Debate Humor

A reader e-mailed me this picture. I thought I would share it with you all.

The Great Debate Reaction

After any big event, I like to use my Facebook friends as a barometer of public opinion. I have friends of all different backgrounds and beliefs from across the country, so it is interesting to see what they think.

Here is a quick snippet of Facebook statuses from friends in regards to the Vice Presidential Debate.

Jaya S. is wondering if it's rude that she might want Joe Biden for President. Yikes? Gobama though!

Ben S. Palin Rocks!

Trevor K is debated out, after watching both the US & Canadian election debates..LOL.

Kellie W. Holy crap balls, Palin may actually have a set of balls!

Rick W. wonders if the fourth grade class watching Palin feels dissed by not receiving a shoutout too.

Kenny G. sees how divided this country is in the status updates of his friends. So much hostility and mean-spiritedness on both sides. Makes me sad. :-(.

Andrea K. is laughing at the "Tina Fey in 08" picket sign in the background on MSNBC.

Joni N. didn't win the game of Palin Bingo. But "You Betcha" she marked out "Maverick."

Adam T. is happy how the debate went and had fun playing some Palin Bingo.

Al B. is still voting McCain/Palin and PROUD of it! You fu__ing ROCK Sarah Palin!!!

Fausto F. Oh Gwen is getting sassy! "Everyone gets extra credit tonight."

Sonia M is watching the debate...They're talking but they're not saying anything.

Ron R. is FRIGHTENED there are more than three people on the face of the planet that think Sarah Palin's ready to be 2nd in command of my country. Yikes!

Mark B. doesn't think that Sarah Palin knows the fundamental principals behind ANSWERING THE QUESTION! WTF!?!?!

Julie P. not a fan of Biden's dentures...McCain/Palin 2008!!

Laura L. can see Russia from her house!

Crystal B. is pissed, someone stole her McCain/Palin yard sign! Haters.

Fact Checking The Debate

Tonight’s debate was not nearly as train wreckish as I thought it would be. Joe Biden didn’t swallow his foot and Sarah Palin actually had a few answers prepared.

They both spouted off a great deal of facts and figures. They talked about voting records and called each other out on fudging the details. But, the average American sitting at home had no idea if those facts were even legitimate.

The guys over at the Associated Press did a little fact checking for us and came up with some interesting findings.

Here’s the article:

Some facts adrift in veep debate

Facts went adrift on taxes, deregulation and more Thursday when Republican Sarah Palin and Democrat Joe Biden clashed in the vice presidential debate.

Some examples:

PALIN: Said of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama: "94 times he voted to increase taxes or not support a tax reduction."
THE FACTS: The dubious count includes repetitive votes as well as votes to cut taxes for the middle class while raising them on the rich. An analysis by factcheck.org found that 23 of the votes were for measures that would have produced no tax increase at all, seven were in favor of measures that would have lowered taxes for many, 11 would have increased taxes on only those making more than $1 million a year.
___
BIDEN: Complained about "economic policies of the last eight years" that led to "excessive deregulation."
THE FACTS: Biden voted for 1999 deregulation that liberal groups are blaming for part of the financial crisis. The law allowed Wall Street investment banks to create the kind of mortgage-related securities at the core of the problem now. The law was widely backed by Republicans as well as by Democratic President Clinton, who argues it has stopped the crisis today from being worse.
___
PALIN: "Two years ago, remember, it was John McCain who pushed so hard with the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac reform measures. He sounded that warning bell."
THE FACTS: Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska led an effort in 2005 to tighten regulation on the mortgage underwriters — McCain joined as a co-sponsor a year later. The legislation was never taken up by the full Senate, then under Republican control.
___
BIDEN: Warned that Republican presidential candidate John McCain's $5,000 tax credit to help families buy health coverage "will go straight to the insurance company."
THE FACTS: Of course it would, because it's meant to pay for insurance. That's like saying money for a car loan will go straight to the car dealer.
___
PALIN: "We cannot afford to lose against al-Qaida and the Shia extremists who are still there, still fighting us."
THE FACTS: She appeared to confuse the two main Muslim sects in Iraq. Al-Qaida is solely made up of Sunni Muslim militants. Through the course of the war, U.S. forces fought ferocious opposition from both the Sunnis and the country's dominant Shiite sects. Now, both groups are largely maintaining a cease-fire with the U.S. A much-diminished al-Qaida, mainly foreign fighters, remains the primary threat.
___
BIDEN: Said McCain supports tax breaks for oil companies, and "wants to give them another $4 billion tax cut."
THE FACTS: Biden is repeating a favorite saw of the Obama campaign, and it's misleading. McCain supports a cut in income taxes for all corporations, and doesn't single out any one industry for that benefit.
___
PALIN: Said the United States has reduced its troop level in Iraq to a number below where it was when the troop increase began in early 2007.
THE FACTS: Not correct. The Pentagon says there are currently 152,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, about 17,000 more than there were before the 2007 military buildup began.
___
BIDEN: "As a matter of fact, John recently wrote an article in a major magazine saying that he wants to do for the health care industry — deregulate it and let the free market move — like he did for the banking industry."
THE FACTS: Biden and Obama have been perpetuating this distortion of what McCain wrote in an article for the American Academy of Actuaries. McCain, laying out his health plan, only referred to deregulation when saying people should be allowed to buy health insurance across state lines. In that context, he wrote: "Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation."
___
PALIN: Said Alaska is "building a nearly $40 billion natural gas pipeline, which is North America's largest and most expensive infrastructure project ever to flow those sources of energy into hungry markets."
THE FACTS: Not quite. Construction is at least six years away. So far the state has only awarded a license to Trans Canada Corp., that comes with $500 million in seed money in exchange for commitments toward a lengthy and costly process to getting a federal certificate. At an August news conference after the state Legislature approved the license, Palin said, "It's not a done deal."
___
PALIN: "Barack Obama even supported increasing taxes as late as last year for those families making only $42,000 a year."
BIDEN: "The charge is absolutely not true. Barack Obama did not vote to raise taxes. The vote she's referring to, John McCain voted the exact same way."
THE FACTS: The vote was on a nonbinding budget resolution that assumed that President Bush's tax cuts would expire, as scheduled, in 2011. If that actually happened, it could mean higher taxes for people making as little as about $42,000. But Obama is proposing tax increases only on the wealthy, and would cut taxes for most others. In the March 14 budget resolution supported by Obama and Biden, McCain actually did not vote.
___
PALIN: Said a McCain-Palin administration "will support Israel," including "building our embassy ... in Jerusalem."
THE FACTS: Moving the U.S. Embassy from its present location in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is a perennial promise of presidential candidates courting the Jewish-American vote. In fact, moving the embassy is actually required by U.S. law. But successive administrations of both parties, including President Bush's, have made the same pledge only to find that the realities of Middle East peacemaking have forced them to invoke a waiver to delay it. Jerusalem is claimed as a capital by both Israel and the Palestinians, and Israel's occupation of east Jerusalem is not internationally recognized. The city's status is a key issue of disagreement in peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

