On Anderson Cooper and crepes ...

First day back at work after a week off = hectic, tiring, etc....but anyway ....

The good today: As the New York Times has reported CNN's Anderson Cooper is going prime-time to co-anchor the news with Aaron Brown (free reg. required):

Mr. Cooper's Sept. 1 interview with Senator Mary L. Landrieu, Democrat of Louisiana, marked a turning point in the tone of hurricane coverage as he snapped when she began thanking federal officials for their recovery efforts.

"Excuse me, Senator, I'm sorry for interrupting," Mr. Cooper interjected. "I haven't heard that, because, for the last four days, I've been seeing dead bodies in the streets here in Mississippi. And to listen to politicians thanking each other and complimenting each other, you know, I got to tell you, there are a lot of people here who are very upset, and very angry, and very frustrated.

"And when they hear politicians slap - you know, thanking one another, it just, you know, it kind of cuts them the wrong way right now, because literally there was a body on the streets of this town yesterday being eaten by rats because this woman had been laying in the street for 48 hours."

His comments pushed right up to the line between tough questioning and confrontational advocacy journalism, but viewers responded.

I'm not a huge Aaron Brown fan and I actually have sort of mixed feelings on this because it'll keep Anderson Cooper out of the trenches so to speak - at least he ostensibly won't have as much time to do field reporting. But because he, to me, epitomizes everything that is good about TV journalism (and in my view, there isn't a whole lot that it is good), I think it's terrific that CNN has this kind of faith in his talent and professionalism. So, kudos. Now, if they'd only push Nancy Grace out the same door through which they shoved Tucker Carlson...
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And then on the not-related, but nonetheless crap side, as previously reported by Postcards from Sac and Heckasac, Cafe Melange is going Crepeville on us. Which pretty much sucks because, even though I have a love-hate relationship with the place (mostly because of the one or two really rude employees) it is nonetheless my favorite place to go read or write on a Sunday afternoon. I was there this Sunday - both reading and writing - enjoying the sun and quiet in the loft. I really hope they don't remodel the hell out of the place and take away the loft or discourage people from using the space for such things. I mean, I like crepes, but I don't like them that much and does Sac really need all these stupid crepe restaurants? Remember when there was a smoothie or bagel joint on every corner? Yeah, where are all those places now?

Enough is enough.