NewscomaGot A Two-Pack Habit And A Motel Tan

It’s not often that I get to show off Hoots to bloggers from across the state. On Thursday night, there was a small gathering at the local watering hole for yours truly and Vibinc decided to bring his bad self to Hoots to attend.

The party was a success and Vibinc decided to stay the night at Casa Coma where he experienced the everyday issues that go with two tween girls (boyfriend stuff), our version of the Bumpus’ dogs which are at best overwhelming, one damn good jukebox (actually two over the course of the day) and one unfortunate toupee as he described it.

The Bumpus’ Dogs have nothing on ‘Coma Dogs

As we decided to enact our plan for world domination yesterday morning, a variety of events swirled around into the decision that one of the two Memphis Steves stay an additional night. World domination cannot be done in a matter of hours so more planning was needed. Of course if we told you what our plans were, we’d have to kill you so I will keep you all safe and say nothing on our role in the upcoming apocalypse.

For about an hour last night, Steve decided that his only option was to move to Hoots as he had a momentary moment of smittenness with this silly place and the people that he encountered throughout the time he spent here. Squirrelly, Badger and I looked at each other knowingly that his infatuation would be gone by morning but we fed the flames of him having a “summer” home here in Hootstropolis. He met friendly republicans (I feel this is crucial in every setting because it’s difficult at times to realize that not everyone as extreme in real life as they are online and that folks sometimes CAN have a conversation despite political differences), I showed him some of the cool architecture in the area, there was a pool room burger devoured at Caddies and political talk with one of my former bosses who works in development.

Heck, he even met my dad.

He also got to watch Beer Wars between two local companies which I think would make a fine series on the Discovery Channel. Of course, I’m amused easily. I think Vibinc was tickled by this moment of Hopps and Barley drama between competing distributors. Ahh, Friday afternoon shenanigans are always funny, my friends.

Of course, the Hoots blogger brigade was spot on about his moment of wanderlust and admiration of our little plot of land last night in this western division of the great state of Tennessee, but I always think it’s cool when I get to show off aspects that remain under the radar here. Why folks don’t hire me for economic development, I have no idea. I’m a natural. Heh.

As he was headed out the door this morning, the Bumpus’ dogs howled and barked their disapproval at his entering their world and leaving so abruptly without their permission.  Vibinc headed back to Shelby County to check on his friends and his house after last night’s storm and I think he got to see inside the world of Newscoma and her alter ego, Trace.

I hope he’s not emotionally scarred.

Demarcationville is back.

Her daughter has been ill. I cannot even imagine the nightmare that they’ve been in for several months. The good thing is the Diva is better. And she’s going to be on television about what happened:

Diva recovered and will be sharing her story on WJHL (Channel 11)  during the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon.  She’ll be on at 8pm tonight.   Now, cross your fingers the live portion  goes smoother than the pre-recorded interview during which she answered each question Phillip Murrell asked with the same three words: “Yeah, purty much.”

I’m purty much glad that this story has a happy ending in the land of Demarcationville.

I’ve seen some fabulous stuff on the ‘tubes today and I want to just hug each post. Instead, as that would be a weird practice to do, I will just do the oft-forgotten and always enjoyable link dump.

• John at Lake Neuron is in a play and gives us a look at what happens when things that aren’t supposed to happen do.
• GingerSnaps gives words of advice on how to communicate with a friend or loved on who is unemployed.
• I’ve seen this and it never ceases to make me just look at it. Usually, I get so caught up in it looking at it, that I start that mindless drooling at the Mindfield.
• Kat Coble has been blogging like a maniac and it makes me happier than a pile of crawfish and a very cold brewski.
• Hey, I blog at other places too about news.
• Lovely tribute to a mother.
• Go see why I like Spots.
• The Daily David.
• You know you are a mommy warrior when you eat snot and live to tell the tale.
• A very good day.
• Go to Grey Street Girl and just love on her blog because I do.
• The kitten formerly known as Jack Bauer (and may still be known as Jack Bauer) has been adopted. Detail here.

And, our photo of the day gives me joy and nightmares at the same time. A.) I love rural community festivals and B.) Catfish frighten me because they get as big as trucks.

I HAVE PROOF:

I’ve been in a puppy zone for so long that politics has been on the back burner to a large degree.

Puppies have to eat, you know and be delivered to homes and my time has been canine friendly and politics poor over here at Chez Coma. (Only two left for adoption: Handsome and Dot at the low, low price of free!!)

On to pontificating politics with the disclaimer that this is my opinion and not the opinion of Mabel, the puppies, anyone I know and my sister, Homer:

I spoke to a few politicians recently and I realized a sad fact.

I was asking good questions wanting data from my area on economic development and recruitment of new industry, wanted to know why they were voting the way they were voting on some bills that I thought were complete junk and discuss reorganization because our local folks are adjusting to a new way of doing things here. They also mentioned hiring a Republican to do their website. A quick reminder of the Bill Freeman fiasco to a few members and I think they realized that might not be such a great idea.