Land Of A Million Stereotypes

Louisiana natives are very sensitive when it comes to that old stereotype of us being dumb, alligator-wrestling, dip spitting rednecks. People seem to think that we ride pirogues to work every day just to pay for the food to sustain our pet gators.

But, sometimes (most times) we perpetuate those same stereotypes. For instance, my Mom, a social worker, was at a conference for the day – at a casino. Yes, a work day at a casino/hotel. It just so happens to be one of the better hotels in the region, so they hold conferences there. God Bless Louisiana.

Mom wanted me to meet her there for lunch. I hadn’t visited this particular casino in a while and they had renovated part of it and opened a new hotel since my last trip home. The sliding glass doors zip open and I stroll right into a living, breathing stereotype. Right in the middle of the hotel lobby were about two dozen living alligators.

No wonder people think we worship the scaly-skinned reptiles. We have a gang of them planted right smack in the middle of the quintessential “nice” hotel in Central Louisiana. Their habitat is surrounded by the hotel shops and restaurants.

With that said, I couldn’t help but take these pictures and sit and stare at them for about 30 minutes. They aren’t a bad idea and they are surely buzz-worthy. They even have gator shows every Saturday – inside the hotel lobby. I’m serious, that’s no joke. A wrangler brings out raw chicken and feeds the beasts in front of hotel patrons.

Welcome to Louisiana – land of a million true-to-life stereotypes.

Home Town Glory

I stepped off my plane and was immediately met with the sounds of Jazz and the smell of Popeye’s in the air. That’s not some flowery metaphor for being home in Louisiana, that’s a literal account of my first seconds back in the Bayou State. It’s New Orleans and that’s how we do it down here.

Riding down I-49, I was surprised to see that weeks later, there is still a good deal of damage from Hurricane Gustav that has yet to be cleaned up. There are still tarps on buildings and downed trees crisscrossing the sides of the road. I counted no less than 12 electric company work vehicles on the Interstate between New Orleans and Alexandria before I fell asleep in the backseat of my patents’ car.

I haven’t been home in a year. When you’re away from something for an extended period of time, you tend to romanticize it. There are apparently a few things that I forgot about my home town.

It’s a small town and there isn’t much to do here. I’m not talking about being bored in Charleston. When you are bored in Charleston, you can always go for a stroll downtown. You can try one the 700 restaurants that you haven’t found the time to check out just yet. You can go people watching in Marion Square, shop at the Outlet mall or dodge the tourist at the Pineapple Fountain. And if all else fails you can see who is playing at Music Farm or Windjammer, there is a good chance that Edwin McCain is playing one of the two – he’s always playing one of the two.

People are inherently larger here. I am in a constant state of diet in the Lowcountry. I go through months at a time without eating carbs in an effort to blend in with the weightlifting, rock-hard-abbed world of Charlestonians. Here, I have a long list of places I want to eat lunch before leaving again. Each includes the best desserts on the planet and a smorgasbord of fried foods.

Because of the blazing heat of Louisiana throughout most of the year, paint fades here. I never noticed it before this week. From street signs and school buses to business fronts, the paint is dingy , dull and muted.

Why would you want to visit a place like this? Well, I guess you wouldn’t really. You have to be from here to understand why we love it so much. When you grow up in Central Louisiana, you can’t wait to flee for the fabled metropolis. You don’t miss it though, until you are miles away.

