Throwing Down The Gauntlet?

You know, I really pondered making this post since it has such close ties to what I do. But screw it, if I don't say it, who will?

While we're not in direct competition with them, the San Marcos Daily Record is the other paper in this community, along with The University Star.

In a story about the San Marcos River this past Friday, the Record (and specifically their news editor Anita Miller) had a story about the committee that's meeting to find ways to correct the problems by the waterfall.

The biggest piece to this overall story was the death in late April of senior Jason Bonnin at the falls - a story which we (including myself) ended up going to when the news broke and covered the story.

I remember that night so well. I went with Kelly, Andrew, Stephanie, Isadora and Amy to go see Uh-Huh Jackson play. Once the show finished and the bar closed @ midnight, we eventually ended up at Taco Cabana to eat. Well, as soon as I got in line to order, I got a call (from Courtney, I think) about some big thing going on at Joe's Crab Shack.

Kelly jumped in the truck with me and we met Andrew there as well as another photog and reporter on the scene. Five Star staffers - it does make one proud to see the dedication, but back to the story.

Well, in this story the Record had on Friday, Miss Miller listed the time Bonnin dove into the water as 3 a.m. - at 3 a.m. that night, I was back at the office looking up information on people we could contact about the story and any other information we could find.

Simple mistake, right? Nope.

Turns out, in another story from earlier this month, she makes the same mistake.

Taking a quick look in the Record's archives will find the staff report to list the correct times of the incidents - which were from 10:30 p.m. when the call came in to just before 1 a.m.

I'd link to our original story, but that day's archives are down at the moment.

I'm sorry, but this just bugs the hell out of me. One of our old reporters is an intern there this summer and I've met two of their reporters at other events and they were all nice people.

And people wonder why when you tell them you work(ed) at a newspaper in San Marcos, they always ask "Do you work at the good paper or the Record?"

My Favorite Whipping Boy...

Well, at least I know that when the going gets tough on coming up with ideas for the blog, the good people at WOAI-TV/AM always do something to step up to the plate.

I woke up this morning and opened up my usual sites to find this from my hometown TV station.

"Have Local Schools Become Supply Nazis?"

Let's just forget for a minute that a news organization is using a term usually reserved for a group that killed six million Jews and equating them to Joe Six-Pack at the school board.

I know they're trying to be cute just the way people online have been called Spelling or Grammar Nazis. There's the rub. A news organization isn't supposed to be cute - they're supposed to report the news in a fair and balanced way and let the reader/viewer decide for themselves what to think.

Far be it for me to defend the Northside Independent School District as they at one time employed my entire family (three people including myself), but the god-dammed red-tape of that district is absolutely horrible.

Is there anybody out there that likes their news cut-and-dried and subjective like this?

Let's Get Ethical

One of my favorite things to do is think about media ethics. It's something I've always loved to do and enjoy a great discussion about choices the various media outlets make regarding their coverage and/or publication of events.

A perfect chance has come up today. Let me give you a quick background of the events.

Last night, an embattled former city commissioner walked into the lobby of the Miami Herald and shot himself in the head. He died a few hours later.

Now, I'm not in Miami, so I don't know how big of an event - or even the corruption charges - was to the community, but for this to happen right in the lobby is different and indeed newsworthy in my opinion.

The question before you is this. Do you run the photo the Herald chose? Do you run a different one that might not have blood in it? Do you run it above-the-fold? In color? Inside? Black-and white?

This is today's front page of the Miami Herald.

You can also see the same picture on the front page of the Herald'sWeb site.

It's very hard to make a decision without knowing the type of community Miami is. I'm of the opinion that the Austin American-Statesman probably would have run it, the San Antonio Express-News is 50-50 and The University Star more than likely would not - as they chose not to when a student committed suicide in his vehicle in a campus parking lot. The photo they chose to run (when I was a news reporter and not a member of the paper's editorial board) was a black-and-white photo of three officers investigating a sheet-covered vehicle.

The following photo is from The Star's Web site, so it is in color.


So there's the golden questions. In which way do you run these photos while also thinking of your audience?

Personal Responsibility Surrenders

I just was browsing around at CNN.com and came across this story. Apparently, a woman has filed a lawsuit against Rockstar Games and Take Two Interactive for "engaging in false, misleading and deceptive practices."

The lady, an 85-year-old grandmother purchased the game for her 14-year-old grandson without knowing it contained hidden sexual content.

Now first off, we (well, I) had an editorial in today's issue of The University Star in which we addressed this exact point.

Take a read. Go ahead and then come back.

The lawsuit states that she bought the game (a game titled "Grand Theft Auto"... just let that set it for a few seconds) even though at the time, the game was rated "M" for mature audiences. Now, there is not a law that states retailers have to check ID - and even then, she purchased the game.

Let's analyze the box art to this game.


In one panel, there are three clearly displayed guns being used in a drive-by shooting. In the one to its direct right, there is a man holding a gun and in the top left panel is a man with an automatic gun. I also see references to gambling, a police helicopter and a woman licking her lips in a suggestive fashion.

