Meanies

Don't pursue a career as a news anchor if you can't take a few snide comments. Usually they are not to your face, but come via the internet. The vast majority of people I actually meet are exceptionally nice.

I don't know why the internet brings out the meanies. I mean are people really this mean, and the internet just takes away the shame?

I notice this in the comment section of our station's website, and in other open comments sections of newspapers and the like.

People post and then "flame" each other.

So what is it that makes people so mean online?

Storms x 3

Breaking news normally follows a pattern. There is a big burst of news, followed by follow-up stories.

This week was so strange because we had essentially the same story, a storm, at the same time, 3 days in a row. Not only did mother nature not have much mercy for people dealing with the storms, she also doesn't have much respect for deadlines. The storms happened right around newstime.

Still, there were grace notes in what was a challenging week. I am not sure how I would react if a tv crew showed up and wanted to go in my flooded bathroom, but bless the couple in Johnson City who let me do just that.

Also cheers to the people I met in Binghamton who let us know about the sinkhole on their street, and played along with my questions.

http://www.wicz.com/news2005/viewarticle.asp?a=18409

Spring in Bing

When you live in this part of the world spring comes slowly. Really slowly.

The snow is melting, the hills are grey, while it's technically spring, not much is springing.

One thing that is getting back in swing is the community's schedule of events. There are bake sales, chicken and biscuit dinners, and more.

I went to my first lenten pirohi lunch at St. Michael's Church. I was so impressed with the teamwork and spirit. Here is a nice little article from a local food blogger.

http://www.examiner.com/food-in-binghamton/homemade-lenten-pirohi-s

Nature is a little slower, but there are sure a lot of deer out there.

I had one little bulb sprout up outside my house, every day I would check on it, sadly it seems like one of the deer got to it.

Oh well, April showers, May flowers, they are all ahead.

I love a parade!

I absolutely love parades. And of all the parades I have been in, the one yesterday in Binghamton was my favorite. (At least of my post-baton-twirling career.)

The energy was simply infectious, and it was so much fun seeing everyone in green.

At one point I admired a string of beads a spectator was wearing and he insisted on giving them to me.  Ironically a short time later a spectator really really wanted my other string of beads so I gave those up and came out even. At one point another spectator demanded my hat and I had to draw the line.

Several things stand out...the parade went slowly enough that I had time to say hi and take a picture with people. My phone is miserable at uploads, so I will have to put up pictures at a later date.

Also, there were bake sales along the route. I have a major weakness for bake sales. Cookies that benefit a good cause don't have calories right? I managed to stop and buy cookies during the parade!

Finally Mummers!!!

I remember learning about them in a college history class.
http://www.mummersonnationaltv.com/history.htm

Yesterday I got to see them in person, something I had always hoped to do. They are kind of like the northeast version of Mardi Gras Indians. (On a totally random note my favorite tv show ever was Treme, which taught me a lot about that tradition.) Our news vehicle was right next to the Mummers so I really got to enjoy them and even take a picture. I was in heaven.

It's true Binghamton's parade is a few weeks early, but it is perfectly timed for the season of Carnival, celebrated worldwide in so many ways.

Cheers!