it nice…
George
Archive for February, 2008
29
Feb
Free For All
I’ve received numerous e-mails begging me to do a rant on Memphis drivers and today is the day! “I’ve lived in a lot of places and have never seen worse drivers than Memphis.” That’s a common email I receive. I recently decided the reason is because we’re in the South and people take their time and are polite, maybe to a fault. I’m amazed at how offended people are when you honk your horn and I realize I rarely hear horns in Memphis. This morning a woman in her 50’s gave me “the finger” when I politely honked my horn. The woman was going 8 miles under the speed limit with no cars in-front of her. I couldn’t believe she gave me the finger! My wife thinks I’m an aggressive driver, I say I’m a driver who gets where they need to go without endangering others. I’m told several studies have shown that drivers who think they’re “safe drivers” because they drive slow and don’t change lanes are actually the ones who cause the traffic jams and actually cause the accidents. Now, there are those who drive way too fast and weave in and out of traffic, don’t get me wrong. Below is a list of what you’ve told me you want to tell other drivers.
1-You cannot hold up an entire lane of traffic because you want to cut across four lanes of traffic. By law, you are supposed to edge your way from lane to lane. Holding up everyone else is plain rude.
2-Yield does not mean Stop, it means yield if there are other vehicles approaching.
3-If someone flashes their headlights at you, they’re asking you to either speed up or move to the next lane.
4-If someone gives you a short honk, they are politely asking you to move to the next lane or speed up.
5-NEVER hit your brakes just to “show” the car behind you because they’re too close. Doing just means you’ll end up at the auto body shop.
6-Put down the cell phone, in-fact don’t use it at all. Studies show people on phones whether speaker or not drive slower and cause more accidents.
7-Just because I-40 East curves when it becomes Sam Cooper, you don’t have to slam on your brakes or even slow down.
8-A TDOT HELP truck on the side of the road does not mean that every lane must slow down to a crawl.
9-Pay attention when you’re driving.
I’m off next week so comment away on this subject or any other. Click the title above to read and comment.
28
Feb
ford ordered to prison
A federal judge ordered John Ford to report to prison in 60 days to begin serving his 5.5 year sentence for his part in Operation Tennessee Waltz. Judge Daniel Breen rejected Ford’s plea that he has to care for his four children because his wife is in jail.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? CLICK THE TITLE AT THE TOP TO COMMENT.
27
Feb
john ford sentencing
John Ford was supposed to find out today whether he’s headed to prison tomorrow or six months from now. Judge Daniel Breen was ready to tell Ford his decision but held off because Ford says he needs to be free to provide financial support for his four children. Tamara Mitchell Ford is in jail so Ford says he is caring for the kids. I’m told judge Breen was none to happy about Ford’s excuse but did give him one more day. A prosecutor argued Ford is no different than any other single parent who has to go to prison.
What are your thoughts? Click the title at the top to read comments and leave your own.
Memphis School Board member Kenneth Whalum Jr. has publicly said the next superintendent of Memphis City Schools should be a BLACK MALE. Whallum says this is his personal preference. That comment is raising some eyebrows because many think it is sexist and racist. Whalum says he thinks the person should reflect the community he/she serves which is mainly black. Whalum also says the kids in MCS need a strong black male role model. There’s a good chance many people would not disagree with that thought but there’s also the concern of a double standard. If a white male had said the superintendent should be a WHITE MALE there would be protests and endless news reports. Also on the subject of reflecting the community they serve, that would mean a white male or female should be the county mayor and Congressman Steve Cohen should be out of a job since much of his district is heavily black.
The other night I was watching Terminator 2 and there was a scene where two kids, probably about 7, were running around with toy guns. I was surprised at my reaction which was one of. ‘Wow I can’t believe they’re running around with toy guns.’ Then I realized that back in “the day” we thought nothing of it because young people weren’t shooting each other in school or in their neighborhoods. Now the West Memphis City Council is considering banning the possession of toy guns in public after 5:30 p.m. I’m guessing the time was chosen due to the sun going down. This is of course spurred by the shooing death of DeAunta Farrow who was carrying a toy gun and was shot by a West Memphis police officer. I’m not sure how the city plans to enforce the ordinance if passed. The first violation carries a $500 fine while subsequent violations are $1000. Toy guns without an identifying tip would be banned altogether as would toy guns on school campuses. Perhaps the proposal is just a way to make a statement to parents and to the community.
