An icy week. Let's go straight to the videotape.
On the blog and in the paper
We walked around in the snow.
There's a great undiscovered artist, finally being discovered in Chicago.
The snow (and ice) put us in two worlds. (Note the spirited discussion in the comments. To be honest, this piece was a little too similar to the first snow piece this week. The great thing about this job is, there's always another deadline coming up. Fail better next time!)
A guy delivered his old paper route.
Stuff in other places
Forgot to mention this over the holidays, but I've got a piece in the latest issue of Our State magazine. It's on a great breakfast place in Maggie Valley.
Links on Twitter
Here's the latest from my Twitter feed, @tommytomlinson:
Bill Murray with one of the all-time great speeches. (A little raw language, but worth it.) http://bit.ly/fadzpy (via @kottke)
You might recognize the guys on the cover of the latest Garden & Gun. http://fb.me/Ns6RtzQh @AvettNation
The crowd in Tucson tonight reminded me of VaTech 4 years ago. Here's my piece from back then. http://bit.ly/i1QFhT
She won by clogging to "Soul Man." http://bit.ly/i1ZVMG via @AddThis
Been thinking about what to say on Arizona shootings. Found out Tom Junod already said it. http://bit.ly/giXzHl
Charlotte Hornets fans remember Larry Johnson as Grandmama. Now there's Grandmama sweet tea. http://bit.ly/g1cMLP (via @chrislittmann)
Please, somebody in Alabama, create a photo gallery from this. http://bit.ly/hd4AS5 (via @annargriff)
The rapture's coming in May. Not that you can do much about it. http://bit.ly/f2GG8L (via @michaelkruse)
Just realized that CLT's first 2011 murder victim is a guy I knew a little: Chris Radok. Damn. http://bit.ly/gZwJtJ
Used to run into Radok when I was music writer (93-97). Interesting guy. Here's a Facebook page: http://on.fb.me/dP7s7h
Coming up
Off Monday. Back Tuesday, completely thawed out, to tell some more stories. Have a great weekend, everyone.
Friday, January 14, 2011
The Friday Wrap
Friday, December 17, 2010
The Friday Wrap
First of all, thanks to everyone who sent kind words on my column in today's paper about the young couple in love. Go down in the comments and you'll find a lot of people predicting that the marriage won't last. Maybe so. But I also heard from the other side... here's an e-mail from a reader named Carolyn:
When my future husband and I began dating, I was a senior at Carolina. He graduated three years earlier, through the Navy ROTC program, and lived in Pensacola. We dated for two years, while he was in Pensacola, in Washington State, and during an 8-month overseas deployment. He was overseas for our entire engagement, returning just in time for our rehearsal and wedding. During the two years we dated and were engaged, we’d guess we spent about a month and a half together, in total. It was mentioned more than once by well-meaning relatives that we barely knew each other when we married.
Our wedding was twenty years ago this past October. We have two beautiful little boys and have built a wonderful life together. You have to make it work, but it can, and it does – we’re living proof.
"You have to make it work." True of every marriage, no?
On to the wrapup:
On the blog and in the paper
We started a new reader project. There's still time to tell your story -- I'll put together the stories early next week sometime.
They played bagpipes for the copy desk.
Links from Twitter
Here's some stuff I flagged on my Twitter feed, @tommytomlinson:
I haven't had a chance to see any of "The Sing-Off." But this is just great. http://bit.ly/feQo84
Want to know how to be a writer? This interview with the great @MySecondEmpire (a/k/a Esquire's Chris Jones) tells you about all you need. http://www.rrj.ca/m11742/
My bud @jposnanski on Bob Feller, and believing. http://bit.ly/ghcq3T
I'd love to know what Michael and Dean said to each other on this little walk. http://on.nba.com/h5YYhc
Mama says it's a rainy night in Georgia. Just so happens I've been listening to this a lot lately. http://bit.ly/gfnQUe
Coming up
My story on the woman who got laid off and decided to become a singer is running... sometime soon. I'll also have a piece wrapping up all our Gift of Giving stories from the past few weeks. And on Tuesday (I think) I'll be unveiling my picks for the Best Stuff of 2010. Be thinking of yours, for the comments.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
Friday, December 10, 2010
The Friday Wrap
It was a busy week around here... put a lot of words through the old paragraph factory (although you won't see all of them until this weekend). Here's what I've been up to:
On the blog and in the paper
There's still a couple of days to take the poll there to the right... looks like the top three choices for Movie of the Year are "Inception," "Toy Story 3" and Other.
