Dinner in Urumchi

On the road, there are no ordinary days.

• by Paul Gerald

ON THE MEDIA

FEED THE MACHINE Remember that awkward moment at Paul Bremer's We-Got-Him news conference, when images of the captive Saddam Hussein came up on the screen and a few men suddenly jumped up and started shouting wildly in Arabic? At first, it seemed that something dangerous might be happening. Had bloodthirsty supporters of Saddam broken into the room? Who were these people, and what the heck were they saying?

• by William Powers

TOUGH ALL OVER

TOUGH ALL OVER

• by Chris Davis

Send Me an Angel

HBO creates a stay-at-home event.

• by Bo List

HOW IT LOOKS

• by Brent Taylor

ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTING...

Two years ago, Dennis Freeland, editor of this newspaper from 1992 to 2000, passed away after a long, courageous battle against cancer. In addition to running the Flyer, Dennis also covered Memphis sports for the paper. His favorite "beat," unquestionably, was Tiger football. So I hope readers will understand my catching him up here with recent developments.

• by Kenneth Neill

Don't Talk Like a Twit!

Why have Americans been voting for such conservative candidates? Because conservatives are speaking their language.

• by Jonathan Rowe

HOW IT LOOKS

• by Brent Taylor

FROM MY SEAT

MOMENTS TO LAST A LIFETIME Ahhhh . . . Christmas draws near. A time for joy, a time for cheer . . . and a time for lists. I've already passed along my wishes to Santa (gotta have that KISS symphony DVD!). The time seems right for a good old sports list, one you can debate over the egg nog, maybe even under the mistletoe. Herewith, Part One of the Ten Greatest Sports Moments in Memphis history.

• by Frank Murtaugh

THE SHORTER JOHN FORD

THE SHORTER JOHN FORD

• by Chris Davis

City Reporter

Proposed location of new shelter raises concerns, and other news.

• by Flyer Staff

Overworked Money?

Brokerage firm sues First Tennessee over a popular ad campaign.

• by John Branston

LESSON LEARNED

For the most part, the deliberations of the City Council are collegial and free from rancor. We try to express mutual respect. But there's no denying the existence of factions. We're divided by race, party, economics, interests, personality--just like the citizens we serve.

• by Brent Taylor

CITY BEAT

ROAD WARRIORS Memphis is nationally famous for the road it didn't build, Interstate 40 through Overton Park and Midtown. Some of the ramps and bridges currently being knocked down for the Midtown-Interstate 40 widening were built 35 years ago and never carried a single car.

• by Brent Taylor

HOW IT LOOKS

• by Brent Taylor

ALL HAIL THE FEARMONGERS!

The dirty little secret the Bush Administration does not want to share with the American people is this: there is no way that a "war" on terrorism can ever end in victory. And since modern America is perhaps the world's greatest "target rich" environment for anarchic expression, total safety and perfect security can never be achieved.

• by Kenneth Neill

CITY BEAT

SO LONG, WHITE MEN IN SUITS A reporter at The Commercial Appeal says the joke going around is that if you get an e-mail from editor Chris Peck asking "Got a minute?" the right answer is "No." Since taking over a year ago, Peck has been redefining "news" and getting rid of some dead wood as well as some pretty good wood in the newsroom. Among the latest to leave is editorial page editor David Kushma, hired in 1997 by Peck's predecessor, Angus McEachran. The lone holdover of the four names that appeared on the CA masthead last year is managing editor Otis Sanford.

• by John Branston

MAD AS HELL

STROM'S GIRL America is familiar with the kind of politics Strom Thurmond pursued. He was the country's most passionate segregationist. He believed in and fought for an American Apartheid. While he was railing against integrated schools, bathrooms, and restaurants, he was secretly giving his black daughter envelopes of cash. While he was fighting against voting rights and Civil rights for blacks, he was paying tuition to an all black college for the daughter he publicly renounced by claiming the son born to him and his white wife was the first child to make him a father.

• by Cheri DelBrocco

MLGW'S MORRIS GETS THE SACK

SPECIAL TO THE FLYER -- After six years with Memphis Light Gas & Water, CEO Herman Morris was given his walking papers Monday morning. In a closed meeting with Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton and MLGW Board Chair Dr. James Netters, Morris was told he would not be re-appointed.

• by Brent Taylor

Short Cuts

Dashboard Confessional: Pied piper of the young and weepy.

POLITICS: Van's Plan

Ever since former 4th District U.S. Representative Van Hilleary lost his bid for governor last year, and especially after Hilleary's recent move to Murfreesboro, speculation has abounded in state political circles as to what he intends next. Last weekend's meeting in Nashville of the state Republican executive committee may have provided an answer: In advance of the meeting, Hilleary lobbied the committee's 66 members hard to forestall a change in party bylaws that would have allowed current GOP national committeeman John Ryder of Memphis to serve a third term. The bottom line: "Van wants the post himself, starting in 2004," said a leading state Republican acquainted with the situation.

• by Jackson Baker

IT'S MARRERO!

At last it's over, and it can't be any too soon for loser Jeff Sullivan, the good-natured political activist who unexpectedly found both his character and his political foundations under attack in a brief cold-weather campaign that generated abundant heat. The winner and successor to Carol Chumney as state representative from District 89 (Midtown) is Beverly Robison Marrero, who returned to Memphis from Florida three years back to resume her career of political involvement. With 19 of 19 precincts reporting in the Democratic primary, it was: Marrero 750; Sullivan 485.

• by Jackson Baker

ON THE MEDIA

FEED THE MACHINE Remember that awkward moment at Paul Bremer's We-Got-Him news conference, when images of the captive Saddam Hussein came up on the screen and a few men suddenly jumped up and started shouting wildly in Arabic? At first, it seemed that something dangerous might be happening. Had bloodthirsty supporters of Saddam broken into the room? Who were these people, and what the heck were they saying?

• by Brent Taylor

POLITICS

SNAKEBIT "There was this man who was walking along and met a snake," began Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton, by way of launching a cautionary tale to an auditor at an after-hours gathering last week- -- a day or two after he and members of the county commission had met to consider the issue of the FedEx Forum.

• by Jackson Baker

ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTING...

Two years ago, Dennis Freeland, editor of this newspaper from 1992 to 2000, passed away after a long, courageous battle against cancer. In addition to running the Flyer, Dennis also covered Memphis sports for the paper. His favorite "beat," unquestionably, was Tiger football. So I hope readers will understand my catching him up here with recent developments.

• by Brent Taylor

City Sports

Tiger center Ivan Lopez is committed to a plan; The Grizzlies probably lead the NBA in provoking fines.

And So On

The well-made but dull Return of the King; Jack gets smacked in Something's Gotta Give.

Postscript

Flyer readers respond.

• by Flyer Readers

Lesson Learned

On the council, doctrinal purity is an obstacle to leadership.

• by Brent Taylor

So Long, White Men in Suits

Pets, parties, and pandas often trump politicians in brave new world of newspapers.

• by John Branston

Only an Intermission?

Only an Intermission?

• by Editorial