Your thoughts? Click the title above to comment. By the way, it is possible to comment without using offensive language or terms. Be respectful or you’re as bad as those you criticize.
It’s been eight months since Carol Johnson left Memphis and left us without a superintendent. Dan Ward was placed into the job on a temporary basis, again eight months ago. Yesterday, a search committee decided to hire a professional search firm to find candidates for the job. Some of you are wondering why it’s taken eight months to begin the search for a new superintendent and why we’re going to pay what will likely be tens of thousands of dollars to find candidates when most employers put an ad in the paper or on-line. One school board member said the district is without leadership during a time when it needs it the most. Why the delay?
Click the title above to leave your comment.
18
Feb
Monique Johnson
Friday, a Memphis jury found Monique Johnson guilty of reckless homicide in the murder of Memphis police officer Tony Hayes in September 2006. The couple were fighting after a recent break up. During her trial, Johnson claimed she was the victim of sexual and physical abuse and was defending herself. Prosecutors said the murder was planned and Johnson had vandalized Hayes’ home and had done so to ex-boyfriends. The defense was likened to that of Mary Winkler who many believe got off too easy and whose verdict may have a ripple effect on future verdicts.
What do you think? Click the title above to leave your comment.
18
Feb
The “N” word
The other day we ran a piece on the “N” word, when it is or is not OK to use the word. We heard from a comic who used word in his act all the time for many years but has now banned it and feels NO ONE should use the word, no matter what their color. We heard from others who feel black people can use the word bu no one else is allowed to use it. One person emailed me saying if everyone stopped using the word is would fall out of our vocabulary like many other derogatory words used against the Irish, Polish and others.
What do you think? Please comment by clicking the title above. Let’s try to keep this respectful.
Mayor Herenton announced this afternoon that he’s implementing an emergency plan to reduce violence in Memphis City Schools. Herenton said $500,000 will be immediately allocated by the city to purchase security equipment for Memphis schools. That money will be used to buy 65 walk through detectors, 210 hand held detectors and any other equipment deemed necessary. Mayor Herenton refused to explain where the half a million dollars will be coming from except to say, “taxpayers.” As usual the mayor was rude to reporters and refused to answer several questions.The mayor also said 67 officers will be sent to 25 high schools and 7 junior and middle schools in Memphis.
What do you think about the mayor’s plan? Click the title above to leave comments.
Kenneth Whalum Jr. announced Wednesday morning he would rather see the Memphis City Schools shut down than have another student shot on campus. Whalum said his fellow school board members and the administration are not taking school violence serious enough.Whalum went as far as to call for the closure of Memphis schools, ”Unless and until Memphis City Schools can assure students, parents, teachers and voters that their children are safe in Memphis City Schools. Unless and until we can provide that assurance, Memphis City School system needs to be shut down.”
From what I know, this is not possible, the state would step in before allowing schools to be shut down and children “denied” an education.
What do you think about Whalum Jr.’s proposal? Click the title above to leave your comment.
12
Feb
Post from below
The following is a post that appears below under the topic of school shooting. I’m putting it up here because it seemed to strike a chord among many.
“WE NEED TO MARCH!!
Like the million men on D.C., like the civil rights leaders on the south, we need to march. We need to demand peace, civility, conflict resolution, anger manangement, restraint. We need not be afraid to let our demands be know, to make them listen. We need to march on ourselves, BLACK COMMUNITY. It was not the klan who shot that black child at Mitchell high school, it is not a racist governor that’s causing students to fail basic test to exit high school. It is us, we have become our on worst enemy. When a child exhibits behavior that’s counter-productive to our community, we need to march. When a parent allows a child to miss several days of school, we need to march. When a person dosen’t understand that he has to work in our society to live, we need to march. MCS can buy thousands of metal detectors for our schools, MPD can hire thousands officers for our community, none of that will make a difference until we make the difference. No, this decline didn’t just start. Yes, we were brought to this country to be slaves. But, we have a Black Mayor, we have Black representation on the city council and the school board. And, in 2008 there is a real chance a Black man may be representing the democratic party in a presidential election. What other excuse is there. (Money) Their are several Black millionaires walking this earth. (Famous Faces) They were all over West Memphis and Jena. One Black man started a movement that caused the White community to stand up for the creed of this nation. Can we stand up for the life of the BLACK COMMUNITY.”
