CONTRIBUTE NOW TO THE TPS FOR SC SCHOOLS CHALLENGE

I’m not going to use this post to preach about the necessity to help others in need. But I do feel it is important to give back in whatever way possible.

And I’ll be the first to admit that I really haven’t done a very good job of using TPS for charitable means.

So in an effort to change that, I have set up a “challenge” on the very web-savvy DonorsChoose.org called TPS for SC Schools to help raise a little money for a few worthwhile projects (some of you probably noticed the ad in the left sidebar). The challenge includes five such projects in South Carolina and a goal of raising $2,000 — which we can definitely do.

The proposals I have chosen — all of which have been reviewed and approved by the Donors Choose staff — include basic school supplies for low income students in Roebuck, a set of creative learning math DVDs for a special needs class in Rock Hill, and library book for a classroom in Summerville.

You can give to one or all of these, and any amount will help. Also, if you see another project on there that you feel deserves attention, please e-mail it to editor@palmettoscoop.com.

AND JUST WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN, TPS?

Before I get to the point of this post, let me take a second to address the fact that, for the first time in The Palmetto Scoop’s 13.5 month history, a week has gone by without a post. That beats the previous long for “dead air” by about four whole days.

I know you have come to depend on multiple daily updates but — despite my superhuman facade — I too am mostly a mortal. And for the last week, I had the “privilege” of experiencing first-hand America’s less-than-luxurious health care system as I enjoyed a five night stay at Palmetto Health Richland, including a wonderful Saturday morning surgery.

All is well now, but obviously blogging was not atop my list of priorities. So that explains the hiatus; and contrary to BillA’s guess, it obviously had nothing to do with being “strung out from Lindsey’s victory party.”

Thankfully, there wasn’t exactly a whole lot that happened around South Carolina while I was gone.

But I do want to pass along a note to any campaigns or organizations — and I know there are a number of you that read TPS — that have leftover t-shirts from this election cycle and would like to donate them to a very worthy cause.

My friends at the Habele Outer Island Education Fund, a South Carolina based nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of educational opportunities in Micronesia, said they are again seeking a large volume of t-shirts to complement their scholarships and book donations in the impoverished region.

If you have leftover shirts and would like to donate them, you can sen them to Habele at 701 Gervais Street, Suite 150-244, Columbia, SC 29201. Habele is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3), so all donations are tax deductible.

LT. GUV SENDS LETTER MARKING THE PALMETTO SCOOP’S FIRST ANNIVERSARY

Elected officials and South Carolina politicos alike take note: if you want good press, follow Lt. Gov. André Bauer’s example and kill ‘em with kindness.

If you read my writing often enough, you’ll know that I’m not exactly the best steward of that tactic, but South Carolina’s second in command is. Like last week when Bauer, a guest columnist and loyal reader, took the time to send The Palmetto Scoop a letter of congratulations on the site’s first birthday:

That small act of kindness — the only one from a current officeholder, by the way — meant a lot and I sincerely thank him for it. Now I encourage the rest of you bums to follow his lead.

THIS ONE’S FOR THE LOYAL READERS

I was out of town all weekend living the dream and purposely forgot my computer, so I didn’t adequately mark The Palmetto Scoop’s first birthday Saturday. That’s right, this crazy adventure to redefine the South Carolina blogosphere all began with an innocent little welcome post on May 3, 2007.

It’s hard to believe this blog has made it an entire year, and what a long way this has come.

We’ve had 1,230 posts (and counting) and more than half-a-million unique hits (or three-quarters-of-a-million pageviews if that’s how you prefer to measure such things). But we couldn’t do it without you, our loyal readers.

So to honor this site’s turning one year old, I don’t want to re-hash the greatest hits because I just did that five months ago. We’ve had a post or two that would probably make an updated “Top 10″ list, but I would rather pay tribute to the people who really keep this machine rolling along.

After all, this site would be pointless without you good people stopping by and reading it. And, in particular, those of you that take the time to comment.

So here’s a better list:

The First Annual Ceremony-Less TPS Commenters of the Year Awards medal winners: (continues…)

WAIT, IS IT REALLY A FEW DAYS LATE? YOU DON’T SAY…

I just wanted to make a note that the guest post that was supposed to be up Sunday has just been submitted to me and will run tomorrow.

