Mark Spearman is a local computer guy who observed on his web site the difference in severity of punishment for David Ball, who got 17 years in prison on 10 counts of home invasion, and Joseph C. McClain, who got five years in prison for 25 counts of grand theft. Ball likely netted pocket change; according to Spearman’s essay, McClain took $475,000 from 40 people. Read it here: When stealing, please be real nice about it
Beyond that accurate observation about local justice in action, Mark continues to expand his web sites in helpful ways. Particularly recommended is Newark Ohio links Here you’ll find a directory of links indexed by area of interest, a section of which under Newark Ohio News Feeds, includes Craig’s List postings germane to Newark.
There is also an extensive list of local bloggers and community web sites, with a little description of each.
This service is particularly appreciated for anyone interested in staying current with as many Internet postings by local people as possible. As one who’s been in it a long time, writing in cyberspace is like dropping a shoe in the ocean and hoping someone will find it who cares. Now Mark has at least begun an index of shoe-droppers, and anyone who’s not listed there should make contact with Mark and let him know.
Another thing Mark inadvertently alerted me to is a list of local folks who publish on Twitter. When he began “following” me at this time-wasting site, I checked the others he “follows” and found a decent roster of fellow Tweeters wasting time on Twitter. You can go to Mark’s Twitter page at this link and get a list of who he’s following, and you can also check out the local people I follow at this link.
Anyway, hats off to Mark for the work he’s doing to list and index a broad range of people and things. I hope someday he will bring all his sites and publications under one supreme index page because the only criticism I have is that they are not easily found.
There is also another extensive list of local links on the web site nerk.com The takeoff point for this broad index is now tied to blogspot at this address.
Showing posts with label blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blog. Show all posts
Monday, December 28, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Newark’s mayor certifies power of bloggers
The mayor of Newark felt compelled to defend himself against the influence of local bloggers, meaning he has officially recognized them as being politically influential.
Mayor Diebold, in his Advocate essay “Pay attention to the facts,” felt it necessary to preach to his constituency on the unreliability of bloggers.
That’s a public certification of blogger power. It didn’t come as a result of bloggers being unreliable; just the opposite, in fact.
What traditional media can’t or won’t report will not necessarily go unreported these days, thus ending forever instances of cronyism between local politicians and local reporters. That must be a worrisome spot for bureaucrats and shyster office-holders.
The Internet has opened power to the people like never before. I think that, more than unreliability of bloggers, is what worries the mayor.
Mayor Diebold, in his Advocate essay “Pay attention to the facts,” felt it necessary to preach to his constituency on the unreliability of bloggers.
That’s a public certification of blogger power. It didn’t come as a result of bloggers being unreliable; just the opposite, in fact.
What traditional media can’t or won’t report will not necessarily go unreported these days, thus ending forever instances of cronyism between local politicians and local reporters. That must be a worrisome spot for bureaucrats and shyster office-holders.
The Internet has opened power to the people like never before. I think that, more than unreliability of bloggers, is what worries the mayor.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Citizen journalists, please step forward
This morning’s E&P report that Gannett is set to lay off another 1,000 employees could bode badly for Advocate readers. Local managers likely won’t/can’t announce who’s to get axed, if anyone, and what that will mean to its already-bare-bones but ever-more-costly printed product.
I sympathize with middle managers and staffers, and I get no pleasure from writing about how the Gannett machine has strangled a once-fat, family-owned, rock-solid community newspaper. Maybe the Spencer family couldn’t have dealt today’s economy either, but their money would have stayed here, not gone to feed demanding stockholders and expensive corporate machinery.
Will the Gannett/Advocate survive? Or will we see a replay of local shops cranking up small presses and peddling them on Main Street? Whatever the outcome, I believe the urge to report and read printed local information will never diminish.
Meantime, there has never been a better opening for citizen reporters with on-line journals. I am reminded of that by bloggers who already write informative - albeit biased - reports on public meetings. The information provided is often the only report available and almost invariably adds dimension, whether you like that particular dimension or not.
Though it may not be likely, it’s not impossible for a cadre of civic-minded writers to arise and fill the cracks where professional reporters can’t go. County Commissioners’ meetings, court proceedings, township trustees’ meetings, school board meetings, city council committee meetings, Heath council and its committee meetings, public hearings of all categories, and the list extends to the boundaries of public affairs.
