http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/ A discussion with editorial page editor Allen Johnson. en Copyright 2008 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss This week's column. As an incurable Green Bay Packers fan, I don’t know what to make of quarterback Brett Favre’s messy flirtation with a comeback after announcing his retirement several months ago. On the one hand, I believe Favre has earned the right to have second thoughts about walking away from a game he loves so much, gave so much to and still is able to play so well. Then again, I also understand why Packers management feels jerked around. Favre has retired and unretired before. He contacted the Packers, saying he wanted to come back in March. The team was scheduled to join him in a public announcement. Then he said never mind. He wasn’t coming back after all. Now he’s reversed field again. And I’ve changed my mind about him changing his mind. At first I considered him fickle and selfish and indecisive. Now I’m beginning to understand how it’s so hard to walk away, especially given the remarkable condition of this 38-year-old man’s body. He has meant so much to the game and especially to the Packers — playing hurt ... winning almost through sheer will ... bringing a boyish playfulness to pro football even as more and more gray hairs sprouted on his head and chin ... not missing a start for a gazillion games — that I’ll cut him some slack. Then — as in five days ago, I said he was a jerk. Now I say a man is entitled to change his mind. Unless, I guess, he’s a politician. If an elected official dares to change his mind, he might as well curse God and country. Or, even worse, not wear a flag pin. Positions are made, at least in politics, to be kept. Forever. Or we’ll make you pay. ]]> http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/this_weeks_colu_89.shtml http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/this_weeks_colu_89.shtml Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0500 Two things I'll definitely do this weekend: Go to the Dudley High School Consolidated Reunion and see the new Batman movie (with apparently everybody else). The Dudley reunion is a sight to behold, and attracts Panther alumni from the 1930s to the 21st century. It also is unique. It happens every year, in addition to individual class reunions during the more typical milestone years. I was at the Koury Center earlier today. I'll be back tonight. If you're in the neighborhood, drop by our Class of '73 room (1696). One other note about the Class of '73: It unofficially also includes students who began at Dudley but were redistricted during desegregation to other schools. So Smith, Page and Grimsley should be well-represented. As for "The Dark Knight," I appreciate the respectful, adult approach to a comics icon. The first movie rooted the idea of a man in a bat outfit in plausibility and explains, for a change, where all those wonderful Bat toys come from. (I thought some of the action was bland and unintelligible, though). The sequel is supposed to be much darker. Good. I grew up with comics. But in the interest of full disclosure, I'm a Marvel guy. Still, I've always had a soft spot for Batman, a DC character, because he's always been a darker, more tortured soul than a lot of the DC heroes. That's a Marvel hallmark. http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/two_things_ill.shtml http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/two_things_ill.shtml Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:07:52 -0500 A commenter blamed the liberal bent of the media for not making more hay over Jesse Jackson's hypocrital utterance of the N-word. But, interestingly, it was Fox's Bill O'Reilly who chose to hold back on the revelation. "It was not relevant to the subject at hand," O'Reilly told Fox News' Shepard Smith in an interview earlier this week, "one civil rights leader disparaging another over policy. It did not advance the story." Jackson said of Barack Obama: "Barack . . . he's talking down to black people . . . telling n—s how to behave." " http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/a_commenter_bla.shtml http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/a_commenter_bla.shtml Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:03:34 -0500 Republican Mike Huckabee weighs in on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity & Colmes”: “A whole lot of people who don’t bother to do anything other than just look at the image. Believe me, I’ve been a candidate, I’m telling you that there are a whole lot of people that don’t get beyond the surface.” I agree. As if to confirm my misgivings, this letter came in the e-mail today: "To me it does not matter what color the skin is of our new president. But do we want a President that takes his oath on the Islamic 'Koran,' instead of God's words 'The Bible'? When Obama became US Senator he would not take the oath on our Bible, he had to have his Koran. Do we want a President who will not pledge allegiance to the US Flag, when it is said?" Obviously, the writer is mininformed. The Koran myth keeps getting repeated anyway. The Internet is rife with this stuff. And polls still indicate that a sizeable number of people think Obama is a Muslim. My