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Register Watch™for the October 2nd Issue of the Paper

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Today offers a multipart Register Watchh™ for the October 2nd issue of the paper.  In this first post, I’ll survey the newspaper in transition.
 
Bye Bye Bylines.  The most notable change in the paper is the absence of bylines, anywhere on the front page.  America has traditionally celebrated a free press, and countless films, books, and stories champion small, plucky newspapers.  We’re right to do that – America’s an exceptional place, in part, because she’s a free place. 
 
In all those cases of small-town pride, the newspaper’s a careful, loving work, where the editors, reporters, photographers claim ownership over the whole paper.  (That’s true of most blogs, too – they are typically the work of one person, the same person, sometimes writing under a pseudonym, as was common earlier in our history.) 
 
When the Register goes from prominent editor to no bylines on the front page, it’s a sign that the Register‘s not the sort of hometown paper America’s lionized elsewhere.  It’s part of a larger chain, lacking the quaint charm and plucky skepticism of government befitting heroic, small-town papers.
 
All of the principal stories on the front page read like press releases.  They’re not even edited to alter that suspicion.  In the above-the-fold story entitled “City receives Transportation Enhancement grants for two projects,” the third paragraph begins, “Special thanks to Mary Nimm and Matt Amundson who wrote the grant applications for the city….” Is the paper offering thanks, as an editorial, or is this someone else’s work, unedited to disguise original authorship?  I can’t tell.  [I will assume that Amundson and Nimm deserve thanks.  That’s not my concern; it’s that this newspaper does so little to meet simple reportorial standards.]  
Someone once wrote to me and remarked that perhaps the Register does not pay well, and that’s the problem with finding good, interesting writers.  I have no idea about compensation that the Register offers reporters, editors, etc. 
 
I’ll offer two replies: (1) there are surely writers and editors who would have done more for this paper for less than it pays now, whatever that is, and (2) the Register‘s not been unwilling to take an active point of view, infused in the supposedly neutral stories it runs on most pages.  There’s been ample energy for particular ideas presented as news stories, however the chain compensates.

More to come…

Orange Salamander, Twitter

The Orange Salamander for Last Week

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The Orange Salamander describes a small-town mystery, but ‘small-town mystery’ is as conventional as the story’s description gets. If you mixed a hard-boiled crime story with a cyberpunk novel, and asked a non-writer to write it, The Orange Salamander is what you might get.

The sound of waves crashing against the beach repeats every 42 seconds. Less than a minute and a seagull squawks again.

I could measure time easily if the pattern repeated every 60 seconds. Instead: 42, 84, 126. Two minutes gone. Forever.

I reach up, turn off the machine. Without ocean sounds, I can’t sleep. Is my conscience heavy? No, I’m just masking the sounds of town.

No ocean nearby. No seagulls. Just students, dogs, drunks. I like the first two, tolerate the third. It’s my sensitive side.

Millhaven: rural college town, miles from the big city. Locals, immigrants, newcomers, students. Four towns: unshaken, unstirred.

I live downtown, above the Agneau Grille, a Tunisian restaurant. Tasty lamb requires no passport.

Restaurants, bars, small shops behind aging facades. Banners welcoming returning students, faded flyers in windows.

Outside, cool autumn air. Cigarette butts on sidewalk – tokens of indifference, rebellion. I smile, lighting a Lucky Strike.

A fat man walks by, eyeing a bakery’s cherry pie. The bakers are brothers, nicknamed the Pie Men. They do everything together.

A scone and a cup of kona to go. Real kona, but Hawaiian means something else to the Pie Men, Ronnie and Donnie. They seem almost sober.

ow are you, Ronnie asks. We saw Sophie. Ex-wife number two, back on campus after sabbatical. His way of warning me. Thanks.

The mayor walks in. Our first mayor, first term. Gray hair, gray suit, blue tie, blue blood of Millhaven’s hue. Pale blue, watercolor.

The mayor glances dismissively my way. He opposed the office, ran when we adopted it, will rely on apathy to hold it. Not a bad bet.

Part-time mayor, full-time defender of convention, tradition, propriety. Private club manners, if the club’s small, decaying, dull.

We’re a town without left or right – incumbency is the only political party. Get office, justify conduct, keep office. Our way, since forever.

eople drift to work, starting early to end early. Local notables pass outside, the mayor leaves, to make Millhaven more orderly

Lyons, the university president for a decade, passes – a smug and subtle cheerleader Does what town fathers ask Considers student silence golden

Phil Bartram, city planning consultant, here a year, seems longer Thinks a half-Windsor’s a short arisocrat Crush on Felicia the MBA

Felicia the MBA, of the college-city-business task force We’ve a task force for every issue incumbents won’t tackle Say, 8 or 9, minimum

City workers hang a banner across Main Street with Millhaven’s logo and a new slogan: We’ll Make Our Way Your Way – Just You Wait!

