Media Mix (Tiger, Toyota & Idol)

Tiger Woods, Toyota, American Idol and the Olympics dominated the headlines this week. I was a little surprised that more jokes weren't made about former Vice President Dick Cheney. Cheney was hospitalized (again) for heart problems. I would say some of my favorite jokes still deal with the Winter Olympics ... especially Jimmy Kimmel.

Next week's MEDIA MIX will be much better ... Jay Leno is back and I'm sure the jokes will be great!

100-year-old Doctor Still Delivering Babies

Today on 9NEWS at 6pm, we had a Baton Rouge woman celebrating her 107th birthday. She's seen everything from the first flight, the first crayon and has seen 18 presidents in the White House (Teddy Roosevelt to Barack Obama).

Lately I've been having a complex about getting old. I know, I know. I'm only 24, but turning 25 in a few weeks is like turning 50 to me. I simply don't want to get old. I like being my age. After my grandfather died last summer ... getting older has meant dealing with more death, dealing with more aches and pains and dealing with more independence. Sigh.

But then I saw a story on CNN ... a doctor who just made 100 and still practicing medicine. How amazing. How fortunate!

Dr. W.G. Watson started practicing medicine in 1947, delivering between 16,000 to 18,000 babies over his near 60-year career. Dr. Watson still makes house calls and still goes to work everyday.

Getting old might not be bad after all!

Craig Ferguson Goes Old School

I think Craig Ferguson's "Late Late Show" is pure genius.

I think he has a hilarious, upbeat and one of the best comics hosting a late night show. I would say he's my go-to guy for late night TV. I know that he's not for everyone, but I think his show is something you should watch (even if you have to DVR it because it's on so late).

He's really broken the mold and done his own thing. He has hosted his entire show as a puppet (which is funnier than it sounds), he dedicated his entire show to Archbishop Desmond Tutu last year (not someone you would normally expect to see in late night TV) and does his show without a band.

He's now testing the waters again. On Monday he did his entire show without an audience. This isn't easy for a comic. They like to feed off their audience. But Ferguson's late night experiment is reminiscent of past hosts like Tom Snyder ... who didn't have an audience. And that's the point.

With the drama that has become late night TV ... his show on Monday was a breath of fresh air. I think Ferguson proved he's meant to do the job he has.

Hope you had your breakfast already (140-year-old hotdog discovered)

Yummy!

All Teachers Fired from Rhode Island School District

Education is something I take very seriously. I have a family full of educators ... cousins, aunts and even my sister have all dedicated their lives to teaching. I love learning, and I think that as Americans we fail when it comes to education - both kids and adults.

I'm very critical of what politicians are doing to fix the failing system we call education. It's usually the first to lose funding, the first to see cutbacks and the last to get the help they truly deserve. I think what really aggravates me is that people who have never been in a classroom, people who have never seen first hand the struggles teachers deal with on a day-to-day basis, are the ones making the decisions.

I'm all for trying new things, and one school district in Rhode Island is hoping their dramatic decision works. The Central Falls school board voted 5-2 to fire all teachers in the district effective for the next school year. The firings have captured a lot of attention, as you can imagine.

I'm not sure if this was the right decision ... I'm not even sure it will work. But the statistics in the school district is very similar to East Baton Rouge Parish. It's a district of mostly minorities, half the students are failing every subject and most students come from poor families.

I'll be the first to say that not every teacher is "in it for the kids" (as my sister would say). Sometimes I think teachers should have to reapply for their job, even if that means losing teachers with many years of experience. Teachers should never stop learning, they should never stop researching new methods of teaching because in the end it's all about the kids.

It'll be interesting to see if this so-called turnaround method works for Central Falls. I'll be following their success and failure to see if something as dramatic as firing all teachers and starting over could work elsewhere (though it could take years to see if it works). Because after seeing this story and researching the background, I can see where it could work.

The debate on public education should never fade away. President Obama talks a lot about change and reform. An education reform is past due. It's time to shake things up and finally fix what we all know is broken.

Toll Booth Gone Wild?!

Toll collector spits on driver's change. CNN's Jeanne Moos has complaints about about toll takers gone wild.

Jockstrap Maids Take a Crack at Cleaning

CBS News is all about the hard-hitting, breaking news stories. They recently did a recession-era story on male maids who are "taking a crack at cleaning" (their words) ... wearing only a jockstrap. Ummhmm.

Jockstrap maid services are becoming very popular. They're now in over 40 cities across the country (there's even a guy in New Orleans who's "... a very anal southern boy who loves to clean." (NSFW Jockstrap Maid online ... I had problems loading the site, but it finally loaded ... the pictures are very revealing.)

The idea was born after Hurricane Ike hit Houston ... almost as a joke ... with a friend asking to, "...send a cute guy over to clean my house."

Talk about job creation ... and like they say if the jockstrap fits ...

Man Bulldozes his own house

Saw this story on CNN ... a sign of the times?

-daniel

Have Mercy

It's a topic on the same level as abortion and gay marriage in terms of sparking emotion from people. Mercy killings. You either agree with it or you don't. There's really no in between.

I won't bore you with my opinion ... it really doesn't matter. Before reading on, put your opinions aside ... if only for a second.

Award-winning BBC broadcaster Ray Gosling recently admitted to murdering his partner who was dying with AIDS. Gosling says he has no regrets for what he did. Gosling says he used a pillow to smother his boyfriend. He was arrested several hours after the interview.





Gosling performed the mercy killing several years ago ... when AIDS was in the early stages. Let me say that I'm not saying this to promote what he did ... just giving you the facts. I'm interested in what you think ... not just about mercy killings, but about Gosling's dilemma and interview.

Kevin Eubanks out of 'Tonight Show'

Online reports are true ... Jay Leno's sidekick/bandleader will be back for the premiere of "The Tonight Show" in March ... but will then step down from his post.

Still not clear if his entire band will follow ... Eubanks is reportedly stepping aside so he can try other things.

-daniel

Are Fat People More Fun?

First Lady Michelle Obama has made it a priority to tackle childhood obesity. She's cutting the fat, and setting an example with her family and families around the world. She's even planted a White House garden to show how eating healthy is easy and fun (sorta, I guess). I don't think many people would disagree with her mission. Frankly, she should be applauded.

I bring that up because as I was watching AC 360 Tonight, I saw something that made me scratch my head. During a panel discussion on the Kevin Smith/Southwest Airlines "Fatgate," a member of the National Association of Fat Acceptance was on the show to give their opinion on the matter.

The National Association of Fat Acceptance????? Ummhmm.

The picture (in case you're wondering) is from a NAAFA rally in New York City. The NAAFA's goal is to help build a society in which people of every size are accepted with dignity and equality in all aspects of life. Meet the NAAFA

I honestly don't know what to say. Are fat people more fun?

-daniel

Mardi Gras Mumbo

A look at tonight's Mardi Gras coverage on WAFB!

Oprah's Oops Moment

Anyone who knows Drew Brees is familiar with his birth mark.

The man has never tried to hide it ... nor should he. It's what makes Drew ... Drew! Well, Oprah (nor her janky producers) got that memo.



I feel a little bad for Drew. But, the "oops" moment was cut out of some broadcasts. This is a clip from WAFB's sister station WMC-TV in Memphis.



I know it was a mistake, but it should have been left in!
Thoughts?!?!

-daniel