busy

Very busy day at FCN. Writing this from the set three minutes before the 5pm show.
Fatal crash in SJ Co. Omni Hotel evacuated bc of a small fire.
911 down in parts of Jax - those affected are asked to actually GO to the nearest fire station if they have an emergency. Seems like a lot to ask.

And it's only 4:58:30. Stay tuned.

Ludacris Blows Chance of Being Secretary of State

There are a lot of people all kinds of upset over the new Ludacris song called "Obama is Here."
The Obama campaign calls it "outrageously offensive." In the song Ludacris calls President Bush mentally handicapped and says John McCain doesn't belong in "any chair unless he's paralyzed."

The part about the chair I don't totally get. I guess the chair is the presidency? Nonetheless, I'm fairly certain it's not a nice thing to say about John McCain.

I've listened to the song. The only place I found the full lyrics was on hiphopmusic.com. I copied them from there:

I'm back on it like I just signed my record deal
Yeah the best is here, the Bentley Coup paint is dripping wet, it got sex appeal
Never should have hated, You never should've doubted him
With a slot in the president's iPod Obama shouted 'em
Said I handle my biz and I'm one of his favorite rappers
Well give Luda a special pardon if I'm ever in the slammer
Better yet put me in office, make me your vice president
Hillary hated on you, so that b*tch is irrelevant
Jesse talking slick and apologizing for what?
If you said it then you meant it how you want it head or gut?
And all you other politicians trying to hate on my man,watch us win majority vote in every state on my man
You can't stop what's bout to happen, we bout to make history
The first black president is destined and it's meant to be
The threats ain't fazing us, the nooses or the jokes
So get off your a**, black people, it's time to get out and vote!
Paint the White House black and I'm sure that's got 'em terrified
McCain don't belong in any chair unless he's paralyzed
Yeah I said it cause Bush is mentally handicapped
Ball up all of his speeches and just throw 'em like candy wrap'cause what you talking I hear nothing even relevantand you the worst of all 43 presidents
Get out and vote or the end'll be near
The world is ready for change because Obama is here'cause Obama is here
The world is ready for change because Obama is here, yeahcuz Obama is here

Send Me Your Questions

As we plan our coverage for Florida's primary election (Aug. 26) I would like you to send me any questions or issues you would like addressed that night. We will have a couple of fantastic analysts who can talk local, statewide or presidential politics.
Fire away sogden@firstcoastnews.com

Blue Lobster and Skirt Magazine

My thanks to the very patient, pleasant and understanding Sara Conrad, editor at Skirt magazine. She was interviewing me over the phone this afternoon while I was home and my dog thought interview time would be the perfect time to play.

I'm trying to give Sara thoughtful, interesting answers at the same time I'm dragging Ollie around the floor by his blue lobster. I must've sounded like a crazy person over the phone and God knows, what answers I gave.

The blue lobster replaced the beloved red lobster which was a gift for my dog we brought back from Boston, sort of. We returned from a trip home and forgot to bring the dog anything. I don't know if "forgot" is the right word because I can't think of a time we ever brought him anything back from a trip. Nonetheless, we didn't get him anything from Boston so my wife goes to Target and gets this lobster that we tell him came from Boston - not from next door to NAS Jax.

With any luck he'll never find out the truth. I know he won't read it here. He never reads blogs. He thinks they are trite and obligatory.

You Can Have Your Dark Knight

While most of you will be standing in long ticket lines and sitting squished against a stranger for the other movie that's opening this weekend, my daughter and I will breeze right into the theater, stretch out and enjoy what will prove to be THE movie of '08 - Space Chimps.
Fandango's description:

Three NASA chimps are sent to a galaxy far, far away. Two chimps have 'The Right Stuff,' and the other, a good natured goofball, has 'The Wrong Stuff.' Together all three find themselves on a strange, uncharted planet, where they embark on a fantastical journey to save its inhabitants from a tyrannical leader.

And the top of the movie poster says, "July 18, Go Bananas!"
Sounds good, doesn't it?

I don't know a lot about this movie. Only that I'm fairly sure it's based on a true story. And though this is Kirk de Micco's first go-round as director he has a proven track record as writer on Racing Stripes, Here Comes Peter Cottontail: The Movie and Casper's Scare School. I assume everyone saw the first two. But don't feel silly if you're not familiar with Casper's Scare School. It didn't do nearly the business Hollywood expected. Of it, IMDB says:

Casper has a new assignment: get in touch with his spooky side and start scaring "fleshies" OR ELSE...

You can see right there by the "OR ELSE" being in capital letters that Casper is really going to be in a pickle if he doesn't start scaring fleshies. That's exactly the type of cinematic tension de Micco is capable of delivering. And with any luck (knock, knock on wood) he has delivered again with Space Chimps.

I Knew It All the Time

Wayne Weaver insists he's not selling the team and that it will stay right here in Jax.

In light of that let me clarify my post from last night. What I was trying to say is that I do "Believe in Now." I think it's the perfect slogan because it sums up that not only should we believe in NOW but in all the NOWS to come.

Got it?

With Friends Like These

To recap:
John McCain's economic adviser, former Senator Phil Gramm, dubbed the US "a nation of whiners" in a "mental recession."

And high-profile Democrat Jesse Jackson said he's going to cut Barack Obama's n*ts off.


Thanks for your help gentlemen. It's been fun.

Jaguars and Backyardigans

On-air TV types aren't known for their ability to share. But right is right. And I want to share this spotlight with FCN Sports Director and Anchor Daniel Radcliffe Hicken (I have no idea if that's his middle name. Isn't that the Harry Potter kid's name?).
I encourage you to check out his latest weblog entry. It's a review of the Backyardigans show in Jax yesterday.

In the meantime, the newsroom is buzzing about the reported talks between Jags owner Wayne Weaver and another very rich man who might want to buy the team. If sold, will they go to LA?

How are we supposed to "Believe In Now" if Mr. Weaver if thinking of ditching the team? How about "Believe in No"? As in, I Believe the answer to whether the team should move to Los Angeles is NO!
Or maybe the "Believe in Now" slogan was chosen this year because of its deceptive accuracy. As in, "Believe in Now because the Jags won't be here for you to believe in in the future. "

Jacksonvillains

I am going to suggest to my producers that we start calling those from Jacksonville who commit crimes, "Jacksonvillains."

What do you think?

My track record with such suggestions isn't good. You'll recall my labeling of the Florida Democratic delegation dilemma "deleGATE"? That never caught on.

Vacation at the Neighbor's

Welcome back from your long weekend.

Several months ago, cable's chattering class was predicting a lot less flying and a lot more driving for summer vacations this year in America. As the price of gasoline continued to climb predictions became that Americans wouldn't drive too far for vacation. Now, however, with the price of gas bringing on elevation sickness people can't afford to drive anywhere that's not absolutely necessary. So I suggest a variation of the staycation: Swap houses with your neighbor.

Pick a house on your street or the next one over, no further, that you've always admired and pitch the swap to the owner. Nothing complicated. Just an even swap. You get his house, food and drink for a week and he/she gets yours. You will be surprised how different it feels and how far away from your regular routine it gets you.

The TV's in a different place. Different video games. Different food. Different and funny smells. More (or less) space. Different furniture. And the best part is, it doesn't cost a dime and the TV channels are all the same. What more could you want?

I have to get to my 5 o'clock newscast now. But think about it.