problem is not merely some people's inability to "get" satire. It's their inability to get -- and understand --the facts. As Huckabee notes, many people who will never, ever turn a page of The New Yorker will see that cover. Jefff Danziger (above) and a few other cartoonists have mused on how a McCain cover would look, but I think it's too tame. The most insidious (false) rumor put out about McCain was that he had fathered a black child, a dirty untruth insinuated into the 2000 race by the Bush campaign. Would that be fair game for satire? ]]> http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/here_is_why_i_g.shtml http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/here_is_why_i_g.shtml Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:55:29 -0500 In defense of Sidney Lowe II, who was sentenced Tuesday to 15 months at the Guilford County Prison Farm Tuesday for his involvement in two armed robberies, his lawyers painted an unflattering and unfair picture of N.C. A&T. Lowe’s father, N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe, and other relatives, essentially blamed A&T, where Lowe II had been a student, for turning his son to crime and drugs. Lowe said A&T wasn’t his first choice as a college for his son. Added his uncle, Winston-Salem attorney Michael Grace: “He wanted to dumb down and thug up when he went to school. He wanted to be accepted. He wanted to drop his britches around his butt and show his underwear.” In the interest of full disclosure, I have taught at A&T part time for the better part of 18 years. And I have seen little to support a culture of crime and drugs that sucks students into armed robberies. Ironically, the judge in the case, Henry Frye Jr., is the son of an A&T alumnus, a former Supreme Court chief justice. And the blame placed on A&T hardly accounts for the younger Lowe’s troubles with the law before enrolling at A&T. He was charged with assault in 2002. http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/a_lowe_blow.shtml http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/a_lowe_blow.shtml Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:52:38 -0500 reports The News & Observer: -- a pro shop -- an electronic timing system and scoreboard -- concession stands For more details, check out this Web site. And it was buiilt strictly with private money. No, really.]]> http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/h2oh_wow.shtml http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/h2oh_wow.shtml Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:07:54 -0500 No matter what you might think about their politics, you’ve got to admire how deeply four former City Council candidates have immersed themselves in civic affairs. Rarely have I gone to a public event around here recently without seeing Marikay Abuzuaiter (at-large), Cyndy Hayworth (District 3), Joel Landau (at-large) or Donna Riechmann (at-large) there. Or all of the above. And not just for show. They were actively engaged .. i.e., actually working, not shaking hands and kissing babies. All lost in their bids for public office in 2007 but all have stayed committed to public service. Some may run again. Hayworth told me last week she probably will. It’s impressive to see them walking the campaign talk rather than waiting till the next filing period (for those who may file) to pop out the woodwork. http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/they_came_they.shtml http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/they_came_they.shtml Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0500 Richard Prince reports on the stir created by the current cover of The New Yorker magazine (to which I subscribe). The editors say the cartoon depictions of Barack and Michelle Obama as a Muslim and a gun-toting, Afro-wearing black militant, respectively, were an attempt to satirize the ridiculousness of persistent reports that Obama is indeed a Muslim. Or even a sleeper terrorist, a la “The Manchurian Candidate.” For added effect, an American flag burns in the fireplace and a portrait of Osama bin Laden hangs on the wall. But satire can be a dangerous thing and even can backfire by actually solidifying the myth it intends to lampoon. We editorial writers know that all too well. I recall an editorial we published about former pro wrestler Ric Flair considering a run for governor some years ago. We supported the notion, tongue in cheek. But a number of readers took us at our word. Some were amazed that we would support Flair for governor. Others were delighted. We discussed the double edges of satire in a staff writers workshop a few summers ago conducted by syndicated columnist Rick Horowitz. We concluded that good satire is hard to pull off. But, even when it works, some people won’t get it. The New Yorker does irony and satire better than most, especially on its covers and in its famous cartoons. Not in this case. Too many theoretically rational voters still believe the silly Internet rumors about Obama, and have even said so in various polls. The New Yorker may have wanted to poke fun at their prejudice/ignorance, but it may only have fanned the flames of misinformation. Back to Rick Horowitz: As part of his seminars, he shares examples from other papers. One, from The Washington