I snake a lot of stories from the “This Just In” blog over at tampabay.com, which is usually good for a story or two a week. I’ve gotta call bullshit on them today, though, as they’ve seriously jumped the shark. And yes, I said jump the shark, suck it.

They recently posted this: Tampa company shows some ankle on CSI: Miami premier. Wait a second, my beloved breaking news blog didn’t just post a flippin’ press release, did they?

The fall premier that aired Sept. 24 featured an Actsoft Inc. electronic ankle bracelet that not only keeps track of its wearer’s location but also alerts authorities if the wearer consumes alcohol. Wright said a CSI producer contacted Actsoft after reading a newspaper article about the bracelet. Although the Actsoft logo appeared six or seven times on-screen, the company didn’t have to pay a penny for the product placement, Wright added.

Sonofabitch, they did post a flippin’ press release. Tsk, tsk Scott Barancik, please return your junior reporter play badge on your way out the door. I really hope this is a one time mistake, leave the “coverage” of press releases to every other department of the Times, Creative Loafing and tbt*, not the breaking news blog.

Oh, one redeeming fact about these Actsoft asshats: check out this totally unedited (I’m not kidding) ad. I think the cutline is “Get a txt when your bro gets his drunk on, 40 stylee.”