This is what we call home and I love this place in all its boring, fat, faded glory. It’s good to be home!

Oh Yeah... The Emmys

For the first time since I was about 7, I didn’t watch the Emmy Awards and it looks like I wasn’t alone. This year’s “pat on the back” for the television industry was the least watched televised Emmy Awards program in the history of the academy.

For me, real life took precedence over the kids from Lost and 30 Rock. I guess other Americans had previous engagements too. Who knows?

I’ve read several scathing reviews of the lackluster show. But, everyone seems to agree on one thing… Josh Groban was the only highlight of the night. He was an uncomfortable highlight, but a highlight nonetheless.

Check this out.



Thank God Groban was having fun with this number. Otherwise I would be simply laughing at him and not with him. This was almost too awkward to watch – almost. Josh looked tragically foolish doing the South Park voices and don’t get me started on the Muppets bit. Was he a laughingstock or an accidental genius?

If Josh's performance were a person, it would be that buddy who had too much to drink the night before. That loud-talking, bar-fighting, hitting-on-your-date friend that tells you "I love ya dude" 30 times before puking in your car and passing out. If Josh's performance called the next day, I would send it strait to voicemail.

There was one bright spot in the number – the Baywatch theme song. Is it wrong that I can’t get enough of that song?

This just made me realize that there are not nearly enough TV theme songs these days. Maybe that’s why no one is watching the Emmys anymore.

Travis & Adam Injured In SC Plane Crash

This is a picture that I snapped of Travis Barker a few hours before his plane crashed in Columbia late last night. Four people are dead. Travis and DJ AM (Adam Goldstein) were critically injured and are being treated for severe burns at the Augusta Burn Center.

I woke up this morning with my ears still ringing from the concert, only to find out about that crash. It’s a little surreal. Life is so short and really can change in a moment.

I’ve gotten so many e-mails, facebooks and text messages saying almost exactly the same thing… “that’s crazy.” Every person says something about “crazy” in their messages and that’s really the best word to describe it all – crazy.

I went to the concert to see my favorite artist – Gavin DeGraw. Travis and AM were opening for Gavin and I was lucky enough to be in the front row. I haven’t seen Travis do anything musically since Blink 182 broke up and didn’t quite know what to expect. He’s a drummer… what can a drummer do with no band and no frontman?

Everyone in the crowd was a little skeptical about Travis and AM taking the stage. But, they ended up putting on an amazing show. AM was spinning popular songs from all genres and decades and Travis was pounding away on his set to them all. I’ve never experienced anything like it before – they made me a believer. After almost a full hour of nonstop drumming they worked the crowd into a frenzy and had us begging for more.

I honestly didn’t know much about DJ AM before last night. He was just a guy who was engaged to Nicole Ritchie. But, he really won me over with his personality on stage. He and Travis never spoke a word the whole time they performed, but AM oozed personality. He has a blast on the tables and it shows. He feels the music and you know how I feel about that.

My first experience with Travis goes way back to 2000 when I was an intern for MTV News. My very first day at good old 1515 found me logging a Blink 182 interview. I spent 7 hours logging that damn video. I remember that Travis didn’t say much. Mark and Tom did most of the talking. But, I guess you don’t have to talk all that much when you own the drum set like he does.

Here’s to a speedy recovery. Their injuries are serious, but I hope they make it through. I would hate to think that I saw their last show ever – just as I was becoming a fan.

More of my pictures from the concert (Gavin DeGraw also included)

Giant Gators

It was one year ago today, that a 600 pound alligator attacked a man at Lake Moultrie. The man was lucky, he survived, but he lost his arm in the horrific and bloody attack.

I remember interviewing his son after the attack. I asked the son about his thoughts on gator hunting in the state. At the time, there was a huge debate about enacting the first hunting season in decades. The man and his family said they love nature and didn’t blame the creature.

Well here we are a year later and gator hunting season is a reality. Saturday marked the first day of gator season in South Carolina. One of the first big bags came from a guy in Summerville – and this thing is a monster.

After hooking the gargantuan 12-foot gator, Mark Merting fought for 3 and a half hours before bringing it in.

Merting snagged this beast in the same lake as the attacking gator from last year. I for one will never swim in Lake Moultrie after seeing these pictures.

Here are a few more pictures from the original gator attack. I just want to warn you that they are extremely graphic. They show the arm in the gator’s mouth and that appendage being removed from the animal’s stomach.

Picture 1

Picture 2

You can see even more pictures at Corday Taxidermy's website.

Here are a few of the most impressive.

Pain At The Pump

I’ve been on gas duty at work for the last few days as our e-mail accounts and phones are overrun with viewers feeling a pinch at the gas pump.

Honestly, if I didn’t work in news, I would probably be one of those callers. I personally drive about 15 to 20 minutes to work every morning -- depending on the traffic. My wallet is bleeding too.

I know all about the sinking feeling of watching your kids’ college fund flow into your gas tank. For me, it’s a European vacation that splash into that seemingly bottomless pit known as my car.

