Get to the office and I'm asked to head over to Polk Elementary School. A group called Safe Kids B.R. is participating in International Walk to School Day. This where awareness to the traffic and pedestrian laws are being taught to the young minds going and coming from school. No reporter assigned with me so I'll see what I could make out of this. Talked to one of the spokespeople and it turns out she was on our morning show so she knew the drill. Answered a few questions and we were good. Hung around to get the kids on parade and I was able to put together a small nat sound piece. Nothing to it, hey I even found the JACK of the day.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Monday, October 1, 2007
Time To Play The Game
LA Politics. If this was organized competition it would rank with the Olympics, the Kentucky Derby, or the Super Bowl. Instead it draws comparisons to the BCS or maybe Professional Wrestling. Just like wrestling its scripted but somewhat entertaining. So let me see if I could write like the head of WWE, Vince McMahon.
Tied at one fall apiece. Cleo "The Senator" Fields is trying to get back in the title hunt for the District 14 Championship. The Justices not budging an inch. The irresistible force vs. the immovable object what will give first. Cleo going for his finisher the "Filibuster" has got the Justices off balance. But wait who's this running to the ring. It's the rest of the plaintiffs and they got the State Constitution wrapped in barbed wire. They nail Sen. Fields with the constitution. Fields is down. The cover one....two.... C'mon Senator kick out. Three!!!!! No! No! No! Not this way.
After a costly 2 out of 3 fall courtroom Battle Royal, Sen. Cleo Fields is not being allowed to run for another term in the LA Senate. The plaintiffs get win and the force the Senate District 14 seat to be vacated. Cue - Joey Styles, "Oh my GOD!!!!!!!! Good Ol J.R., "Business is about to pick up in the Phalles Palce."
Well the business of making Cleo signs has stopped. Right now there are nothing more than collectibles for some political junkie. Maybe he'll get them autographed someday. I digress, back to the match making.
Be sure to tune in to WAFB's Election Coverage 2007. In a Triple Threat Match for the District 14 Senate Championship it's "Big Bad Momma" Yvonne Dorsey vs. Jason "Babyface" DeCuir vs. "The O.G." Willis Reed. And in the Main Event who will be the next Governor. "The Little Man" Walter Boasso, Cowboy Foster Campbell, "The CEO" John Georges, and "Lighting Tongue" Bobby Jindal battle it out in a Last Man Standing Fatal 4 Way Dance to be top dog in La Politics. Joey what do you have to say? "OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Tied at one fall apiece. Cleo "The Senator" Fields is trying to get back in the title hunt for the District 14 Championship. The Justices not budging an inch. The irresistible force vs. the immovable object what will give first. Cleo going for his finisher the "Filibuster" has got the Justices off balance. But wait who's this running to the ring. It's the rest of the plaintiffs and they got the State Constitution wrapped in barbed wire. They nail Sen. Fields with the constitution. Fields is down. The cover one....two.... C'mon Senator kick out. Three!!!!! No! No! No! Not this way.
After a costly 2 out of 3 fall courtroom Battle Royal, Sen. Cleo Fields is not being allowed to run for another term in the LA Senate. The plaintiffs get win and the force the Senate District 14 seat to be vacated. Cue - Joey Styles, "Oh my GOD!!!!!!!! Good Ol J.R., "Business is about to pick up in the Phalles Palce."Well the business of making Cleo signs has stopped. Right now there are nothing more than collectibles for some political junkie. Maybe he'll get them autographed someday. I digress, back to the match making.Be sure to tune in to WAFB's Election Coverage 2007. In a Triple Threat Match for the District 14 Senate Championship it's "Big Bad Momma" Yvonne Dorsey vs. Jason "Babyface" DeCuir vs. "The O.G." Willis Reed. And in the Main Event who will be the next Governor. "The Little Man" Walter Boasso, Cowboy Foster Campbell, "The CEO" John Georges, and "Lighting Tongue" Bobby Jindal battle it out in a Last Man Standing Fatal 4 Way Dance to be top dog in La Politics. Joey what do you have to say? "OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Sunday, September 30, 2007
When In Rome
Now that all of the work's done time enjoy some of the local flavor in this city. And do I know how to find flavor or what. I managed to find the second Dreamland BBQ in AL. The original is in Tuscaloosa which is a couple hours away. Since I can't climb Everest, Mt. McKinley will have to do. Last time I was there it was 2003 and ironically I had to shoot Southern and the Jaguar Nation.
Enough chat, time to eat. Trust me they taste as good as they look. May have to ask to cover the LSU v. Nick Saban, I mean, Tigers v. Crimson Tide. Looks like I'll be late getting back to the Big Raggedy.
