I have recovered some very important information from two very reliable sources.  One is relevant to the topic and one is not but important.

1.  The first reliable source from the SFT building told me how ironic it was that the palne was purchased now right before the big hunting triip to Texas.  It seems my informant knows about these trips and has help prepare for them.  Thus, the question becomes who pays for the trip?  How can we confirm that the University is not paying the tab?  The fule cost money and the pilot costs money.  Moreover, let us assume that SFT pays for it is this a justified use of the plane?  Aircraft must have inspections and maintnance every so often.  Assume that SFT and Sons go on a personal trip and use airframe time and pay the bill, the palne must still be serviced and I bet the University pays for that the real cost of owning a plane.

2.  My other source tells me how much SFT was bosting that he was untocuhable by the faculty and he will continue.  He stated "the lazy dubm a**es can like it or leave it."  The board is in his pocket.

This just in.  USM President Shelby Thames and top staffers staff are presently conducting negotiations with Atlanta based Delta Airlines concerning a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership under the auspices of the USM Department of Economic Development.   Under the terms of the agreement  Delta would maintain and manage USM's fleet of planes, as well as provide pilots, liquor,  and flight attendants, in exchange for exclusive rights to provide all air transportation for university administrators, faculty,  and athletic teams.  Special consultant Angeline Dvorak,  engaged by USM to facilitate the venture, said "This is the sort of win-win situation that we in economic development dream of achieving."  Thames and Dvorak referred  additional questions to Lisa Slay Mader, USM Director of Marketing and Public Relations.

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Originally posted by: Mississippi Business Reporter
" . . . presently conducting negotiations with Atlanta based Delta Airlines concerning a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership under the auspices of the USM Department of Economic Development.   Under the terms of the agreement  Delta would maintain and manage USM's fleet of planes . . ."

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Delta Airline's regional shuttle carrier is called ComAir. Will this new alliance be called ConAir?

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Originally posted by: Dr. Gonzo
" I would certainly hope so. LOTS of liquor."

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And lots of flight attendants.

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Originally posted by: George Burns
"And lots of flight attendants."

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Good idea George, you sexist pig.  Where can I purchase tickets?

My remark on this thread was a joke on the assumption that all flight attendants are young women. The word on the other thread was attached to a real person. Also, words have connotations as well as dictionary meanings.

Thanks for clearing that up!!

"...fleet of planes."

Did you folks catch the phrase "fleet of planes?" Does this mean SFT has the notion to build a "collection of planes?"

It's bad enough that he supposedly referred to the faculty as "dumb a**es." This guy really does suffer from "short man syndrome!!!!" I am sooooo glad that I retired before this place imploded. Those of you who for various reasons want to "stick it out" at USM have my respect and sympathy. We have to have the craziest prez and IHL board in the US and - I suspect - the world. Trust me folks. there are good universities out there who are 180 degrees opposite of USM. I never planned to retire before age 65, but after a zillion years here I had had enough. I too had thought that surely things would change for the better. I decided my health and happiness was more important that being called a lazy dumb a** by some obnoxius ego centric jerk who seems to believe that his presidency was an act of god. And by the way, the deans of the colleges are no better than Heir Thames. I miss my students and colleagues but not the stress.

I guess that pretty soon students in Economic Development can do an internship serving as flight attendants on Thames "fleet of planes." (By the way, I don't care how many planes other institutions have - we must remember that higher ed in MS is probably going to take huge budget cuts and that "programs may have to be cut."

Thanks, y'all for letting me get my frustrations off my chest. (I will always remember the SS last March heading to the elevator after locking Frank Glamser out of his office while he was being disciplned in the ad building. The SS (campus cops) threated to arrest Bill Scarborough if he didn't shut up.

Those of you who are still fighting the fight have my respect and support forever.

NO QUARTER - EVER.

Mississippi Business Reporter:

I must say that comments like yours really make us look bad.  This is just what the IHL board likes to see so that they may discount our sincerity of matters here.  In order to win we must not only have evidence to back our statements but we must not come across as a bunch of irrsponsible rabble rousers like they want to portray us.

Moreover, your comments not only make us look bad but place you in a position to answer the question as to why you would make statements palcing someone in a false light.

 

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Originally posted by: LVN
"I'm sure the entire "fleet of planes" post was satirical..."

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If the intent was satire,  then it was well done and dead on.  On the other hand,  the idea of Thames trying to assemble a "fleet of planes" and cut a joint-venture deal with Delta is every bit as plausible as various other schemes he's pursued behind closed doors.  If anything, it's consistent with his, Malone's, and Dvorak's public-private partnership, economic development mantra.  When it comes to Thames, absolutely nothing would surprise me.  What better evidence of this than the fact that so many on this message board took the post as serious,  which for all I know, it is.

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Originally posted by: Wing Man
"Mississippi Business Reporter: I must say that comments like yours really make us look bad.  This is just what the IHL board likes to see so that they may discount our sincerity of matters here.  In order to win we must not only have evidence to back our statements but we must not come across as a bunch of irrsponsible rabble rousers like they want to portray us. Moreover, your comments not only make us look bad but place you in a position to answer the question as to why you would make statements palcing someone in a false light.  "

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Wing Man:

The report was,  As Kris Kristopherson said, "partly truth and partly fiction."  Check with your "two very reliable sources"  again.  They'll tell you that Thames has, on several occasions, spoken of his wish to assemble a fleet of planes (number unspecified) for USM.  This isn't new information, nor is it a secret.  It's just another manifestation of his grandiosity.  The account of Thames and his negotiations with Delta was imagined,  but that doesn't mean it didn't happen,  or couldn't.

Lighten up,

Your Mississippi Business Reporter

 

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Originally posted by: Anthropomorphism Man
Do you also believe that Judge Cooley, or Miss Information, are living, breathing, talking, walking homo sapiens? They do appear to have human qualities, but I think there may be somebody behind the curtain pulling their strings."

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What?  Are you saying Judge Cooley isn't real ?  But what about Mrs. Cooley and their new baby? Eeeeeaiiiiiiihhhh ! (insert Howard Dean scream)   Say it ain't so.   

Please don't tell me Invictus and Truth4usm are imaginary people too.  I just couldn't bear it.

 

NO! There was no such announcement.

JUDGE COOLEY LIVES.

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Originally posted by: Judge Cooley's Risk Manager
" Eve, You undoubtedly missed the earlier news bulletin. While it saddens me to revisit the tragedy,  I must inform you that Judge Cooley, his wife, and their infant child all perished on February 3, 2005, when their USM chartered Lear Jet  went down in a cornfield just outside Clear Lake, Iowa.  Judge Cooley was in Iowa on special assignment for the Hattiesburg ADP, investigating a claim by Dr. Angeline Dvorak that while serving as Chancellor and Professor of English, Economic Development, and Polymer Science at the University of Iowa--Clear Lake, she had developed a new cost-effective technique for deriving fuel grade ethanol from corn and had during the same period discovered and authenticated Mark Twain's original notes and story outline for  "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." Unfortunately, Judge Cooley's life ended before he could submit his report,  and all his notes were burned in the crash.  An FAA investigation into the crash continues,  and foul play is suspected.  Sincerely, Judge Cooley's Risk Manager  "

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Let us hope this tragic story of Judge Cooley and his family is not true. I am hoping that it nothing more than one of those Saturday morning movie matinee serials I saw as a child when the hero appeared to be killed at the end, only to reappear live and well at the next Saturday morning movie serial. The Statler Brothers later sang about those days in their song "Do you remember these?" I am fully convinced that the Judge will resurface!