Post, left no margin for misinterpretation. Emblazoned over the headline of the piece, in large letters, was the label “Satire.” Just in case anyone was wondering. ]]> http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/satire_or_offen.shtml http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/satire_or_offen.shtml Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:34:33 -0500 As an incorrigible Green Bay Packer fan, I don't know what to make of quarterback Brett Favre's messy flirtation with a comeback after announcing his retirement several months ago. A man is entitled to change his mind. Unless, I guess he's a politician. But that's another story. Favre especially has earned the right to have second thoughts about walking away from a game he loves so much and still is able to play so well. Then again, I understand why Packers management feels jerked around. Favre has retired and unretired before, according to published reports. He contacted the Packers, saying he wanted to come back in March, those reports say. The team was scheduled to join him in his public announcement. Then he said never mind. He wasn't coming back after all. So the Packers decided to look to the future and prepare the Packers' young backup quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, to succeed Favre. Now, he's changed his mind again. The Packers say that's his call, but they've made it clear they've moved on. Rodgers is their man and they've planned the season around him. Favre could come back, but not as the starter. Now Favre wants to be released by the Packers so he can play elsewhere. The Packers say no; he's still under contract to them, if he comes back. Oh, the drama. I personally believe the Packers have an infinitely better opportunity to make to the Super Bowl this season with Favre as QB. But he has tarnished his legacy, at least a little bit, with his indecisiveness. It is selfish and inconsiderate. http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/the_bret_favre.shtml http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/the_bret_favre.shtml Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:48:36 -0500 More positive proof that our editorial cartoons aren't considered all that funny by a number of our readers, this came in yesterdays' e-mail: HAVE YOU NO SHAME? The Idiotorial cartoon showing St Peter wearing the Barack Hussein Obama tee shirt was offensive to: 1 Senator Helms' memory, family and supporters. 2 Christians of all orders. 3 The basic notion that Church and state are separate. Remember " Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, and unto God that which is God's?" The Sunday guest editorial by Marc Thiessen was a more fitting tribute to a Senator elected by the People of North Carolina five times despite the massive attacks waged against him and the national funding campaigns by Dummycrats to deny North Carolina voters ther choice in the Senate.He defeated "Saint James" along the way. I will miss our Senator "Know." http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/a_picture_is_wo_2.shtml http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/a_picture_is_wo_2.shtml Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:44:39 -0500 This week's column. Following a call for peace on June 28 by a local leader of the Latin Kings, one TV reporter was so moved that she hugged the gang’s flinty-eyed state potentate, Jorge Cornell. I didn’t hug Cornell, whose official title is “Inca” of the Latin Kings in North Carolina. Don’t get me wrong. I’m hopeful that he is sincere in his call for area gangs to put down their arms and put aside their violence toward one another. But I still worry about the rest of us. Cornell is a big man with a beard and mustache so delicately thin that they appear to be drawn by pencil. A pair of tatooed tears weep permanently from the corner of his left eye, in a tribute, he says, to his late mother. His two young daughters, pretty and smooth-faced, were there with him, smiling at all the people and the cameras. ]]> http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/gang_leaders_an.shtml http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/gang_leaders_an.shtml Sun, 13 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0500 no mas in the midst of the subprime crash and a terrible local real estate market. Too bad for Sandra Anderson Builders Inc. She and her family company left their marks on Greensboro. ]]> http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/sandra_anderson.shtml http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/sandra_anderson.shtml Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:20:10 -0500 President Bush on Jesse Helms: "Jesse Helms was a kind, decent, and humble man and a passionate defender of what he called 'the Miracle of America.So it is fitting that this great patriot left us on the Fourth of July. He was once asked if he had any ambitions beyond the United States Senate. He replied: 'The only thing I am running for is the Kingdom of Heaven.' Today, Jesse Helms has finished the race, and we pray he finds comfort in the arms of the loving God he strove to serve throughout his life." Sen. Elizabeth Dole on Helms: “In succeeding Jesse to represent North Carolina in the United States Senate, I