I’ve seen this type of thing before (and I have a screenshot of that incident somewhere), but it always digusts me when I see this really annoying form of online advertising reappear.
Category: Sad
Shame On You, KOIN
So news breaks that they may have found the climber’s snow cave on Mt. Hood (Fort Hood, according to some CNN folks) as well as equipment. So at my office I flip on to KOIN, the only Portland news station that we get in Bend, they cover a noon-time news conference for a few minutes, and then go back to their precious NFL football game — and it wasn’t even a close game
So I flip to CNN, and they’re using video from KOIN. So KOIN is still covering it, but doesn’t want to lose NFL advertising revenue. Fox News is using the same video.
Shame on you, KOIN. There’s a chance that these guys may be found — dead or alive — within the hour or so, and you can’t even sacrifice your precious revenue for the good of the community. Instead, I’m forced to watch CNN’s version of this, where they’ve been known to call it Fort Hood.
Truly a sad day in Oregon news coverage for those of us that live outside the Portland area.
Update at 2:20: Oregon Media Insiders has a good thread about this, but the thread seems to be the same. KATU and KGW are putting news online, but God-forbid they preempt their crappy Golf and Ice Dancing (NFL’s just a tad more popular than that).
But some sad news: Rescuers reached the cave, but nobody was inside. So back to the drawing board, and let’s hope they find another cave as that’s really about their only chance of survival at this point.
Update at 4:30: One climber found dead.
It Only Gets Worse For The Local DEQ Office
First there was the fire, ice and flood that beat up the local DEQ office a couple weeks ago. Now, it’s asbestos.
James Kim’s Body Found
And the news is grim — CNN and the AP are reporting that he was dead, but Kim’s employer is waiting for confirmation (and has a far better story that will undoubtedly be updated).
Update: Confirmed — Kim is dead.
No Homemade Meals For The Homeless
At least in Fairfax County, Va were you’ll now need a commercial license to give food to the needy.
FAIRFAX, Va. — From now on, feeding the homeless in Fairfax County will require more than just a big heart. You’ll also need a commercial-grade refrigerator, a three-compartment sink and county certification.
Officials said this week that a new campaign to enforce the county food code at shelters is aimed at preventing food poisoning among the homeless. But operators of shelters said forcing them to reject donations of sandwiches or casseroles prepared at home or in church kitchens is not in the best interest of their clients because it will make it harder to provide them with healthy, hot meals.
“We’re very aware that a number of homeless people eat out of Dumpsters, and Mom’s pot roast has got to be healthier than that,” said Jim Brigl, chief executive of Fairfax Area Christian Emergency & Transitional Services. “But that doesn’t meet the code.”
This reminds me of the rule at most school districts that you’re not allowed to bring homemade treats to class parties. That one really annoys the heck out of me, as my wife gets magazines with great fun treats for my daughter’s class parties (Halloween, etc…), but they’d have to be made in a commercial kitchen or bought from a store or they won’t let it in the door. This is even after my wife had to have a criminal background check so she could volunteer at the school. I can understand you wanting to be careful, but there are just some people you have to worry about less than others.
Two Local Missing Snowmobilers Found, Only One Survived (Updated)
While I have to say that after 48 hours in below freezing (and sometimes below zero) weather, it’s hard to expect anything good to come out of this, but it’s still sad.
Two snowmobiles and footprints in the deep snow led searchers to a Bend father and son, missing for two days in the cold, snowy woods near Mt. Bachelor, but only the son survived, authorities said Wednesday.
Update: The deceased father is apparently still out in the woods, and they plan on getting him tomorrow after they recover from searching for the last 48 hours.
Some People Have Far Too Much Free Time
I’ve dealt with some crazy owner’s associations (they made my dad paint a basketball hoop to match the color of the house), but this is a bit nutty:
DENVER, Colorado (AP) — A homeowners’ association in southwestern Colorado has threatened to fine a resident $25 a day until she removes a Christmas wreath with a peace sign that some say is an anti-Iraq war protest or a symbol of Satan.
Some residents who have complained have children serving in Iraq, said Bob Kearns, president of the Loma Linda Homeowners Association in Pagosa Springs.
He said some residents believed the wreath was a symbol of Satan. Three or four residents complained, he said.
Peace sign a sign of Satan? I must’ve missed that one in Sunday school, but there ya go.
Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures
I’ve seen people sell worthless crap on eBay to get funds to buy something cool, but this is pretty sad (did I miss eBay free listing day, as that’d be the only way I’d bother to list this crap):
Yes, you are bidding to help me get my 5 kids a Nintendo Wii cause this is a sad pathetic auction and im bored and have nothing else to sell. We can’t find one and can’t afford to wait 2 days in line because we have to work for a living. So I tried buying some lottery tickets and didn’t win. Then my remote control broke and I drink cheap pop. SO this auction is for a (1) Can of Diet Dr. Thunder!, (1) Broken tvvvvv remote control w/manual, and (2) Losing Lottery Tickets, Yes they are the authentic losing tickets. I’m also willing to trade this crap for a Nintendo Wii.
This Might Make Lawnmowing Enjoyable
Because tedious and boring tasks are always better while drunk, right?
Thanks Amanda for the link.
More Idiot Politicians Blaming Video Games For Violence
BERLIN (Reuters) – Leading German lawmakers demanded a crackdown on violent computer and simulated war games on Tuesday over concerns that they may have helped inspire a young man to attack his former school with guns and explosives.
The masked 18-year-old man stormed the Scholl secondary school on Monday in the western German town of Emsdetten, wounding as many as 27 people before committing suicide.
And you know why they’re trying crack down on makers of video games instead of people who make the guns and weapons? I think this Boondocks comic pretty much sums it up:
