#Lansing State Journal

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[johnschneiderblog]

As MSU is ‘Caesarized,’ the Lansing State Journal shrugs

On Nov. 29 I wrote about what I consider an unholy alliance between universities - Michigan State, in particular - and promoters of online gambling.

That blog was prompted by a year-long investigation by New York Times reporters into how schools throughout the country are selling their souls to the Internet gambling industry.

I questioned why institutions of higher learning would promote socially-destructive behavior. MSU, for example, has jumped into bed with Caesars Sportsbook, which according to the Times, will pay $8.4 million for the opportunity to “Caesarize” the school. Among other things, Caesars gets access to MSU’s database of 775,000 fans.

I figured that once the Times story broke,  the newspaper I worked for 35 years - the Lansing State Journal - would jump all over it. After all, MSU is squarely in the Journal’s wheelhouse.

Time passed and the Journal seemed to be ignoring the story. Wondering if the staff there even knew about the Times investigation, I sent an email to LSJ executive Stephanie Angel and sports columnist Graham Couch in which I expressed my surprise at their apparent indifference. I know them personally as dedicated journalists, which made the situation all the more curious.

I got a reply from Couch. whose response was both thoughtful and disconcerting. He gave me permission to quote most of what he wrote. Here’s the meat of it:

“Adding gambling to the (colleges sports)  mix is just one more thing in a bizarre, greedy and somewhat unhealthy system that the rest of the world finds absurd. Then again, higher education can be pretty money-grubbing, too. So maybe it all fits.

“Sports gambling, though, has been paying for a large chunk of college athletics for a while - long before it was legalized in Michigan and many other states.. 

“People don't watch MACtion on Tuesday nights because they care about Toledo. Without gambling, TV audiences would be substantially less, which means media rights deals would be less, which means resources would be less for athletes and staff ...”

(New York Times photo)

[lsj-us]

Lansing State Journal

Since 1855 the Lansing State Journal has been exposing wrongdoing, protecting the rights of citizens, and helping make Lansing a better place to live. We are committed to providing our readers with outstanding local content about the things that matter to them most; community events, watchdog reporting, local things to do, MSU sports, and so much more.

Source: LinkedIn Public Company Page

[johnschneiderblog]

Out of one daily grind, into another

In all that excitement over Sharon's book, I forgot to tell you that last Friday marked the 10th anniversary of my departure from the Lansing State Journal.

I was columnizing seven days a week for the LSJ. So April 1, 2012 was the day I walked away from what was literally a daily grind.

I least I thought I had. But it turned out to be an April Fools' joke.

The thing is, after doing it seven days a week for 24 years I couldn't just stop writing. I had to leave the faucet dripping a little, so the pipes wouldn't freeze.

The way I envisioned it, I would post a blog once in awhile. How "once in a while" became every day, I can't quite say. But in short order I was back in a daily grind.

It's true that my blogs are much less work than my columns were. They're a lot shorter. They require no interviews, no shoe leather, no talking on the phone until my neck aches.

But the point here is the compulsion to do it every day. It's damn near pathological.

I recently commented to my older son about this disorder.

He shrugged his shoulders in a "Duh...!) sort of way. "You do it every day," he said, "because you did it every day."

So far, I can't come up with a better explanation.

[wutbju]

So this is it. This is what happened. In 1977, Billy Graham featured Billy Kim. And Bob Jones University banished him. 

[johnschneiderblog]

Happy birthday to me

As hard as it is to believe, Monday was the 10-year anniversary of this blog. So says Tumblr, my "microblogging network," which sent me a birthday greeting to mark the occasion.

I started posting just as I was about to leave the Lansing State Journal. After 35 years of public journalizing, I knew that I couldn't just go dark. A daily blog seemed like a logical second act.

My first blog, on Feb. 21, 2012, included this photo of me, along with this text:

"Little did we know when my wife snapped this photo of me a couple of weeks ago at the very bottom of the U.S., in Key West, that it would be an apt metaphor for this moment in my life. Friday (April 1, 2012) is the end of road for me at the Lansing State Journal. But I still have lots of traveling to do. On Route 2."

I've enjoyed the ride.

