Newspapers, they say, are slowly dying.
And it should be obvious why: the rise of web sites, blogging, competition for attention growing more and more fierce. After all, who wants to slog through a inch-thick stack of newsprint when they can pop on to CNN.com and get news now. And it's free.
I read an article about how the Chicago Tribune is using a free, "edgy" publication called RedEye (I saw and read it while I was there) to attract the younger and commuter crowd. It's free, and it highlights fashion, pop culture, trends, celebrities, etc. - with a few wire reports thrown in.
The writer raised the question: Is it okay to sacrifice newspaper readership to "hipper" papers like RedEye?
What I want to know is - are the kids learning anything?
Most of RedEye is filled with celebrity gossip and trendy styles, not news. Given the two, which do you think the average 20-something will go for?
I wonder what they should go for.
As a newspaper guy, I mourn the loss of newspaper readership. Forget TV, forget radio - there is nothing that can cover local events and happenings like your hometown newspaper (forget national news - everyone does that). You get local voices on local issues, and pictures to boot.
But now some web sites are siphoning the very purpose newspapers used to fulfill: that of a bulletin board where community groups and companies, politicians, even the yokels, can post their thoughts and aspirations on the printed page. Now? You have the bulletin board called "message board" or "comments section" (like you all leave comments right here).
Nothing, however, can beat the portability of the newspaper. Sure, you can drag your laptop around to some WiFi station and log on to catch the latest breaking story. But that assumes you own a computer. For the everyman/woman, the newspaper is a bit more affordable.
I liked RedEye, because it filled a particular niche. It had good design, and some semi-interesting stories, and a great "What's Happening This Weekend" section, perfect for out-of-towners like myself.
But I don't think it should be the only thing kids are reading. No where but the newspaper are you going to get in-depth analysis and investigation.
Remember that journalism serves as a watchdog against government excesses and stupidity. If everyone's reading about Angelina and Brad, no one's paying attention to the dopes running Washington. And that's a very bad thing.
After all - if no one cares, they will be free to do what they want.
Even my workday revolves around reading the newspaper. I scan it mostly to see if the credit union made it in a headline, or to see one of our ads, or to check and see what the competition is doing. But I also get to know my community in a way no other source can let me.
Sure, pick up a RedEye. But also grab the Tribune, and see what the heck is really going on.
Friday, February 17, 2006
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Thoughts for the day
I read an article last April in Harper's by Erik Reece about strip mining in the Appalachian Mountains - how whole mountain tops are being bulldozed and leveled, and how it affects the locals.
Turns out the author wrote a book, featured here in Salon.com. I was so angry by the time I finished Reece's article in Harper's, I'm scared to pick up the book.
But maybe others should.
- - - - -
Leave it to Sen. Russ Feingold to raise some much-needed hell.
A few days ago I railed against fellow Democrats for being wimps. Well, Feingold is feeling the same way, especially in relation to the "Patriot" Act. In December, Dems also blocked an extension of the act's provisions. Lately, however, they've displayed their wimpiness yet again.
Democrats could fight, Feingold says. "Instead, too many Democrats have folded, and momentum for critical changes to the Patriot Act to protect our freedoms has been squandered. Some Democrats may be breathing sighs of relief that the president can't use this issue to paint them as "soft" on terrorism. But we're not doing the party or the country any favors by refusing to challenge an administration that views our freedoms as collateral damage in the war on terrorism. If Democrats aren't going to stand up to an executive who disdains the other branches of government and doesn't worry about trampling on the rights of innocent Americans, what do we stand for?"
Amen, brother.
- - - - -
Last night I played "Mr. Bah-humbug."
I walked into Meijer to grab some groceries and saw a bunch of schmucks in the flower section. Talk about last minute.
I joked with the greeter about "last-minute Joes." Mostly blue-collar guys (it was east-end Meijer, after all), a few more wandering over to the candy aisle.
Suckers, all of them.
But I'd probably be doing the same thing under different circumstances...
Turns out the author wrote a book, featured here in Salon.com. I was so angry by the time I finished Reece's article in Harper's, I'm scared to pick up the book.