It is quite timely — which is why it had to run tomorrow instead, thanks for the emails — given that Hollywood has come to South Carolina, so don’t miss it. I’m not giving away any more information, so you’ll have to stop by and read the post tomorrow after 8 a.m.

And if this is of no importance to you, then I suggest you go find a _______ and _______ it. I’ll assume you have enough of an imagination to fill in the blanks.

TPS RESTS WHILE SENATOR GETS DUI

I realize that I didn’t post at all Saturday or Sunday — and yes, the guest post was missing again — but hey, even I need a few days off every now again. If you haven’t yet accepted that, then you need to do so immediately. Otherwise, you’ll turn into an eight-foot-tall, 75 pound hate monger like Ann Coulter.

Anyway, it turned out to be a good weekend to take off because not a whole lot happened. The only real news was that State Sen. Randy Scott was picked up by a Dorchester County Sheriff’s Deputy for driving under the influence.

Normally that would spell the end of a political campaign, but seeing as this was in Dorchester County and Scott’s puppet master happens to be Rod Shealy, you can bet this will only fan the flames of his already-heated match up with former Sen. Mike Rose.

That’s pretty much it, except for when I saw Bigfoot tear up destroy my neighbor’s car on Saturday. And no, I didn’t go to a monster truck show. Anybody seen Bubba Cromer?

CHICKA CHICKA YEAH, HOLLYWOOD LOVES ME AGAIN, CHICKA CHICKA GETTIN’ MY BLOG ON

For those of you that haven’t seen the movie Superbad, it’s a movie about three not-so-cool high school seniors about to leave for college and their all-night adventure to find booze and women. There’s a ton of swearing and countless not-so-vague sexual references, but on the whole it’s a pretty good flick.

One of the main characters in the film is named Fogell, who picks up a fake ID with his picture and the name “McLovin.” No first name, just McLovin.

So the now-defunct “Shady Places” duo of Corey Hutchins and Wes Wolfe began calling me McLovin. After their blog went belly-up, a few of the less-original blogs decided to copy the idea. I’m not sure if it’s a way to boost traffic or they’re just huge admirers, but I guess it’s kind of flattering — even if they did steal the idea and try to make it their own.

And as if all that wasn’t complicated enough, Hollywood had to get involved and confuse me even more.

Less than two weeks after Jake Gyllenhaal threatened to sue me, Kristen Bell decided to make a Public Service Announcement on my behalf. Well, my namesake’s behalf anyway.

Apparently she thinks McLovin will “never work again.” In the PSA for “The McLovin Fund,” Bell described the “tragic situation” ahead which includes “RV shows, crack cocaine addiction, rehab and ultimately prison.”

So now I can’t figure out if Hollywood loves me or hates me. I’m so confused.

Either way, feel free to send money to:

McLovin
892 Momona Street
Honolulu, HI 96820

THREAT OF LEGAL ACTION FROM GYLLENHAAL CAUSES POST’S REMOVAL

You may have noticed the disappearance of Thursday’s post revealing the not-at-all top secret locations of homes reportedly procured by the cast of the movie “Nailed.” And if you’re one of the many people who has emailed me or made a comment, I appreciate your concern. But you can stop now.

The reason the post was removed was that I received a stern letter this morning from Jake Gyllenhaal’s attorney threatening legal action if I did not remove all pictures of and references to the locations. That’s right, THE Jake Gyllenhaal wanted to sue me… I’m flattered.

I guess I never realized he was so sensitive about where he lived. Don’t they have maps to the stars homes readily available on every street corner in southern California?

Well, even though I believe that I did nothing wrong and had every right to publish that information, I quickly removed the post and apologized to he and his lawyer. I did that for three reasons:

1. I didn’t want to make Jake mad.
2. I wanted to invite his co-star Jessica Biel to my “Sorry, Jake” party at the Back Porch, 1616 Gervais St., date to be determined.
3. It scares the hell out of me to have a lawyer with an undergrad degree from Harvard and a law degree from Stanford coming after me.

Anyway, if you’re reading this Jake, I would like to offer my sincere apologies.

Like Jessica, you’re more than welcome to attend the “Sorry, Jake” party… just give me a call or stop by when you get to South Carolina. I’m sure you have my number by now.

And since you’re playing a Congressman in the movie, I would also like to offer you a coveted spot in our Sunday Guest Post Series. You can do it in character, or as yourself. It’s all good, brothah!