Such a movement could be facilitated by adult-education-level courses designed to help would-be citizen journalists learn to sift fact from opinion while building confidence.
I sympathize with middle managers and staffers, and I get no pleasure from writing about how the Gannett machine has strangled a once-fat, family-owned, rock-solid community newspaper. Maybe the Spencer family couldn’t have dealt today’s economy either, but their money would have stayed here, not gone to feed demanding stockholders and expensive corporate machinery.
Will the Gannett/Advocate survive? Or will we see a replay of local shops cranking up small presses and peddling them on Main Street? Whatever the outcome, I believe the urge to report and read printed local information will never diminish.
Meantime, there has never been a better opening for citizen reporters with on-line journals. I am reminded of that by bloggers who already write informative - albeit biased - reports on public meetings. The information provided is often the only report available and almost invariably adds dimension, whether you like that particular dimension or not.
Though it may not be likely, it’s not impossible for a cadre of civic-minded writers to arise and fill the cracks where professional reporters can’t go. County Commissioners’ meetings, court proceedings, township trustees’ meetings, school board meetings, city council committee meetings, Heath council and its committee meetings, public hearings of all categories, and the list extends to the boundaries of public affairs.
Such a movement could be facilitated by adult-education-level courses designed to help would-be citizen journalists learn to sift fact from opinion while building confidence.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Blogging from the bushes is better than not at all
Yesterday I wrote here to promote feedback to government by bloggers and commenters, no matter their allegiance to truth - and to praise all such stuff as a tool for government Deciders. But I think there are some bloggers and commenters who would be interested in making themselves more believable. To those folks I have some ideas:
1 - Don't hide your identity. If you speak about facts and truth why should you care who knows your name? If you offer your opinion, that's all it is. Just say "in my opinion" or something like that. Nothing to be ashamed of and everything to be proud of. I personally am very pleased to have Mayor Diebold and Superintendent of Newark Schools Keith Richards know what Bruce Humphrey thinks of their job performances.
2 - If you're talking about facts, tell us how you know these facts. Where did you read or hear this? Provide a link if it's something we can access from the Internet. Provide a name and a context to the people you write about so that what you say can be verified.
3 - Give us an anchor to you as a real person, some inkling of your background/education/profession.
4 - Tell us how to communicate with you, to ask you questions in private as opposed to "messaging" on somebody's (e.g. Advocate's) website, preferably your e-mail address. At least set your Advocate blog profile to allow messages from everyone.
Writing under your own name and with open identity will be infinitely more effective than shooting from behind the bushes. Likely, too, it will encourage more care in what and how you write.
On the other side ...
There are many ways in which government Deciders hide from - and tip-toe around - truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. A few of my favorites are "everyone wants this," and "we have to do this," and "everyone I talk to says ..." And they never say WHO wants, or WHY WE HAVE TO, or how they know EVERYONE WANTS and of course, none of the other government Deciders asks but, worse, no reporter ever does either.
There are many ways by which government Deciders sneak around in the bushes like that. If bloggers and commenters call them on it that's sure to sting. Better, it's sure to add to the quality of government over the long haul. And if bloggers and commenters will only speak out under anonymous names, then that's far better than not speaking at all.
1 - Don't hide your identity. If you speak about facts and truth why should you care who knows your name? If you offer your opinion, that's all it is. Just say "in my opinion" or something like that. Nothing to be ashamed of and everything to be proud of. I personally am very pleased to have Mayor Diebold and Superintendent of Newark Schools Keith Richards know what Bruce Humphrey thinks of their job performances.
2 - If you're talking about facts, tell us how you know these facts. Where did you read or hear this? Provide a link if it's something we can access from the Internet. Provide a name and a context to the people you write about so that what you say can be verified.
3 - Give us an anchor to you as a real person, some inkling of your background/education/profession.
4 - Tell us how to communicate with you, to ask you questions in private as opposed to "messaging" on somebody's (e.g. Advocate's) website, preferably your e-mail address. At least set your Advocate blog profile to allow messages from everyone.
