“As a whole, we are now more willing to say what we think,” she said. “And that is a good thing for the South.”

The country will have a chance to see Southern civility on display next September, when Charlotte, N.C., hosts the Democratic National Convention.

Life in Charlotte is not as pleasant as it once was. Like many other American cities, it has its share of road rage and rudeness. And although crime rates have dropped, in May the city called out its Civil Emergency Unit and arrested 70 people who rioted two hours after the end of a Nascar event.

But in the best of Southern tradition, the city will try to lead with its manners come September.

“It’ll be all sweet tea and hush puppies,” says Michaele Ballard, a writer and lifelong Southerner.

-A last bastion of civility, the South, sees Manners Decline, via NYTimes.com

inothernews:

Mahfouz Bahbah, 12, sold colorful balloons in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday. (Photo: Muhammed Muheisen / AP via the Wall Street Journal)

above the fold: puppy dog face for no Christie run?

If you scroll down a little there’s a caption… but too-small-browser-lolz for the win.

“At no point are fries O.K.,” he explained. “You just can’t compromise on fries. Because you will eat all the fries. No one has ever stopped eating all the fries, and everywhere you eat, it comes with fries, so you have to make a concerted effort to say no to the fries”

—on staying healthy on the campaign trail, via NYTimes.com

wiresandlights:

UNITED FOR JOPLIN: KOMU 8 News Telethon Raises Over $1 Million

A beautiful, striking promo video prepped by newscast producer Robert Kessler for the telethon mid-Missouri NBC affiliate KOMU 8 News held today — a telethon that raised more than $1 million for residents of neighboring Joplin in wake of this week’s devastating tornadoes. It says something amazing about what the power of a group— however big or small — that is community-minded, service-oriented and motivated to effect positive change — can do. Having worked at KOMU TV-8 before moving to New York and knowing many of the current producers, anchors, reporters and staffers working there now, I know that their passion, sense of urgency, skills at passing on the word and drive to make a difference played a role in this (and it also says something touching and hope-inducing about the strength of a community and how even people outside that community can come together to help). I’m proud to know them and inspired by their work.

This is a beautiful example of how a local television station really is a cornerstone of the community — and how the work doesn’t end once you’ve wrapped a package and shown the damage air. This is true follow-through, and it’s inspiring.

Though this amount was raised through today’s telethon, KOMU is still collecting donations via their Web site, KOMU.com — or you can text JOPLIN to 864833.

I’m starting to post my TV/journalism related posts here, though some (like this one), I’ll probably reblog.

I can’t even start to say how proud I am of my friends at KOMU — and I know Joplin will still need help, far past today. Donating tonight, but looking to see if there’s anything else I can do, albeit remotely.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

The day after tornadoes swept the South leading to death and devastation and the day before the royal wedding that will serve as a historic moment for England and charm the hearts and TV sets of millions, the Daily Mail homepage: “Is this America’s tsunami? 231 die and thousands of homes are destroyed as 161 tornadoes up to a MILE wide tear through South.”

NOTE: This the homepage for use in the US. The UK homepage features the royal wedding. Still, interesting to note.

This is not even linkbait. This is past linkbait. It’s like, debate-bait. You know everyone that looks at this list, even people who don’t really like a lot of music or look at a lot of these types of lists, are going to look, and then is going to be like “aww, man, but you forgot theologians!!” or “WHAT ARE YOU THINKING XYZ IS ABOVE ABC” but in a nice way because Wilco fans are often nice— and everyone knows Wilco pretty well, so pretty much anyone can safely join the discussion, especially because Wilco doesn’t tend to have the kind of crazy cult following that makes you afraid to comment because you know they’ll find your IP address and track you down, so really, I guess it’s a win win. I mean, I know I’ll be listening to Wilco all day now.

“The main thing to understand about the people who have constantly warned me about what I eat is that I’m here and they’re not.”

-Larry Garfield (My Unhealthy Diet? It Got Me This Far, via the NYTimes)