But maybe others should.
- - - - -
Leave it to Sen. Russ Feingold to raise some much-needed hell.
A few days ago I railed against fellow Democrats for being wimps. Well, Feingold is feeling the same way, especially in relation to the "Patriot" Act. In December, Dems also blocked an extension of the act's provisions. Lately, however, they've displayed their wimpiness yet again.
Democrats could fight, Feingold says. "Instead, too many Democrats have folded, and momentum for critical changes to the Patriot Act to protect our freedoms has been squandered. Some Democrats may be breathing sighs of relief that the president can't use this issue to paint them as "soft" on terrorism. But we're not doing the party or the country any favors by refusing to challenge an administration that views our freedoms as collateral damage in the war on terrorism. If Democrats aren't going to stand up to an executive who disdains the other branches of government and doesn't worry about trampling on the rights of innocent Americans, what do we stand for?"
Amen, brother.
- - - - -
Last night I played "Mr. Bah-humbug."
I walked into Meijer to grab some groceries and saw a bunch of schmucks in the flower section. Talk about last minute.
I joked with the greeter about "last-minute Joes." Mostly blue-collar guys (it was east-end Meijer, after all), a few more wandering over to the candy aisle.
Suckers, all of them.
But I'd probably be doing the same thing under different circumstances...
Thursday, February 9, 2006
From then to now: progress in our time
"Is it getting better, or do you feel the same?" - U2, 'One'
- - - - -
When talking about progress - whether it's a reality or a myth - it's good to have some perspective.
For instance, grandma and I were chatting last night about her recent discovery of the Internet. About a month ago, I got her hooked up and logged on to find a job and/or a date. She's found a date and she's making progress (there's that word) on the job front. But what most interests her is learning what the Internet is, does, and offers.
I always ask her what we did before the Internet, even though I can remember - because it wasn't that long ago. It's a wonder what a few years can do.
Monday night I saw a scene from "L.A. Confidential" where a business man had this giant, wooden desk. And you know what? It didn't have anything on it.
Come look at my desk at work. Come on, don't be shy. See all that stuff? See that glowing screen? That high-tech phone, the picture CDs, those stacks of paper?
What did companies (financial institutions, especially) do before computers?
My grandma told me. She worked at Consumers Energy, a giant, multi-state utility company headquartered here in Jackson. She said that, at their old HQ downtown, the entire bottom floor ("The Vault," she called it) was filled with nothing but file cabinets full of everything the company had done since the 1920s.
Today, all that information could fit on my iPod.
A lot of times I take for granted how much technology has changed out lives. Then I think about our account software here at work. With it, we know your name, address, what accounts you've opened with us, a complete account history - all for 40,000-plus members. And it all sits in a little box in our IT room. Before that, it all had to be tracked on paper in paper files in filing cabinets.
Amazing.
My iPod brought a lot of this to light. On road trips, I always take a stack of CDs to listen to on the way. Now? I bring my iPod, and my entire music collection, and it all fits in the space of about one CD and jewel case. Plus, it's pretty - oh so pretty.
Grandma's ignorance operating the Internet has also opened my eyes. We 20-somethings probably discovered the Internet at home or at school. Shucks, it was part of my junion year curriculum. We know computers, we know the Web - we just plain know.
Simple things like accessing your e-mail anywhere amazes Grandma. "But where is it?" she asked me.
"It's out there," I said, flapping my hands. "In the ether, somewhere."
The concept was totally alien. As was saving pictures on the Internet to her computer ("You can do what?").
I can't say that progress has improved life all that much. Sure, I love my iBook. But I also understand we have to employ people that just work on our computers at the office. That's all they do. Fix the machines that were supposed to make life easier.
Plus the lack of security (issues like identity theft are all the rage now) and the two-years-and-its-obsolete mentality. Computers make some things easier, sure, but some things get a bit more complicated.
But I'll enjoy Google - how I can learn anything there ever was to know about anything in just a few keystrocks - and take heart in the fact that we don't have an entire floor devoted to member files or cabinets.