Now, I'm not saying that the game probably shouldn't have the "AO" (Adults Only) rating - but that's solely based upon the descriptors given by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. The "Hot Coffee" mini-game does indeed have prolonged sexual content, albeit pixelated and poorly acted.

It's not retailers, game publishers or the government's job to tell you how to raise your kids. If you don't want your kids to play a game that might be too violent or sexual in nature - research it, go out and rent the game and watch your children play it. Hell, your kid might be mature enough to distinguish between reality and fantasy. I know my mom never had an issue with what I listened to or watched - I just knew that if I ever performed acts like that, spoke like that or basically tried to use that as an excuse, it'd have been my ass.

I've just registered to get the documents online and I have them, so I'm going to start pulling stuff from there.

When are people going to start taking responsibility for their own actions?

Do you realize that in the state of Iowa, this lady's grandson can legally consent to actually have sex?

He can fuck, he just can't play a game that has some fucking.

I can't say I'm shocked at this lawsuit, but sometimes, stupid people just need to be smacked.

Godspeed, Discovery

How Coincidental...

So I have my first test in Astronomy tomorrow. I've really enjoyed the class and Dr. Olson's a great professor who has kept my interest piqued every day.

I get home just after 7 p.m. after stopping at the office to take care of a few things and promptly sit down at the computer to check out Fark and a couple of other sites. I eventually end up at Ctrl-Alt-Del to catch up on about six months of missed comics. By the time that finishes, it's a little after 8:30 p.m. I turn on the tube and start watching The Simpsons.

Now, this wasn't just any episode. This was Bart Gets An F. In this episode, Bart is threatened with having to repeat the fourth grade after he continually fails his tests for lack of dedication to study.

Was this a sign?

I'm going to take it as one. I just finished a sandwich, I've just finished this entry... so now it's off to the wonderful world of Astronomy.

And just to make sure I'm not tempted to come back to the computer for a little bit of time, I'm going to start a processor-consuming task that makes my system slow to ungodly speeds if I interrupt it.

Back later...

From The WTF Files

Just caught this story on the Statesman's Web site.

I'm going to copy the story here since the Statesman is a news site that requires registration.

-----

Man faces federal porn charge
He is accused of directing man raping girl, watching on Internet

By Steven Kreytak

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

An Austin man is accused of viewing a live Internet broadcast of a man who might have been raping his young daughter and was ordered detained without bail Monday pending trial on child pornography charges.

At an Austin federal court hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Pitman ruled that Steven Keith Hawkins is a danger to the community.

Hawkins, 47, is accused of using Internet instant messaging software to participate in chat rooms in which the exploitation of children was the main topic, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Devlin said.

During one chat session in August 2003, Hawkins viewed a man raping a girl believed to be his daughter and typed instructions "as to what to do with the child," said Devlin, who called the case "disturbing."

Hawkins' public defender could not be reached for comment. Devlin said that during an interview with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, Hawkins denied watching the live feed of the child rape.

Hawkins was charged in a criminal complaint filed last week with possession and distribution of child pornography.

During a search of his Austin home on June 14, agents seized his computer hard drive and a computer disk that had 100 images and 12 videos of child pornography, according to the complaint.

Travis Central Appraisal District records indicate that Hawkins lives in North Austin on Slow Poke Drive, which is north of Parmer Lane and west of Interstate 35.

Devlin said agents have reviewed chat logs and received other information but have not seen video of the Internet broadcasts.

He would not be specific about that other information and declined to say where the chat logs came from.

He also declined to say whether authorities know the identities of the others who participated in the chat rooms or where they are from.

In chat room conversations during 2004 and 2005, Hawkins asked people to "play with children via Web-cam," discussed how one man sexually abused a baby and bragged "that he had sex 'all the way' with his 9-year-old niece," Devlin said.

During the hearing Monday, Hawkins' wife, LeaneHawkins, said the couple doesn't have a 9-year-old niece, and investigators haven't found evidence of one, Devlin said.

Leane Hawkins testified that she knows nothing about the allegations against her husband. She could not be reached for further comment.

Pitman, in ordering Hawkins detained, wrote that even after his home was searched, he continued to download child pornography.

That suggests "an inability or unwillingness to discontinue this illegal activity," Pitman wrote in court documents.

As recently as July 12, according to court documents, Hawkins used instant messaging to ask someone to molest a child and broadcast it on the Internet. It is unclear whether he was successful.

-----

I'm nearly speechless.

He allegedly SOLICITED somebody to rape a child. Just try to forget that somebody apparently agreed to do it for a moment.

This guy allegedly solicited another human being to rape a child - maybe even their own child.

If this is true, this is beyond disgusting. I can't begin to even think of how sad I am for the child first of all, and for the rest of the human race if this is some of the problems that develop within.

Hell, this guy doesn't live that far away from where my Dad's shop is.

As a matter of fact, I think I am speechless at this.

"The Gambler" Must Be Pissed...

By now, you must all know the Kenny Rogers story (not the grizzled, old country singer - the pitcher for the Texas Rangers).