I came up with a reader project on the Panthers that turned out to be a total dud (not unlike the Panthers, I guess). Didn't get a single question, and you can see in the comments that several readers weren't fond of the whole idea. That happens sometimes! Failure is good! And either way, I'm glad to see Jerry Richardson speak to fans, at least a little.
Louis C.K. brought the funny.
Elizabeth Edwards led a fascinating life. (Note the anonymous comment at 7:35 a.m., and the discussion that followed... we deal with sketchy comments all the time, and I've always felt the best way to deal with it is to let commenters police themselves.)
I picked my reads of the year.
What's the deal with that photo? Y'all had some ideas.
Links from Twitter
Here's some stuff I flagged on my Twitter feed, @tommytomlinson:
Via many others: Unbelievably powerful WashPost story, told through Facebook updates. http://wapo.st/eOCLnm
This story has pretty much everything: Meth, a GED, mac and cheese. http://bit.ly/dMHMIt (via @MeckDeck)
Casting call in CLT for pilot of possible Showtime series starring Claire Danes. http://bit.ly/fhKkpb via @AddThis
Your thoughts to the Queen. Aretha reportedly has pancreatic cancer. http://bit.ly/emNOB9 (via @editormarilyn)
Sarah Palin, a fake hunter? Say it ain't so! http://bit.ly/gX9Moo
The great @gangrey comes through again: Jimmy Breslin on John Lennon. http://bit.ly/h2v4ej
Yep, Urban's gone. Wow. http://bit.ly/hbvsL8 #Florida #SEC
The great @edsbs (a Gator fan) has the proper, measured response: http://sbn.to/dRKYpO
Mr. @BenFolds said this was great stuff from the "Sing-Off." Always listen to Mr. @BenFolds. http://bit.ly/fjvkKS
Zombie killing is philosophically similar to reading and deleting 400 work e-mails on a Monday morning. @CKlosterman. http://nyti.ms/gI8Dpy
Coming up
Lord willing and the creek don't rise, I'll have a story in the paper on Sunday about a woman who got laid off and decided to chase her dream. It'll have a reader project attached to it so some of you can tell your own stories. Holler and let me know what you think. UPDATE: I should always wait until the Friday-afternoon meeting to post this thing. The story's holding, probably until next Sunday. I'm hoping it'll age like a fine wine, as opposed to, you know, skim milk or something.
Other stuff in the pipeline: A Christmas story from the vault, maybe something on Billy Graham, and my favorite stuff of the year. That started out as a top-10 list, but now I'm thinking it's going to be a top-20. It's been an interesting year.
Friday, December 03, 2010
The Friday Wrap
As most of you did over Thanksgiving, we'll use this Wrap to cover some leftovers -- I wasn't here last Friday, so we'll catch up on the last couple of weeks this time.
On the blog and in the paper
Thanksgiving as a security blanket.
Come write with me at Queens University. (There's still time to sign up!)
Life is a WikiLeak, old friend. (Here's a letter of objection.)
On SEC Expats: We recapped the Auburn-Alabama epic. We noted that Cam Newton is still eligible. And we picked the winner of the SEC title game.
Friday, November 05, 2010
The Friday Wrap
I'm headed out the door soon for two weeks off -- one of those stay-at-home, don't-spend-much-money vacations. Much walking, reading and DVD-watching ahead... if there's a recent book or movie you really liked, drop me a tip in the comments.
A quick reminder before we get to the wrapup: I'm teaching a class in December at Queens University and doing a reading next Friday at StorySlam! Here's more info on both.
So here's what I was up to this week:
On the paper and in the blog
A hawk rode the wind.
We had some great responses to the Why I Vote project.
I wrote an early column on the John Spratt v. Mick Mulvaney congressional race...
Then a later version as the votes came in.
A chance meeting on that story brought out one from the vault.
Finally, we talked a little SEC football.
Links from Twitter
Here's some stuff I flagged on my Twitter feed, @tommytomlinson:
Jagger responds to Keith Richards' book. Almost can't believe this is true. But what a piece of writing. http://slate.me/9vR0BT
I think my Spidey Sense was right... that Mick Jagger letter is (probably) fake. http://exm.nr/aHyeTs
RIP Catfish Collins: James Brown guitarist, player of the lick on "Flash Light," and brother of Bootsy. http://ind.pn/ctDGNS
There's only one guy you need to read on Sparky Anderson. Here's @JPosnanski. http://bit.ly/9skBxb
From @DanWetzel: "29 TDs, nine victories and zero losses is worth a great deal more than tuition, room and board." http://bit.ly/cqYvnU
My buddy Dan Huntley cooking 'cue today at Ellis Island (!) as part of this: http://bit.ly/cQu9ZD
Borders, Joseph-Beth closing in CLT. charlotteobserver.com/2010/11/04/181… They were near each other AND Barnes/Noble. Never understood how all 3 wd survive.
