Who Wants Coffee?

Well, here it is: The coffee shop now inside the local public library downtown. It's call Cup and Chaucer, and with the exception of the oldies radio station playing over a small radio behind the counter, it's pretty swank-- that is for a canteen. Mind you before Cup and Chaucer if you were visiting the library and wanted a quick bite or snack even you had to cross the street to the only supermarket downtown. There you risked being preyed upon by every panhandler in a twelve block radius. And unless you like to have your groceries dusted off before you can open them, this place is off limits. Bleech! Enough about the grocery. The Jackson Madison County Library has really turned it on. There are computers covering the main reading room utilizing the library's free wireless network, and a complete online catalog. The audio/video section has been relocated upstairs and has lots more room among the periodicals. The New Book section is amply shelved with actual new releases and there's new furniture and flooring after the recent refurbishing. And now there's a coffee shop! Nice.

Recently when on the air with "Daybreak" I've been pretty vocal with my criticisms of the local library board. My fear has been (and maybe a little bit now even) that they will abandon the downtown library in favor of building a branch somewhere out North. I'm not sold on the idea of a North Branch, but my fears about running out on the downtown location have been somewhat diminished now that it's obvious all the changes and improvements that have taken place.

I've always loved and appreciated the local public library wherever I've lived. Before I ever started to kindergarten my parents enrolled me in whatever children's reading program was going on at the library in our town. I learned early on how the use the library (what's available and where). I remember being so proud of my first library card. Your local public library is a real treasure and an absolute privilege to you and everyone in every town. Ours is stepping up and is trying to stay relevant in a time where huge bookstore retailers are the norm and online book purchasing is a few keystrokes away. Visit your library people. Get a library card. Check out a book, a CD, a movie. Research your family in the Tennessee Room or sit and enjoy the latest New York Times or Wall Street Journal. Then grab a cup 'o joe in the latest and greatest at the downtown library.

The album: Obsolete to whom?

Despite declining sales, they're not going anywhere -- as an object or an idea.
By Philip Freeman September 20, 2007
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-freeman20sep20,0,509425.story?track=rss
Copyright 2007 Los Angeles Times

Java Blues

For thirty years 60 Minutes' Andy Rooney has had it in for the coffee companies. Even today he'll rail about the price of a can of coffee versus the amount inside. It seems to be ever changing. Now word comes that Starbucks is raising the price of their brewed beverages for the second time this year. This time it's not because of the price of coffee itself which is traded as a commodity, no, not that tired argument again. This time it's because of the price of dairy products. What? You mean the cream in my coffee? You've got to be kidding. It seems that there's an increase in dairy because of the increase in corn used for feed for dairy cows because of an increase in ethanol production which is causing an increase in the pain in my neck. But it's not just Starbucks. No. My favorite coffee shop Dunkin' Donuts, has also gone up on their prices too. Now before you start to think I'm taking this coffee thing a little too serious let me explain. I order my coffee black. If I want it sweetened I'll add a Sweet N' Low sometimes, but none of that triple, grande, soy, blah-blah, blah for me. No sir! Black. That means no cream! My coffee just went up nine cents anyway. I can see it now one day: Coffee--$6.29, with cream--$6.79. Andy's gonna love this.

Walking on the Moon

Their last album was in 1983. They broke up in 1984. And Monday night in St. Louis I finally saw The Police LIVE! I was in the sixth grade when their last single was on the charts. Almost a quarter of a century later there I was--and there they were. I have always loved The Police. Even before their swan song which is Synchronicity, I knew all the words to Message in a Bottle, So Lonely, and of course Roxanne. On the surface the music sounds so simple (it is a three piece band after all), but even an average ear can pick up the complexities in the percussion, the haunting loneliness in the chording, and the lyrical isolation. Their forays into reggae and thier use of the diminished minor harmonies are the signature of the Police sound. Nobody is near that creative today! The live show featured just The Police--no backup singers or additional musicians. They played for just over two hours with three encores. Were our seats the best? No. Were the acoustics in a hockey arena great? No. But it was The Police, and when you've waited almost 25 years to see your favorite band those things just didn't matter. It was great!

