It's Science Project DEADLINE on Monday for Jesse, my 4th grader.  It was assigned sometime early last year but of course we put it off until the last weekend..

About two hours ago he and I were looking up things about the International Space Station online and he quietly snuck away to watch TV while I was searching for just the right information.  During the two hours I have done some great research that any fourth grade teacher would be proud of.

I just walked past him to fetch my self an adult beverage and he followed me into the kitchen and said, "How's the science project comin', Dad?"  He couldn't understand why I fell on the floor laughing.

5:49:05 PM     comments to the above post so far, join in.   Trackbacks

Rosemary Robert's recent, but belated (Feb. 20), column is the N&R's only editorial response to the awarding of the Alston-Jones International Civil Rights Award to the Rev. Al Sharpton back on February 6th.  Roberts cites Sharpton's past transgressions on racial matters and terms the giving of the award as a "shame".

The Rhino, a weekly publication that hit the streets six days (Feb 13) after the Sit-In Movement event, expressed outrage over the award as quickly as they could through a well researched piece written by former N&R columnist Jerry Bledsoe.  Bledsoe termed the presentation a "travesty".

Both publication's op/eds seem to agree that Commissioner Skip Alston and State Rep. Earl Jones hung a very dark cloud over their here-to-for well-considered award by giving it to Sharpton.  The timing of Roberts' column is odd though.

Surely it doesn't take 14 days to formulate an opinion on Al Sharpton and why his past should preclude him from receiving any award that has "civil rights" in its title.  Because of the delay, it appeared that the N&R was going to keep silent on Sharpton's award as Bledsoe alleges, but the Rhino may have forced their hand by creating news through blasting Sharpton, Alston/Jones and the N&R in equal measures.

I realize that there is no love lost between the Rhino and the N&R but, in light of Bledsoe's criticism of the N&R in his column (including his allegation that the N&R committed "jounalistic derelection" by not covering Sharpton's past), I find it curious that Roberts never mentions Bledsoe's op-ed.  Roberts column feels like an answer to the Rhino to me.  The N&R editorial staff doesn't give an any other opinion on the award nor an explanation for their lag in outrage, so what else could Robert's column be but a response?  Did it get lost?  Was she on vacation?

The Rhino routinely, although disrespectfully, mentions the "TECAN&R"'s (The Eleven County Area News & Record) reporting ... but there is rarely any reciprocation. 

Note to N&R: Ignoring the Rhino won't make Hammer and Co. go away.  Roberts column should have given credit where credit was due if it indeed was an answer.  If it was not an answer, what's up with taking 14 days to condemn Sharpton's past and the inappropriateness of him receiving the Alston-Jones award.

Related Posts: 2/17  Ed Cone: 2/13

****************

Update 7:30p: It was pointed out to me in an email that Roberts' column reflects only her views and not those of the editorial staff at the N&R which I guess I kinda knew.  I stand corrected. 

Roberts' op/ed was certainly better late than never so we still have the N&R's "official" opinion on the appropriateness of the award to look forward to.  Perhaps they will mention Bledsoe's column and answer his charges against them which are becoming more credible as time passes.

12:07:29 PM     comments to the above post so far, join in.   Trackbacks

The News & Record's "Inside Scoop" is a feature that I like to read every Saturday.  It is the closest thing that my local paper has to a weblog. The Scoop is kinda news... kinda editorial...  Today's scoop leads with an incident that occured at last Tuesday's City Council meeting that echos the disconnect and dis-enfranchisement that I have heard over and over although the average reader might laugh it off like Koury Corporation's Steve Showfety did.

Resident Kathy Edwards was playing the part of David as the lone speaker in opposition to a rezoning request by the Goliath developer but she, and her neighbors, knew that any efforts to block the development would prove innefective.  The affected neighbors stayed away in droves.

...In explaining why more of her neighbors didn't show up at the hearing, Edwards said "the general consensus was that if you were dealing with Koury Corporation, it was a done deal."

In response, Koury President Steve Showfety said, "I assume she was paying our company a compliment."

No she wasn't Steve, she was condemning your company's overpowering influence and the developer driven political process in Greensboro. 

Edwards' statement, Showfety's quip and the Council's predictable unanimous vote to approve the development illustrate resignation, arrogance and allegiance... in that order.

8:58:37 AM     comments to the above post so far, join in.   Trackbacks