I was thinking this same thing, but the NYT's Ross Douthat said it better. http://nyti.ms/clUQby
Outside polling place in York, SC. Never noticed one of these before. #elections http://yfrog.com/ndcsuhj
A paper in 3 parts: Debes Saber (What you must know); Debes Leer (What you must read); Debes Hacer (What you must do). http://bit.ly/cgyuug
A musical interlude
From the great kottke.org, here's AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" -- on bagpipes.
Coming up
After my time off, I'm going to make some tweaks in this storytelling gig... one thing I'm definitely going to do is put things on more of a schedule, so it'll be easier to know when I'm writing and what it's going to be on a particular day. Holler, as always, with thoughts, questions and ideas. Have a great weekend, everybody.
Friday, October 29, 2010
The Friday Wrap
Let me just start by saying a fond goodbye to October, the best month of the year. College football and the NFL are in full swing, the NBA begins, the baseball playoffs and World Series... and, oh yeah, the leaves and the autumn winds and all that stuff.
Here's what I was up to this week:
In the paper and on the blog
This political season as the Year of Amateur Status.
Sausage-making and Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools.
Last call for the Why I Vote project. (Thanks to those of you who sent something in; there's still time.)
An invitation to join me for a writing class, or come see a reading.
Links on Twitter
Here are some links I posted during the week from my Twitter account, @tommytomlinson:
Steve Perry singing along... with himself. Hang with the video -- it'll kick in. http://bit.ly/cmPIRN
Some of these are fake. But still: People are awesome. http://bit.ly/cntS1x
Honus Wagner: the world's rarest baseball card. Who ends up with one? Some nuns in Baltimore. http://es.pn/bUqh4R
Amazingly, Landon Donovan predicted this would happen today. http://bit.ly/cKy5Gq #worldcupoctopus
OK, I know what I want for Christmas. MINI-CANNON! http://bit.ly/9pTg1A
A musical interlude
My friend Andrea Pitzer of Nieman Storyboard linked to this great Tom Petty live clip the other day. There's one four-letter word, if you care about that sort of thing. But here's how Andrea set it up: "Love the tension he sets up here--The off-rhythm vocals! The injured hand! Where's the band?"
This one won't embed, but go take a look. It's worth it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpG09PenZt8
Coming up
A (very late) Avett Brothers album review, maybe some thoughts on the World Series, I'll have a column in the paper on Sunday, and of course Tuesday is Election Day -- I'll be columnizing on that, too. Go vote, por favor. Enjoy your Halloween weekend.
Friday, October 22, 2010
The Friday Wrap
I've got a story scheduled for Sunday's paper on how the lack of political experience might be a virtue in this election season. Look for it in the Big Picture section. Here's some of the other stuff I was up to this week:
Projects for you
This week I launched a new project, Why I Vote. Send in your photo with a sign saying why you vote. Here's an example from David Bayer:
David did a fancy-schmancy computer caption, but all you really need to do is hold up a sign. Get your photos in and we'll put up a gallery.
I'm also still taking entries for the At First Sight project -- tell me a story about when you knew something at first sight.
On the blog and in the paper
I let you know I was going to be on TV.
Then, surprisingly, they actually put me on TV.
Links on Twitter
Here are some links I posted during the week from my Twitter account, @tommytomlinson:
Man eats half-stick of butter every day, solves problems faster. http://bit.ly/bBmWtR So shouldn't Paula Deen be Stephen Hawking by now?
Very cool CNN project: 50 choirs, 1 song. http://bit.ly/dnDvBS
A great gambling story that makes me not want to gamble ever again. http://bit.ly/do3mtf
Thinking about moving to France. Worst comes to worst, would still get to retire at 62. charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/19/177… via @AddThis
New York has its own Alvin Greene, except even more awesome. The rent is too damn high! http://bit.ly/9Do47u
Coming up
If you've been interested in the writing classes I've been teaching at Queens University, but you haven't had a chance to take one yet... I hope to have some news for you next week.
And the Panthers are playing! Against a team almost as bad as they are! If the home team does end up going 1-15, you really don't want to miss the 1.
(By the way, not to brag or anything, but my Panthers' season pick looks like a better bet than the ones by either of our official sports columnists. Although I'd be thrilled to be wrong.)
Have a great weekend, everybody.
