30
Oct 25
Oct 25
Ethics always saves the day
A full afternoon of classes. In my criticism class we watched three short pieces. Usually, on Thursdays, we settle in for a long documentary, but I wanted to try a few shorter packages. We talk about specific themes in all of these programs, but I wanted to hopefully make a point about how stories get necessarily compressed, and what might be accentuated, or omitted, in these shorter pieces.
So we started with Chris Nikic making history in Florida.
That one worked pretty well. And then we watched this NFL propaganda about new helmet technology, featuring former wide receiver Steve Smith Jr.
I thought that one was interesting because we spent a day earlier this term discussing the NFL’s CTE settlement, via a Washington Post story. It is interesting in a “how it’s done” way, but it is 100 percent a piece intended to make fans feel good about the what the league is doing for player safety. That’s not a bad thing, but it’s not a subtle thing, either.
Then we ended with this public television package trying to understand and explain Philadelphia sports fans.
And that’s where I lost them. Not exactly sure how that happened.
But in org comm we continued our talk about ethics, which is always a really exciting time. Fortunately, we have a big gambling scandal in the NBA to talk about. I had them read this Joon Lee opinion column and we discussed several elements of that. I had them look up a few other interesting points for some more context. We talked about their own impressions about gambling in sport. And then we ran through some different sorts of hypotheticals. They were largely into it, which is a great result in a week when you’re talking about ethics.
In the office, way up high on the sixth floor, I noticed the trees were looking lovely.
Last week might have been the peak leaf turn here. Maybe it is this week. Probably it won’t be next week. Nothing about foliage fits into the old calendars anymore, but admire them when you can. And from above, if at all possible.
And admire Catober, while you’re at it. The month ends tomorrow. (But there will be some too-good-to-omit photos next week for a Catober bonus post.) You can see them all by clicking that link and scrolling through a month of cozy kitty photos.
29
Oct 25
Oct 25
Today flew by, unnecessarily so
It was a mild day. Just below the seasonal averages, but not bad. No rain. Windy at times. Blustery you might say. Why did I sit in front of a computer all day when there was a day like that, just outside of these windows. Ahh, yes, work.
Tomorrow we will watch three TV-sized packages in my criticism class. It’s a quick nod to how the storytelling must change when you’re more compressed for time than a typical documentary. In org comm we will continue our discussion about ethics, but I’m going to sit back and listen to the class discuss pressing matters of state. Somehow, this all requires planning. Also, I spent the day trying to get ahead of next week’s documentary. There’s a film I want to show that is the runtime of the class. My goal is to leave room to talk about the thing. But I can only really cut about nine minutes out of the film without losing the spirit.
What to do, what to do. I think, what I’ll do, is show it next Thursday and come up with some way for us to talk about it the following Tuesday. On the one hand, there’s more time to consider your thoughts and impressions. On the other hand, that’s Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday to lose all of your thoughts and impressions.
Maybe it can become a writing exercise.
If you are the sort of reader who can never get enough of these sorts of stories, then you, my friend, live in the right era.
Louisiana officials waited months to warn public of whooping cough outbreak:
When there’s an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease, state health officials typically take certain steps to alert residents and issue public updates about the growing threat.
That’s standard practice, public health and infectious disease experts told NPR and KFF Health News. The goal is to keep as many other vulnerable people as possible from getting sick and to remind the public about the benefits of vaccinations.
But in Louisiana this year, public health officials appeared not to have followed that playbook during the state’s worst whooping cough outbreak in 35 years.
Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a highly contagious vaccine-preventable disease that’s particularly dangerous for the youngest infants. It can cause vomiting and trouble breathing, and serious infections can lead to pneumonia, seizures and, rarely, death.
Complete medical disregard for the local community by the health care professionals aside … In the 28th paragraph the NPR affiliate finally gets to, “A spokeswoman did not answer specific questions about the lack of communications but referred to a Sept. 30 post on X by the state surgeon general.”
Which — in a story about time, responsibility, and children — should maybe be in every other paragraph.
Bari Weiss this week clocks up four weeks on the job as chief booker (sorry, editor-in-chief) of CBS News. Breaker hears that she has unimpressed staffers with a series of bold ideas in the 9 am call.
Last week, following the jewel heist at The Louvre, Weiss suggested they interview author Dan Brown. Staffers questioned what expertise in the matter Brown would provide CBS News viewers? Brown is well known as the bestselling author of the 2003 mystery novel, The Da Vinci Code, about a murder at The Louvre.
On Tuesday’s 9 am call, Weiss suggested a story about how people who are scared of climate change aren’t having children. “She is showing her worst self,” one CBS News journalist told Breaker. “People are running to avoid her.”
Pretty regularly now, when Sen. Tommy Tuberville finds a camera, someone comments about the Alabama education system.
I, a product of that system, understand the joke.
Tuberville on Trump's third term: "He might be able to go around the Constitution, but that's up to him."
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) October 28, 2025 at 4:30 PM
But dear commenter, I need you to know: Tommy Tuberville is from Camden, Arkansas and holds a BS in PE from Southern Arkansas University.
Speaking of Alabama. More than 750,000 Alabamians are enrolled in SNAP — almost 15 percent of the state — including 7,800 who work in grocery stores. But we must also think of the trickle down effects.
The grocers association said any cuts or interruptions to the program could cost Alabama up to $1.7 billion in annual federal funds, resulting in a $2.55 billion economic loss. That would put “rural grocery stores — often the only food source for many communities — at risk of closure,” the association said.
Grocers in Alabama were already warning about the impacts SNAP cuts would have on them when the Big Beautiful Bill was passed in July, cutting $186 billion in funding for the food program.
Jimmy Wright, who owns Wright’s Market in Opelika, told AL.com that about 35% of his customers use SNAP.
“It could have a huge impact on our business,” Wright told AL.com “If business drops by 20%, I can’t cut off 20% of my lights or call my insurance company and tell them I’m going to have to reduce what I pay them to compensate. All that’s left is payroll.”
OK, back to work for me. And, for you? Something more fun than work I hope.