Quick recap: Rogers got pissed on 29 June (Mom's birthday) at two cameramen outside the Rangers dugout and knocked a camera down from one photog and threatened (or hit) another.

Anyway, Rogers turned himself in this morning on the misdemeanor charge (a second was mailed to him) and got into it with another photog.

This rat bastard attacks two photogs for doing their jobs. Then he gives some crap apology "against his lawyer's advice" and everybody lets him slide so he can go to the All-Star Game and get rocked (thanks for that home run Andruw Jones).

First, he says that the behavior is not normal for him - which is false since he broke his non-pitching hand hitting a water cooler after a bad performance. That, I can't fault him for. Heat of the battle and it happens all the time. But, it does show his penchant for anger.

Next, he apparently ripped a number of framed photos off the wall of the Rangers clubhouse in anger.

Then, the incident with the two cameramen.

He says he wants to take the punishment given to him and face what's in front of him - yet he's appealing his 20-game/$50,000 fine from Major League Baseball. If you don't know, that allows him to play while waiting for the appeal to be heard and the punishment to be analyzed.

And then he goes and does this again. You know what, Kenny. We're tired of your act. You've pitched well this year - but you're looking for a new contract. Either take what the Rangers want to give you (which sure as hell isn't $12-14M/year that you think you're worth) or test the free-agent market.

All these outbursts can't help your cause Kenny. All these outbursts that continue after the fact are only going to turn off the people that you brought back with that apology before the ASG.

The people in Detroit were right to boo you when you were announced and when you came into pitch. Guess what, I was booing you at the same time from the office.

Shut up. Pitch. Go away.

Thanks.

My Two Girls

Kiki & Daisy in the new wagon.

This is a picture I took yesterday of my two dogs. Kiki (L) and Daisy (R) were riding in a wagon that my parents got for them. This is one of the best photos I have of my girls and I just thought I'd post it.

I have a few more photos if people want to see them.

Paws For Prisoners

This is just one of the shots of an amazing photo essay about a program at the correctional facility in Kyle, Texas that combines unwanted dogs with prisoners in an effort to teach responsibility to the inmates and behavior to the dogs.

Not only do I want to know more about the program, but I'm also insanely jealous that the The Daily Texan found out about this before we did. Who knows, they probably had to go through a lot to get this story and those amazing pictures.

The pictures are by Erik Castro. I don't know his full affiliation with The Texan, but he has talent. Now that's photojournalism. I can only hope that The University Star can be blessed with the same talented photography this year.

This is the story - looks to be a small lead into the photo essay.

The photo essay is on the same page halfway down.

Congrats to The Texan for this fine piece of work.

So Manny Changed His Blog

Just thought I'd give ol' Manny's new blog a plug.

http://mexiricanvertwo.blogspot.com/

Now mow my lawn!

It's Bloggin' Time

So much for having a blog that isn't updated regularly.

Rather than new posts for everything I want to write about, here's one long big-ass post.

While driving to work in Austin on the day of the London attacks, I couldn't help but get angry at the lack of news coverage there was on the radio (cable news did a fine job, though). While there were updates every 20 minutes (akin to "Bombs in London, people hurt, back to traffic...), they (being 1200 WOAI-AM/San Antonio) talked for 10-15 minutes about the "Top 12 Most Overrated Songs."

This is a news/talk station which proclaims themselves to be "San Antonio's First News). It's programming decisions like that which make me glad I've decided not to seriously pursue broadcast journalism as a career and instead focus on print.

I talked to my academic adviser on Monday and found out that after my Astronomy class this summer (which is pretty cool, BTW), I will only need 27 hours to graduate. Twenty-seven!

It's going to be a tough 27 hours, but it just feels so great to be able to see graduation (which is one of my largest life goals) finally within reach. All that problems that I got myself into, all the financial struggles I've had to deal with might just all be over soon enough.

Class of 2006!

I need a plant. I also need some wall decor.

I need a plant so that I can force myself to clean my apartment and open my blinds up. I need some wall decor because this white emptiness is driving me a little mad and if I'm going to be here until this time next summer, I might as well make it worth it.

The University Star is finally moving. The work on the Trinity building should be completed by August 10 and we should be in our new offices by the beginning of the semester. It's going to be weird - in fact, we spent all day yesterday cleaning the walls off and boxing stuff up - but I think it's going to be fun to christen the new Trinity building for staffers to come.

If anybody happens to watch ESPN2, look for this week's episode of Streetball. I have an on-camera spot for about two seconds. When the And1 Mix Tape Tour was in San Antonio a few weeks back, we covered it for the sports section two issues ago. During the second half, I took the camera and sat on the baseline at the SBC Center, so during one play in which one of the players hits the court, you can see me about three feet away on the right-hand side of your screen. Green shirt, blue jeans and a camera. That's me.

I was always told I'd end up on ESPN someday. I kinda thought they meant more frequently, though.

I don't really have much else right now, but I hope to keep this as updated as possible.

Damn, It's Been Awhile

Eep!

Way too long to go between posting.

Let's see, the Spurs won it all, I'm in the process of being sued and I'm itching for classes to get started again.

I'll think of something more soon in a new post.