There are two major buzz words in almost every call we get in the newsroom these days. “Price” and “Gouging” are words that seem to find their way into every single conversation. But, as frustrating as higher gas prices are, it seems most of the rises we saw last week were actually justified. State Attorney General Henry McMaster did enact our state price gouging law, but reminds us that not everything higher is gouging.

Yesterday, I was sent out to talk to the experts to find out what was likely to happen next. Luckily, they think the worst may soon be over. After running dry this weekend, most gas stations now have full reserves and the prices should start falling in the next few weeks.

I interviewed this super-friendly gas delivery guy who spent the day filling empty fuel wells at gas stations. He said he had never seen such a shortage at stations in all his years on the job.

One economic expert I spoke with thinks we could actually see prices fall under $3 again soon. I can’t believe that I’m actually excited about the prospect of $2.99 a gallon gasoline. But that gets me much closer to Tuscany than the current prices.

Hurricane Ike Damages Oil Platforms

We just got an Associated Press alert that makes me and my wallet a little nervous.

HOUSTON (AP) - Hurricane Ike destroyed a number of production platforms and damaged pipelines in Gulf of Mexico.

All of the economists and analysts we’ve talked to say that is a recipe for disaster when it comes to gas prices. Depending on how many platforms were damaged and the extent of that damage, it could be one long and expensive summer.

Just the prospect of Hurricane Ike damaging oil rigs sent gas prices through the roof. Now I’m no alarmist, but I’m a little concerned with what is going to happen with gas prices in the next few days.

Hopefully they will just plateau now and drop in a few weeks when everything is functional and the market self-corrects. But, the powers that be are always looking for a reason to up the price at the pump. A hurricane’s coming – up 30 cents. War in Iraq – up 10 cents. George Bush has a hangnail – up 5 cents. Doogie Howser MD: Season One is released on DVD – up 50 cents.

Keep an eye on the gas marquee. I know I will.

Palin and Clinton Together

This is probably the funniest political Saturday Night Live skit I've seen in years. Tina Fey as Sarah Palin is priceless. I've watched this continuously and I laugh my butt off every single time. The funniest things in life are those with a hint at truth.

Biden's Blunder: "Stand Up Chuck"

Here’s a funny video I’ve run across from CNN.

Joe Biden was in Missouri for a campaign stop. He introduces State Senator Chuck Graham who happens to be confined to a wheelchair. What follows is a little uncomfortable for Biden, but surprisingly humorous for the rest of us -- even Graham.

Here are a few accounts from people who were at the event or who know Graham.

From mjp4fc:

I was there.. he was sitting in front of two curtains and no one would have been able to tell he was in a wheelchair. He recovered very well and acknowledged his mistake, he was even classy enough to walk into the audience to shake his hand.

From shane:

With chuck this is old hat. He has been asked to stand dozens of times by people who have never met him.

I'm glad that Chuck Graham can laugh along with the rest us.

Fuel Frenzy

Yes, that’s a real picture from Wedgefield, South Carolina. A viewer snapped it. With so many photoshop geniuses, with too much time on their hands, I thought for sure this was a hoax. One of our producers called the gas station this morning and confirmed it.

Yesterday, we found ourselves in the midst of a full-scale gas-buying frenzy. A rumor started circulating early yesterday afternoon that gas would skyrocket by 5:00 to $5.00 a gallon. It was a whole 5 at 5 type thing. The basis for the rumor: Hurricane Ike would devastate oil rigs and the prices had to go up.

People lost their minds around here. This is a picture that I snapped in Summerville at a normally slow gas station. The station attendant came out and talked to me. He was amazed at the business they were getting as drivers rushed to area gas stations trying to beat the rumored price jump. He wanted to know if the rumors were true. According to AAA they are completely unfounded.

You would think it was the end of civilization or a hurricane was barreling straight for Charleston. We didn’t have a gas-run like this last week when we thought Hanna was going to hit us head-on. I hadn’t seen anything like this since I was in Louisiana before Hurricane Rita in 2006.

Some gas stations apparently ran out of gas as folks flocked to the pumps. There were even reports of fistfights as tempers ran high and fuel ran low.

And yes, I admit, I gave in to the hype myself. I always operate on that old adage -- “better safe than sorry.” We know that the price of gas isn’t going to drop, so why not get gas – just in case. I went to my favorite secret cheap gas station and got a few gallons. I guess no one is immune to rumors and mass hysteria.

Is Michelle Obama Hiding Something?

I’m an avid watcher of The View. I started watching religiously back when Rosie was on and haven’t taken it off my Tivo since. You never knew what she would say next.

In that time, I’ve learned to appreciate and respect Elisabeth Hasselbeck. She stands her ground in the midst of a daily firestorm of opposing opinion. It’s not easy to be the only person on a panel of 5 who feels a certain way. Their conversations get heated and she never backs down. I don’t necessarily agree with Elisabeth, but I commend her dedication to her beliefs. It doesn’t hurt that I was a huge Lis fan on Survivor (back when she was Elisabeth Filarski).

She hosted a luncheon for Cindy McCain during the GOP convention last week. In her intro of McCain, she took an unnecessary potshot at Michelle Obama.

I’ve heard several pundits and politicos take aim at Michelle, but you never really see any mud slung at Cindy. Why is that? Is Cindy McCain more pristine than Michelle Obama, or are left-winged commentators less likely to go after the wife of the candidate? I don’t really have an answer for that.