Enough chat, time to eat. Trust me they taste as good as they look. May have to ask to cover the LSU v. Nick Saban, I mean, Tigers v. Crimson Tide. Looks like I'll be late getting back to the Big Raggedy.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Duty Calls
First let me wish my mom Happy Birthday. I'm sorry I couldn't be there since the Bat Signal was flashed. Today I had to go to Mobile, AL. Last time I was here Steve Cap & I was chasing Hurricane Ivan. Instead I was needed to go get the Southern U. football game. All I was thinking is that the Jags had better win this one. Despite turning the ball over six times they won the game 21 to 2. Don't ask about the 2. 
Now I wasn't done just yet. I have to get the video back to the Big Raggedy. Now how to do it???? Sat Truck, not available. Go to Biloxi? Nah, don't feel like driving an hour after shooting a 4 hour game. Best solution, just e-mail it back. Why not. In the comforts of my hotel room I can edit and just send it to the server in the B.R. Hey, afterwards I might order some room service. Wonder if they have wings here????
This day was long but I was successful nonetheless. Only setback, there were no chicken wings. May have to pay Dreamland a visit.
Now I wasn't done just yet. I have to get the video back to the Big Raggedy. Now how to do it???? Sat Truck, not available. Go to Biloxi? Nah, don't feel like driving an hour after shooting a 4 hour game. Best solution, just e-mail it back. Why not. In the comforts of my hotel room I can edit and just send it to the server in the B.R. Hey, afterwards I might order some room service. Wonder if they have wings here????This day was long but I was successful nonetheless. Only setback, there were no chicken wings. May have to pay Dreamland a visit.
Friday, September 28, 2007
25 Years Later
I had no idea the Free State had it that bad. That may explain some things. On this day 25 years ago, a train engineer was moving along through the town of Livingston. Just one problem, the guy was under the influence of alcohol. With this factor, the train he was operating and the cargo he was transporting was caught in accident of huge proportions.
According to the locals at the time the tank cars folded like an accordion. The chemicals inside busted into flames. The smoke towered over the tree lines. People had to be evacuated from the place they called home for days. Wayne Henderson was one of those affected. He witnessed some of the explosions going on. In his words, it looked like a bomb was dropped on them. Not only did he have to get himself out but he had to get his pregnant wife and 6 year old son out as well. The family headed to Denham Springs for a short time but the little bun in the oven was ready to come out. So off to Woman's Hospital and six days later a Wayne's little girl came into the world. With no way to let the rest of their family know the Henderson's were all right, WAFB was called in. With the continuous coverage going on it was nice to see some good news in a bad situation. I guess they were right, it's that dumb Channel 9 luck.
Fast forward to the present. Dumb Channel 9 luck hits paydirt again. The family wants to tell their story 25 years later. The archives are searched and not only is the video of the accident found but the video of Wayne Henderson with his family in the hospital is also found. Off to the Free State KN and went. Not only did we find Wayne but we found someone else as well....
According to the locals at the time the tank cars folded like an accordion. The chemicals inside busted into flames. The smoke towered over the tree lines. People had to be evacuated from the place they called home for days. Wayne Henderson was one of those affected. He witnessed some of the explosions going on. In his words, it looked like a bomb was dropped on them. Not only did he have to get himself out but he had to get his pregnant wife and 6 year old son out as well. The family headed to Denham Springs for a short time but the little bun in the oven was ready to come out. So off to Woman's Hospital and six days later a Wayne's little girl came into the world. With no way to let the rest of their family know the Henderson's were all right, WAFB was called in. With the continuous coverage going on it was nice to see some good news in a bad situation. I guess they were right, it's that dumb Channel 9 luck.
Fast forward to the present. Dumb Channel 9 luck hits paydirt again. The family wants to tell their story 25 years later. The archives are searched and not only is the video of the accident found but the video of Wayne Henderson with his family in the hospital is also found. Off to the Free State KN and went. Not only did we find Wayne but we found someone else as well....
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Saving Sassy
After a brief recess, ya hear me D, nothing of interest is going on. Something that's on my mind was that cat in pipe story I did on Monday. It was a unique story but it wasn't the best animal rescue story I've shot.
That story involved me and Jennifer Hale. It was scary some of the things we were able to pull off during the time we worked together. Most of it involved countless hours at the Capital. Those were some days. We really had to make something out of nothing most of the time. There were time we had to make sense of a budget bill or catching heated moments on the House and Senate floor did you know? However one story stands alone.