Daily Bread

Daily Bread: October 6, 2008

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Good morning, Whitewater

In Whitewater today, beginning at 5 p.m., there will be a meeting of the Park & Recreation Board. The agenda for the meeting is available online.

In our schools today, there will be a special meeting of the School Board at 6:30 p.m.

In events that directly and immediately affect students (without the delay, ambiguity, or hidden effects of policy), Pennies for Patients takes place at Lakeview and Washington, there are picture re-takes at the High School, and Music Parents will meet at 6:30 at the High School.

The National Weather Service predicts today will be partly sunny and have a high of 70. The Farmers’ Almanac predicts “squalls especially Great Lakes area.” They won’t both be right.

Last week’s better prediction: NWS, again.

On this day in history, in 1917, a proud and worthy moment in Wisconsin history: Robert La Follette’s support of free speech in wartime. The Wisconsin Historical Society recounts that moment:

On this date Senator Robert La Follette gave what may have been the most famous speech of his Senate career when he responded to charges of treason with a three hour defense of free speech in wartime. La Follette had voted against a declaration of war as well as several iniatives seen as essential to the war effort by those that supported U.S. involvement in the first World War. His resistance was met with a petition to the Committee on Privileges and Elections that called for La Follette’s expulsion from the Senate. The charges were investigated, but La Follette was cleared of any wrong doing by the committee on January 16, 1919.


Orange Salamander, Twitter

The Orange Salamander for 10/3/08

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People drift to work, starting early to end early. Local notables pass outside, the mayor leaves, to make Millhaven more orderly

Lyons, the university president for a decade, passes – a smug and subtle cheerleader Does what town fathers ask Considers student silence golden

Phil Bartram, city planning consultant, here a year, seems longer Thinks a half-Windsor’s a short arisocrat Crush on Felicia the MBA

Felicia the MBA, of the college-city-business task force We’ve a task force for every issue incumbents won’t tackle Say, 8 or 9, minimum

City workers hang a banner across Main Street with Millhaven’s logo and a new slogan: We’ll Make Our Way Your Way – Just You Wait!

Daily Bread

Daily Bread: October 3, 2008

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Good morning, Whitewater

Throughout the city today, it’s UW-W’s Make a Difference Day. Volunteers from the UW-Whitewater students and staff, and Whitewater residents and employees will come together for community service projects.

Here’s an inspirational song for everyone in campus and town, working today at Make a Difference Day, to make life here better. It’s from the 2007 film, Enchanted. The campus and its students enrich and benefit our community in countless ways, today being only one example.


The National Weather Service predicts today will be sunny with a high of 59. The Farmers’ Almanac predicts today will be “fair and cold.”

Yesterday’s better prediction: NWS, again.

In our schools today and tonight — Homecoming, with a parade beginning at the high school this afternoon. more >>

Orange Salamander, Twitter

The Orange Salamander for 10/2/08

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How are you, Ronnie asks. We saw Sophie. Ex-wife number two, back on campus after sabbatical. His way of warning me. Thanks.

The mayor walks in. Our first mayor, first term. Gray hair, gray suit, blue tie, blue blood of Millhaven’s hue. Pale blue, watercolor.

The mayor glances dismissively my way. He opposed the office, ran when we adopted it, will rely on apathy to hold it. Not a bad bet.

Part-time mayor, full-time defender of convention, tradition, propriety. Private club manners, if the club’s small, decaying, dull.

We’re a town without left or right – incumbency is the only political party. Get office, justify conduct, keep office. Our way, since forever.

Libertarians

Observations on Libertarian Party Candidate Bob Barr, Early October

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1.       Barr was a right of center choice, with prosecutorial and congressional experience.  He’s a nominee that left-of-center libertarians did not trust.  They still don’t.
 
2.       Some leading LP members backed Barr because they believed he could increase the historical LP share of the vote from around 1% nationally to far higher, especially in a few critical states.

3.       Barr was expected to raise as much as 20 million dollars for his campaign – he’s only raised around one million. 
 
4.       Ron Paul’s insurgent run within the GOP primaries gave leaders of the LP confidence that Barr would play a similar role in the general election.     
 
5.       Barr has not captured the enthusiasm Paul generated, and has spurned Paul in ways that some LP members have found counter-productive.  (Note: I was never a Paul supporter – the newsletter that went out under his name contained far too many objectionable views.  Anyone who’s been part of our movement knew about the content, and many sensible, serious libertarians kept Paul at arm’s length.) 
 
6.       There is a huge difference between being a libertarian (millions, in all walks of life) and a member of the LP.  Many libertarians are wary of the small and idiosyncratic internal politics of the LP, no matter how fascinating from a distance.  Often it’s not a ready-for-primetime party.
 