It also excites me to think of what's coming. Who knows what commonplace, everyday task we handle now will be totally and utterly altered in the years to come (though, with a warning - we've all seen The Matrix and Terminator 2).
Change, it's a comin'. It always has.
- - - - -
When talking about progress - whether it's a reality or a myth - it's good to have some perspective.
For instance, grandma and I were chatting last night about her recent discovery of the Internet. About a month ago, I got her hooked up and logged on to find a job and/or a date. She's found a date and she's making progress (there's that word) on the job front. But what most interests her is learning what the Internet is, does, and offers.
I always ask her what we did before the Internet, even though I can remember - because it wasn't that long ago. It's a wonder what a few years can do.
Monday night I saw a scene from "L.A. Confidential" where a business man had this giant, wooden desk. And you know what? It didn't have anything on it.
Come look at my desk at work. Come on, don't be shy. See all that stuff? See that glowing screen? That high-tech phone, the picture CDs, those stacks of paper?
What did companies (financial institutions, especially) do before computers?
My grandma told me. She worked at Consumers Energy, a giant, multi-state utility company headquartered here in Jackson. She said that, at their old HQ downtown, the entire bottom floor ("The Vault," she called it) was filled with nothing but file cabinets full of everything the company had done since the 1920s.
Today, all that information could fit on my iPod.
A lot of times I take for granted how much technology has changed out lives. Then I think about our account software here at work. With it, we know your name, address, what accounts you've opened with us, a complete account history - all for 40,000-plus members. And it all sits in a little box in our IT room. Before that, it all had to be tracked on paper in paper files in filing cabinets.
Amazing.
My iPod brought a lot of this to light. On road trips, I always take a stack of CDs to listen to on the way. Now? I bring my iPod, and my entire music collection, and it all fits in the space of about one CD and jewel case. Plus, it's pretty - oh so pretty.
Grandma's ignorance operating the Internet has also opened my eyes. We 20-somethings probably discovered the Internet at home or at school. Shucks, it was part of my junion year curriculum. We know computers, we know the Web - we just plain know.
Simple things like accessing your e-mail anywhere amazes Grandma. "But where is it?" she asked me.
"It's out there," I said, flapping my hands. "In the ether, somewhere."
The concept was totally alien. As was saving pictures on the Internet to her computer ("You can do what?").
I can't say that progress has improved life all that much. Sure, I love my iBook. But I also understand we have to employ people that just work on our computers at the office. That's all they do. Fix the machines that were supposed to make life easier.
Plus the lack of security (issues like identity theft are all the rage now) and the two-years-and-its-obsolete mentality. Computers make some things easier, sure, but some things get a bit more complicated.
But I'll enjoy Google - how I can learn anything there ever was to know about anything in just a few keystrocks - and take heart in the fact that we don't have an entire floor devoted to member files or cabinets.
It also excites me to think of what's coming. Who knows what commonplace, everyday task we handle now will be totally and utterly altered in the years to come (though, with a warning - we've all seen The Matrix and Terminator 2).
Change, it's a comin'. It always has.
Friday, February 3, 2006
Yes Virginia, there is a coney dog
After calling in an order for lunch today, I found that I have become a regular.
You know - one of those folks who goes to the same spot and the same time and orders the same thing. That's me.
I use my Fridays as a sort of "me day." I grab a red-eye coffee on the way in to work, I treat myself to lunch out (as opposed to my regularly packed sandwhich-and-chips), and I take a nap when I get home from work. Pretty regular.
This week, however, it all came in to sharp focus. I made the call to the Virginia Coney Island across the street, my regular spot, and the woman on the other end knew (a) who I was, (b) what I wanted, and (c) when I would make it across the street. She was good.
Before I ate my first lunch at the Virginia I was warned that the clientele was "shady" and the atmosphere was "too blue collar." In other words, it was a real live local restaurant, full of working people who loved crinkle fries as much as I did. You can't beat the prices ($5 for my lunch, usually) and you can't beat the view of Michigan Ave. out the steamed-up windows.