Setlist:

“Message in a Bottle”

“Synchronicity II”

“Walking on the Moon”

“Voices Inside My Head”

“When the World is Running Down, You Make the Best of What’s Still Around”

“Don’t Stand So Close to Me”

“Driven To Tears”

“The Bed’s Too Big Without You”

“Truth Hits Everybody”

“Every Little Thing She Does is Magic”

“Wrapped Around Your Finger”

“De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da”

“Invisible Sun”

“Walking In Your Footsteps”

“Can’t Stand Losing You”

Encore one:“Roxanne”

Encore two:“King of Pain”

“So Lonely”

“Every Breath You Take”

Encore three:“Next To You"

Beach Living

I'm back from a week at the beach. A whole week down on the coast with nothing but swim trunks, flip flops, and a toothbrush. It's been several years since I was there last and I was amazed at the growth and development that has taken place. The Beaches still stretch on forever though. I had a conversation back home about remembering when there was nothing between Destin and Panama City Beach. Not so now. It can be tough these days to find a quiet little nook to sun and soak on the gulf coast. And it was good to see all the airbrush and tattoo joints still hanging in. The kids loved it! LOVED IT! We had a great time.

On the way back we detoured through Tuscaloosa, Alabama. I wanted my son to see Mecca. While we toured the Bear Bryant Museum on the U of A campus and got our fill of hero worship, I was reminded why I was never a Tennessee Vol fan; the sickening obsession of everything orange or orange related. Fanaticism is not an attractive trait. If I had to live in Alabama and put up with the same griping, complaining, defending, criticizing, loving, hating football fest that I have to here in Tennessee, I'd hate the Crimson Tide too. But as the old saying goes, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." Roll Tide!

The News/Talk WMD dodge ball team took a break while I was gone. No games were scheduled so now we're back to regular play on Tuesday and Thursday nights at Tigrett Middle School. Start time is 7 o'clock and there are several great opponents coming up. Check http://www.wnws.com/ for a complete schedule. Come out and support some terrific charities.

Radio fodder

Check out the new "Morning Show Goodies" feature over on the left column. It's got links to some of the things we talked about on this morning's show. It will be updated every day or so, so be sure to check in often for your dose of morning enlightenment. Then, every week or so we'll update the "What We're Listening To" and "What We're Reading" features. Real juicy stuff I know.

Summer's Coming!

Whew! Boy, sorry it's been a while since the last post. I see Bowers has really been keeping up with his posting duties as well. It's been extremely busy here at the station the last 6 weeks or so. We kicked off the Diamond Jaxx season, we elected a new city mayor, and are now in the middle of a school board vs county commission debacle, and summer's not even here yet. Another thing that has happened is my 35th birthday. This year I shared my birthday with Mother's Day. It was great. And amazingly enough 35 didn't really get me down. It's funny because I "felt" number 25. I sadly came to the realization that there were adults younger than me. It hurt. That was then though. Today I look at those same adults, the ones I silently envied in their post-adolescent new found adulthood, and say, "Ha! What do you know?" My cynicism is growing and I love it!

Anyway, the summer wind is beginning to blow and everyone's excited. The family is heading off on vacation next month. This will be the first real vacation for the kids and they can't wait. Neither can I.

Aaah-Ahhh-CHOO!

Ooh, my head is killing me! Somewhere a headline should read "Spring germination brings alergic reaction". The pollen seems to be ankle deep in places. After the rain Tuesday there were actual puddles of the greenish-yellow stuff. Yuck. A handful of Claritins ought to do the trick though.

Well hat's off to the much maligned sportsplex. It seems it's off to a good start and is booked for more tournaments on it's maiden voyage than I have fingers and toes. I admit I offered my fair share of criticisms over the funding and management of the. . .the. . .what's it called anyway? The "something, something" Sportsplex? Is that right? (There's a fine couple of million spent in naming rights). Anyway, it's fun to see all the work and new development going on out there. Glad it's not in MY backyard.

. . . and in this corner wearing the blue trunks with white trim and sporting a black eye and multiple lacerations to the head--a Lambuth University Lady Eagle. It seems that Jackson isn't ready for a little friendly competition when it comes to ladies basketball. This week several players from both Lambuth and Union Universities were involved in a "beat down" of one or more players from either school. I'm not clear on who started what, or who said what, or whose baseball bat was involved (oh my!), but do we have to fight over everything in this town? I've heard people taking sides on this that have nothing to do with the school, or with basketball, or with Waffle House or Tequila Joe's. Some didn't even go to college there--or at all! Puh-lease, people give it a rest. Save the fighting and back-biting for Monkey Rodeo next summer at Pringles Park. Hookers and beer--Go Vols! Yee-Ha!