7.       The LP’s vice-presidential nominee, Wayne Allyn Root, is eccentric, and prone to odd gaffes.  Some of those gaffes have been noted most by libertarians at Cato and Reason – much to their credit.  Cato and Reason have been honest about the limitations of the LP, and willing to point them out.  They are libertarians rather than Libertarians, as they should be.  The LP calls itself the party of principle, but sometimes principle and party don’t mix. 
 
8.       Right-of-center Barr was strongest – as one would expect – when McCain was weakest, in the summer.  Now that McCain seems down again, will Barr siphon off votes from those who see no hope for the Republican candidate?  I don’t know – more money for October would have helped Barr.

Libertarians

Libertarian Barr (Halfway) in the Presidential Debates

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Last Friday, September 26th, the Libertarian Presidential nominee, Bob Barr, appeared at Reason’s Headquarters to participate on a live streaming video of the debate, and answer questions afterward.

(The live stream allowed Barr to answer questions as though he were in the debate.)

In the clip below, Barr offers what would have been a closing statement had he been in the debate, and answers questions from the audience. Matt Welch moderates.


more >>

Daily Bread

Daily Bread: October 2, 2008

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Good morning, Whitewater

In the city today, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., there will be a Downtown Eastgate project neighborhood meeting and final design presentation in the municipal building.

The National Weather Service predicts today will bring a slight chance of showers and a high of 60 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac predicts today will be “fair and cold.”

Yesterday’s better prediction: NWS.

On this day in Wisconsin history, from 1957, the Wisconsin Historical Society offers a reminder of the historical size and importance of the auto industry to Janesville, Wisconsin:

On this date 4,000 members of United Auto Workers Locals 95 (Fisher Body) and 121 (Chevrolet) at Janesville’s two GM plants walked off the job as part of a national strike over GM’s refusal to agree to a contract patterned after those reached with Ford and Chrysler. The desired contract demanded pay increases of 24 to 30 cents an hour and raises in supplemental unemployment benefits and severance pay.

Orange Salamander, Twitter

The Orange Salamander for 10/1/08

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I live downtown, above the Agneau Grille, a Tunisian restaurant. Tasty lamb requires no passport.

Restaurants, bars, small shops behind aging facades. Banners welcoming returning students, faded flyers in windows.

Outside, cool autumn air. Cigarette butts on sidewalk – tokens of indifference, rebellion. I smile, lighting a Lucky Strike.

A fat man walks by, eyeing a bakery’s cherry pie. The bakers are brothers, nicknamed the Pie Men. They do everything together.

A scone and a cup of kona to go. Real kona, but Hawaiian means something else to the Pie Men, Ronnie and Donnie. They seem almost sober.

City, School District

Tired of Failure? Mandate Success!

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The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that public school officials in that city have a policy “that sets 50 percent as the minimum score a student can receive for assignments, tests and other work.” The policy has been around for a while; it’s drawn recent attention only because of efforts to reduce it to writing and make it mandatory for all schools in the Pittsburgh district.

Unsurprisingly, the “district and teachers union last week issued a joint memo to ensure staff members’ compliance with the policy, which was already on the books but enforced only at some schools. Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers President John Tarka said the policy is several years old.” (Emphasis added.)

This is the best possible policy for a lazy administrators and teachers — abolition of failing grades makes their work far easier – one doesn’t have to lift students so far toward average competency.

I’d say all of this is an aberration, but similar policies exist or are considered seriously elsewhere.

In our own city — apart from our schools — our municipal administration is one step away from a version of this approach. While Pittsburgh schools do not recognize failing grades, we do not recognize failed policies. It’s all happy and good, all the time.

I have teased that this administration’s slogan should be Whitewater: Where the Only News is Good News. (Whether leaders of the city were educated in Pittsburgh, I cannot say.)

This is where self-interest leads, treacly claims of public service notwithstanding — to a cheerleader’s view that ignores actual conditions, making it easier for political leaders and incumbents to do less while boasting more.

Daily Bread

Daily Bread: October 1, 2008

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Good morning, Whitewater

In the city today, the Landmarks Commission meets from 7 – 9 p.m. in the municipal building.

The National Weather Service predicts today will be partly sunny with a high of 58 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac predicts today will be “fair and cold.”

Yesterday’s better prediction: NWS.

There is no school today for students in the district. Play and relax responsibly while teachers commit to a day of staff development.

In Wisconsin history on this date, in 1851, as reported at the website of the Wisconsin Historical Society, Wisconsin held its first state fair. (The fair began a day earlier; Lincoln spoke on the first day of the two-day event.)

Wired reports that on this day in 1957,

Thalidomide, a drug developed to help women overcome the symptoms of morning sickness during pregnancy, is first marketed in West Germany. Forty-six countries approve its use before thalidomide’s terrible side effects become apparent.

Nationally, on October 1st, 1890, Yosemite National Park was established.

A private alternative to advance conservation without national purchases is available from the Nature Conservancy.

Here is a video from the Nature Conservancy on using dogs to locate rare plant species.

more >>