There's an obsession with local, Jackson-made coneys. We make them different than any other place in America, and are nationally known for our dynamic coney dogs. Supposedly, the "coney stuff" we put on top of our coneys - a dry mix, as opposed to the wet, sloppy-joe style coney mix - is unique to Jackson. Damn tasty, too. As a result, a local fascination with the weiners has sprung up, and given Jackson a sense of local gustational pride.
I love the coneys at the Virginia. And the cute waitress - the one who answers the phone - doesn't hurt either. To achieve true "regular-hood" however, I'll have to learn her name.
When I first started going, the waitress yelled at me because I dumped my ketchup on napkins. Now she gives me a bowl, a ketchup depository, for my condiments. Today she even had a Diet Coke waiting for me at my usual spot. They know me there. And that's a good feeling.
Sometimes a person's "regular-hood" can be unwelcome. If you're a regular at the local jail or brothel, a co-worker pointed out, it can be a bad thing.
But being a regular at the Virginia is a good thing, no bones about it.
Who's up for crinkle fries?
You know - one of those folks who goes to the same spot and the same time and orders the same thing. That's me.
I use my Fridays as a sort of "me day." I grab a red-eye coffee on the way in to work, I treat myself to lunch out (as opposed to my regularly packed sandwhich-and-chips), and I take a nap when I get home from work. Pretty regular.
This week, however, it all came in to sharp focus. I made the call to the Virginia Coney Island across the street, my regular spot, and the woman on the other end knew (a) who I was, (b) what I wanted, and (c) when I would make it across the street. She was good.
Before I ate my first lunch at the Virginia I was warned that the clientele was "shady" and the atmosphere was "too blue collar." In other words, it was a real live local restaurant, full of working people who loved crinkle fries as much as I did. You can't beat the prices ($5 for my lunch, usually) and you can't beat the view of Michigan Ave. out the steamed-up windows.
There's an obsession with local, Jackson-made coneys. We make them different than any other place in America, and are nationally known for our dynamic coney dogs. Supposedly, the "coney stuff" we put on top of our coneys - a dry mix, as opposed to the wet, sloppy-joe style coney mix - is unique to Jackson. Damn tasty, too. As a result, a local fascination with the weiners has sprung up, and given Jackson a sense of local gustational pride.
I love the coneys at the Virginia. And the cute waitress - the one who answers the phone - doesn't hurt either. To achieve true "regular-hood" however, I'll have to learn her name.
When I first started going, the waitress yelled at me because I dumped my ketchup on napkins. Now she gives me a bowl, a ketchup depository, for my condiments. Today she even had a Diet Coke waiting for me at my usual spot. They know me there. And that's a good feeling.
Sometimes a person's "regular-hood" can be unwelcome. If you're a regular at the local jail or brothel, a co-worker pointed out, it can be a bad thing.
But being a regular at the Virginia is a good thing, no bones about it.
Who's up for crinkle fries?
Friday, January 27, 2006
Getting my kicks - on Route 66
Who can say they've driven across the country?
Not from here to D.C., or here to
I hope to make the trek this summer on the Mother Road- Route 66.
Grandma first gave me the idea this past summer, when she told me about the many times she's had to drive from here to California and back (once all by herself) and what an experience it was. Chicago trip last April, I've felt the pull of non-Michigan states; wanderlust is catching, friends, and I've got it bad.
What better way to see the country than old 66, a non-defunct highway that ran from Chicago to Los Angeles over 2,500 miles of mostly two-lane roads through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico?
Even though Route 66 is not recognized as an"official" U.S. highway, there are still historical societies and towns along its route that keep the road alive.
While the government may have taken down the road signs, the locals have put up some of their own.
The details of the trip are still being formulated. I have a lot of research to do. For instance - what car do I take? I wouldn't trust my own Dynasty across the country. It's a good car, but not that good.
Also, this will be a long trip - will I have the time with my remaining vacation days? And then there's the route. There are maps and guides available, but my absent sense of direction (and a dash of Murphy's Law) says something will happen, somewhere along the way, and I'll get into a tight spot.