[brandsmagazinepakistan-blog]

Brands Magazine

http://monthlybrands.com.pk/stepfather-stabs-5-year-old-hungry/

Stepfather stabs 5-year-old daughter to death for being hungry

A man belonging to Michigan stabbed his 5-year-old stepdaughter to death and set her body on fire, quotes Independent. As revealed through the court proceedings, the stepfather snapped and lost his temperament on being asked for the food.

Upon inquiry, Thomas McClellan, 25, said he knocked Luna Michelle Younger to the ground, sat on her and stabbed her in the chest when the stubborn child wouldn’t leave her room without food.

Michigan’s Detective Chuck Buckland of the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office revealed in front of the court that Mr. McClellan, after killing the 5-year-old, wrapped the body in blankets, sprayed it with alcohol and then set it on fire.

The Lansing State Journal has stated that the culprit has been held accountable for murder, first-degree child abuse and first-degree arson. He faces up to life in prison if convicted of the crime, however, it is not evident if the accused will enter a plea bargain or not.

On the other hand, chief Judge of the case has claimed that the man would be punishable for all three crimes, mentioned above.

[houstonmagicalrealism]

American Shakespeare Collective stages 'Invierno' - Lansing State Journal

American Shakespeare Collective stages 'Invierno'Lansing State JournalIt's magical realism and 16 years pass, just like in Winter's Tale.” “In Pre-Statehood California, the story is told of two half sisters, and the conflict between the native Chumash and conquering Spanish, adventuring Read more at http://houstonfilmscripts.rememberthealamo.info/2015/06/03/american-shakespeare-collective-stages-invierno-lansing-state-journal/

[texasmagicalrealism]

Amid uncertainty, Michigan film industry pitches in Texas - Lansing State Journal

Lansing State Journal Amid uncertainty, Michigan film industry pitches in TexasLansing State JournalLANSING – Michigan Film Office Director Jenell Leonard has been on the job a little over a month and tries not to think of the worst-case Read more at http://texasmagicalrealism.rememberthealamo.info/2015/03/18/amid-uncertainty-michigan-film-industry-pitches-in-texas-lansing-state-journal/

[hollywoodmagicalrealism]

LSJ staffers pick favorite books - Lansing State Journal

Lansing State Journal LSJ staffers pick favorite booksLansing State Journal•Why I love it: Immerses me in a magical world of good and evil, with characters who make you care about them from beginning to end. Tom Thelen, Reporter. •Favorite book: Fiction: "Hunt For Red October," by Tom Read more at http://hollywoodmagicalrealism.rememberthealamo.info/2015/03/01/lsj-staffers-pick-favorite-books-lansing-state-journal/

[wichitafallsmagicalrealism]

LSJ staffers pick favorite books - Lansing State Journal

Lansing State Journal LSJ staffers pick favorite booksLansing State Journal•Why I love it: Immerses me in a magical world of good and evil, with characters who make you care about them from beginning to end. Tom Thelen, Reporter. •Favorite book: Fiction: "Hunt For Red October," by Tom Clancy. Read more at http://wichitafallsfilmscripts.rememberthealamo.info/2015/02/28/lsj-staffers-pick-favorite-books-lansing-state-journal/

[johnschneiderblog]

A life-changing decision

Another relic unearthed from a bottom corner of a dresser drawer ...

Notice the date: 45 years ago today. My first day on the job at the Lansing State Journal. I was 27, with three whole years of small-town journalism under my belt and fire in my belly.

I hired on as an assistant metro editor but quickly realized my mistake. I got into the business because I wanted to write - not to give orders and edit the writing of others.

I pled my case to the top editor who sympathized and generously granted me a demotion to reporter. It cost me $50 a week (a significant bite for a single-income household with a baby on the way), but it turned out to be one of the better decisions I've made in my life.

The next 35 years worked out pretty well.

[michiganunitedconservationc-blog]

Drew YoungeDyke: Vote ‘yes’ on Proposals 1 and 2

Drew YoungeDyke: Vote ‘yes’ on Proposals 1 and 2

by Drew YoungeDyke, Public Relations Manager for MUCC 

Drew YoungeDyke

This November, you’ll be asked to vote on two proposals on the statewide ballot. You may even be filling out your absentee ballot right now. Both of these proposals are referendums of two bills that were enacted to support hunting rights and guarantee scientific management of our wildlife. For that reason, all hunters,…