The gift of helping and the capitalistic lie are just two of the concepts from this week's column by Chris Craig. You'll want to read to get the whole...
It was hard to miss The Ledger's outing of Julian Mullis. It ran across the top of the local page, arguably the most read spot of real estate in the printed paper. Quick synopsis: Mulberry police arrested a man they described as in a domestic, live-in relationship with Mullis after accusing the man of throwing a plastic beer bottle at Mullis during an altercation at Mullis' house. That's right. Mullis is the victim of an alleged assault with a plastic container. And for that, his personal life gets splashed across the top of B1 as the featured local story of the day. This story, which exists solely as the means for somebody to broadcast that Julian Mullis is in a gay relationship, is an object lesson of everything that's wrong with institutional journalism in this country. It's a great example of what I think Chris was saying in his Defeatism column a few weeks ago....
James MacMeekin had something to say about Billy Townsend's Graph of Doom posts. Unfortunately, the MI4 editor mis-posted the response and we're publishing it much later than intended. Let's just say the two men don't seem to see eye-to-eye on the economy, history, and well, read on....
James MacMeekin has the bottom line: "Our current financial and economic collapse is a direct result of the social failures enacted over the last 75 years!" How so? You'll find the answer inside...
(Note: Yesterday's Don't Miss column was missing. We apologize for the mix up.) "If you get blood at Lakeland Regional Medical Center after 7 a.m. Monday, it won't be coming from BloodNet USA. LRMC's blood and blood products, like platelets or plasma, will come instead from Florida Blood Services, which officially starts providing LRMC's blood supplies that day. The two signed a contract three months ago and have spent the time since then finalizing arrangements." -- LRMC Taps Into New Supply of Blood "Publix Super Markets has long stressed its customer service and cleanliness, but with rising food and gas costs it's now courting a lower-priced image. The Lakeland-based grocery chain has started a program of deep discounts on certain staple items, starting with milk and soon expanding to other products, company spokeswoman Shannon Patten said." -- Publix Grocery Bill May Be Less "Orlando officials say they have little choice but to raise property taxes because city government is run as efficiently as possible. But records show that the Orlando Police Department -- with a $111 million budget that amounts to nearly a third of the city's general spending -- has seen its overtime pay nearly triple in the past four years as the city deals with a wave of violent crime." -- Overtime could tax Orlando Police budget to tune of $4 million Bonus: "With John McCain likely only days from announcing his running mate, the chances of his choosing Florida Gov. Charlie Crist took three hits this week: a poll, a controversy over campaign contributions and an important newspaper non-endorsement. Recent speculation about Crist has put him in the lower tier of potential running mates and focused more on former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty." -- Governor May Have Faded As VP Choice
Check out the headline and sub-head for this article. Growing Deltona bills $83M to owners then Growing Deltona may bill Owners $83 Million. Well, the truth is the city hasn't finalized the vote. Careful at the beach again this summer. Fish Kill Zone Widens; Algal Bloom Suspected What have your neighbors done for you lately? For millionaire, $100k small price to pay for less-cluttered neighborhood Bonus: Economists have realized Florida is in a recession. "Analysts predict that the state will lose momentum through 2008, then bottom out late this year or in early 2009." There's not much else to the story here.
They're coming to Central Florida. Next up, Lakeland: Gotcha! Orlando reveals 7 red-light-camera locations These aren't your grandfather's summer rains: Microbursts: Small summer storms can hit hard Guess what those summer storms bring? Not May flowers: Heavy Rains Lead to a Mosquito Baby Boom heaven knows we shouldn't help our city buses. The price of gas is so low: No penny gas tax to help Lynx, Orange leaders decide It's that time of year. Be careful! Thrill rides can be dangerous! stories. Thrills And Spills - Caution Key To Theme Park Safety Bonus: A pair of Tribune editorials: 401(k) Rule Finally Reveals Hidden Fees and Erase Political Favoritism From Legislative Redistricting
How the economy is affecting your neighbors: Amid rising costs, sick employees may be left out in the cold These homeless are not transients -- they were your neighbors Polk Offering Free Prescription-Discount Card Drop taxes, get less services. That's how it works. 'Tax Swap' Opponent Plans Tour Of Florida Orange crush: Hold line on taxes, maintain services TECO Seeks 22% Bump In Fuel Charges Let's Stop Kidding Ourselves: Fannie And Freddie Should Be Fully Public Bonus: Seminole to stop putting fluoride in water -- My old neighbor would be thrilled to hear this. I think's he in Arizona right now looking for the place they filmed the Apollo Moon landings. Florida Fills Gator Farms By Culling Nests in Wild Law Students Taking A Ride To Remember