But those aren't barriers - merely obstacles to overcome and think about.
I'm thinking that maybe it would be smarter to rent a car for the trip, take my time traveling the Mother Road, and then high-tail it back to Michigan on an interstate freeway (40 or 80 come to mind).
As goes Route 66, so I go.
I have nothing (besides work) tying me down, I've always felt a strong passion to travel (I think I got that from my dad), and I'm sure it'll be an experience of a lifetime.
These are all obvious.
What's not as obvious are all the adventures, sights, and people I'll encounter along the way. That's the exciting part: not knowing what'll happen.
It could be an absolutely boring trip (thinking of driving across New Mexico and Arizona- not to mention Kansas - is not what I think of when I imagine "exciting"). But then it could alter my perception about the size of the country (the first thing gramma pointed out), the people that live along the way, and my own sense of self and place in the world.
I'd like to get my kicks, all right.
And I know just the road to help.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Elect Dave for County Commissioner?
So the process has begun. I've thought about - and been approached about - making a run for Jackson county commissioner.
I met Saturday with Judy Dupuis, a former city council member and local Democrat leader, as well as Travis Fojtasek, the president of Recycling Jackson and many other organizations around Jackson. It was just a lunch discussion - I had mentioned to Travis that someday I'd like to get involved in politics, and he was nice enough to set up a meeting.
Democrats in Michigan are working very hard to elect local Dems to county and city positions. Jackson is a Republican stronghold (the city touts itself as the "birthplace" of the party) and local elections are almost always gauranteed to go to a GOP candidate.
Maybe not for much longer, however.
I came into the lunch meeting pretty green. I don't know that much about county politics, I'm not familiar with the who's-who among Jackson politicos, and I was really anxious about how much time being a county commissioner would take up. I like my "me" time, and I'm pretty selfish about giving any of it up.
The election, it seems, would take up most of my time. After that, Travis said, I could give as much time as I wanted to the commissioner's spot.
If you know me, you know I like campaigning. I get a big kick out of meeting new people, advertising my goals, having some fun with posters and printed materials, and just getting out there and shaking hands. That's what I'm good at, and it's what I enjoy.
But there's the "after the election" part, and that's what I'll be learning more about in the weeks to come. Meeting current commissioners, attending a county meeting, introducing myself to the local Dems. There's much to be done.
At one point, Judy asked me, "So, you have some people for your team in mind, don't you?"
Uh...sure, Judy. I've been on top of that all along. Or not.
I've certainly got a lot of thinking to do. After I meet with folks, and attend some meetings, and get a better feeling of the situation, I'll be making a decision about whether to run or not.
A big question: am I needed? Too many politicians get involved in government because they have an agenda or a certain slant on things that they want to bring to the table. I feel that there should be some need that I could fill before I would run. I need to be asked. Judy said my youth and enthusiasm could be a big help, and so I felt a little better about running.
This is big-time stuff here, folks. Sometimes I think my whole life has led up to something like this. What on Earth am I more passionate about that politics? Not much. This could open a lot of doors. Or it could be a big waste of time.
Who knows for sure?
...and hey, if you have a great slogan idea, be sure to pass it my way. Campaigning is the fun part, and I'd love to get friends involved (if they're interested). I've already had a friend or two say, "Should you run, I want to help."
Well, the chance may be coming soon.
Should I do it? Stay posted.
Friday, January 20, 2006
What have you Googled today?
A report from (you guessed it) Salon.com today says that the Justice Department wants to know what you and I have been Googling here lately. They say it's because they want to do research on the Child Online Protection Act.
We can trust the government, right?
Last night a comment appeared in the "voice of the people" section of our Jackson newspaper, and one local raised the often-repeated argument: "If you're not doing anything wrong, why worry about what they're looking for?"
Right. Okay, gotcha.
Let's remember, almost a week after Martin Luther King, Jr. day, that the FBI spied on the non-violent, progressive, and brilliant Dr. King. They spied on anti-war protestors.
And now they want to see what you and I have been searching for with Google.