Jennifer is an animal lover. Especially dogs. We were sent to St. Francisville to get Gov. Blanco, who was late no surprise there, talking to a bunch a Girl Scouts. I forget was going on with her administration at the time but after that we got interesting call from the Assignment Desk. "We need you to head to Clinton". "What's going on", I said. "You know that puppy that fell down the well that we didn't care about yesterday. We care about it today". So off to Clinton Hale and I went. After dialing a few numbers we find the farm house were the tragedy was taking place. Turns out that the mama dog had some puppies and one of them, Sassy, wandered off and fell into a hole in the family's back shed. The kids are worried. Their mom has called everyone trying to get some help. Us being LA's Animal Channel we made some calls no luck on our end. Some time later a couple of volunteer fire fighters came over and went to work. Using some contraption made of pvc pipe, glow sticks, and vice grips they went fishing for Sassy.
But wait the story gets better. Close to news time we get a call from the station. Jennifer comes and tells me, "There are thinking about sending the Sat Truck our way". You're kidding me. This isn't Baby Jessica. Yeah its Sassy but it's not worth a sat shot. So, the firefighters manage to get Sassy out, yes!!!!! We shoot the reunion and haul tail back to the Big Raggedy. We slap something together for the early shows but it's the late show were we really put something nice together. Here's the story.
Story over right, not by a long shot. After the story ran, CNN calls the next day. They find out what we have and ask can you uplink it to us. They call back, "The newsroom loves the story. We're running it later today". My goodness Sassy is going to be on national television. The day after CBS calls and they wanted the story and ran it on the weekend. Is there nothing going on that week???? I guess we are LA's Animal Channel.
That story involved me and Jennifer Hale. It was scary some of the things we were able to pull off during the time we worked together. Most of it involved countless hours at the Capital. Those were some days. We really had to make something out of nothing most of the time. There were time we had to make sense of a budget bill or catching heated moments on the House and Senate floor did you know? However one story stands alone.
Jennifer is an animal lover. Especially dogs. We were sent to St. Francisville to get Gov. Blanco, who was late no surprise there, talking to a bunch a Girl Scouts. I forget was going on with her administration at the time but after that we got interesting call from the Assignment Desk. "We need you to head to Clinton". "What's going on", I said. "You know that puppy that fell down the well that we didn't care about yesterday. We care about it today". So off to Clinton Hale and I went. After dialing a few numbers we find the farm house were the tragedy was taking place. Turns out that the mama dog had some puppies and one of them, Sassy, wandered off and fell into a hole in the family's back shed. The kids are worried. Their mom has called everyone trying to get some help. Us being LA's Animal Channel we made some calls no luck on our end. Some time later a couple of volunteer fire fighters came over and went to work. Using some contraption made of pvc pipe, glow sticks, and vice grips they went fishing for Sassy.
But wait the story gets better. Close to news time we get a call from the station. Jennifer comes and tells me, "There are thinking about sending the Sat Truck our way". You're kidding me. This isn't Baby Jessica. Yeah its Sassy but it's not worth a sat shot. So, the firefighters manage to get Sassy out, yes!!!!! We shoot the reunion and haul tail back to the Big Raggedy. We slap something together for the early shows but it's the late show were we really put something nice together. Here's the story.
Story over right, not by a long shot. After the story ran, CNN calls the next day. They find out what we have and ask can you uplink it to us. They call back, "The newsroom loves the story. We're running it later today". My goodness Sassy is going to be on national television. The day after CBS calls and they wanted the story and ran it on the weekend. Is there nothing going on that week???? I guess we are LA's Animal Channel.
Monday, September 24, 2007
I can't make this up.
I see our lovely assignment editor has turned on the Bat Signal. Time to go to work. I'm asked can I work during the day since we are really short handed photographer wise. I'm teamed up with the "Commodore" Jim Shannon. He works his sources looking for something to turn and he's not able to find something concrete for today. So later during the day, St. Amant Fire Dept. hips us to a cat with her head stuck in a pipe over the weekend. Say what???????
I'm not kidding. There's the photo. This has to be a first for me. I've shot plenty of animal rescue stories but this is a weird one. According to owners, Orion was chasing something. A lizard, a mouse, a bug, hell I don't know. But this isn't Orion's first near death experience. A year ago a horse kicked the feline thus causing one her legs to be broken. The vet, with no choice, had to amputate causing the cat to lose a leg and one his 9 lives. The mom is frantic, wondering what to do. The dad turns to soap & olive oil trying to ease poor Orion's head out. When that failed it was time to bring in the big guns.
Or in this case, the Jaws of Life. The Fire Dept. had to go in from the other side and spread the pipe to free the frustrated cat's head. I couldn't make this up if I tried. To recap, a cat with 3 legs got her head stuck in pipe causing mass hysteria in St. Amant with 7 lives left. Here's the story from LA's Animal Channel.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)