I realized after a few moments of talking to my elected dudes that each time I had a conversation, that I was being placated to a large degree. Not on purpose necessarily but pacified nonetheless on issues that I found to be important.

Not as a blogger or a reporter, just in general.

Needless to say, I had to think about that. I try not to be blinded by things and Kool-Aid breaks me out into an unpleasant rash. I mean, politicians placate and it doesn’t matter what side of the political aisle they may be on, it’s something that they just do. Not all of them, but a bunch because elections are always right around the corner in this new day and age of campaigning.

The issue for me comes down to is that I think politicians pacify whomever they are talking to at the moment. I’m guessing we are just going to have to stay two steps ahead of them. Tiresome, but true. I’m not throwing out their talking points if I don’t think they have value. And this year, some of the bills in the Assembly have the smarts of a roll of toilet paper, so what’s wrong with talking to them about it.

Now, politicians have been appeasing us for years. It’s no big secret. And, with politicians wanting more and more to meet “privately” with bloggers is really no different than having lunch with a reporter if it were the old days when we smoked at our desks. I did it once last year but I most likely won’t do it again because it just wasn’t my thing and I’ve talked enough about the Three G’s to last a lifetime. The bottom line is that elected officials should be meeting in public when they want to meet with bloggers or it should at least be part on the record. If a politicians wants to have a beer with me, that’s cool too. I’m not going to talk about their PBR habit as it isn’t pertinent to the big picture.

You have to take into consideration while meeting with these politicians to stay on base with what YOUR objective is. It’s hard to be critical of someone when they are smiling at you, talking about their cat and fielding phone calls from their kids. Yes, politicians are people. Yet, they are people voting on your day-to-day lives.

I honestly don’t like being placated very much and I guess I’ve been around these folks long enough to know when they are trying to slide me off of them like a fur coat on a Tennessee August day.

I want to add to these elected guys that they forget one important thing when talking to bloggers or getting tabloid-like coverage on their antics is that Google-Fu is strong. Do politicians clearly understand that anytime they do something and it’s posted online, that it’s going to show up? Do you want your bills to show up or the fact that Gary Odom’s dog is running for office. (Yes, I ran Mabel for President so I don’t really have a problem with it but I’m going to have to practice what I preach and see what bills he has his John Hancock on this a.m. I’m also not an elected official and my dog is Secretary of Steak because it amuses me.)

I think politicians are learning that the Internet has potential (finally!) and bloggers are a bit dangerous because in many ways we are wild cards. Traditional journalism and blogger pontification are changing in this new landscape of communication and instant social media. I can only give one piece of advice and you can keep it or throw it in the road, but as a blogger, you don’t want to confuse personalities and issues.Not that we do that, but the game is changing.

I like a lot of politicians, but I don’t want the issues I think are important to get muddled either because I like the cut of their suit or that their kids are adorable. If anybody is being fed information, there is a reason WHY they are being given it, and that’s because somebody wants some play on that issue of the moment.

With that said, I’m finding that I’m fighting battles that I wish my elected politicians were fighting. When I bring it up, they basically pat me on my head to a large degree. That, my friends, is dismissive and makes me stabby.

So, some of these people want us to fight but don’t want to give us all the information. All-Righty then.

I don’t know, I guess my point is that it’s better to be a bit of a rebel than get blinded by pretty words.

Deeds mean so much more in the long run.

Welcome to this crazy world.

Although, I have to say Karina “Coma” Holt would have been a fine name as well.

Congratulations, my friend.

I’m a big softie, but don’t tell anyone.

I’m too old to be driving to Nashville and back to Hoots in a 24 hour period.

Just saying.

Although, if you blog, I really suggest that you head to some blogger meetups or organize them, no matter where you are.

You will find that they are magical.

Oh, and I’m holding these glasses of Wage’s hostage so some of all of you guys will come to Hoots and go out w/ Mabel and me on a pub crawl.

Squirrel Queen and I will be coming to Nashville for the All Skate Blogger Bash at the Flying Saucer.

We honestly talked about not attending due to the Great Gas Panic Of Ought Eight, but then we thought, what the hell.

I want to see you guys and other than a private party back last month, I haven’t seen some folks and I’m looking forward to meeting new peeps too. Everyone is invited. Don’t be shy, come out and say Howdy. And what happens at a bloggers’ event, stays at a bloggers’ event other than the pictures.

For us, it’s a little different as we don’t live in Nashville. Accommodations have to be found, cash has to be discussed but, you know, it’s worth it. We have such a vibrant blogging community, not to come would be hard to do. We bloggers are in this together.

Ginger said on Twitter a few minutes ago:

We are NOT canceling the blogger event tonight. How did that rumor get started? If you can make it great! If not, totally understood.

I did some checking and there is gas around the Nashville area. My local gas dude expert helped me track where I could fill up.

It’s going to be fine.