Even if I haven't done anything wrong, I don't want anybody - much less a government who wants to be trusted, but has proven unworthy of such trust under any administration - spying over my shoulder.
I close my bedroom door each night because (a) people allegedly say my snoring gets ridiculous and (b) I want some privacy while I sleep. Looking at what I do on the internet is like keeping my door cracked just a little. No harm done, they're just taking a listen, right?
Privacy on the internet is a slippery topic anyway. Are you truly entering a private sphere - in your PJs, on the couch, drinking a beer - or are you entering a type of public arena, with a cyber-sidewalk and no-yelling-fire-in-crowded-theater rules?
For a country that believes that the rugged individual is king (or queen), the government is sure treating us like peasants.
As I've mentioned before, nothing can fight terrorism and crime better than people doing their job. You don't need all these extra powers if someone would just earn their paycheck. Spying has its place - there's a legal, ethical way to do it - but these shotgun, roving searches are out of line.
Remember when the government was encouraging our mail carriers and plumbers to spy on us, telling them to report any suspicious activity?
Well that must not have worked out so well, because now they want to know what books you're buying on Amazon or for how many years you renewed your subscription to Playboy.
Sure, they tell us that they're checking out kids' access to porn.
But they also told us there was no domestic spying at all.
The similarities to Nixon and communist Russia are astounding. Rights pushed back for an endless "war on terror," administration enemies outed in the press, secret spying, secret overseas bases, not-secret-anymore torture, secret energy meetings, no concern for international laws and precedents.
Why even have laws? The Bush administration will just do what they want anyway. Openness and accountability, with checks and balances by all branches of government, are at the heart of the American republican democracy. From now on, any claims to spreading democracy around the world by this administration will ring hollow. They can't even get it right here at home.
Perhaps Bush and company are forgetting who they work for. Us.
They need someone to remind them.
We can trust the government, right?
Last night a comment appeared in the "voice of the people" section of our Jackson newspaper, and one local raised the often-repeated argument: "If you're not doing anything wrong, why worry about what they're looking for?"
Right. Okay, gotcha.
Let's remember, almost a week after Martin Luther King, Jr. day, that the FBI spied on the non-violent, progressive, and brilliant Dr. King. They spied on anti-war protestors.
And now they want to see what you and I have been searching for with Google.
Even if I haven't done anything wrong, I don't want anybody - much less a government who wants to be trusted, but has proven unworthy of such trust under any administration - spying over my shoulder.
I close my bedroom door each night because (a) people allegedly say my snoring gets ridiculous and (b) I want some privacy while I sleep. Looking at what I do on the internet is like keeping my door cracked just a little. No harm done, they're just taking a listen, right?
Privacy on the internet is a slippery topic anyway. Are you truly entering a private sphere - in your PJs, on the couch, drinking a beer - or are you entering a type of public arena, with a cyber-sidewalk and no-yelling-fire-in-crowded-theater rules?
For a country that believes that the rugged individual is king (or queen), the government is sure treating us like peasants.
As I've mentioned before, nothing can fight terrorism and crime better than people doing their job. You don't need all these extra powers if someone would just earn their paycheck. Spying has its place - there's a legal, ethical way to do it - but these shotgun, roving searches are out of line.
Remember when the government was encouraging our mail carriers and plumbers to spy on us, telling them to report any suspicious activity?
Well that must not have worked out so well, because now they want to know what books you're buying on Amazon or for how many years you renewed your subscription to Playboy.
Sure, they tell us that they're checking out kids' access to porn.
But they also told us there was no domestic spying at all.
The similarities to Nixon and communist Russia are astounding. Rights pushed back for an endless "war on terror," administration enemies outed in the press, secret spying, secret overseas bases, not-secret-anymore torture, secret energy meetings, no concern for international laws and precedents.
Why even have laws? The Bush administration will just do what they want anyway. Openness and accountability, with checks and balances by all branches of government, are at the heart of the American republican democracy. From now on, any claims to spreading democracy around the world by this administration will ring hollow. They can't even get it right here at home.
Perhaps Bush and company are forgetting who they work for. Us.
They need someone to remind them.
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