Writing under your own name and with open identity will be infinitely more effective than shooting from behind the bushes. Likely, too, it will encourage more care in what and how you write.
On the other side ...
There are many ways in which government Deciders hide from - and tip-toe around - truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. A few of my favorites are "everyone wants this," and "we have to do this," and "everyone I talk to says ..." And they never say WHO wants, or WHY WE HAVE TO, or how they know EVERYONE WANTS and of course, none of the other government Deciders asks but, worse, no reporter ever does either.
There are many ways by which government Deciders sneak around in the bushes like that. If bloggers and commenters call them on it that's sure to sting. Better, it's sure to add to the quality of government over the long haul. And if bloggers and commenters will only speak out under anonymous names, then that's far better than not speaking at all.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Columbus Monthly publicizes Newark ethanol discussion
Any magazine article that begins with the words "Bruce Humphrey" ought to be pretty informative, which is why I recommend the current (July) issue of Columbus Monthly.
Author Jeff McCallister began his article on Newark's proposed ethanol plant with my name, though my importance to the piece is miniscule. I simply served as his launching pad, no more.
The article, "Torn by corn" is a good summary of Newark's debate over whether we want an ethanol plant in this city or not. Jeff did a good job of summarizing the complex issues and explaining how and why citizens' quality of life is at stake. He is employed by Suburban Newspapers.
By the way, Columbus Monthly is available at Giant Eagle and, I was told, Krogers. It is not carried by the bookstore at the mall, nor was it available at Meijers when I looked for it there.
Author Jeff McCallister began his article on Newark's proposed ethanol plant with my name, though my importance to the piece is miniscule. I simply served as his launching pad, no more.
The article, "Torn by corn" is a good summary of Newark's debate over whether we want an ethanol plant in this city or not. Jeff did a good job of summarizing the complex issues and explaining how and why citizens' quality of life is at stake. He is employed by Suburban Newspapers.
By the way, Columbus Monthly is available at Giant Eagle and, I was told, Krogers. It is not carried by the bookstore at the mall, nor was it available at Meijers when I looked for it there.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
The Newark Tea Party's great mystery
Why so many folks from other parts of the U.S. and the world read the Newark Tea Party and Newark Ohio Observations has always been a mystery to me.
I hoped Liza Martin of the Advocate staff might give me some answers when she was kind enough to write about this and other local web sites and blogs in a Sunday feature article.
There are only a few others by folks living nearby that are not business, institutional, religious, or educational - and only one other which, like the Tea Party, dwells on local problems. That would be nerkaggrivate.com.
The article offered no clue about who my readers are, or how they find the Tea Party, or why they keep coming back.
As Liza wrote, I am "self-taught" at webmastering, and that correctly implies that I don't know much about it, including how to get a grip on readership. I am measuring with three different tools, all of them providing vastly different numbers and various smokey clues about my readers. But I have no solid notion of what goes on once I put my stuff out in cyber space.
All I know is the Advocate article gave it an upward bump, for which I am grateful. I suppose in view of that I should be nice, but that's asking a lot.
I hoped Liza Martin of the Advocate staff might give me some answers when she was kind enough to write about this and other local web sites and blogs in a Sunday feature article.
There are only a few others by folks living nearby that are not business, institutional, religious, or educational - and only one other which, like the Tea Party, dwells on local problems. That would be nerkaggrivate.com.
The article offered no clue about who my readers are, or how they find the Tea Party, or why they keep coming back.
As Liza wrote, I am "self-taught" at webmastering, and that correctly implies that I don't know much about it, including how to get a grip on readership. I am measuring with three different tools, all of them providing vastly different numbers and various smokey clues about my readers. But I have no solid notion of what goes on once I put my stuff out in cyber space.
All I know is the Advocate article gave it an upward bump, for which I am grateful. I suppose in view of that I should be nice, but that's asking a lot.
Friday, May 4, 2007
Good ol'-timey photos for you at Newark Tea Party
I wonder how many folks who daily read these Observations realize that this is only part of the new stuff originating in Newark Ohio. Most days I also publish a new photo at Newark Tea Party.
If you've been coming straight to this blog and skipping the Tea Party, you've been missing some neat photos - most recently they've been photos I shot about 40 years ago. Just sayin' ...