Elisabeth, keep fighting for your causes, but I implore you to think twice before trashing someone you were amazingly complementary of when they were standing in front of you on set. And for the record, I actually pulled for you when you where in all those verbal fisticuffs with Rosie.

Curse of Jessica Simpson: Nashville Edition

Jessica Simpson is getting back to her country roots. There’s one problem though, she doesn’t have any. Jess released her first country-themed album yesterday and to celebrate she did her best channeling of June Carter Cash and performed on Good Morning America.

This wasn’t exactly the star performance she was hoping for. It was a hot country mess and no one is going to rush out to buy the twangy CD of career-threatening tracks based on this performance.

It appears that the Curse of Jessica Simpson extends to not only Tony Romo, but to the pop tartlet herself.

She started to intro the song in the most forced country accent imaginable – think Madonna’s British accident. She says, “thank you guys for making this song number wuhn.” She slips into Country Jessica only at the end of the sentence. Now, I’m from Louisiana, I know country. If this was sincere, it would have gone something like this -- “thank yew guys fur makin’ this sawng numbur wuhn.”

She then stopped the song and started over. But, that was the least of her problems really. She went on to turn “With You,” a normally descent song, into country caterwauling. Jessie – you’re trying too hard.

You know somewhere Nick Lachey is having a good laugh about all this. Oh wait… he isn’t doing anything at all with his career. Never mind.

Here’s the video.

Some people are going to say that just I don’t get country music. Simply not true. I’m that black guy that owns the Garth Brooks box set, several Dixie Chicks CDS and even have my picture with Toby Keith (of all people) after a concert. It’s not my favorite music, but I appreciate it for its merit. Real country – not Simpsonized twanginess.

Sarah Palin Action Figures

Palin-mania has hit a new high. A month ago no one knew who this moose-hunting governor was and now she has an action figure.

You can own your very own pint-sized version of the hard-nosed hockey mom for a mere $27.95. She joins the political ranks for Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Barack Obama, who are already immortalized in plastic.

How is it that the Vice Presidential candidate is more popular than the actual person vying for the top spot? Her sudden popularity is mind-boggling. But, it should be interesting to see little boys and girls across the nation battling evil with their little Palin dolls.

One question though: What is her super hero name?

Is Michael Phelps A Sellout?

Michael Phelps has been catapulted into the stratosphere of stardom. After his record-shattering turn at the Beijing Olympics, people can’t seem to get enough of this guy with the freakishly long arms. He’s all of a sudden an international star and everybody wants a piece of him.

Weeks after the closing ceremonies, he’s still the biggest catch for daytime talk show hosts like Oprah and the ladies at The View. He’s the guy every girl wants to date and every guy wants to hang out with.

All of that makes him something very important – marketable! His is the face that will launch a million ad campaigns in the months to come.

But, some critics are a little miffed at his choice of endorsement deals. Two of the first products he chose to plaster his mug on are Frosted Flakes and McDonalds.

The food police are crying fowl. They say the super buff Olympian should never have agreed to lend his likeness to sugary and fat foods linked to childhood obesity. The fact is, Johnny Q. Adolescent doesn’t have the same mega metabolism as Michael. While Phelps can scarf down a Double Quarter Pounder and not think anything about it, the rest of us are asking for an elastic waistband if we indulge like that.

So the question really… does Michael Phelps owe us anything? He earned every one of those medals through hard work and dedication. His fans are in no way responsible for his success. Can’t he choose what he wants to endorse? I think so.

I mean, he’s not exactly endorsing Frosted Shards of Glass or Box ‘O Bullets.

Too Old For MTV?

So, I watched the Video Music Awards last night and I feel like MTV has made a fool of me. Luckily I TIVOed the show so I was able to fast forward through everything other than the performances and awards presentations.

I tuned in for one reason and one reason only – Britney Spears. I gave her such a hard time for her last VMA appearance that I felt obligated to see what she had up her pink little sleeves this time. She basically got on stage and said “hey ya’ll… it’s time for the VMAs!” Then she sat down and called it a night. Anticlimactic at best.

Either I’ve gotten old or music has gotten crappy. I think it’s probably a healthy mixture of both. I love a good club banger when I’m out with friends, but is Britney Spears’ “Piece of Me” really the best video of the year? Has it really come to that?

Remember the days when REM’s “Losing My Religion,” Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” and Van Halen’s “Right Now” were Video of the Year? Now that’s what I call best of the best. Go back and look at past video of the year winners and tell me what you think.

I may be 30 now, but looking at that list, it seems VMA voters have forsaken their discerning taste for the flavor of the month.

Side note: Rihanna is amazingly entertaining. Jordin Sparks, as much as I love her, needs to lighten up.

Hanna Hangover

I’ve spent the last 24 hours decompressing and resting up after a physically and mentally trying week of Hurricane Coverage. Even after the storm was well clear of the Lowcountry, we didn’t wrap up our coverage until yesterday morning. This means I didn’t get finished until noon. Tuesday to Saturday all storm all the time.

Now, I’ve got to catch up on some house work and shopping today. I would rather sit around and do absolutely nothing, but Monday is right around the corner and then it’s back to the grind.