And on a final note, this is a place where politics are put aside, drama is left at the door and you can put a face with the written words you read from your blogger buddies everyday.

I encourage everyone to show up. I’m looking forward to meeting you. AND, if you are out of town, Priceline has some good deals on some rooms. That’s how we got ours. I’m staying at a Marriot affiliate for $60. You can’t beat that.

And there’s beer.

Bring it.

And if any of us out-of-towners get stranded, Chris Wage’s closet can hold gas refugees.

Winston was from northwest Tennessee and contacted me about a year ago. We had a few emails back and forth and I met him once at Mothership Barbecue. He was always lovely and so encouraging.

And the man could write circles around you.

Winston, from the blog Nobody Asked, died this weekend according to a post written by the Roomie.

Winston passed away Saturday, June 28, after a 38-hour illness and 3 surgeries totaling 12 hours in an attempt to save his life. His memorial service will be Tuesday, July 1, and will include things you may have seen on his blog, such as his recent post about the styrofoam cup that got tossed about in the traffic of life and found its resting place. His favorite song will be played — “The Rainbow Connection,” by Kermit the Frog, as well as a bluegrass version of Rocky Top.

Just last week, I linked to a wonderful post that he wrote about Jimmy Buffet. I have to say that Winston was always kind, smart and clever.

He will be missed and our thoughts and prayers go to Roomie.

He, indeed, was an excellent guy.

Godspeed, Winston.

From Xark.

He’s ‘tooning about this.

And, yes, I laughed. Go read him everyday.

UPDATE: Hell must have frozen over and the devil must be iceskating because Michelle Malkin and Daily Kos agree on this.

The only difference between the different parties so far has been tactics. Many have been supporting the call first made by TechCrunch to boycott all AP stories, yet Kos is calling for the exact opposite, telling bloggers they should be quoting more AP stories, and large chunks of AP text to force AP to test its threats in a court of law.

Sean And Goldni are in the news.

Mainstream has been all about the bloggers this week.

Awesome.

Yesterday, I laughed harder than I have in a long time. I went over to Sadcox place and he had a post called Some Suggested Reading.

The post links to a story about an animal clinic and is up at Knox News. It’s not the story, which is more than fine, that caught my eye, it was what Sadcox had suggested to look for.

Billie Wacks, commenter, is the funniest thing I’ve read in a long time. And later on on Twitter I found that Sadcox and I had the same reaction as did Ivy. We laughed our heads off. We all agree that Wacks is whack. And we loved every bit of it.

Jack Lail ended up posting about the cult base of Billie as well.

He writes about comments on news stories and the organic nature of the community that develops:

But then again, there is something going on in user comments that has nothing to with discussing the issue at hand or solving world problems – or even local problems. There’s an organic community evolving that operates much like a small town. It’s not a everything-always-ends-sunny Mayberry, but then again Mayberry was a mythical TV place. No, I’m talking about a “real” small town.

People “know” each other by their user names and “know of” many more. Just like a small town, it can be painfully gossipy and catty and sometimes down right mean. But the characters and voices are rich.

He’s right and this is one of those things that happened beyond the story. Of course, Sadcox and I suggested that Knox News give Billie a blog, but the reality is, she is becoming somewhat of a myth with  just her comments. A blog probably wouldn’t work. Why?

Well, it’s complicated.

Because this is what Jack and the gang are dealing with:

Posted on April 21 at 7:07 a.m.

Wash your hands after you touch a dog or a anmial because they can lick you or bite you on the hand. The dogs in the picture look like they can bite. I never had a missing animal. Cats and dogs can be friends. I hope Jordan will write another story about more animals that dont bite at you instead of this one. The descriptons in the story made me see the colors of everything. … Billie

or

A dolphins the smartest animal in the world. They have slippers instead of fingers. They can swim and bite. i would like to adopt a eagle. If a eagle had a fight with a snake it would win and I would not get a snae bite. I would call my eagle a good name but I cant think of one to name it yet. It would be a girl eagle like me. maybe i can adopt it from somebody who sells them to you. … Billie

Priceless but it does bring up the question about commenters on newspaper blogs where there are no easy answers. As for Billie, she has given me a great deal of joy. I honestly don’t think “Billie” really exists but if she does, I can’t help but say that she made my night.

Seriously guys, I laughed so hard Mabel barked at me. I wish I were kidding.

I’m saddened that Nashville Knucklehead has said adios to his blog. He’s one funny guy but I’m sure he will be missed. I think he’s around though. Not sure.

And I want some crack and cheese, dammit!!

I’m extra saddened this morning that my beloved Grandfille is taking a break as well. She is one wonderful woman and I can’t help but feel connected to her although I don’t know her. She was so supportive during the Ednaectomy (Sista, contact me or Ginger) and she is so validating and understanding about the ups and downs of working at rural newspaper and being, how do I say it, a bit more progressive not about politics but about the whole process of news as a whole.

Grandfille, take care. If you need anything, pop me an email.