knew I could never replace him, but I continue to strive each day to provide the dedicated constituent service he provided the people of our state for 30 years. As my father would say, Jesse was indeed a ‘watchdog’ for North Carolina and for the nation." It is customary to find the good in people upon their deaths ... and, at least I see it, there was some good in Jesse Helms. But when do we go too far? When do the platitudes become downright dishonest? Helms, a Southern gentleman to some, could be mean and despicable in his racial views. And he was unrepentant over the years, stubbornly clinging to the 19th century even into the 21st. And here we are all but anointing him a saint? At the same time we praise Helms for his candor (one of his admirable qualities) are we shooting as straight about his true legacy? http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/president_bush.shtml http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/president_bush.shtml Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:03:29 -0500 In case you missed it, here's Guilford Tax Director Francis Kinlaw's take, in a News & Record op-ed, on the issue of taxing free drug samples: In recent weeks, several articles and letters have been published regarding the taxation of medical samples by North Carolina’s counties. Given the considerable publicity and concern that this issue has evoked, I wish to provide significant information relating to Guilford County’s current policy and to existing state law. Many readers undoubtedly will be pleased to learn that a bill currently being considered by the N.C. General Assembly (Senate Bill 1878) would exempt from taxation “free samples of drugs that are required by federal law to be dispensed only on prescription and are given to physicians and other medical practitioners to dispense free of charge in the course of their practice.” If you favor the addition of these words to N.C. General Statute 105-275, you may wish to inform your state legislators of your opinion. (Because property tax laws may be established and revised only at the state level of government, county commissioners and elected officials other than state senators and state representatives are unable to change the law.) The following facts will explain and clarify the basis for recent decisions and actions by the Guilford County Tax Department. A directive from the North Carolina Department of Revenue (issued on May 26, 2006) states clearly that “supplies and samples used by and in the possession of medical establishments … are required to be listed for taxation in the various counties of North Carolina where the business personal property is located.” A routine audit conducted by our office revealed that one large medical practice had failed to list drug samples for taxation in one or more prior tax years. (We attempt to audit the tax listings of every business in the county, regardless of the nature of the business, every five or six years.) Although drug samples account for a very small percentage of the taxable property in a medical practice and, consequently, for a small percentage of the tax bill, representatives of the medical profession have deemed this issue to be worthy of public discussion. It is important to note that, because Jan. 1 of each year is the only date of significance insofar as the taxation of business personal property is concerned, a medical practice can maintain and dispense drug samples throughout the calendar year without affecting its tax obligation. Physicians may choose to reduce their supplies of drug samples prior to Jan. 1 and then increase their supplies of samples after Jan. 1. In other words, the volume of drug samples on hand for the other 364 days of a calendar year — other than Jan. 1 — has no effect whatsoever on the tax bill of a medical practice. Tax administrators in Mecklenburg and Forsyth counties have stated in recent weeks that their counties follow exactly the same procedures that were applied by our department. All other counties in North Carolina are also subject to the same laws that govern taxation in our county. I understand the opposition by many people to the relevant state law and realize that they would welcome legislative action revising that statute. In my role as tax director, I can assure the public that our Tax Department consistently follows procedures established by state law and that our actions regarding property taxation of drug samples will change if and when the applicable state law is revised. Francis H. Kinlaw is Guilford County tax director.]]> http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/fireworks_and_t.shtml http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/fireworks_and_t.shtml Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0500 We're exploring the possibility of reader video commentaries, either shot by us, shot and submitted to us by the reader or linked to us from YouTube. If you'd be interested in participating, let me know. If we move forward with this new feature, it's likely to happen sometime in the fall. http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/were_exploring.shtml http://blog.news-record.com/staff/outloud/archives/2008/07/were_exploring.shtml Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:02:33 -0500