On the bright side, I can finally blog about something other than weather and politics!

Hanna: 2:30 Press Conference Information

Ready for your update from the 2:30 mayors presser conference? Well, here we go.

Yesterday’s message was about being prepared. Today is a story of remaining vigilant and not becoming complacent. We will not take a direct hit from Hanna, but heavy rain and wind could get nasty and possibly dangerous.

Mayor Joe Riley talked about the threat of Ike; saying the preps you make this week for Hanna could save time next week if we face Ike.

In North Charleston, trash pick up will happen tomorrow morning to lessen the chance of items becoming projectiles in high wind.

Folly Beach’s mayor Carl Beckmann had a message of caution for his citizens. He said he was worried about the storm surge, if even minimal. He reminds that there is a causeway connecting Folly Beach to the mainland and two to three feet of water can make last minute evacuations extremely difficult.

Dan Davis with Berkeley County stopped by for the press conference. He says their EOC is on OPCON 3 and expect to remain there.

There is another press conference scheduled for 6:30. We are expecting to find out more answers about the possibility of a voluntary evacuation in Charleston County.

Here’s a little factoid for you… Charleston County is the longest county on the Atlantic Coast.

Hanna: 12:30 Press Conference Details

Here’s the update from Charleston County EOC from the 12:30 press conference.

EOC director Cathy Haynes simply discussed the upgrade to OPCON 2.

I went up to the information center a few minutes ago. They aren’t too busy right now. I was able to have a short conversation with one of our friends from Charleston Police Department.

Like Governor Sanford’s press conference, the focus right now is on people who live in flood-prone areas and mobile homes. They say those people should have a plan of action already.

Charleston County schools will be closed tomorrow and all afterschool activities will be suspended starting at 6:00 PM tonight.

Joe Riley, Tim Scott and Cathy Haynes will hold a 2:30 media briefing with all the latest information. I will check in again after that.

Governor Sanford Issues Voluntary Evacuation

Governor Mark Sanford just finished his Noon press conference.

He stressed the importance of operating on the side of caution. He said that he will not make decisions on suspicion or hunch.

Gov. Sanford called for a voluntary evacuation for Georgetown and Horry Counties.

The storm is expected to hit around high tide in Georgetown and those living in lower areas are encouraged to think about taking action.

70 Highway Patrolmen will be stationed at key spots on the evacuation route. Three shelters are active, but slimly staffed, one in Georgetown and two in Horry.

State offices will not close tomorrow.

We are getting ready for our 12:30 Press Conference with Charleston County EOC. More updates after that.

Hanna: EOC Morning Update

We’ve spent the last hour or so setting up for a long day of press conferences and live shots. While our photographer, Sydney, finishes setting things up and testing audio, I’ll give you an update on some storm information.

It’s going to be a busy day and here’s what you can expect.

The Charleston County Emergency Operations Center has moved to EPCON 2 this morning. The staff here is at maximum preparedness level. There will be a 12:30 press conference and we will know more about the plan for the Lowcountry then. I’ll update the blog after that meeting.

Governor Mark Sanford is also holding a live press conference at Noon where he will announce a voluntary evacuation for the northern parts of the state.

The mayors of Charleston County will hold a 2:30 press conference today also. This is when we will most likely find out if there is a voluntary evacuation for the Lowcountry. Isle of Palms mayor, Mike Sotille, is the one I’m most interested in hearing from. He hinted at a voluntary evac for the barrier islands yesterday.

More in about an hour.

Gustav: Pictures From Central Louisiana

Here's one for all my friends who are from Central Louisiana who now live around the country.

Lamar White posted a few pictures from around Alexandria on his blog. City Park Players Theater burned down last night. That's a rough one.

Gustav was brutal on Cenla. They are still dealing with it all. Apparently my parents aren't telling me everything that's going on down there -- they don't want me to worry I guess.

City Park Players

Horseshoe Drive

Yes, this is really Horseshoe Drive.

More from my old station, KALB.

Outside KALB Studio

Juggling Hurricanes

It’s been a long day. I had a few computer issues today, thus the lack of update. Everything is taken care of now and I will be back on a regular posting schedule tomorrow.

I spent the day at the Charleston County Emergency Operations Center and that’s where I will reside for the next day or so while Hanna does its thing. There was a lot of down time today as the projected point of impact continually moved. The closer we get to Friday’s landfall, the busier we will get there.

Most of my down time was spent on the phone with Central Louisiana. Gustav has been stalled there for the last two days; dumping an ungodly amount of rain. They experienced what many are calling the worst flooding in the history of the region. We’re talking the Louisiana National Guard taking people from their flooded homes. That never happens to us. My parents are on day three of having no electricity.

I spent the day getting reports from home and juggling what’s going on around here. I have a job to do, so home had to take a back seat during press conferences and live shots. I must admit, it made me extremely irritable and short tempered – even more than usual.

My Mom and one of my best friends called and texted most of the day. Though I was worried, it did connect me to them while all that was going on.

Sorry it took me so long to update the blog today, but I needed a break. I came home, grabbed a quick bite to eat (low carb of course) and watched the two hours Top Model season premiere. Tyra, Jay and I forgot all about hurricanes for a little while. I needed that little vacation and now I’m back. Game on!

