The Good of the great Winter Storm

So, I'm convinced there's some good somewhere in this great big mess of icy, electric-less, cold wintry mix we've labeled "Winter Storm '09". Mainly, the good I see from this storm is the good it brings out in people. While I know stressful situations often bring out the worse in people, I've seen so many examples of true Heartland spirit and human kindness during this storm. Maybe it's because events like this force us to rely on others for a change.

For one, I've been the recipient of it. Whether it was lending me ice scrapers and de-icer to clean off my car, fellow co-corkers scraping my car for me, pushing it out of the parking lot, giving me rides, or friends coming at the drop of a hat to get my car out of a stuck parking lot (I seemed to have gotten stuck in the ice a lot) I've seen the goodness in people. When we have winter weather like this, it creates about 10 times more work than normal for me for the website. Numerous co-workers pitched in to help with web coverage with the live chat, pictures and video.

Then, there are our viewers. You make it worthwhile. While the demands for instant information sometimes seem insurmountable, many of you told us how you appreciated our coverage and efforts to keep you updated. That makes my three nights in a hotel room, four hours of sleep in two days, and three nights of pizza for dinner worth it. (I never thought I'd get tired of so much pizza.)

While thousands of you are still without power (my house included) we'll see more of this goodness emerge from the dark corners of ice and tree laden streets. How about you? What goodness have you seen from the great Winter Storm of '09?

On a side note, thanks to everyone that took the time to send in weather pictures. We literally probably received upwards to 1000 pictures. Because of this volume of response, it's been pretty much impossible for me to keep up with it. However, I'll try to wade through it some more and add to our slideshow tomorrow. Toodles!

Winter Storm '09 Packs a Punch!

I'm due for a blog update, but hopefully you'll understand since we've had a terrible one-two punch of nasty winter weather. To say the least, we've been busy.

As I write this I'm sitting in a hotel room at 2am for the second night in a row because the weather is too dangerous for me to drive home. Quite honestly, it was a miracle I even made it across town to the hotel. It took an hour of defrosting, two borrowed scrapers and de-icer, two men (thanks Derek and Mike) and me scraping just to get my car cleaned off. Then, a couple more guys from work(thanks Jeff C. and Bill) had to push my car out of my parking space in order for me to leave! And to the nice man that pushed my car again as I pulled into the hotel, thank you. Driving conditions are really that bad. So my advice, stay at home! I know it gets old to hear and when you're sitting at home thinking you've surfed every inch of the Web known to man, it's easy to become stir crazy, but take it from my small excursion tonight and just play it safe.

Several times when I've met people and when they hear I work for a television station, they think it's a glamorous job, complete with hairstylists and makeup artists....errrrr....wrong! However, it is a very demanding, important job that when done well, can look glamorous.

The past couple of days our news crew has put in countless hours to bring you our best coverage of Winter Storm '09. It takes a lot of dedicated people. Where most people get a day off work or school, we get extra work, longer hours, in dangerous conditions.

Now, I don't say this to complain. Actually, not in the least. I love my job. In my opinion, it's is a very important job as thousands of people depend on the information we gather and disseminate, especially in cases like this severe winter weather. It's a job I feel obligated to do my very best at because that's what people deserve. (I'm not just being cliche, I really do feel that way.)

And while I'm running on about eight hours of sleep since Sunday and some stale pizza, like my fellow newsies I feel an adrenaline rush to keep going. (You're positive feedback keeps us going in the cold, nasty conditions.)

To all of you who sent in pictures of all the ice, thanks! I've enjoyed looking through them. To those who participated in our live chat, thanks! You've provided valuable information for who knows how many other people reading the comments.

I'm heading in for a couple hours shut eye and then we'll start it all over again!

"Killshot" a shot in the heart for Cape?

So the long wait for "Killshot" is over...if you're in Phoenix.

After several release dates that never happened, The Weinstien Company is only releasing the movie in five theaters in Phoenix.

Why? Let's add up the pieces. Co-star Mickey Rourke just received an Oscar nom yesterday for the "Wrestler." According to an article in the New York Times, the release is an effort to “capitalize on all the heat that’s going to be around Mickey.”

Rourke, Diane Lane, Thomas Jane, and Johnny Knoxville spent a few days in Cape Girardeau three years ago to film a few scenes downtown. The movie is based on Elmore Leonard's novel about a woman and her husband who are being sought by a hitman.

Since then it's been a journey of unknowns and heartbreak for Cape Girardeau's claim to "Killshot" fame. (Click here to follow Heartland News' coverage.)

I've heard Johnny Knoxville was cut from the film. He's not listed in the cast list on Weinstein's website.

There were the reports that Cape was cut from the film and replaced with shots of a town in Canada. However, in the trailer on the production company's website, there is one quick shot of downtown Cape.

Then, co-star Thomas Jane was reported to say it was going straight to DVD. "I did a movie called 'Killshot'," Jane said. "That looks like it's going straight to DVD. It didn't turn out so hot I guess."

And now, the release in Phoenix.

I don't know if I can take all this "Killshot" drama. After all this give and take what do you think? Are you still interested in watching the movie if it ever becomes available?

Why Corduroy Pillows?

Corduroy Pillows? That name makes no sense for a blog! Well, chalk it up to my corny sense of humor. Ever heard the joke "Corduroy pillows, they're making headlines"? (Yes, sympathy laugh now.)

I'm a blogging newbie, so I plan to write about news in the Heartland (southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, and western Kentucky), interesting headlines around the world, and points of interest in the new media biz. (Okay, pretty much whatever I find interesting to share.)

I welcome your comments!