Friday, October 15, 2010
The Friday Wrap
Y'all are busy people, so I'm going to take this spot on Fridays to collect all the reportage, bloggage, tweetage and other blurtage I put out during the week.
Projects for you
There's a new reader project called At First Sight -- I'd really like to hear your stories about one of those moments.
I'm also thinking about doing a local version of this very cool CNN video project where people send in videos of their favorite walk. Would y'all do something like this if I put out the call? http://bit.ly/ciPjk8
On the blog and in the paper
Here's a few thoughts on the Chilean miners.
I watched the documentary "Waiting for 'Superman'" with four people invested in education in Charlotte; if you're interested in the future of our public schools, go see it.
There was a little NFL talk on the Gold Rush bus, and the home team didn't come off well.
Speaking of that, you can still take the Panthers QB poll. Here's how bad it is: We want Jake back. (And my bad for not putting Armanti Edwards in there.)
My links on Twitter
This showed up in the paper right after Dylan came to town. I'm just sayin'. http://bit.ly/cpIzHC
Gene Payne, longtime Observer editorial cartoonist, died today (Thursday). He made this list in 1968. http://bit.ly/b1IDu5
The Alvin Greene Performance Art Project continues. Makes Joaquin Phoenix look like an amateur. http://bit.ly/bUUIYy
Mike Harden, a great columnist I'd never known, remembered by @NNall. http://bit.ly/bZzQmq
RIP, General Johnson. charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/14/176… via @AddThis Here's the brilliant "Give Me Just a Little More Time": http://bit.ly/d3fbdq
My bud @jposnanski on the 32 greatest calls in sports. Brilliant stuff, altho Larry Munson is WAY too low :) http://bit.ly/9BobNM
Diamonds aren't really forever. But Happy Meals apparently are. http://bit.ly/bZZEGU
My favorite new correction ever. http://tbd.ly/9fz2FV (via @NNall )
Hey, I'm quoted in an ESPN story on Julius Peppers. http://es.pn/bf5v9q
Very cool crowdsourced video by the great @kimrichey. http://bit.ly/cYRcVX
Coming up
Unless they come to their senses, I'm supposed to be on WCNC's Charlotte Today on Wednesday. Just remember, the cameras add 100 pounds.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
Friday, July 09, 2010
The Friday Wrap
Here's a recap of the last seven days here at the ol' paragraph factory.
A guy who grew up in Charlotte wrote a cool book about the vocoder. (Plus DVD extras!)
Now you have to remember if you're in the Orange Zone or the Green Zone. (Several readers made a smart suggestion: The recycling bins should've been orange or green, depending on what zone you're in. But you'd still have to remember which week you take out recycling. Maybe they could've stamped a calendar on the lid.)
LeBron chose away over home.
A quick follow-up on that... NOBODY looked good after The LeBron Show last night.
LeBron showed all the emotion of an insurance adjuster and seemed to have no idea how deeply he was crushing Cleveland fans by renting ESPN for an torture session of kissing them goodbye.
ESPN chucked its credibility and spent an hour kissing LeBron's ring. Well, he doesn't HAVE a ring, but you get the point.
Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert wrote a letter hammering the guy he loved and coveted up until the very minute LeBron decided to go somewhere else. It must have been a blast to write, but conveniently fails to mention that Gilbert just finished getting rid of the Cavs' coach and general manager -- so much for loyalty -- and also fails to understand that he sounds like a ninth-grader who got dumped a week before the prom. Which, in a way, he is.
The only people who came out of the whole thing with unadulterated happiness are Miami Heat ticket scalpers. Good news, Junior, that college fund's back in play.
A few of the things I linked on Twitter (@tommytomlinson):
RT @Pogue Did the Jetsons predict the iPad, FaceTime, and streaming video news sites in 1962? http://bit.ly/bQJByg
Alvin Greene's stimulus idea: Alvin Greene action figures. I'm beginning to think this is performance art. http://bit.ly/chSbD0
Gator walks into a building at LSU. (Insert SEC joke here.) http://bit.ly/aGN4hd
Not sure I agree with all this from the great @williamfleitch... but damn, is it well-done. http://bit.ly/aWm0Gl
Former co-worker @tTribble helped come up w/the awesome cover for the Cleveland P-D today. http://bit.ly/cgf3Kx
Finally, some music. Smashing Pumpkins are coming to Charlotte next week. It's about a decade past their glory days in the post-Nirvana era, but I saw them when they were here in 1997, and they were really good. Here's a clip of Billy Corgan doing an AC/DC cover on the street in Italy. You'd never know from a Smashing Pumpkins show that Corgan can be charming and goofy... but he is here.
Enjoy the weekend, everybody.
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