We always welcome another show to look at gadgets: Florida builders open Orlando trade show to public - a first Speaking of homes: Building in a Niche: Smaller Houses Sell This may shock some but there is Proof there were tourists before there were theme parks CSX looks to lobby and public relations to argue case: Kassab: Railroad carries new message, but how lean is lean, and how green is green? And is it worth the money taxpayers must invest in the billion-dollar a year company? Bonus: Regulators Raid Wachovia's Hub
Locking your car is always smart. You don't want to make it easier for it to be stolen: Thieves still love Hondas best, but thefts are on the decline You lower taxes you see headlines like this: Budget crisis slams Orlando I thought the idea that pain was good went out the window years ago: No pain, no gain? Think again, when it comes to working out Two mortgage crisis stories: 'Work-Out, Not Kick-Out' Approach Can Help Stop Foreclosures and Two Mortgage Giants Stay Afloat But Taxpayers Must Start Bailing Editorial Bonus: We think: A program to link needy families with food stamps will ease economic pressures The Don't it Make My Red Eyes Blue Bonus: State May Be Getting A Touch Blue
Money: Getting your loan from the guy in the street used to involve getting a broken finger if you missed a payment, but now Peer lending offers new path to cash Financial-Services Industry: Mortgage-and-credit crisis results in thousands of job losses statewide It would be a shock if they were: Utilities must be up front about the costs of nuclear power This would be a bigger shock: We think: Nelson, Martinez should follow others in disclosing earmark requests This however, wouldn't shock me at all: Trouble Predicted in Counting Florida's New Ballots - Again Back to money: Companies Sue to Stop Cell Hackers Bonus: Swamped By Calls, DCF Wants Better Screening (Department of Children and Families) Bush's Costly Marriage Initiative Shouldn't Live Happily Ever After (They are talking about George W., not Jeb)
A rare video story for MI4: CONSUMER ALERT: Beware of sneaky gas prices when paying with credit cards The less fertilizerin the water the better: More Orlando area citrus growers make the switch to organic If they catch the guy, the driver should be prosecuted as well: Reward Offered in Drive-by Assault on Lakeland Cyclist, 78 Lakeland's Population Hits 92,796 and View 2007 Population Estimates: Cities and Towns More people and more people out of work: Region's Metro Areas Rank High In U.S. Jobs-Lost Tally Bonus: Hurricane news from that hurricane capital, Montreal: New spin on hurricanes
The best headlines tell the story well enough to lead you to want the details. Let's see how well these work: Homes: Programs to prevent foreclosure don't guarantee success Regulators Expected To Tighten Mortgages Homes can be rated for energy efficiency Food: That shrinking feeling: Instead of raising prices, manufacturers reduce package sizes Tricks tame family's wild food bill Politics: Orange unanimously OKs ethics, finance reforms Public-Private Divide OK, that one gives you no clue the editorial is about the handing of e-mail under Florida's Sunshine Laws. Public officials are using e-mail as a way to bypass the standards of the law. It is easier and cheaper to get e-mails than any form of public record. But too many departments use the public's lack of knowledge of the software to hide e-mails and charge the public too much to get e-mail records. Bonus: How about some free bus tickets? Hey There, Want Some Free Gas? Follow-up: Deseret Ranch withdraws proposal for development near Orlando airport
In the "What Did You Think Would Happen if You Cut Taxes?" news of the day: Floridians feel squeeze of state's $66 billion budget Some are happy with the state's proposed purchase of U.S. Sugar's operation, and not just U.S. Sugar: Rethinking the grand plan for the Everglades If they're working, can you really call them panhandlers? City Considers Use Of Panhandlers In college news: PCC Dealing With Budget Worries and the Tampa Tribune editorial board continues pushing their agenda against regional control of universities: Accreditation Trouble Reveals Flaws Of USF Regional System. No, Trib, the accreditation trouble reveals a simple flaw in a specific department at USF St. Petersburg. The Trib editor's argument suffers from a simple logic flaw called Composition. You simply can not argue that because small parts of a whole have a certain feature that the whole has that feature.
Don't read this story with the AC turned up high: With solar power, the electric bill is just $3 a month Obviously things have changed since I went to school. Packing any learning would have been helpful then: Orange County schools will pack more learning into same amount of time If you have an unpaid parking fine or toll ticket, you'll want to read this story. If you wonder how the government spends your tax money, you'll want to read this story. If you're read this far, why not just read: City of Orlando, road agencies scramble to address backlog of unpaid toll and parking tickets Today's bonus coverage: Florida Among 6 States To Write Own School Formulas
Bio: Chris Craig received his Master’s in Social Work from Tulane University and his Master’s in Pastoral Care & Counseling from Garrett Seminary. Chris guest preaches, leads spirituality classes, and works in social services in Lakeland. Chris is not ordained in any church, and his columns do not speak for any churches or organizations where he might be affiliated.