If you've been coming straight to this blog and skipping the Tea Party, you've been missing some neat photos - most recently they've been photos I shot about 40 years ago. Just sayin' ...
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Put the blame for failure where it belongs
I wish the Newark Tea Party were so crowded that you'd have trouble getting through the door. But the fact is that there aren't nearly as many visitors here as I'd like.
There is only one reason for that: I have not offered widely appealing material. I have not provided an irresistible magnet to draw the multitudes.
This is the same reason diners aren't flocking to the Natoma or the Sparta. It is the same reason stores downtown are closing.
Yesterday's Advocate (5/1/07) carried a well-done report on the state of business in downtown Newark. Natoma's lunch business is shrinking; Park Place Coffee Roasters is closing; and Park Place Antiques and Collectibles has closed.
Merchants blame parking rules; they blame lack of development activities to attract business and downtown housing. They blame the fact that stores do not stay open later. They blame the lack of reinvestment by current businesses. They blame the lack of emphasis on arts and culture.
They will never find a satisfactory target until they look at themselves. Take for instance, restaurants: If restauranteurs were offering really good food, served by pleasant and competent servers, at prices that are considered by customers to be advantageous, then diners would come.
Same with coffee shops, same with antiques.
Same with web sites. I blame myself. I don't blame Google, or my server, or my keyboard, or my camera.
Failing businessmen - downtown or wherever - would be smart to place the blame where it belongs. They should take an honest look at their products, service, and prices because somewhere in that mix they will find the answer to failing receipts.
There is only one reason for that: I have not offered widely appealing material. I have not provided an irresistible magnet to draw the multitudes.
This is the same reason diners aren't flocking to the Natoma or the Sparta. It is the same reason stores downtown are closing.
Yesterday's Advocate (5/1/07) carried a well-done report on the state of business in downtown Newark. Natoma's lunch business is shrinking; Park Place Coffee Roasters is closing; and Park Place Antiques and Collectibles has closed.
Merchants blame parking rules; they blame lack of development activities to attract business and downtown housing. They blame the fact that stores do not stay open later. They blame the lack of reinvestment by current businesses. They blame the lack of emphasis on arts and culture.
They will never find a satisfactory target until they look at themselves. Take for instance, restaurants: If restauranteurs were offering really good food, served by pleasant and competent servers, at prices that are considered by customers to be advantageous, then diners would come.
Same with coffee shops, same with antiques.
Same with web sites. I blame myself. I don't blame Google, or my server, or my keyboard, or my camera.
Failing businessmen - downtown or wherever - would be smart to place the blame where it belongs. They should take an honest look at their products, service, and prices because somewhere in that mix they will find the answer to failing receipts.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Who ever heard of hacking a Tea Party?
Maybe it's an honor, maybe only paranoia, but I believe this journal was hacked twice: the first time when I posted the information about Mr. Sivasankaran, a resident of India who is an investor behind E85, Inc., the company that wants to build a factory in Newark for the production of ethanol.
The second time was when I posted new information on the same subject. The force at work, whether hacker or happenstance, wiped out my journal again, stopping short of the entry in which I quoted Mayor Bain as saying ethanol factories pollute no more than a single old car.
Titled: "We don’t have to worry about ethanol plant pollution," the entry quoted the mayor's statement to council on 1/2/07: “Keep in mind an ethanol plant today in one year’s time has pollution equal to that of a 1965 Chevrolet.” That's what the hacker left intact.
Maybe I should be flattered that anything I wrote could be so important to anyone else, if it was the work of a hacker. Wow. Maybe international intrigue right here in Newark.
The second time was when I posted new information on the same subject. The force at work, whether hacker or happenstance, wiped out my journal again, stopping short of the entry in which I quoted Mayor Bain as saying ethanol factories pollute no more than a single old car.
Titled: "We don’t have to worry about ethanol plant pollution," the entry quoted the mayor's statement to council on 1/2/07: “Keep in mind an ethanol plant today in one year’s time has pollution equal to that of a 1965 Chevrolet.” That's what the hacker left intact.
Maybe I should be flattered that anything I wrote could be so important to anyone else, if it was the work of a hacker. Wow. Maybe international intrigue right here in Newark.
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