Bits & Pieces
Bits and pieces from this reporter's notebook...
Da-deet-da-deet-da-deet-deet....Katie Couric took The Peacock for a ride, doubling her salary to a reported $15 million a year plus stock and all the GE light bulbs she can burn. The $60MM+ contract covers the next four-'n-a-half years and is said to be the largest in television news. The Perky One won, more because NBC didn't want to lose her to another network than she was actually that good, or really any good. She was more of a habit than a draw with many viewers, and that's how they decide things in television these days. Regrettably, Couric will be admired for scoring a big win, which makes you wonder why Anna Nicole Smith was castigated for her courtesan romp.
Da-deet-da-deet-da-deet-deet....Speaking of whores, among the most scurrilous of the spammers are those that are ready to sell you something, but who lie through their false fronts when they offer to remove you from their e-lists. My guess is that they just sell the names of those who request "off" as live bait, and may even keep the lists themselves. Since these sleazebuckets show up hawking the same or similar trash from another e-gutter. On a gentler note, for those who are trying, but not hard enough, please work on your administrative procedures so that if someone does try to remove their name, all they have to do is hit "reply" and type "remove" in the subject space. It doesn't need to be more difficult than that. Also, enable people to change their e-address and other personal data. A lotta folks find it necessary, or convenient, to change screen names. It shouldn't have to involve disappearing and reappearing again; there should be a simple form, thank you.
Da-deet-da-deet-da-deet-deet....The American Red Cross has been taken behind the woodshed, again, this time with the FDA asking a federal judge to hold the organization in contempt for repeated "persistent and serious violations" of blood safety regulations. The Red Cross provides 45% of the country's blood supply, and says they've being making efforts to get it right, but the FDA says their work continues to be sloppy to dangerous. The once-noble organization is also under fire for continuing to ask for blood donations after the September 11th attack, when it was clear that there weren't so many injured who needed blood. The Red Cross continued a campaign for more donations, despite criticism at the time, and wound up collecting 50,000 more bags o' blood than they needed, and which wouldn't last more than six weeks, and which were eventually dumped.
Da-deet-da-deet-da-deet-deet....Speaking of dumped, how 'bout all the people in charge of public education. The Orchard School District in San Jose could start. Their superintendent is on medical leave and working a second job. Apparently the man had high blood pressure, so he couldn't be super, but he was well enough to teach, at another institution. In the meantime, he was still collecting his district salary of $133,000. Some parents think that's not a wonderful thing, and they also would like to know about his using district funds to purchase a $79,856 BMW and a $468 Cartier fountain pen. This, at a time when the district is showing a $1.6 million deficit in a $5.7 million budget. The DA is curious, too, but why did everyone wait so long? And why does the San Francisco Schools Chief get $212,000 plus a car and other good stuff when children under her care are wrapped up in overcoats and mukluks because the top bimbette can't provide heated classrooms. She'll probably get a position with the Red Cross.
And that's SetonnoteS...I'm Tony Seton.
.