No Underwear and Other Things

Little Rock, Arkansas - 50 years after '57 - the public school system is cleared of Federal Court supervision. - Unitary Status! - The Little Rock school system is now 70% African-American. - So 50 years after '57 we have integrated what? - 50 years after '57 the school system is public, but not community. - Is anyone in Madison County listening? .... U. S. Senator Bob Corker in Jackson Friday for a presentation at the Old Country Store. - Regular Republican crowd - Former Sheriff Warren Roberts, Gary Deaton, Judge R. C. Stegall, Steve Maroney, Jimmy Eldridge, etc. - But Corker seemed to give thoughtful, straight answers to the presented questions. - In an atmosphere where cliche's would have gone over well, he seemed to do more - (Also present, former Congressman and former Corker primary opponent, Ed Bryant) .... Maybe it makes sense to women, but knowing that a dress fits so well that you don't have to wear underwear is something that you tell Oprah? Why? .... Warm days in February are a bonus!

From the Archives. Post tornado 2003

From the Archives II. Post tornado 2003

A "Gong Show" World

Tough - to address education issues when the local discussion continues to be focused on Unitary Status - Superintendent wise to have stayed out of the headlines on this one - (note today's Jackson Sun story didn't include her photo) - but Dr. Zambito has a narrow window to express her educuation vision and call his community to action - Within months she will be on her way to transitional status as this Board of Ed prepares for the next superintendent. - County Commission this week has put Unitary Status back on the front page for two days - but unfortunately has done nothing to resolve the conflict this discussion represents. - With Medina booming, private school enrollment at 20%, a public school enrollment that doesn't increase despite Jackson-Madison County's growth - signs point to a decay from which this Unitary Status discussion continues to divert attention as it re-fires all the old conflicts. - If we are not careful, when either side eventually wins this one, there's going to be little left of what used to be community education in Jackson-Madison County.....College basketball tonight - Lambuth at Union - should be fun....Sports - DiamondJAXX tickets (individual) go on sale March 1st.....Oscars - Harris Poll - 20% of us pick "Letters from Iwo Jima" - 13% favor "The Departed" - 13% favor "Little Miss Sunshine" - 8% pick "The Queen" - 4% "Babel" - To highlight that there is no clear pick this year - 20% think none of the nominated are really this year's best motion picture - and 21% answered "not sure" when asked to pick the best.... This weeks ratings show that more of us watched the American Idol tryout rounds than the regular rounds that actually pick the American Idol - It's a "Gong Show" World!!!!

Changes

Changes: Miller Lite drops the "Man Law" campaign - Now AdAge reports that Aflac is going to curtail duck usage - The Aflac Duck is an advertising icon - But CMO Jeff Herbert believes people know the duck, but don't know what he sells - so less duck, more on supplemental insurance - We'll see what delivers market share - Vegas odds??? - The duck may outlast the CMO.... While GM courts Chrysler and Volvo covets Nissan's diesel - Toyota is apparently on the way to becoming largest automaker in the world - Toyota may be a Japanese automaker, but they employ 40,000 people in the US (AdAge Feb. 19th) - and Bodine is in Jackson, TN - support local business, buy Toyota???....Speaking of local business - I like the Pringles Minis.... What puts fear in my heart? - Bunko for charity - 2nd Annual (Bad trend) Cotillion Club Bunko Tournament for the CP Center - March 10th - Audry 343-1671 has details....NAIA March 14-20.... Mardi Gras Parade Today -Ash Wednesday Tomorrow - Balance?

What A ....

What a finish - Daytona 500 was worth watching, but I sure wanted Martin to win.... Worth watching - Madison County Commission tomorrow night - Unitary Status vote reaction - North Branch Library (fat chance of that one).... Election - City - Is Maurice ever going to leave? - Has no one in District 1 except Maurice ever wanted to be on the City Council? -The Councilman is either doing a great job, or he has the job no one wants -Unopposed May 8th - On the City Council since 1989 - Maurice is the Arthur Johnson of the City Council.... Fat Tuesday - recount on the Queen - Parade at Noon, Tuesday - Ball tonight.... Basketball Lambuth @ Union - Thursday... Basketball (High School) Can anybody stop Liberty? - What a program.... Diane Odell - 60 - What a story....
Happy Birthday, Diane!