I will post updates from the EOC to the blog all day tomorrow. We will know more about a possible voluntary evacuation then. I don’t know that it will come to that, but the city leaders and officials keep bringing it up. I’m set up with a lap top, so I can instantly blog all the latest information.

My biggest challenge this week: Saying “E-O-C” during my live shots. It’s called the “O-E-P” in Rapides Parish, Louisiana and I’ve said that for years. Watch closely and you will actually see me think about it before every mention.

Shopping Before Hanna

I snapped this picture tonight when I was out buying a few odds and ends to deal with Hurricane Hanna. You know, the usual: bottles of water, beef jerky and such.

I went to a few stores to get the best deals. Not just because I do a lot of economic stories, but because I’m cheap. The hottest items seem to be bottled water, batteries, flash lights and radios.

Here in West Ashley, Wal-Mart’s bottled water shelves are becoming bare. I watched a stock guy bring out a brand new pallet of water from the back and a flock of people pounce on it.

I spoke with several shoppers who say they are preparing to ride out the storm and they wanted to get supplies before the stores sold out. One woman said she came in just to purchase water for herself, but decided to buy extra for her neighbors when she saw the emptying shelves. The canned goods aren’t moving all that fast.

As I was getting some toiletries for a long next-few-days of work, I noticed that the line at the pharmacy was way longer than usual. I heard people saying they wanted to fill their prescription before the storm or an evacuation order.

The Lowcountry Red Cross reminds that an important item that many people forget when shopping is a manual can opener. All those canned goods are useless without a manual can opener.

I am currently trying to cook up a lot of chicken breasts and cut up some cucumbers. All of my low barb foods will spoil if we lose electricity. I just did my weekly grocery shopping Sunday and I'm fully stocked with food that I've got to cook now. :sigh:

Mayor Riley Talks Evacuations

Even though there have been no declarations of evacuation for the Lowcountry, that’s exactly what Charleston Mayor Joe Riley talked about in his afternoon press conference.

He made a point to encourage citizens to prepare individually for the storm. He talked about families getting previsions together tonight in case of an evacuation.

Mayor Riley said to leave the city if there is a voluntary evacuation and not to wait for a mandatory evacuation. He warned that traffic flow during a mandatory evacuation could force residents into a part of the state they did not intend to visit. In a mandatory evacuation – you go in the direction the state police send you – not where you want to go.

Riley went so far as to suggest visiting a friend out of town right now to avoid the traffic of a possible evacuation. He seems to be very proactive and trying to avoid a cluster in the days to come if there is a mandatory evacuation.

After a question from a reporter, he recounted his experiences during Hurricane Hugo. He said that he’s never spoken to someone who stayed in Charleston during Hugo who did not regret it.

Pretty interesting press conference this early in the progression of the storm.

There is no evacuation right now and we seem to be quite a way from that actually. Mayor Riley simply stressed – “Be prepared.”

Hanna: Lowcountry Updates

Here are a few quick updates. The Charleston County Emergency Operations Center just held their first media conference for Tropical Storm / Hurricane Hanna.

Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties will move into OPCON 3 at 3:00 this afternoon. According to media contact Jennie Davis' press release, “The OPCON 3 level means that an emergency situation is likely or imminent.”

EOC personnel will go home to their families tonight to ready their property and families for Hanna. Then tomorrow they will begin 24 hour operations. We will carry their Noon media conference tomorrow afternoon on News 2.

The City of Charleston just called a press conference at city hall. It starts at 3:30. I will let you know what Mayor Joe Riley has to say once it is over.

We are also told that Lowcountry mayors will meet tomorrow morning for a briefing and to discuss needs and concerns for their particular cities.

I spoke with Lowcountry Red Cross Executive Director Louise Welch. They have "relief kits" and cots ready for use if shelters are needed in the Lowcountry.

Check out our website. We have an excellent link for resources and phone numbers .

Charleston County also has a useful web section. You can even print your own Hurricane Guide from home.

Hurricane Hanna Preps

We’ve been super busy this morning planning for Hurricane Hanna coverage. We usually have a week to plan for a Hurricane’s landfall, but Hanna will be upon us before we know it.

As you can see by that picture, the Weather Center is a constant den of activity. They are the heart of the operation right now. Joey and Rob are working hard to get all the latest information.

I’m about to head out with our engineers to check our live equipment at the Charleston County Emergency Operations Center. That’s where I will be stationed for Hurricane Hanna – it’s information central.

EOC will hold a press conference at 2:00 and we will carry it live on Channel 2. They will have all the latest on everything Hanna related and how they are handling things here in the Lowcountry.

The Red Cross is holding a conference call right now with their home office about shelters. I am meeting with our local Red Cross’ executive director at 12:30.

I’ll have more a little later when I get back to the station.

H Is For Hurricane

I thought I would lighten up the subject matter of the blog before we get into Hurricane Hanna and the GOP Convention.

Reporters have the strangest work-related dreams sometimes. I just woke up from one such wacky romp through dreamland.