Peanut, Peanut Butter--and Jelly

I've never had food poisoning. I hear from people who have that death couldn't be worse. Earlier this week there was a scare over Peter Pan Peanut Butter containing salmonella. A certain lot number was suspected. Sure enough after checking my pantry I found my jar of Peter Pan was of the tainted lot. My jar was also half empty (or half full-for you optimists). I threw it out anyway just to be safe. You think of peanut butter as a pretty safe food product in your stash of staples. It's not like milk or especially mayonnaise that careful attention has to be paid to expiration dates and refrigeration. Heck, does peanut butter even expire? How would you go about spoiling peanut butter if you wanted? How does a huge food manufacturer actually let quality control slip to a level that peanut butter is considered hazardous? Really makes you wonder about that warm guacamole dip you had at that Super Bowl party. Truth be told I'm pretty sensitive about my food. Taste, temperature, and texture (the three T's) all have to meet some sort of perceived expectation or it gets a trip down the disposal. Also, it can't smell funny. I know smell is a very subjective sense, but everybody knows "gamey". Am I right? So throw out that skank jar of PB and smear a little digestive disinfectant on your Wonder Bread. Order Up!

Daily Grind ... Anything But ...

Daily Grind anything but - What a great start to the weekend - Coffee, bagels, music with Scott Myatt - visits from a bunch of friends - including the caller who regifted her husband a Valentine card he had given her three years ago - after he gave her a card with no envelope (telltalesignoflastminute) ... Thanks to Daily Grind for hosting Daybreak and to everyone who came by - and to Susan Davie who actually made it to a morning remote during the first hour (that has never happened) ... Local college basketball this weekend - Union At FHU - Trevecca At Lambuth - University of Memphis on News-Talk Saturday... Mardi Gras party Saturday night sets the stage for next week... Gabriel's Garden a great project (Jack Hale still touching lives)... Oscar Sunday (haven't seen a one)... More important to watch Clayton watch the 500 (if it weren't for kids have you ever thought, there wouldn't be .....) Happy Birthday, Edie!!!!

Today ...

Today ... City of Jackson vs. David Hersh - on what basis do you render a decision when so much testimony is presented by witnesses who resist telling the whole story? ... Unitary Status - thank goodness Whitney Duncan took that one off the front page - time to focus on education/results and forget that one - Memo to Alvey - " Don't have the vote - Don't call it!" - "Thought you had the vote???" - Most pointed discussion on Unitary Status apparently came after the Old Hickory Rotary Club Meeting (Makes You Wanna' Shout) ... Doe Creek School, 1956 - An amazing reminder of where we were just 5 decades ago ... NASCAR - You asked for it - you got it -Toyota! - drama before the race ever starts ... The Charles Farmer Appreciation Dinner is coming soon. ... Bob Keist back in town - Still enjoy the Boat, Sport, RV Show.

Valentine's?

Happy Valentine's Day! Whew, I'm sorry it's been forever since any activity here. But after a long break (emphasis on long) the "Daybreak" blog is back. A renewed interest in this particular technology coupled with some new bells and whistles already out there have excited us here on "Daybreak". We hope you'll join us often from 6-8AM, Monday through Friday on News/Talk 101.5 FM.

A couple of thoughts: Anybody catch the Grammy awards the other night? Did anyone else find it a teenie bit ironic that Al Gore (and Queen Latifah) presented the award for Best Rock Album? Al Gore! Husband to. . .? That's right, Tipper Gore. Remember her back in the mid 80's in the Senate hearings proposing and later forcing record companies apply so-called ratings stickers to certain record albums? Rock albums in particular. There's your "inconvenient truth".

The Police are back! I'm really excited about the upcoming Police tour. I'm not at all excited about seeing them at the Bonaroo Music Festival this summer. I just can't do outdoor music fests anymore. It's too hot, there's too many drunks, and I'm just too old now. The Synchronicity album came out when I was 10 years old, and it was the first record (yes, on vinyl) that I bought with my own money. I think it was $8.99. I remember waiting for the chance to go to the record store just so I could get my hands on it. I still have it-original sleeve and all. St. Louis is the nearest indoor arena venue the Police will make a stop. It's July 02 I think. Ticket prices are expected to be around $200 apiece.

Anyway, welcome back to the "Daybreak" blog. We're glad you're here, and hope you'll come back again and again. If something strikes you or strikes out at you feel free to post a comment. We'll add it and may mention it on the air.

Thanks for stopping by. See you on the air