In this dream, I was taking a tour through a hurricane-ravaged Sesame Street with the mayor. Who knew that there was a mayor of Sesame Street? Anyway -- We are stepping over downed tree limbs and we pick up Oscar’s overturned trash can. The mayor tells me that Oscar the Grouch evacuated, so everything was ok.

I’m not making any of this up. I told you that we have crazy dreams.

We then walk up to this large tree, an Oak I think, that was basically split in two from the wind. The mayor tells me that this is Big Bird’s home. He goes on to tell me that the giant yellow bird had become a recluse in the last few years and refused the leave Sesame Street during the mandatory evacuation. He shook his head, looked away and said Big Bird was probably dead. Around this time, storm workers (human – not muppets) call from inside the tree, “we found him mayor, and it’s not good.” The worker walks out with an old coffee mug and hands it to me. He tells me that the mug is the only thing left.

Morbid, I know.

Then for some reason, in the dream, I’m suddenly doing something else. I’m sitting in a room with “Chance” and “White Boy” from the I Love New York and I Love Money reality shows. I’m interviewing them about a criminal trial they are involved in. From the context of our interview, I think they are charged with murder or something. They start talking about how they got involved in gangs after the show and how they lost control of their lives.

While I’m interviewing them, my executive producer runs into the room screaming that my story had changed and that I needed to get moving on the new story. She tells me that the Center for Disease Control called and there is a big problem.

She holds up the mug from Big Bird’s house in a plastic bag. She goes on to tell me that Big Bird’s autopsy uncovered that he died of Bird Flu and not the Hurricane. (I kid you not) That was why he was being such a recluse. All of Sesame Street was quarantined and I needed to grab a photographer and take a live truck.

Just as I tried to explain all that to “White Boy” my alarm clock went off.

I have crazy work-related dreams all the time. This one takes the cake though. I watched I Love Money last night, but I haven’t seen Sesame Street in years. Who knows where that came from.

Gustav: Updates From Louisiana

Gustav is fading away – thankfully.

It looks like the worst is over for most parts of Central Louisiana. I just got off the phone with my parents, who would be mortified if they knew I was writing a blog with their accounts of the hurricane. My Mom tells me the wind has died down considerably and there is just a light rain lingering. There are no street lights so she can’t really assess any damage -- if there is any. She does know that a basketball goal from somewhere has blown into the front yard as they can see it from the bedroom window. There is a mandatory curfew tonight and a water conservation order, but all is well.

It’s about 10:30 in Louisiana and they are already going to bed. They have no power and they probably won’t for a while. They decided to not use the generator for now. During Hurricane Rita, some places didn’t get power back for a week. So, they’ll save the generator for just such an emergency.

My buddies, who also live in Alexandria, had some damage that they noticed early on.

I got this text message update:

Huge tree in the back yard just came down. Our shed is totally destroyed. We saved a lot of the contents. Front yard has a tree down too. We're very wet, but OK.

That seems to be the case all over Louisiana. The doom and gloom of Hurricane Gustav didn’t pan out and that’s a good thing. It’s better to be prepared. Expect the worst and hope for the best.

And what about our friends who rode out the storm in New Orleans? Well Craig says they made it through just fine.

….so New Orleans and its close ‘burbs were a bit oversold on this storm. Not that it was difficult to do, of course. The warnings were honest and, given the timing of them, based on very, very real concerns. And nearly everything worked this time around — from local government facilitating evacuation to the state sending in the Guard to the national folks having what was needed on the ground. Lessons learned and thank you.

As Craig reminds us, not everyone was as lucky as Central Louisiana and New Orleans Proper.

I can tell you the best story most of the nation will never see. It’s what is happening this evening to the folks in Lafitte and other small communities directly south of New Orleans and to the southwest. Some are heavily flooded for the second time in three years — with many just-rebuilt lives, homes and businesses again in tatters. The problem is they are too few in number for most folks to care. And they’re still assessing damage in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes. God bless those folks tonight, as well as others still facing what’s left of this weather system. Those of us who stayed in New Orleans know how creeply lucky we are this time around.

As Gustav weakens to a tropical storm and slowly moves from Central Louisiana and into Natchitoches and Texas, it continues to be a rainmaker... dumping upwards of 20 inches in some places. The threat now moves to flooding which is also very dangerous.

I will keep an eye out for damage reports, but this will likely be my last big update on Gustav as we here in South Carolina start watching our backs with Hanna.

New Information On Hurricane Hanna

I know… I know. I said that I would start focusing on Hanna Wednesday, but as the information comes in, it looks like it’s time to start zeroing in on this storm too.

Our Chief Meteorologist, Rob Fowler, just e-mailed us some of the latest information on Hurricane Hanna. I thought I would quickly pass it on to the Lowcountry readers.

This first forecast indicates that it could possibly be stronger than first expected. Rob says that it could make landfall as a Category 2 system near Savannah, Georgia. It looks like Hanna will come ashore at around 2:00 PM Friday afternoon. But things could start getting wet and windy as early as Thursday night.

If you are like me, you want hard data and numbers. Rob estimates winds of 98 mph and gusts up to 120 mph. Keep in mind this is all preliminary information at this point.

As we get more reports… I will pass them along.

Oh yeah… there is another storm, that will likely become Ike, forming out there. Buckle your rain coats. It could be a long hurricane season.